page48 (2/2)

Matteo Bianchi was her reason to move on Her reason to let her heart be exposed to the world again

As that thought crowded her brain she pulled her lips back from his to catch her breath

She let out a gentle laugh as the scent of the spicy ravioli drifted around theone to such a fabulous effort, and it ht smell wonderful, but all of a sudden I’m not so sure I want dinner”

His dark green eyes met hers This time they were different There wasn’t soelse His fingers brushed over her cheek “I ordered my favorite, but I’m happy to leave it behind”

His hands went to her waist as he eased her froainst hiave her a sexy sht—Roo?”

She slid her ar his body against hers The angled planes, wide chest and taut muscles It was easy It was so easy And she’d never wanted it o home?”

Chapter Seven

HE WOKE UP to caray curls just under his nose Their breathing was synched Phoebe’s chest rose and fell with his own The rehout the room Her shoes were near the doorway Her pink dress on the wooden floor, close to his pale blue shirt His trousers were crumpled near the bottom of the bed As for their underwear? He had no idea what had happened to it

For the first time in thirty-five years Matteo finally felt a true connection to someone outside his family He’d had no idea about Phoebe’s mom A tiny selfish part of him had been initially disappointed that she hadn’t braved the plane journey for him—but that was ridiculous Phoebe Gates was the bravest woman he’d ever ht cancer, then faced her biggest fear to complete a job And the job wouldn’t be completed for over a week Somehow he knew that in that space of tiic and sprinkle her fairy dust on this villa Right now, he was conte how many excuses he could make for work that would allow him to stay here this week in Rome with Phoebe

He hadn’t had a vacation inhow long? Plus, he could fly up and down to some of the vineyards in Tuscany in one day He could have breakfast with Phoebe in Rome, leave her to do her hile he coht back in Rome And then