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‘Mattia?’

‘Go get ready,’ he growled, reaching for a toy truck, rolling it back and forth, his gaze still somewhere other than in the room ‘Please’

‘Sure’

After slipping into her dress Elene brushed out her hair so it fell over her shoulders, then pulled on her happy face along with herout to dinner with Mattia then she intended having a good time, no matter what they talked about Which would be about Aimee’s future, surely? What else was there? They weren’t close friends wanting to share a meal and a bottle of wine in a relaxed atmosphere He certainly wasn’t attracted to her Nor a about that heat nearly flooring her the night before Not, not

‘You look lovely’ Mattia watched her step across the faht cuddle before tucking her into bed He sounded genuine, but it had been a while since ait

‘Thank you’ Her nored as she glanced at Mattia He’d changed into casual dark grey trousers and an open-necked white shirt which highlighted the sun-kissed tone of his skin Good start to the evening Not attracted, reoodnight to Papà’

‘Ma-ma-ma-ma’

‘Nice try’ Mattia kissed Aimee’s cheek, then said to Elene, ‘Good luck’

‘You can say that every time I need to put her down,’ Elene told him ten minutes later ‘She’s sound asleep’

His eyebrows rose ‘That’s a first Let’s go while we can’ He took her elbow ‘Anna, call me if there’s a problem,’ he said to his housekeeper-turned-babysitter

‘Sì Have a nice ti

Elene nodded ‘Thank you for doing this’

‘No problem’

‘This is the locals’ favourite restaurant I’m sure you’ll like it,’ Mattia told her when he held her chair out at the ideally situated table overlooking the harbour with the lights of Naples in the background

‘I’, because suddenly this felt like her first date as a teenager—butterflies in her sto with the napkin the waiter placed on her lap

‘Thetotally relaxed for the first ti, or excitement about his companion

Why feel like this when they had i around the restaurant, Elene let the warmth slide under her skin and tried to relax It had been a long tily handsoet he was a possible adversary

‘This is wonderful,’ Elene sighed ‘Being in Italy, being Italian for now, it brings ether If you knohat I ht she was crazy and not suitable to hter

‘I can’t iine what it’s like to have parents from two different countries But I’d say it s’

‘Food especially, and wine’ She laughed before picking up the menu

‘Ah, wine What type would you like? Red or white?’ Mattia asked

‘You choose’ She wasn’t up with the local wine ‘I’ the shrimp salad’

‘Then we’ll go for the Pinot Grigio’

‘Does your family live in Sorrento?’ she asked after the waiter had taken their orders