Page 15 of Beautiful Sinner

“Why do you care?” I ask. “If I get hurt, that is?”

He stares down at the desk. I would give anything to know what’s on his mind right now. “You just seem so… innocent. I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all. Coming here was a risk. I’ll take you home though. I want to make sure you get back in one piece.”

“But what if someone saw us? My brother would think you were trying to kidnap me.”

“Then I’ll just have to make sure no one sees us. Come on.” He motions me out of the office. “Let’s go.”

He takes me out a back door to a parking lot where his car is. I hesitate at the door.

“I promise I won’t hurt you, Julia.”

I believe him. Maybe it’s naïve but I feel it in my gut that Matteo won’t hurt me and if getting in his car gives me more of a chance to talk with him, even just for this one night, I’ll take it.

I’m suddenly aware of how short my dress is once we’re both seated in the car and driving away from the club. The dress keeps riding up my thighs but every time I sneak a peek at Matteo, he has his eyes firmly planted on the road. Good. I’m not sure how I would feel if he was sneaking looks back at me.

“Since we’ll never get to talk again,” I say, “is it ok if I ask you a question?”

“I guess.”

“Do you think there will ever be peace between my brother and your boss?”

He sighs deeply. “I know Dante wants it. He’s starting a family. But don’t tell your brother that. Dante will hate it if word gets out that his wife is pregnant.”

“You’re asking me to lie to my brother.”

“I know. And I never should have told you that. But there’s something about you that’s just… easy to talk to.”

“I feel the same way.” I pause. “And I won’t tell my brother. He’d wondered how I learned this information and I’d have to tell him I snuck out and went to one of Dante’s nightclubs. He’d lock me up and never let me out if he knew. So Dante’s secret is safe. And so is yours.”

He frowns. “What’s my secret?”

“You and me. Talking.”

Finally, he glances at me and his expression makes me feel breathless. Soft and open yet a hint of danger. My stomach flutters. Matteo is so handsome, it’s hard to even look at him.

“Since we’re asking each other questions,” he says, “do you think your brother will ever stop?”

“No. I want to hope so but I know my brother. He’s so stubborn. He’ll never stop.”

“Then let me ask you a different question. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?”

“No one’s ever asked me that before.”

“It’s a serious question and needs a serious answer.”

I think on it for a moment and everything inside of me wants to tell Matteo the truth. It’s naïve of me but I feel like I can trust him. “Here.”

“Here?”

“In this car. With you.” I can’t look at him but I can feel him looking at me.

“I… wasn’t expecting that.”

“I like talking with you. I don’t want it to end. I’ll ask you the same question. If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

He pulls the car to the side of the road. Just up the street is my house. We’re here already and it pangs my heart to know that this is the last time I’ll ever talk to Matteo again.

“With my mom,” he admits.