Page 86 of Ice To Meet You

“I don’t know,” he said, threading his arm around me, kissing the top of my head. “But I guarantee nobody here would’ve ever seen it if it wasn’t for Lola and Bruno.”

I nestled into him, savouring his warmth. When I looked up again, Gio’s face swum into view over Matteo’s shoulder. My gut churned. His expression was stern but unreadable. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he pushed his arm into the sleeve of his jacket.

I straightened and Matteo stiffened next to me, turning to see his grandfather.

Gio’s gaze cut between us, sharp and assessing, before settling on Matteo. His jaw clenched. “How could you?” he bit out. He shook his head slowly, as if disgusted by what he saw.

If I’d thought my heart had thumped earlier, the hammering in my chest right now deafened me. “It wasn’t Matteo’s …” I started, intending to sayfault, but when Gio’s piercing gaze swung to me, the word shrivelled on my tongue.

After a long, excruciating beat, he exhaled sharply and pulled his lips into a tight, thin smile—one devoid of warmth. “I apologise to you Esmé, for my lapse in judgment,” he said,his voice like ice. “I should’ve known it was too much to expect my grandson to behave like an adult, just this once.”

He turned on his heel.

Matteo stepped forward. “Wait?—”

“No.” Gio lifted a hand like he’d slammed a door. “I don’t want to talk to you right now. I think you’ve done quite enough.” He squared his shoulders, tugging his jacket into place, then strode toward the door without a backward glance.

I grabbed Matteo’s arm. “Should I go after him?” Gio was here for me. I was the one who asked for his investment.

Matteo exhaled, his expression hardening. “No. It should be me. I’m the one he’s angry with. I’m the one he’s always been angry with.” His voice lowered, something raw threading through it. “I think it’s time I stood up to my grandfather. I refuse to let anyone make me feel worthless or an embarrassment again.”

He pressed a lingering kiss to the top of my head, breathing me in before stepping away and following his grandfather into the square.

I blinked into the void of his absence, but all too soon, my senses snapped into place. The few people remaining were packing up to leave. Some stared, but most ignored me, filing out in eerie silence. My gut twisted into a tight knot.

Luc and Esmé came to my side. I tried to smile—I really did—but the effort exhausted me. They held hands, and Luc’s gaze swept my face. His jaw softened, his frown easing, but there was still that faint shadow lingering in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said, putting an arm around me. “I shouldn’t take anything out on you.”

I shook my head. “People are leaving, Luc. I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Iris shrugged, resting her head on Luc’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t worry. You may recall, in his younger days, Luc hadquite a reputation. A scandal at one of his rare exhibitions will only make his next one a hotter ticket.”

I pushed out a dry laugh. At least she wasn’t about to throttle me like Luc had been.

“Yours too,” she said. “You could line something else up for your Rome opening? Maybe some skinny-dipping footage? Parachuting in your underwear?”

“Stop!” I groaned, rubbing my eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to help you see the funny side.” She paused, running her eyes over the now bare wall. “And who knows? Something positive might come out of tonight. If nothing else, you look great in tiny shorts and technicolour.”

I gave a wry laugh. My best friend’s wife was sickeningly positive, but she always had my back. “Thank you for the compliment, but Luc’s professional reputation won’t benefit from my lack of cellulite.”

He shook his head. “I’m not worried about me. I don’t wantyourreputation tarnished.”

My heart gave a solid tug. “Matteo did nothing wrong. Nothing that I wasn’t a willing participant in. This evening was a case of unfortunate timing and a dreadful choice of personnel.” I looked directly at Luc. “I wish you knew Matteo like I knew him.”

Iris raised her brows.

“Knew him better,” I corrected, earning a smile from her. “He’s smart and passionate. Fun. His family, the Romanos, are well known through Europe.If we’d thought something like tonight could ever happen …”

My words died on my tongue as Marianne and Alessandro Rossi sauntered towards us. Marianne looked like she’d had one too many glasses of champagne, but it was Alessandro’s thorny face that made my belly churn.

I took a breath, girding my loins for the onslaught that he’dno doubt unleash. He’d all but agreed to invest in Rome. From the look of him now, I’d be lucky to get a Christmas card.

“I’m so sorry about this evening. The video, the …”

“Spectacle?” he asked, his eyebrows threatening to hit the ceiling.

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