Page 17 of Ruthless Match

It was hard to explain but I felt closer to Matteo at that moment than I ever had.

“It’s a beautiful home, and I will do my best to accommodate your style and preferences.”

“I trust you, Aurora. Everything you have done has been perfect. Just like…”

But he didn’t finish. I don’t know if he was scared or just thought better of it, but I desperately wanted to know.

As the weeks passed, I continued to transform the mansion. Drab colorless rooms were suddenly alive with color and full of comfortable furniture that you weren’t afraid to touch.

I added personal touches that reflected my personality here and there. I had taken some time off from my duties at the hotel to work on the house, and although Matteo was often busy with work, he always made an effort to spend time together. We weren’t a typical newlywed couple by any means, but we were making progress, and that’s what mattered—at least to me.

When Matteo was home, we took long walks around the property, often stopping in the rose garden as we shared a love for the beauty of nature. Slowly, we were beginning to build a connection that I hoped would continue to grow stronger. I yearned for something deeper than the business arrangement that brought us together.

One evening, after a long day of dealing with painters and floor installers, I wandered out onto the terrace with a rather large glass of wine. I needed it. Watching the sun cast an amber glow over the garden as it went down for the evening, I was lost in thought when Matteo joined me. He, too, had made himself a drink. From the smell, it was scotch.

“Aurora, you’ve done an amazing job with the house,” he said, standing dangerously close behind me. “It looks incredible.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride. “Thank you, Matteo. I know it technically always was, but it is now starting to feel like home.”

Nuzzling into my neck, he whispered, “I’m happy to hear that because that is what I wanted.”

As much as it pained me to admit it, I was beginning to see Matteo in a different light. The tension that had marked the beginning of our ‘relationship’ was beginning to fade. Matteo would always be an enigmatic and complex figure, but beneath that, there was a kindness to him that I hadn’t expected.

Grinning like a kid on his way to Disney World, he set both of our drinks down and grabbed my hand.

“Come on, I want to show you something.”

Laughing, I cocked my head to the side. “What could you possibly show me in the house that I haven’t seen?”

“You’ll see. Come on.”

He led me to the small garden shed that was no longer used, the one I suggested would make a great yoga studio.

“Matteo, what are we doing at the old garden shed?”

“I remembered what you said about smelling the aroma of the roses and seeing them bloom. It would be the perfect place to meditate and practice yoga, and you’ve done so much to bring life to the house; I wanted to do something for you…”

He opened the door and my jaw hit the floor. Inside, the small space had been transformed into a yogi’s version of heaven. The walls were painted a deep mauve, and twinkling lights hung from the ceiling. An air diffuser stood in the corner, and a window had been added. French Doors had been added to open into the garden.

Squealing, I turned to hug him. “When on earth did you do this without me knowing?”

“It’s a large estate, you can’t be everywhere all the time. Do you like it?”

“I love it! Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. I want you to be happy, Aurora.”

I believed him. Over the weeks spent together, he had shown me in small but significant ways that he cared. It was a far cry from the controlling and domineering man from a few months ago.

I knew there were still challenges to face, but now I had hope—hope that together, we could find a way to make this marriage work.

CHAPTER 11

Matteo

I sat at my large mahogany desk, looking out the windows of my home office and admiring the detailed landscape. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting shadows on the polished wood floor.

I leaned back in my oversized leather chair and stared at the papers scattered before me. But my mind was elsewhere. It had been for several days. The tranquility of the time spent in Viejo San Juan with Aurora was beginning to feel like a distant memory.

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