Page 57 of Matteo

He's rewritten my DNA with only his lips pressing to my cheek. Okay, maybe it wasn’t my DNA. At the very least, it’s everything I believed was possible. All those times I thought I was crazy, his thumb on my lips, him brushing my hair then holding me after, the good girl moment. I wasn’t crazy—Matteo wanted me.

It doesn’t matter I’m a former foster kid with a druggie mother who overdosed. The fact I didn’t graduate high school until I was almost twenty didn’t matter to him. My community college associate’s degree I didn’t get until I was twenty-five. He wanted me despite all the reasons why he shouldn’t.

I can’t believe it. He’s beyond out of my league. What could he want with me? Now that I’m thinking of it—I’m not sure. His mom played him. Maybe I’m wrong, and he doesn’t want me.

What if it’s only about sex—because I’m here? There’s no way he could really want me for more. I’m someone to keep his mom off his back. Except for the kiss… Fuck, I’m getting a headache.

“Amy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m?—”

Oh shit, he’s genuinely remorseful. I need to know. I have to know. I’m unable to hold it in a second longer. I blurt out the question. “Can I get the number for the housekeeper you had in Baltimore?”

Matteo freezes. “Denise? Why?”

It takes a minute to think of a good reason. Forcing a shrug, “I meant to ask before. There were a few questions I had about housekeeping in general.”

The frown on his forehead is deep and then gone. “Sure. I’ll text you her number.”

“Thanks. I’m going to jump in the shower and get dressed before Layla wakes up to go to your family brunch.” I force myself not to run for my room. My phone pings with a text before I close the door.

I call the woman. My stomach is twisting with knots as I wait for her to answer.

“Hello?” Her voice is deep. It sounds like she’s older.

“Hi, my name is Amy Goff. I’m Matteo Castillo’s new housekeeper. I was hoping to ask you a few questions. If it’s okay with you?”

She’s quiet for what feels like forever before she finally laughs. “Matteo, god I miss him. How is he doing? Best damn boss you’ll ever have. A real sweetheart. The man gives a shit—too much, I thought sometimes. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.”

“Did he really buy you a car? How did that…”

Another laugh. “He sure as hell did. I was running myself ragged after my minivan died on me. Since I was only working for him about a year, I was scared he’d fire me for not having my own vehicle no more. I was still working part-time as a CNA and going to school to get my nursing degree. He was the easiest part of my day. It wasn’t nothing to shop for him and clean up after him since he was never home. And the pay was damn good for it.”

I sag onto the bed in relief.

“Public transportation in Baltimore is better than most cities. It’s also a pain in the ass. Finally had to admit to him I didn’t have a car no more when he asked me to get something on the other side of the city. It would’ve taken half the day to get up there and back.”

Thank fucking god.

“Anyway, he gets all mad at me. He leaves the hospital in the middle of the day and orders me to be at his house. I’m thinking he’s gonna fire my ass, and he wanted his keys. I get there and tells me to get in his car. Doesn’t say nothing the whole drive. I’m too scared to ask questions. We roll up on a dealership for Honda. I tried to tell him I’d be good with a Chevy or something, but he told me no. He’d read reports the Honda Odyssey was safer. To think of my boys.”

I press my hand to my chest. It’s so Matteo that I can practically hear him saying it.

“As happy as I was at getting a new car, I was worried. How was I gonna pay him back? He gets all offended. It was a part of the job for me to run his errands and handle his business. The same way he provides the vacuum to clean up, he’s going to get me a vehicle. He doesn’t want to hear nothing about me paying him back. There wouldn’t be a bonus at Christmas time like he did before. He gave me five grand in cash at the beginning of December because there were five people in my house to buy gifts for. My mother lives with me, so me, her, and my three boys. I said I was good with that.”

I’ve heard everything I need to hear, but I let her keep talking.

“He tells them we’re there to get a new minivan for me. Since he’s paying cash, he doesn’t want no bullshit haggling. They showed us what they had in stock. And he paid for it then and there. When I finished signing all the paperwork, he told me to get back to work. I tried to thank him again, but he didn’t want to hear it. He’s a good man. A real good man. Saved me from my dick of an ex-husband too.” She sighs heavily.

I freeze. “How did he save you?”

Another sigh. “We was married, but I kicked him out going on five years. I didn’t have the money for no divorce. Then the bastard went and stole my tax return. Seven thousand dollars, if he’d been in front of me—I’d be in jail right now. I finally said that’s it. I was going to divorce him and put his ass on child support. I didn’t expect nothing from child support. I wanted him hurting the way he hurt me and his kids. Anyway, I asked Matteo if he knew any good lawyers to go to. Two months later, I’m divorced, and he’s on child support. Matteo never let me pay or worry about nothing.”

The knots in my stomach unfurl. I was terrified that the car and clothes and taking care of me and Layla came with a price after all.

“Was there anything else you wanna know?” The question pulls me away from my head.

“No, thank you. I appreciate you taking the time. Great person to work for, got it. Thanks.”

“He sure is. All right now. You have a good day and tell him I miss him.”

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