Mateo places his glass down on the table next to Adrian’s and takes my hand, leading the way out of the study. Adrian heads for the exit, and Mateo glances right, then left. “All right, where should we start this tour?”
Glancing at Colin with a haughtily raised eyebrow, I say, “I recommend the dungeon.”
Colin’s smile slips. “Ye don’t have a dungeon.”
I nod meaningfully. “Oh, we have a dungeon.”
“I don’t think we have to show him that,” Mateo says, resting a hand on my waist as he pauses in the foyer. Glancing from Cherie to Colin, he adds, “I’m pretty sure Adrian’ll show it to him soon.”
Holding up his hands in surrender, Colin says, “Hey now, we’re all friends here.”
Apparently displeased with all the cock-blocking transpiring around her, Cherie sashays in front of us. “I say we start with the pool.” Glancing back at Colin, she says, “I love to put on my tiny little bikini and go for a swim.”
Hand to his heart, Colin shakes his head. “I could probably spend a little time in a dungeon. ‘Course, I can’t guard your bird from there,” he reminds Mateo.
“Flirt with her all you want, just keep it in your pants, McGregor.”
“These are tryin’ times,” he states, following after Cherie.
I grin, following a little more slowly, that way they get a little privacy. Cherie’s clearly appreciating the attention, and now that she’s pointed it out, I realize why that’s probably rare, despite how beautiful she is.
“Is this gonna be what it’s like for our daughters?” I ask Mateo, as we stroll toward the pool.
“Oh, no.” He shakes his head. “I’m installing a tower before they’re old enough to date.”
“Tall tower?”
“No door. We’ll helicopter up to visit them.”
I nod. “That seems reasonable.”
“I’ll have to update the dungeon before then, too,” he adds.
“You’re such a busy man,” I state. “Are you building a tower for our son, or is that much equality too much to hope for?”
“Of course not,” he says, exaggeratedly puffing up his chest. “Our son will be out in the world, searching for a nice girl to blackmail or otherwise force into a relationship.”
I nod. “Sexism for the win, got it.”
Winking at me and tugging me a little closer, he says, “No take-backs.”
I roll my eyes with an indulgent smile, curling into his embrace. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
THE END… or is it?
DELETED SCENE
[In the story, this scene would take place the morning after Meg and Mia had a girls’ night and passed out in Mateo’s bed, before Meg woke up in bed alone….]
Mia
As soon as my eyes open, pain pierces my skull and I squeeze them shut again. Oh, God, why did I drink so much?
Meg. This is Meg’s fault.
I open my eyes again, remembering that I fell asleep in bed with her.
I do not expect to meet the brown-eyed gaze of Mateo Morelli. My eyes widen, increasing the shot of pain in my head, and I sink deeper into the bed.
“Oh, good,” I mutter.
Meg is still asleep, curled up against his half-naked body. I’m not sure if he’s still in bed because he doesn’t want to wake her up, or just because he lives to torment and he wanted me to wake up and realize I shared his bed again—even if innocently and without knowing.
“Good morning,” he murmurs amiably.
“This is weird,” I state, pulling the blanket up to cover myself.
Mateo rolls his eyes at me. “I’ve already seen your body, Mia.”
“Yes, I remember,” I respond dryly. “Last time I woke up in this bed with you, naked and traumatized. Good times.”
He flicks a glance at Meg, making sure she’s still asleep. Then his gaze returns to me, expression dry. “You survived.”
“Didn’t think I’d be back,” I inform him, though it’s not 100% true. All things considered, I spent less time in his bed than I probably could have, if Vince wouldn’t have come around.
“They always come back,” he says with a faint smirk.
I roll my eyes at his arrogance. “Because they have no choice.”
He shrugs, as if that doesn’t matter.
“Please don’t tell Vince I slept in your bed last night,” I say, already anticipating him making waves at dinner.
“I won’t.”
I’m obviously not convinced, and the look I shoot back conveys as much.
“I already promised Meg I wouldn’t,” he adds.
My gaze falls to Meg, nestled against him. I smile faintly. I never thought we’d like each other, but I really do kinda love this crazy chick. Lack of friendship is one of the hardest parts of Morelli life so far; the friends you had before don’t understand, and you can’t really be honest with any new ones. Now that Meg’s here, I have a friend, and Mateo has someone who only belongs to him. “You seem happy with her,” I tell him.
“I am.”
“Good.”
It’s the last thing I expect to happen, literally ever, but after a few seconds, Mateo says, “Thank you.”