Page 9 of Third Crime’s A Charm (Princes Take New York #3)

Five

T he other side of the bed was blessedly vacant when Matteo woke up the next morning. Truman had mentioned that he liked to run early, claiming it was to keep Neville in shape. But Matteo suspected that Truman was also giving him some space and time to think. And possibly cool down.

He was in a far more charitable mood when he wandered into the kitchen in a borrowed shirt and khaki shorts and was greeted with one of Donna’s hugs, coffee, and fresh pastries from a local bakery.

“I sent Neville out before their run,” she informed Matteo while she filled his plate with cut melon and berries and a large piece of blueberry coffee cake.

“Danke!” he said, kissing her cheek and lowering onto a stool.

“Eggs?” she asked as she set the plate in front of him but Matteo shook his head.

“This looks delightful already.”

“So polite!” Donna declared and gave his hand a squeeze.

“I don’t bake as much as I used to but the bakeries here are good enough,” she said with a shrug.

She went around the marble island and poured herself a cup of coffee, taking the spot across from Matteo.

“I’m gonna tell you something but this stays between us,” she said conspiratorially.

“Your secret is safe with me, Donna,” Matteo said as he cut off a bite of cake and scooped it into his mouth. “That’s lovely!” he groaned, making her laugh.

“It’s not anything earth shattering, but I usually don’t like the men that Truman dates. Not that I’ve met that many. He works too hard and he’s picky.”

Matteo hummed knowingly. “You mean he’s difficult and demanding. I told you, your secrets are safe with me, Donna.”

“That’s Truman, the attorney. He’s a ball buster back in Chicago and in Manhattan because he has to be. I think that’s why he usually goes for shit bags,” she added, causing Matteo to cough on his cake.

“I’m learning so much,” he said and washed it down with a gulp of coffee.

“He worries about me and Marie. I don’t think he wants someone else to worry about. So he picks men he’d never be happy with.”

A frown tugged at Matteo’s brow. He thought that she was the picky one but there might be more to it. “How can you tell?”

“The men he usually brings think too much of themselves to talk to me. They make backhanded comments about how quaint it is sharing meals with the housekeeper. But I know they don’t like it and complain to Truman when I’m out of the room.”

“That’s appalling behavior. You’re the most redeeming thing about Truman, so far, and I honestly wasn’t sure about him and this getaway until I met you.”

She thought Matteo was joking and laughed. “Nonsense. He may act like a rascal but he’s always been my sweet boy. I have a girl named Marie and they grew up like siblings and I couldn’t love him more if he was my own.”

“Truman did say that you raised him. His mother sounds…” Matteo cleared his throat suggestively.

Donna looked around Matteo to make sure Truman wasn’t in sight, then let out a disgusted snort. “That woman has always had ice in her veins. She would have sent Truman away when his father died. He was just a little boy and so small back then. It broke my heart so I insisted on keeping him.”

“Thank goodness he had you. Losing a parent is hard on a child,” Matteo managed, his heart hurting for his own parents and for little Truman. He wondered why Truman hadn’t mentioned his father’s death and how deep that wound was. “Being sent away would have been even more traumatic.”

“That never crossed Margot Tennyson’s mind but I convinced her it would save her a fortune on tuition to fancy boarding schools.

It didn’t matter to her as long as he kept up his grades and could get into the right universities later.

I brought my Marie to work with me whenever I could.

She and Truman have been playmates since they were toddlers and shared his lessons when he had tutors. ”

Matteo suddenly understood why Donna’s opinion mattered. She was a font of gossip but she was sincere and couldn’t lie if her life depended upon it. “Where is Marie?” he asked, suddenly curious to meet Truman’s “sister.”

“Back in Chicago! She runs Truman’s practice there.”

“Oh? Well done, you! Both of your children are attorneys.”

“I couldn’t tell you who’s smarter,” Donna said, beaming into her mug. “Truman’s always looked after us and trusts us so we get to see Truman, the sweet bean.”

Matteo coughed again, this time into his coffee. It really wasn’t safe to eat or drink around Donna. “The sweet bean?” he asked calmly and used his napkin to hide a smile.

“He was a wee thing and used to hide behind Marie at the park. The other boys used to pick on him until he had a growth spurt in junior high. I think it made him a little hard and it’s why he chose the path he took after college.”

“Those years shape who we become as men,” he confirmed sadly. “I can see why he’s so guarded.”

“You just have to learn how to read Truman. He has a lot of tells but he rarely lets anyone stick around long enough to catch on.”

“Really? Truman said he’d get me a notepad but I should have brought one with me. I need to be writing all of this down.” Matteo complained and Donna became alert.

“Pen, pencil, ballpoint pen, felt tip…?” she asked him.

“Um… Ballpoint, please.”

“Coming right up!” Donna gestured for Matteo to eat before speeding from the room.

The front door opened and Matteo turned to greet Truman and Neville. “How was your run?” he asked them.

Neville grumbled about being too damn old as he passed through the kitchen on his way to the guesthouse behind the garage.

According to Truman, there were two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen for Neville and Carmine to share.

There was also a control room for the property’s security system.

“Here you go!” Donna said when she returned, waving a yellow legal notepad and a pen over her head.

“It’s already gorgeous out,” Truman said as he kissed Matteo’s hair.

His neck stretched to avoid brushing his sweaty body against Matteo but he smelled incredible.

His shirt was stuck to his torso and his thighs glistened with sweat under his running shorts, making it hard to focus.

“The next few days will be perfect for laying out and playing in the pool.”

“Perfect!” Matteo agreed brightly but his cake turned to dust as he imagined rubbing sunscreen on Truman’s thighs.

Truman gave him a playful shake. “Are you alright?”

“Joa…” Matteo said distantly, not sure why he was thinking about Truman’s thighs or licking the sweat off of them. He didn’t even like Truman or want his slick, incredibly fit, delicious-smelling body all over him.

“Matteo?” Truman asked again, making him jump.

“Ja?”

“Donna asked why you needed a notepad.”

“Ah! I forgot my journal and my phone in the city. I’d forget my ears if they weren’t stuck to my head so I take lots of notes throughout the day.”

Truman clicked his teeth and stepped behind Matteo. “Don’t listen to him. He’s a lot smarter than he lets on.” His hands spread over Matteo’s shoulders and Truman gave them a tender knead. He lowered and kissed Matteo’s cheek. “It might be the sexiest thing about him.”

“Stop it!” Matteo wasn’t used to being praised for his intelligence, that was usually reserved for Elio. He preferred it that way but there was an odd tickle in his stomach and Matteo was reluctantly flattered that a man as cunning as Truman had noticed.

Most people saw exactly what they wanted and his older brothers saw a lost child who needed protecting.

Matteo could do no wrong but it also meant that he would always remain the lost child and no one, aside from Elio, truly knew him.

Being invisible had its perks but that left Matteo lonely and he felt the most invisible, ironically, when he wasn’t with Elio.

“I’m going to take a shower and then you’re getting a proper tour of Southampton.” Truman gave Matteo another kiss before he left.

Donna smiled as he headed around the corner, looking pleased. “Told you he can be a sweet bean with the people he cares about.”

“Do you ever call him that to his face?”

“Oh no, no, no!” she said and they burst into laughter. “He’s a big, bad lawyer now. He can’t have people knowing he used to be small and tender.”

The conversation turned to Matteo’s family and childhood but he glossed over the heavier parts.

He was fascinated with Truman, the small bean.

Was Matteo seeing glimpses of that sweet, tender child or was Truman simply putting on a show for Donna?

Had Truman, the scary attorney, buried that sweet bean, leaving Donna with a ghost and her memories?

How could Matteo tell? The Truman he knew was a seasoned actor who could play an adoring lover one moment, then flip scripts and turn into a brutal gangster the next. Unlike Donna and Marie, Truman didn’t care about Matteo enough to let his guard down in a meaningful way.

“Think you’ll be back for lunch?” Donna asked, dragging Matteo back to the conversation. “Neville and I decided on fish but I need to know how much to have him pick up.”

“I’ll have to ask Truman. Let me check,” he said and excused himself. He was still pondering the different Trumans when he tapped on the bedroom door and let himself in. “Truman?”

“In here,” he called from the bathroom and waved as he passed, drying his arms and chest with a towel. “Just got out of the shower,” he added, then tossed the towel at the hamper.

He’s not a small bean anymore!

“Right!” Matteo spun and checked his watch.

Neither had bothered to cover themselves when they showered and dressed since they arrived at the beach house.

That seemed childish and unnecessarily tedious after everything they had seen and done to each other the night they met.

Matteo barely looked but had enjoyed taunting Truman, inwardly jeering and vowing it would never happen again.

Now, Matteo wasn’t so sure. He’d never used a man for sex before and the idea seemed gross when Truman was a heartless dirtbag.

Matteo could ignore how hot Truman was and forget that he was good with his hands and lips and…

other parts since he was irredeemable. Why would Matteo stoop and waste his time with a bully?

“Did you need something?” Truman’s neck craned and he looked concerned.

Probably because Matteo was staring at the bean. “Um…” He gave himself a shake. “Donna wants to know if we’ll be here for lunch.”

“Nope.” Truman turned to the counter and reached for his pomade.

“I thought I’d take you to my favorite lobster roll spot and do some sappy tourist stuff.

It’s been a while since I’ve strolled and taken it all in.

I’ve spent so much time rushing around Chicago or Manhattan with my head down lately. ”

“Sounds nice. I like sightseeing.” Matteo’s head tilted to the side as he enjoyed the view of Truman’s ass.

There was a soft chuckle as Truman flicked at his hair. “People have manners here and they’re friendly but they don’t get in anyone’s business. I’ll cross paths with a director or a senator and we’ll have a friendly chat, like we’ve been next door neighbors for years. Then, we’ll keep it moving.”

“The absurdly wealthy cosplaying as normies,” Matteo replied knowingly. “We have upscale villages in Europe where rich people and royals can ‘blend in’ without mingling with the lower classes.”

“Matteo!” Truman turned, his cock swinging provocatively. “Your socialism is showing!” he whispered and pointed. “You aren’t wrong but in the court of public opinion, those are our peers and they’re the jury we have to convince.”

“I understand and I’ll let Donna know.” Matteo meant to leave but his feet were stuck to the carpet.

Truman prowled toward Matteo and leaned against the door jamb. “Was there anything else?”

Matteo snorted. “Anything else? Why would there be anything else?” Why was it so hard to keep his eyes on Truman’s face?

“You seem…distracted.” he said with a lift of his brow.

“Like I’m planning something important?” Matteo returned but Truman shook his head.

“Like you’re reconsidering something. Want to take back what you said last night?”

“Ha! I am not. You are an attractive man but I have self-respect.”

“Are you sure?” Truman glanced down at himself, then at Matteo. “You’re thinking something shameful right now. Want to know how I know?”

Matteo waved dismissively, refusing to acknowledge the hard-on pushing against the front of his shorts. “I’m not an animal, Truman.”

“But you want to be.” Truman laughed as he turned back to the sink. “Smooth on the streets, rough in the sheets. I remember how you like it,” he said and was watching Matteo through the mirror.

“I would hope so. It’s only been a few days. Get dressed, I’ll let Donna know,” Matteo said, tipping his nose back as he left.

In the hall, Matteo’s steps slowed and his confidence faltered. Donna had meant to sell Truman as a loyal and loving family man but Matteo didn’t appreciate how easy it was for him to switch between performances. And he didn’t like how easy it was for Truman to see through him.

They would be evenly matched in public because Matteo always wore his armor and he was never himself.

He’d have to up his game when he was alone with Truman, though.

Matteo still didn’t know why Truman wanted the star and needed to find out.

That would have a bearing on what Matteo did, once he had it.

If Truman wants to play dirty, I’ll play dirty.