Page 118 of The Fall Affair

WHAT THE HELL is he smiling about?

Matteo pulled into my driveway with his teeth on full display. His happiness pissed me off.

I folded my arms across my chest as he got out of the truck. “What are you so happy about?” Before he could respond, my gaze locked on the suitcase in his front seat. “Where are you heading?”

“To New York.”

My nose wrinkled. “Why?”

“After you.”

I was even more confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I thought you left,” he said, taking steps toward me.

“Why would you think that?”

“The shop, it is empty, and there were movers here the other day.”

“Oh. That. An antique dealer in Florence showed up at my door last week. He offered to buy everything in the shop—cash register and all—for a ridiculously low amount of money, but I took it.”

Matteo laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“I almost got on a plane to chase you to another country when you were right next door.”

“Why would you chase me?”

He took a step closer. “Because I need something.”

“What?”

Matteo met my eyes. “You. I need you.”

A wave of emotions surged, and I had to swallow to force them down. I needed to be sure—really sure—of what he was saying, because I wouldn’t survive having my heart broken a second time. “What do you need me for?” I asked carefully.

He took a breath. “Do you think we can sit down and talk?”

I hesitated before nodding, and Matteo followed me into the house. I sat down in the living room, on the chair angled away from the couch to keep some space between us.

He frowned. “Do you think you could sit over here with me?”

“Why?”

“Because I need to be close to you. It’s been a long two weeks.”

My heart started to race, but still, I was wary. Matteo sat on the couch and looked at me, waiting. After a beat, I moved to sit beside him. He reached for my hands, and my eyes jumped to meet his.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

I held his gaze a long time before nodding.

Matteo took another deep breath and shook his head. “I don’t know where to start. But I guess the best place is with an apology. I’m so sorry I hurt you, Allegra.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug. I stiffened at first—but it felt so good, so right, that I let myself fall into him.

“I’m so sorry, bellissima,” he mumbled into my hair. “I never meant to hurt you.”

After a long moment, he pulled back and looked into my eyes. “All this time, you thought you were the one who was afraid. But you were always open and honest about your fears. The truth is, it was me who couldn’t admit mine.”