Page 55 of Twin Surprise for the Italian Doc

This was so huge he couldn’t even begin to imagine how deeply it could have shaped a young life.

He needed to process this.

Thank goodness his instincts told himto back off. To take things slowly. To let Georgia choose when—or if—to invite him further into her life.

Telling him this had opened a door onto a space that was totally new.

A space that instinct told him nobody else had ever been allowed access to.

‘There’s something else I should tell you.’

He could feel the tension in her body now. Could feel her struggle.

‘You don’t have to,’ he whispered.‘Not right now.’ He stroked her hair. ‘We have all the time in the world,cara. I’m not going anywhere. Not yet. I love you.’

She still felt incredibly tense. Trembling, almost, as if she was still afraid.

So he kept holding her, until he could feel that tension ebbing.

And then, when she looked up to catch her gaze, he kissed her again.

‘You need to go to bed,tesoro. You need to sleep.’

‘I don’t want you to stop holding me right now,’ she whispered. ‘I love you, too.’

‘I don’t have to stop holding you.’ Matteo murmured, but his words were coming out without him giving them much thought at all.

Georgia had spoken so quietly he wondered whether he’d actually heard that last bit. Had she really just told him that she loved him? He wanted to ask if it was really true. If those barrierswere truly vanquished. But that would make this moment more about him than Georgia, wouldn’t it? If it was true, she would tell him again and he could be patient. Like his patience in getting closer to this woman he loved, it would be worth the wait.

‘I could still hold you while you sleep, if you’d like that.’

And that would be all he would do. Just be there for her. Holding her. Willing herto believe that not all men were untrustworthy.

She was very, very still in his arms now.

And then she pushed herself up from the couch and stood there in front of him.

Her outstretched hand an invitation.

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