Page 37 of Third Crime's A Charm
“It’s not the same,” Max said with a dismissive sweep of his hand. “Reid had already established himself and his agency and we are bothrespectedmembers of society. People are concerned about you. Look at how worried Muriel and your brothers have been.”
“Trust me, I don’t need reminding. I appreciate your concern but when have I ever given you reason to doubt me?” Matteo said, his temper stirring. “I have always done my best to be charming and do whatever Leo and Theo want but you all flip out when I go to a few parties by myself and I meet a man.”
“It was a bit more than that. You disappeared for over a week and you met a dangerous man. Do you have any idea who Tennyson works for, the kind of people he knows?”
Theydidn’t understand what kind of man Truman truly was and just how much Matteo had done when his brothers weren’t looking. “I do, but that doesn’t have anything to do with us. Truman’s business is his own.”
“That’s not how it works. In his world or ours,” Max said wearily but Matteo sighed.
“I’ll be thirty-two in a few months, Max. I’m old enough to make my own decisions and I don’t need the Foundation.”
“We don’t care about the Foundation. We care aboutyou,” Max stated firmly. “All we care about is your happiness and safety.”
Matteo laughed softly, his heart lighter as he reached for Max’s hand. “I know you all mean well, and I promise, Truman wouldn’t let anything happen to me and I am happy.” That wasn’t completely true, but Matteo sensed that he was finally getting through to Max. “You’re all worrying over nothing. We’re not even that serious. I think Truman is…interesting and we’re enjoying each other’s company.” He nodded because that was the truth and Matteo couldn’t explain to his prim and proper older cousin that he and Truman weren’t even friends with benefits. They were…partners-in-crime-with-benefits. Criminals with benefits? “We’ve only known each other for a few weeks. Neither of us are taking this seriously and I wish you all would calm down.”
“Are you sure? Tennyson isn’t the kind of man who flaunts his relationships, if he’s ever been in one. He’s strict when it comes to his privacy from all I’ve heard.”
“I wasn’t aware that either of us had anything to hide,” Matteo mused. “Truman is an attorney. Most of his clients are criminals but that doesn’t make him one by association.”
“We both know he’s more than that.”
“Has he ever been charged with anything?” Matteo asked but he wasn’t sure why he was still defending Truman. The man was more than capable of defending himself and Max wasn’t far off the mark.
I don’t even like him.
Matteo shushed and clasped Max’s hand. “You’re all making way too much of this. We’re just enjoying each other’s company.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful, Teo.”
“I’m always careful.” They were nearly there so Matteo demanded updates about Max’s daughters and grandchildren. “Thanks for the ride!” he said when he was let out and the car pulled away. “They’re worse than the CIA,” Matteo grumbled but smiled at the doorman when he was let into Truman’s townhouse. “Honey, I’m home,” he called and jogged up the stairs and past the parlor level and into Truman’s suite on the fourth floor.
Truman was in his closet, removing his tie. “Where have you been? I just got back from Chicago and I hear from Neville that you’ve been gone all morning.”
“I went for a run and rode the train for a while, then I stopped at the Olympia for another overnight bag. Max was waiting when I came out.” He slid out of his coat and tossed it at a chair, nodding at the butler as his bags were brought in and taken to the other end.
“You should have told me, I would have called a car and you could have avoided him.”
“I didn’t want to take a car, I wanted to take the train. And I didn’t want to be tailed, so I lost Neville in the park,” Matteo said, leaning against the closet door and crossing his ankles. “Stop having me followed.”
“From now on if I’m not with you, Neville will be.” Truman pinned him with a severe look. “He asked about you and he wants you at the party.”
“Klasse!” Matteo said and gave him a thumbs up. “Our plan’s working.”
“He’s watching you, Matteo. Other people could be too, so do me a favor and let us know where you’re going from now on. Take my car and let Neville do his job.” Truman held his hands together and batted his lashes sweetly.
Matteo wasn’t going to do that. “I think it went well with Max,” he said, sidestepping the request. “I’ve just aboutconvinced him to let it go. I don’t know why they’re all so freaked out about this.”
Truman let out an irritated huff as he dropped his cuff links in a crystal bowl. “They should be. How can I protect you if I don’t know where you are?” he asked as he turned, wagging his finger as he advanced on Matteo.
“It’syouthey’re freaked out about and I don’t need your protection,” Matteo said and went to slap Truman’s finger away but his hand was grabbed and he was pulled close.
“You’re mine as far as the rest of this city is concerned,” he said in a low growl. “And if you’re mine, you’re under my protection.”
“What if I’m not the kind of man who wants that? I’m too independent,” Matteo mused but he was shaking on the inside. Not with fear, but with need. He needed Truman to kiss him and Matteoneededthem to be naked and breaking things.
“I’d never take that kind of risk, not with someone like you,” Truman said, catching Matteo’s chin. “I’d keep you close and I’d spoil you.”
“Hmmm…” Matteo’s nose wrinkled. “I could have stayed in Austria or Paris if I wanted to be spoiled. The Foundation would be glad to pay my bills if I stayed closer to home and out of trouble.”
