Page 16 of Third Crime's A Charm
“Shh! You would approve. Let’s go. I’m looking forward to making you dinner and watching Donna wrestle with the hammock.”
“It has a frame,” Matteo said, looking concerned as he unbuckled and got out.
Truman recalled the last time she had attempted to get into it and winced as he shut off the engine and opened his door. “That doesn’t really matter after her third glass. She swore she’d never touch it again but I think you can talk her into it.”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t hurt herself,” Matteo vowed, then insisted on pushing the cart once they were inside.
With his busy schedule, Truman rarely had time to buy his own groceries or cook. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed both tasks and added it to the list of reasons to reconsider dating. Of course, Truman understood that dating wouldn’t be as much fun with the men he usually chose.
He had a feeling he was dooming himself and any future prospects as Matteo made goofy faces at a baby girl in a nearby cart, making her mother laugh and blush.
“Do you think you’ll have children?” Truman asked, suddenly concerned.He wouldn’t.But Truman recalled that neither of Matteo’s older brothers’ relationships were likely to produce an heir.
“Nee!” Matteo shook his head quickly. “I love children but there are already so many and I am more of the fun uncle type than the selfless parent.”
“What about the succession? Do you think your younger brother is likely to have kids?”
Matteo’s shoulder bounced and he looked more interested in the buckets of bouquets. “Let’s get these for Donna. I can see it for Eli. Life—on a biological level—fascinates him and he is a surprisingly good teacher. He has far more patience for children than adults and he has the energy of a terrier.”
“That certainly helps,” Truman agreed.
“Not that it matters if there is an heir. Max has grandchildren who could inherit if they’re interested when the time comes. Or the title and the House can fade away,” Matteo said with a dramatic wave, his lips curling into a wicked grin. “I hope it does and Leo’s the last. He’s done everything he wanted. The margraviate’s lands are protected from industrial and commercial development for at least fifty years. Much of it’s been rewilded or is in the process. His title was always a means to preserve as much of the environment as possible and to pressure other politicians and land owners to do more.”
“It isn’t an act for him, is it?” Truman said with a slow shake of his head.
“Ha! You only have to know Leo for two minutes to know he is deeply concerned about the planet. He’s a very serious person. My brothers are exactly what they seem. I’m the only actor.” Matteo’s focus shifted to the fresh fruit, particularly the melons.
The strange thing was, Truman no longer believed that Matteo was pretending to be a socialist and practically penniless.Through Neville’s sources, Truman had learned that Matteo had sold all the property he had inherited to Leo and donated the money to several London and New York charities. Probably because his older brothers were already so active and prominent in Austrian charities and Matteo had strong ties to both cities.
During their last run, Neville had reported that Matteo had held onto one property in Austria but the estate served as a holiday retreat for orphans in foster care. There, they could ski and ice skate in the winter or swim and ride horses in the spring and summer. With the exception of Matteo’s wardrobe and appearance, the bulk of his annual allowance went to the estate, called Ottavia’s Haus. His brothers were all sponsors as well and visited frequently.
The morning run had always been the ideal time for a briefing, despite Neville’s complaints. It was how they kept Donna from hearing anything she shouldn’t and would come in handy while Matteo was at the beach house. He wasn’t an early riser and preferred the treadmill and small gym in the beach house’s guest wing.
The more he learned, the more Truman regretted trapping Matteo. He was desperate to know what Matteo was doing with money from the jewels he was stealing. Neville and Truman’s best investigative accountant couldn’t find a trace of it. Now, Truman would gladly trade the diamonds for the answer. He doubted his mother even remembered that she had them.
Was someone else blackmailing Matteo or forcing him to do it?
That didn’t seem likely, but Truman studied Matteo and wondered if he was capable of hiding something that explosive. It would have to be, based on how much Matteo had already stolen. Truman shook his head inwardly, dismissing the idea. Matteopretendedto be a playboy but aside from the stealing and a reputation for being a shameless flirt, he lived more like analtar boy. They would have heard if Matteo had been involved in anything truly scandalous.
As if Matteo had heard his thoughts, Truman received a nudge. “What did your mother wish you to be, if she has such an aversion to attorneys?”
“I…don’t know…” Truman’s cheeks puffed out as he considered. He’d never been asked that before and had never given the matter much thought. His father had been a legend andhisdubious connections had done more to advance Truman’s prospects in school and throughout his career than his mother’s name and money. “Maybe…a prime minister? She said she wished Trudeau was her son once.”
“It’s a shame you were born in America, then.” Matteo gave him a pitying look. “I’m sorry,” he said but Truman smiled.
“It’s alright. I told her I wished he was my son too.”
That made Matteo laugh. He held onto Truman’s sleeve as he clutched his stomach. “No wonder she hates you. Bravo.”
“I think I’ve been sparring with that woman since I was in diapers,” Truman said dismissively, causing Matteo to become serious.
“That’s a sad way to grow up. I’m glad you had Donna.”
Truman nodded. “I never take her for granted.” They strolled in companionable silence for several moments and Truman paused at the butcher’s counter to order their steaks. But Matteo was still frowning when Truman lowered them into the cart. “What’s wrong?”
“It isn’t her, is it?” he asked and this time, Truman laughed, completely in tears.
“What could she have possibly done?”
