Page 17 of Third Crime’s A Charm (Princes Take New York #3)

Eleven

A n afternoon with Truman could give a man whiplash.

When they were alone and could speak freely, Truman flattered one moment, then talked in riddles the next.

Whenever Matteo thought he’d gotten past Truman the attorney, and was connecting with someone real and decent, he came away feeling like a fool.

He’d been touched and ridiculously pleased that Truman had seen something more in him. Matteo had never wanted his intelligence to be noticed, but it took a lot to impress a man like Truman Tennyson. For a moment, Matteo thought he mattered to Truman and was more than a common criminal.

Was it all an act?

To make matters worse, Matteo couldn’t trust himself around Truman.

The stiff, severe scoundrel was just as sexy as the sweet, doting man Matteo shared with Donna.

In bed, Truman was an irresistible combination of both.

Nearly everything about Truman drove Matteo wild, but they were incapable of trusting each other.

Was Matteo truly safe with Truman?

His instincts warned that anyone that Truman didn’t trust was expendable.

He wondered how much planning happened during the morning run and debated if it would be smart to tag along as he showered. Truman was still out with Neville but was due back at any moment. They left just after sunrise and were usually gone for two hours.

Matteo didn’t mind running but that early? He shook his head, deciding it wasn’t worth the trouble because they’d find another way to conspire without him. And eventually, Truman would share his entire plan. If not, Matteo would be taking the star back to Austria himself.

His mind made up, Matteo dressed in a pair of short, powder blue swim trunks and a pastel pink shirt.

He’d left it unbuttoned and was on his way down but didn’t make it past the armchair by the bed before he needed to write something in his notepad.

Matteo reminded himself to look into the protestors.

That was a natural, ready-made distraction he could exploit and would see what they could do to call more attention to the party and the guest list.

There was a soft knock and Matteo looked up as Truman came in, holding out his phone. “It’s Theo,” he said, passing it to Matteo before silently leaving and closing the door behind him.

“Moagn, Theo. Wie geht's?"

“I’m good. How are you?” Theo asked urgently, making Matteo groan.

“Please, stop worrying. I promise, Truman is taking good care of me. I spent most of yesterday napping in a hammock and will be right back in it after breakfast,” he predicted. “You should bring Doobie up here in the summer.”

“Possibly... Muriel’s flying to Austria tonight and we’re leaving for Oslo tomorrow morning,” Theo said reluctantly. “Brooks is getting homesick and you aren’t in a hurry to come back.”

“Take him home! I’m sorry your trip to Austria was cut short and I promise to make it up to everyone.”

“Halt die Klappe, Teo!” Theo shushed and laughed softly. “He was already homesick before you scared us and we’ll get over it. We just want you to be alright.”

“I’m alright.”

“Would you consider coming back to Oslo with us for a while?” Theo asked, his tone slightly parental.

“Maybe in a few weeks. I haven’t been back since the sandwich shop opened.”

“A few weeks? What else do you have going on?”

“Is it so hard to believe that I have other commitments?” Matteo snapped back. “I don’t need an intervention. I’m just…on holiday with Truman. Why is that so hard to believe?”

“I’m sorry! But this isn’t like you!”

“To go on holiday with an attractive, accomplished man? Why not? I thought you, of all people, would approve.”

“Yes! But not with him !” Theo whispered loudly. “Muriel says that everyone is talking and wondering if you have underworld connections too.”

“Oida! We both know I don’t. Why are you listening to gossip? Only half of it is ever true.”

“True, but the half we know isn’t reassuring.”

“Not if you have Muriel there to dial up the drama,” Matteo replied with a click of his teeth. “I would kill for Muriel but we all know she lives in an Agatha Christie novel. The most interesting thing I’ve seen Truman do is dance the Hustle with his housekeeper.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?”

“The sex is phenomenal but I assumed you didn’t want to hear about that…”

“I really don’t,” Theo said, sighing. “Please remember that I’m not that far away if you need me and you’re always welcome in Oslo.”

“I know. Give Doobie my best. I love you and I’ll talk to you again soon.”

“I love you too, Teo. Ciao.”

“Ciao.” The call ended and Matteo checked his watch, predicting the phone would ring again in less than a minute.

It rang forty-two seconds later, making Matteo roll his eyes as he answered.

“Servus,” he said with a snort. “I'm an adult, Leo. When are the two of you going to stop playing good parent/bad parent?”

“We’re all worried, except Elio, so I know you’re up to something.”

“Maybe he trusts me?” Matteo guessed, earning a weary groan.

“Maybe he’s in on it. That’s what scares me the most. It’s rarely good when the two of you team up and now you’re involved with this criminal attorney. And he’s my age, Matteo.”

That made Matteo laugh. “Are you holding that against him?”

“Not at all!” Leo stated quickly and firmly. “But I understand the challenges for a man like Tennyson and how it might appeal to his vanity. Dating you might work for his ego now, what happens when he’s tired of all the attention and gossip and decides he’s had enough?”

“Hmm…” Matteo bit down on his lips and counted down. “I never once assumed you were with Jonathon for the attention or because of a midlife crisis. I think too highly of Jonathon and I respect you.”

“Now wait a minute, Matteo! I?—!”

“No, you wait!” Matteo interrupted. “Truman isn’t a saint but no one is.

I can only judge him by the way he behaves around me and you should too.

His professional affairs have nothing to do with me.

So far, Truman has only been kind and attentive and generous with the people he cares about.

Does the rest matter?” he asked angrily.

The kicker was: Matteo wasn’t sure if he was mad at Leo for making assumptions, mad at Truman for being just as terrible as his brothers feared, or mad at himself for standing up for Truman so vehemently.

To make matters worse, all the things he’d said about Truman were the truth and Matteo wished he wasn’t pretending he was in love.

His brothers would forgive him quickly, but fighting for Truman and defending his honor was one of the most romantic things Matteo had ever done. It was such a shame that it was wasted on Truman.

“You’re right,” Leo eventually grumbled. “Your aunt’s blue handbag is missing. Have you seen it?” he asked carefully. As far as they knew, none of their aunts had a blue handbag but mentioning it was their secret way of saying “Do you need rescuing?” or “Send help!”

“Nein, ich habe sie nicht gesehen,” Matteo answered slowly and clearly, hoping Leo would finally let it go. “We should be back in Manhattan in a few days. I’ll be staying at Truman’s for a while, especially with everyone leaving the city.”

“I’ll still keep an eye on you,” Leo warned, this time tenderly. “I miss you and I hope you’re not too upset with me.”

“I’m not. I’ll see you for the holidays, if not sooner.”

“That would please me. Be good, Teo.”

“Always! Ciao!” he said, then ended the call.

He swore as he tossed the phone on an ottoman, slouching in the armchair and scrubbing his face.

It was a silly thing to feel bitter and guilty about, but lying to his brothers felt like a bigger crime than stealing.

Soon, they would accept Truman and be happy for them or they would be comforting Matteo over their breakup.

Matteo would have to keep lying for weeks or months and was almost relieved he’d have Muriel’s place to himself, instead of doing it to their faces.

There was another knock on the door before it opened and Truman leaned in. “Is everything alright?”

“Fine,” Matteo said, gesturing for him to come in.

“It was loud for a few moments and I heard my name,” Truman said as he lowered onto the ottoman.

“They’ll get over it. They just about have.”

Truman nodded slowly. “Isn’t that a good thing?” he asked, making Matteo sigh.

“Yes. Mostly. It’s complicated, Truman,” he said and swung his feet onto Truman’s lap. “Lying to them always makes me so… tense !” He swore and rubbed a temple.

“I’m very sorry.” Truman obediently began massaging Matteo’s left foot, instantly softening his nerves. “I forget that lying isn’t as easy when you’re a decent person.”

Matteo nodded but waved it off. “I can usually avoid it by being cheeky and evasive. I’ve been a little too good at it, though. They still think I’m a child so it’s more upsetting when I do something they don’t like. Sometimes, I’m more of a child than Elio to Leo and Theo.”

“How so?” Truman asked as he rotated Matteo’s ankle, making the rest of his body feel looser.

“Nothing ever hurts Eli. He’s as indestructible on the inside as he is on the outside because all he comprehends is mathematics and science.

The weight of other people’s opinions never bears on Eli because he understands that thoughts and words can’t hurt him.

Why would he care about gossip or fame or money?

Those are small things to Eli and cannot compete with black holes and dark matter. ”

“What about love? He loves you and your brothers and I doubt he wants to be alone.”

“Eli loves us, and he and I… It hurts to be away from him sometimes, but Eli’s always been on his own plane. Even Leo and Theo don’t understand that. They think Eli is cold and difficult and resents them, but he resents anything that takes him from his thoughts and his work.”

Truman chuckled softly. “A quality you both share,” he murmured but Matteo shrugged.