Page 40 of My Italian Love Affair

And then, I glance up just in time to see Matteo Rossi striding towards us.

Andfuck- he’s every inch the golden boy fresh off a victory.

His smirk is already in place, dark eyes flicking lazily over the crowd, cataloguing the journalists like he’s deciding exactly how much effort they’re worth.

And then, his gaze lands on me.

Shit.

For a second - just a second - he slows, his focus sharpand unmistakable as he sweeps his eyes over me in a slow, deliberate once-over.

Top to bottom.

And back up again.

Despite myself, my pulse jumps and my throat tightens, and I loathe the way my stomach flips when his smirk tilts slightly, like he’s enjoying my reaction.

Like he remembers exactly how our last conversation went.

I steel myself, gripping my notepad tighter, ignoring the creeping heat threatening to rise to my cheeks.

I don’t care how good he is. I don’t care how good helooks.

Iwillhold my own.

(Even if Mark won’t let me get a single word in.)

Matteo finally stops in front of us, his stance relaxed, his presence overwhelming in the suddenly too-cramped space.

The other journalists edge forward, but Matteo isn’t in a rush.

“Buona sera,” he greets, voice smooth, almost lazy.

His dark eyes flick between the crowd before settling - unsurprisingly - on Mark.

“I assume you want a quote?”

Mark chuckles, shaking his head.

“I want more than that, Rossi.”

Matteo cocks a brow, clearly unphased.

But then his gaze shifts, scanning the group, and it’s obvious -painfullyobvious - who he’s looking for.

“There’s a different face here today,” he comments, his eyeslanding directly on me.

The words are casual, but there’s something pointed about them. His expression doesn’t shift much, but I see the subtle flicker of something in his gaze.

Interest? Amusement? Mild irritation?

He wanted an introduction.Expectedone, probably.

Huh. Who would have thought.

“Ah - yes,” Mark clears his throat, his tone clipped like he’s only just remembered I exist. “This is Daphne Sinclair. She’s covering the team for the next few months.”

Matteo turns his attention to me fully now.

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