25. Esmé
25
ESMé
T he early morning sun streamed through my kitchen window, bouncing off the smooth olive skin of Matteo’s back. I’d woken this morning with his arms wrapped around me and his soft breath at my neck.
The second his eyelashes opened; he’d asked me a question.
“No regrets?”
My stomach shifted. I’d wrestled with that thought all night.
Did I regret what we’d done? The way he made me feel? No.
But did that mean we could just pick up where they left off? Also, no.
I hadn’t opened the gallery yesterday. Instead, we’d stayed in bed. We’d let Claudette in downstairs, and she’d spent the rest of the day following Matteo around. It was the first time she'd ever ventured, let alone stayed, upstairs.
Matteo made pasta again, and I’d cobbled together a salad from my limited fridge supplies. But like all good things that must end, today would bring a dose of reality. We’d get back to our normal routine .
“I can’t believe you’re still alive,” he said, shaking his head, looking into the void of my vegetable crisper.
I giggled, tickling Claudette’s ears. She was up early, padding around the counter, purring like a Ferrari.Over the weekend, she’d taken to coming and going via the balcony. Lord only knew how she managed to climb up.
“I can last until I get coffee, if you can,” he said, shutting the fridge door.
I ran my eyes over him. His curls were damp from the shower, and he smelled of my shower gel. He wore the same clothes he’d worn zip lining. I’d washed and dried them, along with mine.
He kissed me on the temple before heading to the front door, opening it with a click of the lock.
“Where are you going?”
Matteo grinned. “To get your coffee. Just because I stayed over doesn’t mean I should slouch in my duties, boss.” He turned, moving toward the door that led to the gallery.
My stomach lurched. “Hey! You can’t go that way.”
He stopped on the step, looking at me like I’d asked him to get my coffee naked. “Why?”
I chewed the side of my lip, my gut shifting gently. “What if someone saw you?”
He stared at me, his expression blank. “Why would they? It’s too early for anyone to be here.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “But it’s exhibition week. Maurice or Lola could arrive at any time. How would you explain being dressed like … that?”
He glanced down at his T-shirt and sweatpants, then shrugged. “They’d probably think I was going for a bohemian look. I think I look very artistic.”
His gorgeous grin made my chest ache, but he wasn’t taking the hint. I sighed. “Matteo, you haven’t shaved since Friday, and you smell like my shower gel. They’d know you stayed here. ”
“Really? Maurice knows what your shower gel smells like?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, but I’m serious. You usually look so put together. Right now, you look like you’ve been here all weekend working in the cellar.”
He huffed a laugh. “Little known secret … I'm scared of spiders. But so what if they think I’ve been here, corrupting the boss? They’ll find out soon enough.”
My gut churned. “No. They can’t know. Nobody can.”
Matteo blinked three times before his face fell. He hung on to the handle of the door leading to the gallery. “Why?” His voice was quiet, and I longed to kiss away the crease between his brows.
“We need to keep the two of us a secret for the moment.” His scowl deepened and my chest tugged.
“Because?” he ground out.
I stood up, my chair squeaking against the floor. With a shake of my head, I joined him, pulling him back inside my apartment. “Because I don’t think now would be the best time for us to go public. It’s only been two days, and you know how people love to gossip.”
He dragged his feet as I pulled him back through the door and my heart broke at the downturn of his lips. “I think it would be best if we didn’t mention you and I until after the exhibition.”
At my suggestion, he widened his eyes. “Are you ashamed of me?” His voice was deathly quiet, and my stomach flipped.
“No,” I said, taking him by the hands. “But I don’t want the gallery or the exhibition opening to be overshadowed by anything. I want it to be about Luc, and …”
“And about my grandfather’s investment?”
Matteo hit the nail on the head full-on and my face flushed with heat.
“Yes,” I whispered. I took his hand, threading my fingers through his. “It’s not that I’m ashamed of you, I promise. I’ve had the most incredible weekend. But what if people found out about us? When they hear about Gio’s support, they could assume I’ve used you. The Paris art scene is so gossipy. If they knew we’d even met outside the gallery, they’d think I was only with you because of your grandfather.”
Emotions ran across his face, and none of them were good. My reasons had been honest, but they weren’t my only concern. If people knew we were seeing each other, they’d also find out he was younger than me. I didn’t want anyone passing judgement on the two of us for that reason, either.
His dark lashes trembled, and he opened his mouth to speak.
Before he could, though, I kissed the back of his knuckles. “Matteo. I’ve worked long and hard to build my reputation here in Paris. One wrong move could bring everything down around me. Rome would be a distant pipe dream, and I’d be back at square one.”
His dark eyes bounced around my face, almost tearing my guts out with their intensity. “You’re serious?”
I let out a long, uneven breath. “I have to be. I know I’m asking a lot, and perhaps being selfish, but I really like you, and I don’t want anything to rail-road us before we’ve had a chance to start.”
He studied me for the longest time, and my heart thundered in my chest. I desperately wanted to keep seeing Matteo, but I had to be practical.
After a time, he shook his head, leaning against the counter. He eyed me steadily. “If boss and employee are how you want things, I’ll comply. But I need a few ground rules myself.”
“You need ground rules?”
He nodded, running his hand down Claudette’s back. She was trying everything in her power to distract him, rubbing against his arm like she’d never see him again.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m turning over a new leaf. I’ve decided to enter my responsible adult era. But if I’m going to abide by your rules, I have some questions—and a few clarifications.”
My shoulders softened. “Okay then. Fire away.”
“Can I talk to you in front of other people?”
I smiled. “Don’t be silly, of course you can.”
“I mean, without a chaperone present. I wouldn’t want people getting the wrong idea.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Of course, Matteo.”
“What happens if I accidentally touch you?” he asked, stepping a little closer. “Will you have my suits hot-wired to deliver an electric shock if our skin brushes?”
He ran a hand along my arm, and just as he suggested, a pulse of electricity reached my belly. Alarm bells rang in my body. I’d known Matteo long enough to realise what was happening. It would only take a little more contact, a couple of smiles and some whispered words, and I’d be putty in his hands.
“Stop,” I pleaded. Who was I kidding? I’d already threaded my arms around his neck.
“That’s the problem,” he murmured. “I don’t think I can.” He leaned in and pressed his soft lips to mine.
I let out a slow breath, returning the pressure. I didn’t think I’d be much good at stopping, either. “I just don’t want everyone talking about us.”
He rested his forehead on mine. “I know. I promise I’ll lie low until after my grandfather signs on the dotted line. But after that, all bets are off.”
“What does that mean?” I threaded my fingers through the curls at his nape.
He grinned. “I’m not sure yet, but it’ll probably involve a lot of this.” He leaned in and brought his lips to my neck, planting a soft kiss on my skin .
“And a little of this.” Matteo traced his fingertips to my belly, and my heart skipped.
“Plus, an enormous amount of this,” he said, picking me up and lifting me onto the kitchen counter. He nudged my dress up around my thighs, his fingers trailing goosebumps in their wake. He leant down and kissed the inside of one thigh, his eyes sparkling up at me.
I sighed. Who was I to argue? If this was what I had to look forward to, I’d happily wait until I locked in his grandfather’s investment.
But as Matteo kept his eyes on mine, kissing a path up my skin, I knew if he was anywhere nearby, I’d have to lock up my heart, too.