Chapter 4
Chapter Four
ATHENA
“ A re you sure you will be okay with Matteo taking you home?” Allegra asks once again, a look of concern on her face as we get changed in the pool house.
Chuckling, I pull the blue maxi dress over my head, letting the light fabric drop and pool at my feet. “I’m sure. It’s a twenty-minute car ride. What could possibly go wrong?”
She pins me with a pointed look and, ignoring her, I grab my phone when it chimes. Facial recognition opens my screen, showing a text message. A grin curves my lips as my eyes trace the words.
“A lot actually. And what has you smiling like that? I know that look and it can only mean trouble.”
Laughing, I tap out a response before focusing my attention on my friend. “I have a date tonight.”
Her brows furrow, confusion marring her features at the quick change of subject. “A date? With whom?”
“Some hot, up and comer working for my father. His newest, shiny protégé, I’m sure. He just finished school. Comes from a wealthy family. Is ambitious, and my dad likes him, so that helps.”
My response is vague at best. I have only met Henry twice. If it wasn’t for my father pushing the union, I probably wouldn’t have looked at him twice. Not that there is anything wrong with him. Henry is attractive and ticks most boxes. I’m sure we will have lots in common, he is just missing that air of danger that gets me hot like nothing else.
When I look at Matteo, it’s an adrenaline rush. I feel like I am treading a tight rope, one wrong move and I will free fall into danger. When I look at Henry, I just feel safe. It’s not a bad thing as such. It’s just that… I have always been the type of girl who lives on the wilder side of life. Always looking for my next hit of epinephrin. Matteo is that hit.
“Sounds fun.” Allegra murmurs, skeptical.
“Yep,” I respond, smiling.
Allegra sighs but before she can speak, a deep, masculine voice filters into the pool house. “In the car, now, Athena.”
Rolling my eyes, I snatch up my purse from the side table. “Better not keep him waiting.”
“No.” Allegra steps into me, wrapping me in a hug. “Let me know how your date goes,” she whispers.
“I will. Now go and rest,” I say, pulling back, and giving her a knowing look.
My best friend hasn’t told me the news yet, but I see the glow covering her face. The slight roundness of her belly. Allegra is pregnant.
She chews her lip, her cheeks turning pink as she averts her gaze. It was not my intention to make her feel guilty about keeping it to herself, but I know Allegra better than I know myself. We tell each other everything. This will be eating her up inside, keeping it from me. But she must have her reasons.
Meeting my gaze, she confirms my thoughts, with a remorseful look on her face, but ignores my comment altogether. “Call me later?”
Grinning, I move around her, making my way to the door and pushing it open. “It will be late. You know how grouchy Dante gets when I disturb his time with you. I will call you tomorrow.”
“Be safe,” Allegra calls out to me as I step outside.
“Always,” I shout back, smiling like an idiot only for it to fall when my gaze lands on Matteo’s dark one.
A red light flashes in my mind’s eye, as a voice inside my head whispers one word repeatedly. Danger. Danger. Danger . Instead of heeding the warning, a thrill shoots through my body, settling between my thighs. My stomach tightens, lips part. Just like that, the feeling I have come to crave hits me.
And like the silly girl I am, I fall into the adrenaline rush.
Chasing it.
Needing it.
Somewhere buried deep in my brain, I know I should listen to my gut instinct.
But right now, with Matteo’s eyes on me…
I just can’t bring myself to care.