Page 71 of Cavaliere

Matteo stops kneading my thigh. “What do you mean ‘got past Rob’?”

“He was…weird. I don’t even know how to explain it without you thinking I’m making it up.”

“Well, try,” Matteo says, voice tight.

“You have to promise to not lose your shit.” The last thing I need is him storming out of here and killing someone over a small confrontation.

“How about you let me worry about how I handle whatever it is you’re about to tell me?”

“Matteo.”

“Wren,” Matteo says, matching my tone. We’re both staring each other down, too stubborn to give in first. I have a feeling it’s never going to be him in these types of situations.

I let out another long sigh. “Fine. As soon as Delaney came inside, Rob literally appeared out of nowhere and had a shitty attitude.”

“Shitty how?”

“He asked if I got permission from you for her to be here. I’m sorry if I needed it and didn’t ask, but honestly, I thought it would be fine because we weren’t leaving. Then he made a comment about how he didn’t want to be stuck babysitting two girls.”

“Is that all?” Matteo asks. I can tell he’s trying to keep his cool and comfort me, but his voice sounds like he wants to smash Rob’s face into the ground.

“Basically, yeah.” Let’s just leave it here for the night.

“I’m really trying to check it for you, baby. But I’m holding on by a thread here. Tell me everything that happened before I fucking lose it.”

“He said I’m ungrateful,” I whisper, tearing my eyes from Matteo’s face and focusing on a spot on the floor. “I don’t want you to think that I am. I do appre⁠—”

“Hey,” Matteo says softly. His hand lightly cups my jaw, turning my face back toward him. “Look at me.” I don’t make him wait. My eyes leave the spot on the floor to stare into his deep brown ones. “I have never for one fucking second thought that you are being ungrateful.”

“I know these last few months have been a lot, and it’s taken me a minute to adjust to having my life turned upside down, but I am grateful for you. I might not like how bossy and controlling you are, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate everything you do.”

“I know, tesoro.” Matteo smiles softly, the hardness leaving his face as he leans in and gently places a kiss on my lips. “I’ll deal with Rob, so don’t worry about it anymore. I’m sorry he made you feel uncomfortable in your own home.”

“I just didn’t like how he came out of left field with that. He made Delaney feel so unwelcome. I thought she was going to knock him out,” I say against Matteo’s lips before placing another kiss against them.

Matteo lets out a loud laugh as he leans away slightly. “I’d pay a lot of money to see Delaney take on Rob.”

“Well, if it happens again, you’ll probably get to watch for free.” I instantly regretted my joke as soon as it left my mouth. The soft, happy Matteo that I got to see for thirty seconds is gone. In its place is the boss.

“It will never happen again,” he vows as he squeezes my knee. “Get dressed.”

“Why?” I really didn’t want to do anything tonight other than continue to lie in bed and watch TV. Maybe order a pizza, but that would be the extent of my exertion.

“We’re going to dinner.”

I made a face before I could stop myself. “Where?” I sound like I'd rather do anything else. The thought of sitting in a restaurant right now sounds fucking horrible.

An amused smile creeps on his face. “My ma’s.”

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

“Don’t you think that this is a little…soon?” I choke out. I know I’ve met all of his brothers, but they’re just always around. It wasn’t a formal thing. Meeting a parent just makes it seem so final.

“No. She’s been begging to meet you. It’s killing her that everyone has met you, and she hasn’t.”

“Well, I hope she knows that she’s about to be very disappointed.”

“Why would she be disappointed?” Matteo asks, his face hardening.