Chapter 13
Wait, what was I thinking inviting my daughter's nanny—she's only twenty—to dinner with me, and at Mattia's restaurant of all places, where I always run into people I know. Still, I don't regret the invitation, and I can't wait for Saturday.
On the tray she brought, there's juice and some cookies, which I devour in seconds.
I was starving. I stay stuck on this case for hours, and when I finally look up, it's already quite late.
I turn off the computer, organize my papers, and head up to my room.
I take a shower to try to unwind, and with just a towel wrapped around my waist, I lie down.
Still thinking about inviting Amy, I decide that tomorrow I'll talk to Mattia, reserve a private room, and tell him about it. I'm not sure it was the right thing to do, but I can't take it back now. I fall asleep minutes later—I was exhausted.
It's midweek. I left the house after my workout and breakfast with my daughter—which has become a routine for me now. I'm on my way to the office when I decide to call Mattia.
“Calling me this early in the morning—aren't you working?”
“Where are you? I need to talk.”
“I just got to the restaurant.”
“I'll be there in five minutes.”
Soon I'm pulling up to Mattia's restaurant, which is still closed, so I go in through the side entrance that leads directly to his office. I knock twice and walk in.
“Want some coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
“Tell me why you're so desperate. What happened?”
“I invited Amélie to dinner here on Saturday.”
My friend stops what he's doing and looks at me with a funny expression on his face.
“Do I need to call a doctor? Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever, or did you hit your head when you fell?”
“Shut up, you idiot. No, I really don't know what happened. By the time I realized it, I'd already invited her.”
“And it just came out naturally. Oh, mio Dio, my friend is finally going to get back out there after years alone.”
“Hey, wait—I didn't say I'm in love or anything like that.”
“But I can see it on your face, especially when you look at her.”
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“I'm not. You just don't see it, but you're falling for this girl, and there's nothing wrong with that. Owen, you need to move on with your life. You already got what you wanted—you kept that James guy in jail for four years and avenged Luma's death. Now you have to focus on yourself.”
“I'm still not ready to have someone else in my life.”
“Have you ever thought about Ellie? She needs a mother, or at least a woman in her life who treats her like a daughter.”
“She has the nannies, and Amy's been doing an excellent job.”
“After how many nannies did you finally find one who actually acts like a mother to her? My friend, give yourself a chance. You need to be happy, to have someone to share your life with.”
“I already had that person.”
“But she's not here anymore. Your mourning has gone on long enough—it's time to stop. You invited her to dinner, so use that. Try to get closer to her, not as her boss, but as a man.”
“I don't know if I'm ready for that. I don't know if I could kiss another woman, touch her with love and tenderness.”
“You'll only know if you try, and I think now's the time. Just let things happen.”
“I need to go. I have an appointment at the courthouse. See you Saturday.”
“I'll reserve room two for you two. See you.”
I leave Mattia's restaurant, thinking about everything he said. Will I be able to get involved again? Fall in love? Love another woman, when it seems so hard to do that again?
I arrive at the courthouse. I should have gone to the office first, but I ran late talking to Mattia, so I push the whole matter aside and slip into my role as the merciless judge—which is what everyone calls me here.
I work all day on hearings. Since I hadn't taken any in days, they'd piled up, and I have to admit it's exhausting—listening to case after case, hearing the prosecutors and their arguments, then finally delivering a verdict that inevitably leaves one party unhappy.
I've had a few assassination attempts on my life—people who didn't accept my rulings. I chose criminal law, and I knew there would be consequences, but I didn't give up. I have a gun permit and carry it whenever I go out, along with my security detail.
These days I take every precaution because I have a daughter to raise. Amy comes to mind—she wants to work in criminal law. She has the right profile for it, but does she know the risks? Should I warn her?
I keep turning this over in my head until I get home.
It's late, and I'm exhausted. The whole house is dark except for the kitchen light, so that's where I head.
When I reach the doorway, I see someone bent over, her ass in the air—and what a perfect ass, round and firm.
I decide to snap her out of it before my body starts reacting to the view.
“Good night, Amy.”
“Oh my God, you scared me.”
She jumps up so fast she hits her head on the refrigerator and falls backward. I rush over to help her, but she’s sitting on the floor, smiling.
“You should wear a bell or something to warn people when you show up.”
“Sorry if I scared you. I didn’t think anyone would be here. I just got home and came straight to grab something to eat. Come on, I’ll help you up.”
The damn woman is wearing a nightgown that leaves part of her breasts exposed, and she catches me looking.
“The view from up there must be better than from down here, sir.”
Damn, that mouth of hers just doesn’t know when to quit.
“Sorry.” I extend my hand to her. She takes it, and I pull her to her feet. “You should dress more appropriately, miss.”
“Well, we don’t usually expect to find rats raiding the refrigerator at night. At least, in all the time I’ve been here, I’m the only one who comes down at this hour.”
I’m still processing what she meant by “rats” when she offers me the sandwich in her hand.
“Here, I made two. You can have one, and there’s juice in the fridge. I’m heading to bed. Good night and sweet dreams.”
The damn woman says all this, takes a bite of her sandwich, and gives me a wink. This girl doesn’t have an ounce of sense. I grab the sandwich she left on the counter and head straight to my room. She still drives me crazy.