Page 386 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

And today was tame compared to most other days.

Matteo drops a kiss on the top of her head. “You aren’t fat. You’re perfect and gorgeous. Stop being so hard on yourself. You just need sleep. And maybe a couple of Valium.”

She snickers. “Thanks, babe. And yes, I do need to sleep, so badly. I feel like we’re really close this time, but I don’t want to jinx anything.”

“Really close to what?” I ask, lounging on the side of the pool with my sweaty glass in hand. The ice is all but gone, and I’ve had it for a grand total of a minute. God, this heat is unreal. I mean, it makes for some pretty nice views of the female guests, but other than that?

There’s no benefit.

But Heaven insists on staying. I think being so far away from New York City helps her deal with the fact that she’s still estranged from most of her family. Separating herself from them by about five hours makes it easier to deal with than living in the same zip code.

I rub the back of my neck with the cool glass. She doesn’t look to be in the mood to talk about her family right now, either. I seriously hope Matteo picks another time to loop her into the Conor shit show. I’m afraid assault might be the least of our concerns if she finds out Conor has been dicking around with the Russians.

“Really close to finding an au pair,” she says. “Didn’t Matteo tell you we’ve been interviewing for weeks?”

“He might have mentioned something,” I say, a shred of a memory of a conversation making the connection in my mind. “So, what, you hire this au pair thing, and you get to sleep?”

“Sleep and a whole lot more!” Heaven says, excitedly clapping her hands, making Aisling laugh.

“I’m down for the ‘whole lot more,’” Matteo says with a grin.

“The girl I’ve been with for the past hour is really terrific. I think she’s a fantastic choice and I brought her up here because I want you to meet her, too. And of course, Aisling needs to meet her,” she says to Matteo.

I crane my neck. “I don’t see anyone. What happened? She get lost or something? Maybe your au pair needs an au pair herself,” I crack.

Heaven rolls her eyes. “She needed to use the ladies’ room. I talked her ear off and walked her all over the hotel for the past hour.”

“Whatever you need to get you back to normal,” I say with a playful smirk as Heaven flips me off. “Real nice mothering, by the way.”

Heaven jumps up and waves her hands in the air. “Anya! We’re over here!”

Cue the record scratch sound effect.

My eyes travel in the direction Heaven is standing and I feel my chest tighten. I’m suddenly pulled into one of those movie sequences where the sexy-as-fuck girl walks toward her destination in slow motion while every other person stares with their mouths open, her hair flowing behind her, her hips swinging in the most seductive way imaginable.

Anya…the au pair?

No fucking way.

This can’t be the same girl I drove to the Bellagio.

She was hot, but this version?

Jesus. She’s transformed herself into the exact type of nanny youdon’twant around your husband.

Long, lean legs that were covered by yoga pants are now on full display under a little sundress, probably not the most nanny-ish thing to wear to an interview, but I’m not complaining. Neither is any other man drooling over the sight of her. And the messy ponytail from the airport has been replaced with loose, sexy waves that cascade down her back.

To my brother’s credit, he just hands Heaven the baby, nods stiffly, and shakes Anya’s hand when Heaven makes the introductions.

Heaven is a definite stunner, but Matty would have to be dead to not notice the girl in front of him.

“Here is our little pumpkin, Aisling,” Heaven says, snuggling the baby close as Anya tickles her under the chin, a big, bright smile on her face.

Interesting.

She’s got no patience for old ladies, but bring on the babies?

Anya definitely didn’t strike me as the ‘mommy’s helper’ type.

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