He smiled, beyond thrilled. “Thank you, baby. We’re going to have a blast.”
****
Matteo held her hand and helped her up the steep steps into the private jet. Pietro Romanelli spared no expense in order to travel. A tall, beautiful blonde stewardess smiled at him.
“Welcome, Mr. Roman—”
“Thank you,” he said quickly, cutting her off. The last thing he wanted was this woman revealing his true last name. “Macy, would you like coffee? Tea?”
“Water is fine,” she said, smiling.
“You heard her,” he told the stewardess. “Nothing for me. After that, you’re dismissed.”
The woman nodded and headed toward the small alcove near the cockpit. She returned with a bottle of water, holding it out to Macy before leaving them.
“Hello, this is your captain. We have clear skies ahead and should arrive in New York City in a little over two hours. Buckle up—we’ll be airborne in a few minutes.”
Matteo helped Macy secure hers before doing his.
“What do you want to see while in New York?”
“The Statue of Liberty,” she answered quickly. “If we see nothing else, I want to see her.”
“Done.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “You’re so incredibly beautiful.”
She reached up and captured his hand, bringing it to her lips so she could kiss it. “So are you.”
“We’ll be sharing a room,” he warned. He wasn’t going to allow there to be space between them.
“I figured,” she murmured. “But that’s what I want. I want you to be my first.”
“Your last,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Am I your last?”
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “You know you are.”
“We just met.”
“Love at first sight is real.”
“You believe in that?”
“Of course, I do,” he replied. “The moment I saw you it became real. I hope that doesn’t scare you.”
“It doesn’t,” she told him. “Fear comes from the unknown, and you’re not unknown.”
He smiled. “We’re going to have a wonderful weekend.”
When they landed in New York, a limo waited for them, whisking them away from the airfield and onto the crowded, busy roads. Macy stared wide-eyed out the window, and Matteo enjoyed seeing the wonder on her face. She reached into her bag and brought out an inhaler, shaking it before inhaling a puff. He made a mental note that he needed to figure out what medicine she needed to make her better.
The limo drove them to the Ritz-Carlton, and they left their suitcases behind as they entered the opulent foyer of the world-famous hotel. Crystal chandeliers, marble art deco floors. Their room was ready and a bellhop followed them up to the penthouse suite, where their room overlooked Central Park. Macy gasped, taking in the luxurious den with a coffered ceiling and recessed lights. Matteo gave the bellhop a nice tip and then they were alone.
Macy was at the window, and he came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“I have a meeting in an hour,” he said softly. “How about when I get back, we have a wonderful dinner, and then, an even more wonderful time in bed?”
“What if I’m terrible at sex?” she asked.