Page 20 of Forbidden Lord
“What sort of connections?” He helped her lace her shoes, his movements efficient.
She stared at his thick black hair and remembered when he’d walked her to her dorm following that horrible school dance. She’d somehow fallen into the fountain, ruining her clothes, and he’d helped her escape everyone laughing. That day, she’d thought Matteo her hero until he flirted with the girl across the hall.
She sighed to stop the memories. “I organize many fundraisers and support artists so they can pursue their work with less financial troubles.”
He stood, her shoes perfectly knotted, and asked, “What connections did Charles think were more important than you?”
The night before the hotel incident, she’d introduced Charles to Alexa. The two had talked for hours and she’d found out later, once she’d made it back to Paris afterward, that Alexa had also left the show early—Alexa’s friends had been concerned as she hadn’t called or checked in with them.
A few days later, while planning her next event, she’d been notified online that Charles was spotted with Alexa in Venice, the pair holding hands. The picture had hurt and she’d told everyone to never send her another message about him—they were over.
She met Matteo’s compassionate brown eyes and remembered how he’d lent her his jacket for that short walk from the school dance while she’d been soaked. “One of my artists, actually. Once he chose her, they fell off the face of the earth as far as I’m concerned.”
Matteo wrapped an arm around her waist as they descended his stairs together. “So, he slept with you to find another woman?”
“That sounds so predatory.” She shivered when they made it to the first floor landing.
He motioned toward the door and walked with her as he asked, “Is it true?”
He opened it for her. She met his gaze as she passed but the moment he joined her on the front balcony she said, “Maybe. I woke up alone and stuck with the bill for the hotel rooms.”
His eyes widened. “Rooms?”
Drat. She normally didn’t “share” this much. She sighed as he led her off the patio and down a garden path as she admitted, “Hers too.”
“Ouch.” Matteo hugged her and kissed her forehead.
Sheena realized that she trusted Matteo. Maybe she shouldn’t, but his kindness to her years ago just made her open to being honest now. She nodded and walked beside him. “That’s what Chelsea said when I told her. Then she talked about finding true love and asked me to help you plan your wedding.”
Matteo pointed to the park in front of them that had a skateboard ramp. “For me and… Patrice?”
“Planning your wedding was to remind me that nice guys exist and next time, pick a better one.” She watched him open the five foot slatted wood fence that clearly meant to hide skate park on the landscaped grounds as she said, “She wanted me to let her find out who her sister suggested, and then I should just marrythatguy, and forget all about Charles.”
“And you did.” He winked and let the gate close behind him.
She hadn’t thought about it, but she had. Sheena laughed softly. “You’re right. I just hope you aren’t worse for me than Charles.”
He led her toward a shed and unlocked it with a glance at his electronic facial recognition. She heard the click and he opened the door. “Our chemistry, I hope, is different.”
Matteo handed her a bright pink skateboard with cats and fairy-tale stickers on it, reminiscent of her childhood. She burst out laughing. “Of course. Why do you have this pink one?”
“It was a gift from one of my father’s many girlfriends. She predicted that one day I’d want to bring a girl into my hobby.”
Matteo chose a sleek bright-green and blue board with blue wheels. He handed her a plain black helmet and pads that she put on. “You’re nice.”
He helped her adjust the strap on the safety helmet. “There is that word again. Sheena,no onethinks that of me.”
She shook her head. The reason she was so at ease with Matteo was because he was exactly as she said. She pursed her lips. “But-”
He kissed her.
His mouth on hers made the world disappear. She swallowed nervously.
“I just hope that we can learn to trust each other.” He put his board on the ground and gestured for her to do the same.
“As friends, we already do.” Though maybe he didn’t fully trust her—why should he? He’d been in need of a hostess, which she could do. She buckled her head strap. “I was wondering something.”
“What?” He helped her stand on the board and find her balance.
