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His apology hadn’t come naturally, but it had come. His belief she’d come all this way with a toddler in tow to see what was in it for her was understandable given what Sandy What’s-Her-Face had done to him. Didn’t mean he hadn’t hurt her. The real reason she found it difficult to accept his apology was because Craig had only ever apologised after she’d left him and he’d wanted to win her back. Mattia isn’t Craig. True. It was time to stop superimposing Craig onto every man she met, starting now.
Her phone showed ten minutes after nine. No wonder Aimee wasn’t in her cot. But it might mean Mattia had left for work and Anna would be minding their little girl. Their little girl? Oh, boy, she was in trouble. There was no way she could ever give up Aimee so, however they resolved this, she was also always going to be a part of Mattia’s life, even if from the sidelines.
Bang-bang. The pounding in her head intensified. She’d drop it for now. Try breakfast and coffee. Then take Aimee up to Pompeii town by train to get away from Mattia’s house, the male scent that clung to his discarded jacket, the empty glass he’d leave on the kitchen counter—everything came with an undertone of something she daren’t acknowledge. He had a way of getting under her skin that made her think of summer and heat and excitement.
Wandering into the kitchen, Aimee’s excited shrieks from the deck told Elene her girl was happy. Snatching up an irresistible biscottate from the laden plate on the bench, she headed outside. ‘Morning, baby girl.’ Then the air stalled in her throat. Mattia had not gone to work. Waiting for her to resume her duties? No, Saturday or not, if he’d needed to go in he’d have called on Anna to take care of Aimee until she was up. Or banged on her door.
Mattia looked up from where he sat on the boards beside his daughter. ‘Morning, Elene. You catch up on sleep?’ So he was playing nice.
‘A little.’
‘Feel up to a drive down the coast?’ Playing very nice.
‘As in the Amalfi Coast?’
‘Yes, I thought Positano for lunch. Have you been there?’
‘A cousin took me on a quick trip that way, but it was over too fast. I’ve always wanted to go back one day.’ She squelched the rising excitement, aimed for calm and reserved. She hadn’t forgiven him that much. ‘I’d love to go.’ Okay, nearly reserved.
Mattia was on his feet. ‘I’m making coffee. Want some?’
Oh, what the heck? ‘Is this Mattia?’ she asked around a sudden smile, feeling comfortable with him at last.
He grinned on his way past. ‘Sure is.’
A Mattia grin was dynamite, exploding through her, impelling her knees forward. Locking her knees to stop herself from falling in a heap, she absorbed the sudden heat swamping her even as that grin continued to decimate her. Wow. More, please. ‘I’ll pack a bag for Aimee. She’s coming with us.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of leaving her behind.’ The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air, teasing her taste buds. ‘Have your breakfast first. There’s no hurry.’
More biscottate wouldn’t go amiss. Keep this up and she’d be buying new clothes. But how could she ignore the delicious treats? They were better than her mother’s, and that was saying something. Standing in the doorway where she could keep an eye on Aimee and talk to Mattia, she asked, ‘Won’t we hit the tourist rush?’
‘All part of the fun. Anyway, it’s not too bad in April. Watch out next month.’
‘Aren’t you meant to be working?’ Anna had mentioned Mattia working weekends somewhere other than the Sorrento Hospital.
‘All taken care of.’
‘What is this other job?’ For a moment it seemed life was perfect, with Mattia preparing the coffee, those delicious biscottate, Aimee playing on the deck. Almost as if they were a family. Get a grip. That’s fantasy. What was wrong with that?
‘There’s a surgical unit in town that’s an outreach of a charity hospital in Napoli where I do orthopaedic surgery for those less fortunate. We have a roster of specialists who take turns putting their skills to good use, mostly at the weekends when no one’s required at their regular positions.’
Even though he’d spent time outdoors in Wellington having fun on a bike and in a kayak, Mattia had worked long and hard, been available for many more hours than he was paid to cover.
‘I heard you work there most weekends.’
‘Someone’s been talking too much.’ His grin had retreated to a smile, but it was just as damaging. Today might prove hard on her emotions, yet she couldn’t help feeling happy, excited even. Soon she’d be shrieking just like Aimee. This man came with a magical touch after all.
‘You think?’ She sipped the steaming coffee he’d placed on the nearest counter. ‘How’s this hospital staffed? Completely with volunteers? Or is there permanent, paid staff to keep it running smoothly?’ Could she put in a few hours over the coming weeks and contribute to her stay in a roundabout way?
Mattia leaned against another counter, his arms crossed over that expansive chest, cup of coffee in one hand. ‘Permanent and volunteer medical personnel keep the place going.’
‘I’d like to see it.’
‘I—’ On the bench his phone rang. Picking it up, he wandered outside to the deck, talking about a patient.
Elene finished her breakfast and rinsed the plate and cup before delving into the fridge to prepare bottles and food for Aimee to take on their trip.
‘You’re in luck,’ Mattia said when he returned. ‘I have to see a patient at the unit before we go to Positano.’
‘Coincidental?’
He shrugged with a smile. ‘So it would seem. It also means we should get moving.’
‘Onto it.’ Excitement had her moving quickly towards the shower. Finally she was going to see something of the coast, while visiting the charity unit Mattia devoted a lot of his time to was an added bonus. More than that, she would see another side to him in action. An interesting side. If she could persuade him to let her put in some hours at the charity unit, he might appreciate that she wasn’t just a money-hungry woman with nothing more on her mind than causing trouble.
* * *
With Aimee in his arms Mattia led Elene into the surgical unit offshoot of the Naples charity hospital he’d made happen, pride expanding in his chest. His achievement hadn’t been without the generous help and support of a lot of people, so he wasn’t about to blow his own trumpet, but he needed Elene to understand what they were trying to achieve here—and succeeding. ‘We have eight beds, four to a room, and it’s a rare day they’re not all full.’
Elene walked beside him, taking in everything, and approving. ‘You cover all surgeries?’
‘Except the ones requiring sophisticated equipment. Those cases not covered by the health system we find the funds to operate next door at the hospital.’
‘It’s wonderful.’
Warmth crept in under his ribs. He wanted her approval, he realised. Seeing what was important to him, she’d understand how moving to the other side of the world wasn’t an option. If she realised a fraction of the effort he put in here he’d be pleased, because she’d know more about him. He needed that. Don’t ask him why, he just did. Hearing about her bully fiancé had loosened something inside him, had him wanting to make the Aimee situation work as well for her as him. If only he hadn’t had that brain fade and voiced his distrust. Then again, it could be a good thing he’d got it out there, done and dusted. Except now he had to earn Elene’s trust. Ironic, really.
‘You must spend every spare minute here.’ Elene’s smile was full of approval and wonder. ‘What about time out for you?’
‘I had that in Wellington. Now I’m home, I’m focused on doing as much as possible for others. Though—’ he looked down at his daughter and smiled ‘—I’ll have to change my ways for my girl. Can’t have her growing up thinking I was too busy working to notice her. Can I, little one?’ He dropped a l
ight kiss on Aimee’s cheek, felt love for her expand.
‘I’ll teach her not to let you get away with anything.’ Elene was still smiling, which had to be good, didn’t it?
‘No surprise there. Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.’ This visit wasn’t only about checking up on Gino, but also about letting Elene into his life in a way no other woman had been since Sandy. In the same environment—a charity medical centre. Caution flickered in his veins. Women knew he ran this unit, they just didn’t know how much of himself he put into it, how he gave his heart for those people far less fortunate than him. Elene understood that already if the admiration in her eyes was a clue. Ignoring the nudge of guilt because he was trying to manipulate her, he led her into the nurses’ office.
The interest flaring in the nurses’ expressions amused Mattia. Until their gazes shifted from Elene to him and onto Aimee, and the interest became an ah ha moment. Ouch. ‘Elene is a nurse in the hospital where I worked in New Zealand. I dated her best friend.’
Elene’s look was pure enjoyment, suggesting she’d recognised his discomfort. Couldn’t blame her for that.
Jiggling Aimee on his hip, cuddling her and breathing in the baby scent, Mattia felt a moment of pure happiness. This was what being a father was about. Then he noticed the bemused looks coming his way from the nurses, knew there was a long way to go. Biologically he was Aimee’s dad, but in all other ways he had yet to work things out with Elene before he told the staff what they were surmising was correct.
‘Come on, Elene. My patient’s along here. He won’t mind you tagging along.’ That way I get to keep you away from prying nurses with nothing better to do than ask unwanted questions.
