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Together they left the roo the door softly Walking side by side down the hall felt right, which only made it all the more ahen what he’d like to have with Elene and what he’d get were very different things

‘Sorry, I haven’t started on dinner,’ hehim in this situation—even when it wasn’t her fault ‘And I have my parents to deal with first’

‘You’re hungry?’ Green eyes ’

He’d been going to do that for her ‘You’ve got a dress to wash’

‘I don’t think toasted sandwiches will take all night’

He stared at her Toasted sandwiches? People came to Italy in their droves to eat pasta and pizza, not sandwiches From deep inside a bubble built up, pushed upward, exploded across his tongue Laughter filled the air ‘You’re a a spring in his step headed for that da strange things to him No doubt about it One moment he was annoyed, the next, happy Bizarre

‘You’re a’ Those tords bounced around Elene’s skull as she pressed the dress into warm, soapy water Why had Mattia said that? They were poles apart in most aspects of their lives

You think Mattia’s wonderful about certain things, like his care for his patients Oh, please It’s his body and looks and kindness and fun that’ve got your knickers in a twist Patients have nothing to do with it

He probablybecause she’d offered to save hi when she’d said she wasn’t interested in food Tell that to her starving sto down at the sa hi to eat

In the kitchen she could hear Mattia’s carefullyHe’d shut himself in his office, presumably so she wouldn’t be privy to what he told his family about her unexpected arrival on his doorstep Her heart squeezed for him How did he tell those nearest and de

arest that there was another member of the family that no one had known about? It wouldn’t be easy, even when they seemed close

Toet an interrogation? Be hauled over hot coals for bringing Ai? Heraround the kitchen, she focused on norained her composure She would not be afraid of their reaction She had right on her side She was looking out for Aimee, after all

Why did youAi to tell Mattia he was a father? Did you want us to catch up, ether for Ai upon her Not so usual, despair didn’t follow Strange

Opening the fridge, she debated what to fill the sandwiches with Not that there was a lot of choice, the contents being more suited for a pasta sauce So—tomatoes, ham, cheese

An arm whipped around her and lifted out a water bottle

She sucked in a breath, got a wave ofup packets of food, she twisted around and elbowed the fridge door shut and ca this close, so in his sphere, had her blood fizzing He was bigger than she’d re had become a problem ‘Excuse me’ She needed air, fast

‘Certainly’ But he didn’t move Not a centimetre

Raising her head, her breath clogged her sluggish lungs His gaze was fixed on her, hisToo te Careful what you wish for A kiss froo, sorting out Aiet over his kisses—and he hadn’t actually kissed her He’d only have to crook his finger and she’d do whatever he wanted ‘Move Now’

‘Certainly,’ he repeated, only this time he did as she demanded

Relief warred with regret Regret that she’d never get to try out those lips, feel thathers Relief that he’d neverBecause this man was experienced Without a doubt He’d played the field in Wellington, and there’d never been a bad word spoken about hi-term relationship with a ave of herself when s wasn’t happening How hu would that be? But—If only Those pecs were