Page 15 of Third Crime's A Charm
“You don’t like it?” Truman stole another taste of Matteo’s pistachio. “Yours is better. I shouldn’t have picked lemon.”
Matteo shrugged and turned in Truman’s arms. “I appreciate the thought, but we’ll get American ice cream next time. Here, you have some under your lip.” He used his thumb to wipe it off and sucked it clean. “Mmmm… That tastes better.” His smile was sly as he turned and wiggled his shoulders as he got comfortable again.
Two could play at that game. “Where should we go next?” he murmured against Matteo’s neck before kissing it. He lingered there, filling his senses with the smell of Matteo’s hair and skin and the feel of his warm, relaxed body in Truman’s arms.
A hand spread around Truman’s thigh and scratched as Matteo considered. “This has been lovely but I should get back to my journaling. I have a lot to reflect on while I’m here,” he added absently. “Do you think I could pass as a porter or hotel security?”
“Not for very long,” Truman said and shook his head. A man like Matteo drew every eye in the room, regardless of his attire.
“I didn’t think so either. How long until Neville gets back from the city?”
“He just left after lunch. I’m not expecting him until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.”
Matteo’s lips tightened briefly but he gave another easy shrug. “I’ve been to the St. Regis a few times. I can sketch what I remember and work with that for now.”
“We’re not in that much of a hurry and we’re stuck here until you don’t need those sunglasses,” Truman reminded Matteo gently.
“I know and I am enjoying this,” he said with a dubious look at his cup, making Truman laugh.
He tightened his arms around Matteo, nuzzling his neck. The goal was to be noticed being adorably in each other’s pocket, butTruman was truly enjoying their day out. Matteo seemed to be as well, flirting and taking lots of pictures of the two of them with Truman’s phone. He had also caught Truman off guard with a few kisses and by whispering in his ear while they were in line for gelato. There was no doubt that they had been noticed and people were buying it, but Truman forgot that he was acting somewhere between the lobster rolls and the second gift shop.
“There’s a nice little grocery store on the way home. Why don’t we tell Donna to take the night off and pick up some steaks and dessert? I’ll grill and the three of us can drink too much wine.”
“I can think of far worse ways to spend an evening. Maybe I can talk Donna into sitting in the hammock with me,” Matteo said, once again plotting and delighting Truman.
Instead of being pretentious and shallow, Matteo was refreshingly humble and genuine behind his princely mask. He was warm and polite with everyone but Truman was touched by how quickly Matteo had taken to Donna. In hindsight, Truman should have predicted it, given that Matteo was raised by so many women and probably missed his mother dearly.
For whatever reason, Matteo had decided to immerse himself in his role as the object of Truman’s affections while they were out as well. Truman wasn’t in a hurry to let go of that Matteo. He was much more fun and it was easier to make amends with him when they were in public or Donna was around.
“There’s a vineyard just up the road. We could drop in for one of their tastings and you can pick some bottles to take home for Donna,” Truman suggested, his voice rising hopefully.
“Are you stalling?” Matteo scowled suspiciously. “We’ve been seen by plenty of people,” he added quietly and his lips pursed.
Truman caught Matteo’s chin and turned him. His thumb swept over Matteo’s lips and he chuckled when they tightened.“This drives me wild. I never have to guess if I’m in trouble.” He wasn’t flattering Matteo. His fiery temper and passionate loyalty to his family and friendsarousedTruman. Matteo ran hot but his temper blew out fast and he was never aggressive. He was the absolute opposite of the cool cruelty Truman had adopted from his mother and honed throughout his years of working with hardened criminals.
“Shut up,” Matteo whispered, then kissed him.
It worked. Truman stopped thinking and enjoyed the way their lips clung. They kept the kiss family-friendly but Truman’s heart was racing and he ached for more ofthisMatteo. He’d vanish as soon as Truman shut the bedroom door and wouldn’t return until breakfast.
“I’m not stalling. We might as well relax and enjoy ourselves while we’re waiting for Neville to get back. You asked for a lot of intel and that takes time to gather discreetly. And you’re much more fun and you’re so beautiful when you aren’t glaring at me. Although, that’s beautiful too,” Truman confessed, tapping Matteo’s lips. They curved and Truman whimpered helplessly as he kissed them. “Can you blame me for enjoying this?”
“Alright, take me to this winery.”
They rode with the top down and Truman played with Matteo’s hair and held his hand as they drove to the small winery just outside of Water Mill. Being from Italy and Austria, countries renowned for their vineyards and wines, Matteo wasn’t likely to be impressed but he charmed everyone and boughtcasesof their different white wines. They would be delivered the next morning but Matteo had two bottles in a bag between his feet to take back to Donna.
“Is it Marie?” Matteo asked when Truman parked in front of a small, trendy, local grocery store.
“Marie?” He shook his head cluelessly and leaned in for a kiss.
Matteo gave him a swat but allowed it. “Are we doing this for her? I’d understand and be on board,” he whispered.
“She’s clean. In fact,she’sthe one who makes sure that everything I do is on the up and up. On paper, at least. I never tell her anything because I don’t want her to be an accomplice but I know not to touch something if it won’t make it past her. Marie won’t lose her license or let me risk mine.”
“That’s just it. You’re riskinga lot.You can’t be doing it for one of your clients. You don’t care about any of them.”
“I’m not,” Truman confirmed, then hushed Matteo softly. “But it is a matter of guilt by association and I’d like to see justice served.”
“Actual justice or?—?”
