You really thought I wanted you for my wife? You’re nothing to me. Nothing…
“Paige! Paige, wake up!”
The sweet little voice startled her awake and she opened her eyes, stared up at the ceiling as she tried to ease her erratic breathing. That had felt so incredibly, terrifyingly real. How Matteo looked at her when he realized he’d married her. Made love to her. As if her greatest wish had turned into his most horrific nightmare…
“Are you awake yet, Paige?” A small, slightly sticky hand touched her cheek and then he was climbing on top of her, shaking her shoulders, making her laugh. Matty’s angelic face was directly in hers. His thick, wavy hair stuck out every which way and his big brown eyes drank her in with an expectation she’d grown used to. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” she murmured with a little smile aimed at her young charge. “Isn’t it awfully early?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
She glanced beyond Matty’s shoulder, saw the time on the digital clock that sat on the bedside table. Not even seven o’clock yet.
“Matty, I told you to leave Paige alone.” Matty climbed off of her quickly, his eyes wide as he sat beside her. Hurried footsteps accompanied the deep, rich voice that sounded from down the hall. And then there he stood, filling the doorway with his broad shoulders and overwhelming presence. His dark hair mussed, his face shadowed with stubble, clad in a black T-shirt and gray plaid pajama pants. She’d never seen him dressed so casually before.
Even after everything that happened between them last night, how he’d refused her, reminding her she’d been the one to run in the first place, Matteo Renaldi quite simply stole her breath away.
And oh, how she both loved and hated that.
Paige quickly sat up, tugging the covers with her so she covered her chest. Not that she was naked or anything, but she wore a thin tank top he might be able to see through.
Not that he hadn’t seen everything she had to offer him already…
“Sorry to disturb you,” he said apologetically, his gaze meeting hers for the briefest moment before he looked away. He seemed embarrassed. Good. After last night’s fiasco, he should be. “I told Matty not to bother you since it’s your day off.”
Oh. She’d forgotten. Foolish, really, but she spent so much time with Matty it felt as if she never had a day off, which she didn’t mind. She really did love her job.
Even though her boss drove her absolutely crazy.
“Daddy’s taking me to the zoo today, Paige! Come with us, come with us!” Matty scrambled across her bed and climbed onto her, making her groan. He started bouncing up and down, his little bottom hitting her thighs with his every bounce and she grunted, wrapping her fingers around his hips to still his movements.
“I can’t come with you, Matty. Not today,” she said quietly.
Matty frowned, his lower lip quivering. “Why not?”
“Well, this is an activity you need to do with your father.” She didn’t have a good enough excuse. Why, she’d give anything to be able to go with Matty and his father to the zoo. Spend the day with her two most favorite men in the entire world.
Even if she was still angry at Matteo for his harsh rejection.
“But I want you to come too. Please, Paige? Daddy won’t mind.”
Matteo chose that particular moment to clear his throat. Indicating he very much minded. Not that she was surprised. They needed to keep their distance. It wouldn’t be smart, playing one big, happy family when she nursed feelings for him that he so clearly wished to push away.
“Sometimes sons need to spend time alone with their fathers, don’t you think?” Smiling, she squeezed Matty close. “This sounds like a perfect day to do something together, alone. The two of you need to bond.”
Matty frowned. “What does that mean?”
He was only three. Of course he wouldn’t understand what bond meant. “Well…”
“Come with us, Paige.” Matteo’s voice interrupted her, rendering her completely still and she glanced up, her eyes meeting Matteo’s dark, fathomless gaze once more. He studied her, his arms crossed in front of his impossibly broad chest, his expression only slightly irritated.
“I don’t want to impose…”
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy!” Matty wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed her tight, delivering a smacking kiss on her cheek before he sprang from her lap, tumbled off her bed and went careening down the hall toward his room.
Leaving Paige completely alone with Matteo.
“If you don’t want me to go, I completely understand,” she murmured, glancing down at her lap. “I overstepped my line last night.”