Page 3 of Her Dark Melody
Romy nodded. “You got that right.” She ran a hand over her face. “Good, so it’s all settled.” She glanced at the clock. “Do you mind if I take off? Clark’s in to cover, and my babies will already beasleep.”
“Of course, smallfry.”
Romy grinned at him. “And you go home too, Atlas. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how late you’ve beenworking.”
“I haven’t got the impetus to go home as much as you,” he brushed away her concern but got to his feet anyway. “Come on. I’ll walk you to yourcar.”
Mateo was still awakeand eating a ridiculously overstuffed sandwich in their huge kitchen when Atlas walked in. He offered the other half to Atlas, who, suddenly starving, thankedhim.
“How’s business?” Mateo asked, his mouth full. Atlas’s brother’s curls were even shaggier and in need of a cut than Atlas’s own. He wore a simple white cotton shirt, even in the middle of a Seattle winter. Mateo’s business, wine importing, took him all over the world, and he still retained a tan from a family holiday in Italy. The twin’s mother was Italian, and their elder sister, Clelia, lived in Sorrento with her husband and fivechildren.
“How’sFino?”
Mateo grinned. “He aced his test today. Molly says she’s never had a harder-working kid. Sometimes I wonder if I do the right thing, homeschooling him, but it’s the only way I can do my job and still see him every day. Do you think I’mselfish?”
Atlas got up to grab a beer from the refrigerator. “Not at all. Fino’s the most well balanced child I’ve ever met.” He grinned at his brother. “Just please, don’t go and screw Molly, like you did the lastone.”
“Oops.” Mateo drained his beer and Atlasgroaned.
“Really?”
Mateo sat forward, his smile fading. “Okay, I’ll come clean. I’m crazy about her, Atlas. I swear, nothing happened for a couple of months, but when we were in Italy…I don’t know. Something happened to us, a moment. We talked about it, what the implications were and decided we couldn’t do anything about it, for Fino’ssake.”
“So, whatchanged?”
Mateo sat back, regarding his brother with a steady gaze. “I fell in love withher.”
Atlas’ eyebrows shot up. Now there was a word Mateo didn’t use often, particularly not in conjunction with women. He wooed them swiftly and just as swiftly movedon.
“Yes, love,” Mateo repeated, undoubtedly noticing Atlas’ expression. “Not just because she’s gorgeous, Atlas – although let’s face it, she is – but when we talk, we reallytalk. No barriers. She doesn’t treat me like the rich boy playing at being a dad. She encourages me, she adores Fino, and she pushes him too, to the best of hisabilities.”
His voice gravelly with emotion, Mateo smiled a little shyly. “We decided that we would take things slowly – Fino is the priority, after all. But, god, Atlas…I think about her all thetime.”
“Calm down, bro,” Atlas laughed and punched his brother lightly on the shoulder. “It’s about time. Go for it. We all love Molly – evenClelia, which is a modernmiracle.”
Both brothers laughed – their older sister was fiercely protective of them, to the point of being blunt and rude to people she thought were taking advantage of the twins’ goodnatures.
Mateo nodded, his eyes shining. “I think I would like to make it formal, Atlas. Bring it out into the open. We have to tell Fino first, of course, and it’s really his opinion that counts here. And yours, of course,” he addedhurriedly.
Atlas grinned. “You have my blessing, bro, but what the hell do I know aboutlove?”
Atlas lay awakeuntil just after midnight. Mateo had been the one who had always slept around – his drop-dead gorgeous looks making sure that he could have any women he wanted – but when Fino had come along, Atlas had seen his brother grow up overnight, becoming a man. Now, he was clearly crazy about the lovely Molly.Yeah, you go for it, bro. If she’s the one, go for it.He was proud of histwin.
Atlas turned over, trying to find sleep. He wasn’t someone who dwelled on his single status, but lately, he’d been feelingit.
You’re a billionaire, you have the looks, the charm…why is love so hard to find?Atlas shook his head.Because I want a best friend as well as a lover, someone whogetsme.
He sighed, turned over and tried to get somesleep.
ChapterTwo
Ebony stepped off the plane and walked quickly through the airport. In the Arrivals hall, she saw Romy waiting for her and waved excitedly. Romy threw her arms around her. “Hey, girl. Thank you so much for doingthis.”
“So good to see you, Romy.” Ebony hugged her back. She’d only met Romy a few times since Juno had married her brother, but she liked the petite brunette very much. “And I’m so flattered to be asked to perform foryou.”
“You’re going to blow them away. Now, I do have to warn you, Zach and Rosa are screaming the place down at the moment. We’ve put you at the far end of the house, but we can always arrange a hotel suite foryou.”
“I don’t want to be anytrouble.”
