Page 104 of The Fall Affair

I took a deep breath and nodded. “We haven’t said the words yet, but I am, yes.”

She seemed genuinely happy for me. “Does he have a cute brother?”

We both laughed. A few minutes later, the man who held my heart walked into the yard. Matteo was carrying something that smelled delicious, even covered in tinfoil.

“Ciao.” I stood, greeting him with a quick kiss before taking his hand and walking him over to Camilla. “Matteo, this is…my sister, Camilla.”

Camilla smiled at me before standing and kissing both of Matteo’s cheeks. “It’s very good to meet you. I’ve heard nice things about you.” She shrugged. “Except that you have no brother for me.”

He laughed and held out the plate in his hand. “I made biscotti. They’re warm.”

“The only person I ever knew who made biscotti was my grandmother,” I said.

Matteo nodded. “It’s her recipe. I remember she made it da night she first met my sister and invited us over. Figured it was appropriate.”

“That was very thoughtful. Thank you.” I looked at the table. “I need to run up and get another glass.”

“I can get it,” Camilla said. “I need to use the bagno anyway. If you could point me to it.”

“Oh, sure. Top of the stairs, to the right, opposite the kitchen. It’s the first door on the left.”

“Grazie.”

Once my half sister was gone, Matteo put his hands on my shoulders. He spoke low. “How is it going?”

“Honestly?” I sighed. “It’s been pretty amazing. She’s a very open person, very self-aware. We pretty much agreed we were going to hate our dad and not each other.”

He smiled. “Good. You don’t need me, then. You two should enjoy the time together.”

I nodded. “I think you’re right. Will you stay for a glass of wine at least? The guy who made it is ridiculously talented. And hot.”

Matteo wound up staying close to an hour. It turned out Camilla knew his cousin—the one whose apartment we’d stayed at in Positano. And the two of them had gone to the same university, though at different times since Matteo was a few years older.

After he left, my sister looked like she had a secret she was bursting to tell.

“What?” I asked.

“I like him for you. He looks at you like you’re the only woman in the world.”

My chest tightened. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “I came to Tuscany thinking I was coming to say goodbye and put a part of my life behind me. But it turns out, it opened a new chapter for me. Falling in love and finding a sister. I hope this is just the beginning for us, Camilla.”

“It is. I know it.”

For the first time in…maybe forever…I felt like I had the whole world.

I just didn’t know it was about to fall apart.

Chapter 34

Allegra

“CASS, HANG ON a minute. Matteo was going to help me move something downstairs right before you called.” I covered the phone to speak to him. “I’m sorry. Mr. Ellington’s wife did something, and I need to get an injunction filed before court closes in New York today. I should be done in fifteen minutes. We can move the armoire tonight, if you want. I know you need to work.”

“I’m waiting for the guys to come back from dumping the bins anyway.” He shrugged. “Why don’t I go down and figure out what I need, a carrello or something. I don’t know how you say it in Inglese.” He mimed, pushing something with his hands.

“A dolly?”

He pointed to me. “Yes, that is it.”