Page 24 of Third Crime's A Charm
“Neville got in this morning with a box full of brochures, magazines, newspaper articles… He even found a copy of the hotel’s blueprints.”
“That might be a touch excessive but I should be able to work with that,” Matteo said, then pulled his shirt over his head. He rambled about the forecast and how tired he looked when his allergies kicked off as he cleansed and moisturized, then noticed Truman staring.
He had a drowsy, dreamy smile on his face again as he leaned against the bathroom door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” Truman shook his head quickly. “I can’t recall you ever looking tired. You always look…perfect.”
He had been weird since their tour of town and the winery. In fact, Truman had been almost too well-behaved. He was taking his role as doting lover a little too far, and at times, Matteo wondered if Truman was up to something else. Something worse.
“How about a couple’s spa day?” Truman asked and hurried to get a towel for Matteo. “I owe you after the way you just saved our asses.”
“Maybe later… I should have everything I need now.”
“What can I do?”
Matteo’s teeth scraped over his lip as he pondered how to make the most of his day and the trove in Truman’s study. Donna was told it was research for a case but it would be weird if Matteo locked himself in the room with it.
“Can you disappear for the rest of the afternoon and take Donna with you?” he asked, noting how Truman’s smile faded.
“I’m sure I can think of something.”
“Gut! I need time to spread out and make a mess and I can’t do that without her noticing,” Matteo explained and Truman’s smile returned.
“There’s a cork board in my office. Want some thumbtacks and string?”
Matteo pretended to consider. “Will you eat the thumbtacks if I promise it’s part of the plan?”
“Now, now!” Truman clicked his teeth. “I’ll take her to some antique shops and we’ll pick up something nice for dinner.”
Matteo shooed him off. “Sounds great! Don’t hurry.”
He rubbed his hands together, eager to have a few hours to plan in peace. So far, his stay in Southampton wasn’t nearly as bad as he had expected but Matteo couldn’t afford any more distractions. The basic elements were forming in his brain but Matteo wasn’t creating one sophisticated plan, but a plan within a plan.
There had to be an escape hatch because Matteo still didn’t know the extent of the crime he was committing and who all the players were. Truman had already betrayed Matteo once, he wouldn’t get a second chance and a scapegoat. If Matteo even sensed that he was being set up again, he’d vanish with the star and let Truman take the fall with Lonsdale.
“It’s time to get serious.” He swiped his notepad off the dresser and tucked his pen behind his ear. “I have a little more than two weeks to createtwomagic tricks.”
Ten
With the von Hessen crisis averted, the mood in the beach house was much lighter. Matteo had turned most of his energy toward planning and seemed less tense, now that he’d made contact with his family. He still grumbled about lying to them but said he could focus better knowing they weren’tasworried about him anymore.
Truman had professional responsibilities to attend to as well and had spent most of the following morning in his office, battling his inbox and making calls. Once he was free, it wasn’t hard to find Matteo. As per his new habit, Matteo was out back, lounging in the hammock and scribbling on his yellow notepad.
“You should change and join him,” Donna suggested with a hard nudge and Truman nodded. He quickly changed, trading his shirt and khakis for navy trunks and a white linen shirt. He’d considered skipping the shirt or keeping it open but chickened out. He wanted to look like he was smitten, not aging and desperate.
When had he gotten so much silver in his chest hair? Truman was a little disturbed to notice it sprinkled across his pecs and inthe trail below his navel and had considered shaving but nixed the idea.
Matteo would guess and get too much pleasure out of Truman’s insecurity.
Back in the kitchen, Truman ignored Donna’s whistle as he opened the fridge. “I’ll take him a beer.”
Truthfully, Truman was desperate to see what was on the pad and if Matteo had come up with anything useful yet. Armed with two ice-cold bottles, Truman strode out onto the deck and skipped down the steps, whistling as he headed for the hammock. He paused when he spotted the discarded flip flops on the grass and Matteo’s bare feet. Next time, Truman would suggest one of the cabins if they needed to hide again. Coming to thebeachhouse was begging to be tortured.
The rest of Matteo was just as tempting. He was wearing a pastel floral shirt over his white swim shorts and had left it unbuttoned and open. His feet were beautiful but Truman’s attention was drawn to Matteo’s toned, hair-dusted thighs, his tight abs, and his bare nipple. Matteo’s glistening olive skin and two-day beard made him unbearably sexy and in that moment, Truman had never regretted anything more than siccing Neville and Carmine on him.
They could have been actual lovers and partners in a more satisfying sense, instead of hostile, reluctant partners. Of course, Matteo was the one who was hostile and reluctant, but Truman had made him that way. He’d been too concerned about the risks and so used to negotiating with hardened criminals, Truman had come out swinging and claimed the high ground first. In hindsight, that had cost Truman what could have been a very pleasurable partnership. Or maybe more…
