“I don’t believe you, Matteo! She doesn’t look your type at all! How can you move on so fast?” cried the woman called Cadence, her face red with anger. “Excuse me? I am his type, and we are planning to get married next month. Do you have a problem with that?” Amelia came to the rescue while it was Matteo’s turn to gape at her. The woman snickered with disbelief and gave her a once-over. “Do you want me to buy that crap? I don’t see a ring on your finger.” “I’ll wear it after Matteo talks to my parents,” she lied, refusing to glance at an amused Matteo. “Whatever! Be ready to face my dad, Matteo,” she threatened, climbing into her car and driving away in a state of fury. Amelia watched her go with a victorious grin on her face, not realizing what she had called upon herself. Feeling Matteo’s jaw-dropped gaze upon her, she finally turned to look at him. Her face flushed with embarrassment realizing what she had done. “What?” she asked, as he continued to stare at her. His lips cur
“I don’t think they’ll be back tonight. Do you know the way to Rebecca’s uncle’s place?” asked Matteo, softening a little. He didn’t know why her tears shifted something in his heart, but it did. Now he wanted to make amends and release her. Maybe he would think of another way to see her again! After all, he wasn’t in this for just the money. He wanted her near him! It was a crazy wish since he had just met the girl! “I don’t!” Amelia wiped her eyes and looked at him hopefully. “Would you drive me over to get my card?” “I can after closing this place down. Why don’t you ask them for the address in the meantime?” He smiled at her and left the office to wrap up his work for the day. Amelia messaged her friends, but they didn’t reply. She called them but they didn’t take her call! She searched for Rebecca’s uncle on her mobile phone and found out the address of his house at last. Relieved, she walked out to inform Matteo. She saw Matteo working on a damaged Rolls-Royce with two other
“Eating!” he prompted, his voice deep and husky again. Really the guy was a pro at his flirty games! How can anyone blame her innocent heart? Amelia folded her arms and shot him a pointed look. “I was thinking about going over to Becca’s uncle’s house to get this over and done with.” Although her cheeks flushed with color, she refused to show how he was affecting her. A few more hours in his company and she could go back home, far away from him. “Sure, you were.” She didn’t miss the amusement in his tone as he finished his meal. “Hurry if you need to go.” Amelia tucked into her dinner while Matteo went to his room to freshen up. She was ready and waiting for him when he emerged freshly showered and ready in figure-hugging jeans and a black muscle tee. At that point, Amelia couldn’t help but feel envious of him. She too needed a shower so badly! She looked away this time before he could catch her checking him out. “Let’s go.” He ushered her out and locked his apartment, walking tow
Matteo gave her a look of concern and glanced through the rearview mirror to see her friends peering at them from the front door. He was sure she had confronted them, but didn’t ask her anything yet. He drove away towards his own apartment instead of the airport, as she had insisted. “What happened?” he asked at last, seeing her flushed face. “Uncle Denver will pay your repairing charges. I handed him the bill,” she mumbled, staring out of the window with a frown. It didn’t look like they were heading towards the airport. Where was he taking her? “Did you tell him about the accident?” “He knew. Rebecca dumped all the blame on me, right from sneaking the car out to the accident. She even explained my absence to her uncle in her own twisted way.” Matteo frowned and glanced at her, wanting to know more, but she sat broodingly without explaining further. “How?” he asked at last. Amelia turned towards him with a flushed, angry yet embarrassed expression on her face, hesitating a littl
Amelia’s ears flushed hot with embarrassment and she couldn’t even look at Matteo. His words played in her head like a broken record, making her blush.I thought you would be sore!No, she had to divert her mind in some way.“Why was I in your room, Matteo?” was all she could muster up the courage to ask while walking towards the kitchen to grab a strong cup of coffee. She needed it badly. “What option did I have than to carry you there? Cadence was at the door and I didn’t want her to know the truth. She would force me to get back with her,” said Matteo, following her to the kitchen. His statements had her worried. So was the dream a reality? Did he touch his lips to hers? Did she beg him to stay with her on the bed? She poured her coffee absent-mindedly. “One for me too.” Amelia came out of her trance and looked at him, serving the breakfast he had prepared. She smiled at the delicious-looking toast, bacon, and eggs he had made and forgot her predicament. “When did you make so mu
“What’s the need for it? I have a spare ring we can use for the act.” Matteo shook his head and gently shoved her inside his car. “Just get in.” He closed the door and went around to the driver’s seat with a scowl on his face. Amelia found his behavior weird. Why was he willing to spend on a fake ring? The emerald ring she had bought on her last birthday could work perfectly. “Why are we spending so much for nothing? We could use my emerald ring,” she said, trying to put some sense in his stubborn head. “No, I want you to wear my ring, not anyone else’s.” He started the car with the same scowl, making her roll her eyes at him. “It’s not anyone else’s. I bought it for myself on my last birthday.” “Whatever! We won’t use it.” Amelia shrugged and looked out of the window. There was no point in arguing with such a headstrong man. Let him waste his money on a ring! “Have you checked out NYC yet?” he asked suddenly as they stopped at a signal. “No, we had just set out when the accide
Amelia wore a conservative navy blue dress, pairing it with small diamond studs. Her hands trembled with fear as she waited for Matteo’s arrival. With only 30 minutes at hand, shouldn’t he be here already? Weird thoughts about the man they were about to face haunted her mind. Her heart pounded with every passing minute, anticipating the worst viable treatment there. In Matteo’s absence, she had cowered in her room all afternoon, repenting her decision to stay back. Why did she have to bring this upon herself? Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lizzy for the fourth time since the afternoon, but she didn’t pay any heed to it. She wouldn’t tell anyone of her whereabouts until Matteo’s problem was solved. The door clicked open and she could hear Matteo grumbling to himself. Was he still in his shitty mood? God! He was such a jerk! She was right about him. He wanted to get into her pants right from the moment he lay his eyes on her. Maybe he was the same with all women! A knock
Amelia was immediately on high alert as the man approached them, his glittering eyes glaring at Matteo. She touched her sling bag, feeling inside to check her weapon. Yes, it was there! “Matteo, it’s good that you came over. I wanted to talk to you.” Matteo stood up at the sight of him, walking up to clasp his outstretched hand, leaving Amelia’s for the first time since they entered the house. “Hello, Bill. I wanted to talk to you too.” Bill Phantom frowned and released his hand to give Amelia a suspicious look. “What is it, Matteo? And who is this woman with you?” He sat down on the couch facing them, gesturing for them to take a seat. “This is Amelia. I have something to show you.” Bill Phantom scowled at Amelia and then held up his hand at Matteo. “Hang on. First, tell me what’s going on between you and Cadence. Why is she upset and shedding tears over you? Didn’t I clarify that the monetary concession for the shop would cease the moment you break off the engagement with her?”