Page 8 of Third Crime's A Charm
“Yes, it is. It was in your bag and I saw it fall out.” Matteo nodded at the tattered diaper bag. “You should keep it zipped, ma’am.”
She clutched the money against her chest, looking around the platform in confusion. “Are you an angel?” she whispered and Matteo laughed.
“No, ma’am! I better go or my brother will kill me!”
He ran up the stairs and caught up with Theo on the pavement, smiling and floating all the way back to their new place in Belgravia. After that, Matteo was hooked on the dual rush he got from stealing. The act and getting away with it were heady but so was taking something one person took for granted and putting it togooduse. All Matteo had to do was behave and be clever.
He wasn’t behaving when he arrived at Truman’s townhouse and the verdict was out as to how clever Matteo had been. Knowing his brothers, Matteo suspected they’d forgive him for stealing—possibly applaud him—but be deeply disappointed in him for pretending to fall in love with a shady attorney. They would even forgive him for the shady attorney part but a splashy public affair as a cover for a heist would be a hard pill for his older brothers to swallow.
Elio would probably approve and offer to help.
All of this weighed on Matteo’s mind and conscience during the drive to Truman’s beach house in Southampton. It was too late to avoid the gossip and Matteo couldn’t pass up a chance to rescue Sisi’s star. As tohowthe star would be returned to Austria was still a question but Matteo didn’t particularly care as long as it went to the Sisi Museum in the Hofburg Palace. The sense of accomplishment was all Matteo needed, the reward money would be donated as quickly as possible.
His first glimpses of the beach and the ocean revived Matteo’s spirits. The water was still too chilly but he was lookingforward to long walks and plenty of fresh air. Matteo loved cities and after a year in Manhattan, it had become a second home, but he was due for a break. He’d gotten restless after Leo married Jonathon and settled down at Schönbühel. Setting up camp in Manhattan with Theo was like living in a candy store.
They had free use of Muriel’s apartment in the Olympia, one of the most famous addresses in the city. The iconic building was occupied by a co-op approved selection of wealthy and famous New Yorkers. Being a prince and closely connected to Muriel Hormsby granted Matteo instant access to the highest circles of New York society and he was in demand. Then, Theo found love in a bowling alley in Oslo, New York and Matteo hadtoo muchfreedom and time on his hands.
Everyone wanted a look at him and just about everyone wanted to sleep with him. He was up to his neck in invitations and had made “good” use of them. Matteo had been careful to avoid mixing business with pleasure until he met Truman. Now, Matteo was assessing the consequences as Truman parked his Bentley in front of a large, renovated carriage house. The property was surrounded by mature trees and a perennial garden that was already green and blooming with early spring blossoms.
“Lovely,” Matteo declared when Truman turned off the engine and offered him a pained smile.
“Thank you. There’s a path around the neighbor’s house that leads to the beach. I’ll show you after we’ve had some refreshments.”
Matteo glared suspiciously. “What’s the catch?” he asked and Truman pushed out a hard breath.
“Donna. Although, she’s more of a…an inconvenience. But a good one.”
“Who’s Donna?”
“My housekeeper,” Truman said, sighing with dread. “She’s a wonderful old girl and took better care of me than my mother but she’s nosy and she never stops talking. Be ready for her to ask about that eye and your lip.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad but are you sure it’s a good idea, her being here with us?”
Truman shook his head. “She lives here, Matteo. She used to take care of us in Chicago but she moved here after I went to college. Donna’s pretty much retired, except when I visit. This is where I always go when I want to get away and I’ve brought friends in the past.”
“Including flings and friends you’re blackmailing?” Matteo asked, making Truman roll his eyes.
“I don’t have flings and I don’t date but I have brought…a few men. Donna gives me a hard time and tells everyone I’ll never settle down because I’m a workaholic,” he said, his nose wrinkling as he glanced over his shoulder at the house. “She’ll be delighted if she thinks we’re serious and I think we can use this to our advantage.”
“You don’t think it’s mean, playing with her emotions?” Matteo asked and Truman groaned as he scrubbed the back of his hair.
“It is but she’ll enjoy having you here and get a kick out of busting my balls. I’ll tell her it was my fault when we split up and she can bust my balls about that too for the rest of my life. I’m willing to live with that because bringing you makes sense and we can make serious waves if we act like a couple here.”
Matteo realized why Truman was worried and shot him a hard glare. “Starting now with Donna? We have to pretendinsideand all the time?” he verified, then swore when Truman nodded.
“She does turn in early and has her own suite overlooking the garden. It’s practically a separate house and she’s a very heavysleeper. You can be as hostile and distant as you want after dinner,” Truman suggested helpfully. “We’re safe to talk in my room. We can do most of our planning at night and take long walks on the beach during the day. No one can hear us out there and Donna won’t think anything’s up.”
“I honestly think I hate you,” Matteo mused, rubbing his chin. “Is it too much to hope you sleep in a bunk bed?”
Truman blinked back at him. “I’m almost fifty. There are guest rooms but Donna would think it was weird if we’re here for a romantic getaway.”
“Fine.” Matteo seethed for a moment, then smiled. “You’re going to owe me. A legal favor,” he specified before getting out and whistling loudly. “Truman, it’s stunning!” he said as he shielded his eyes and scanned around him. “I can’t wait to see the beach.”
The front door opened and Truman’s largest henchman, Neville, hurried to the car to get “their” luggage. Matteo had borrowed a white shirt, khakis, and a pair of leather flip flops. He and Truman were close enough in size that Matteo could roll up the sleeves and cuff the bottom of the pants so they passed as his. He looked casual and comfortable enough for a road trip or a walk on the beach but a stylist had been given his sizes and preferences and was delivering a week’s worth of clothes on Monday.
“Hey, boss,” Neville mumbled to Truman, then offered Matteo a half nod. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. von Hessen. Welcome to Southampton,” he said in his most polite grumble.
Matteo flashed him a bright smile. “Always a pleasure. Except when you’re wrecking my face,” he added under his breath, making Truman chuckle as he held out a hand to Matteo.
