Page 45 of Matteo
“Like it? I love it.” I let out a strangled laugh, emotions clogging my throat. “This observatory is even better than Yale’s.”
My siblings grinned, high-fiving each other.
“Matteo did all the research. He even gave Dad a list of materials and designs,” Hannah stated proudly. “He oversaw the build with Mom and Dad.”
For a moment, I ceased breathing. The last person I expected to be involved was Matteo. As far as I knew, he’d been helping his father run their empire while working on his own thesis for Harvard, hardly leaving him with a lot of free time on his hands.
Yet somehow he found it for you, my mind whispered softly.
“It’s beautiful,” I rasped.
Gianna clapped her hands, beaming happily. “Let’s call Mom and Dad.”
I fished my phone out of my pocket and FaceTimed them.
Dad answered on the first ring. “Everything okay, baby angel?”
My father’s sharp gray eyes zeroed in on me, evaluating me through the little screen, and I smiled.
“Why do you assume something is wrong?”
“Because it’s been twenty-four hours since Mom and I dropped you off. Usually you wait at least three days to call.”
My heart swelled as I rememberedwhyI was calling. Nico Morrelli was the kind of man who effortlessly captivated attention with his raw power, but when it came to his family, he dropped everything and was putty in our hands.
“Everything is fine,” I assured him. “I just saw the observatory. I love it… a lot. Thank you, Dad.”
The lines bracketing his eyes eased and he smiled. “Your mom will be happy to hear that, and so will Matteo.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was all you and Mom, I’m sure.”
His gray eyes—the very ones used to intimidate even the toughest of men—softened. “I had the idea, but I’ll admit it was your mom and Matteo who researched it to no end and executed it.”
I pictured Matteo looking into telescopes to see the stars and planets, researching exhibits about space, and reviewing designs for dome-shaped ceilings, then shook my head. “Mom I can see, but him?—”
Gianna and Hannah pushed their faces into the screen.
“She’s too hard on him,” Hannah defended while a frown appeared between his brows. “Tell her, Dad. He worked at it day and night.”
“So did your mother,” Dad reminded her.
Gianna shoved her shoulder into Hannah. “That’s right. Just because you drool all over Matteo doesn’t mean he’s God’s gift to the rest of us.”
He inched closer to the phone, his expression serious. “Do you, Hannah?”
“Do I what, Dad?”
“Do you… drool all over him?”
Gianna’s and my faces scrunched in distaste at that image, but Hannah just flashed him a smile. “If you’re asking me whether Matteo is a gentleman, he definitely is. I’m sure he’s waiting for marriage to take… the next step.”
Just thinking about them together made me shiver, and I fought the urge to demand she tell me exactly how far they’d gone. Matteo assured me only days ago that there was nothing between them. For Christ’s sake, it was only two nights ago that he promised me… Fuck, what did he promise me?
Orgasms? Forever?
Damn, I didn’t like feeling so conflicted, and I certainly didn’t like that I was keeping these new feelings from my twin. I felt like the worst kind of traitor.
Matteo had gone radio silent on me and it left me feeling anxious. I couldn’t help but recall those filthy words he whispered in my ear, promising he’d be coming for what was his, and remember his breath against my skin. It made my heart tremble at the mere memory of it.
