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“That’s normal. It’s the body’s reaction, but it will heal.” She reached for the ice pack, placing it carefully over the ankle. “Ice will help.” She turned back to Maddie. “You need to rest it as much as possible. Keep it elevated, and wrapped.” Back to Nico: “You still have bandages?”
“Of course.”
“You want me to –,”
“I’ll do it.”
Anticipation sparked inside Maddie. She liked the idea of playing doctor and patient with Nico. Colour spread through her cheeks and when her eyes clashed with Nico’s a moment later, his smile showed he was thinking a similar thing. “Thanks for coming,” he put a hand on the small of Alessia’s back, guiding her from the sofa. “I’ll be right back,” he shot the last to Maddie.
At the door, Nico paused, looking at Alessia carefully. “How have you been?”
Her smile was beautiful, but Nico could detect the falsity to it. “Fine.”
“Have you spoken to Max lately?”
Her smile dropped. She turned away from him, looking towards the ocean. “No.”
Nico shook his head slowly, wishing he could do something to shake Max into sense, but knowing his cousin – Fiero’s brother – was every bit as stubborn as Nico was. “You could call him?”
Alessia swallowed. “It’s too late. I’ve moved on.” She lifted a hand, pushing the hair from her eyes, so it was impossible to miss the engagement ring on her hand. Something dropped through Nico like a stone.
“You’re getting married?”
She jerked her gaze back to his face, her eyes showing hurt, and Christo knew she had every right to feel that. He didn’t like to criticise his cousin, but their separation had been bad, and he couldn’t believe Alessia was capable of what Max had accused her of, despite the photos that had run in the press – photos of Alessia in a passionate embrace with another man. Then again, Nico had no real sense when it came to women, if his blind trust of Claudette was anything to go by. Except Maddie? She redeemed him, surely.
“Si.”
“When?” A grim line formed a gash on Nico’s handsome face.
“Around Christmas.” Her voice was thin. “Don’t tell him, Nico.”
Nico stiffened. “He doesn’t know?”
“He’s lost any right to know anything about my life.”
“Damn it, Alessia, you know –,”
“I know nothing.” She reached a hand out, pressing her fingers to Nico’s wrist. “Leave it, bene?”
He shook his head. “I can’t do that. He’s my cousin, but more than that, he’s one of my best friends. He’s going to want to at least know that you’re planning to marry some other guy.”
Her spine straightened, her eyes clashing with his. She was completely still, her features locked into a determined mask, and then she shrugged. “Suit yourself. I don’t think he’ll care one bit, and if he does, kindly make sure he knows better than to contact me. I love you and your family, you know that, but to me, Massimo Montebello is as good as dead.” She pressed a kiss to Nico’s cheek then stepped away from him, her head held high. He watched her cross the lawn and step onto her Vespa, pulling a helmet onto her head so a curtain of blonde hung loose down her back.
Alessia and Max’s marriage had been five years ago, and it had lasted only months. That they’d married had surprised everyone – Max was a confirmed bachelor and Alessia little more than a teenager, studying her medical degree. Not only that, she was the much adored daughter of one of Gianfelice’s oldest friends. Though she’d always had a crush on Max, that he’d returned her feelings had completely shocked Nico. Oh, Alessia had been stunning, but so innocent and youthful, nothing like the sophisticated women Max generally spent time with.
Perhaps that was why their marriage had been doomed? Alessia had been devastated. Max had been – Nico frowned, trying to remember. He’d been much the same as before. More determined in business, more ruthless, but otherwise, you wouldn’t have known he was going through a divorce. It was business as usual for Massimo Montebello.
Nico waited until she’d accelerated away from the house then turned, moving inside to find his sister in law locked in conversation with the woman he was sleeping with. He frowned a moment – the description not quite right. Maddie was so much more than that. The realisation came to him out of nowhere but he immediately dismissed it. She wasn’t – she couldn’t be. Nonetheless, he paused on the periphery of the room, silently watchful. They looked…like old friends. They were talking quietly, both smiling, their manners relaxed.
Elodie, who had no family of her own, had quickly been adopted into the Montebello family. Yaya treated her like a granddaughter, doting on her to an almost suffocating degree, and for Nico’s part, he saw her now as his own sister. So seeing her locked in a conspiratorial conversation with Maddie did something funny to his insides. He liked the sight of them together. It felt…right.
Everything about this felt right. A sense of unease threatened the pleasure of that moment, but he refused to let it. He wasn’t a fool. The fact this felt right – damned near perfect – didn’t alter the fact it was temporary. Nothing would.
Maddie lifted her face, as though she’d sensed him, and her eyes locked to his. He smiled, and she returned it, and he put all thoughts of the future and the fact he would say goodbye to her from his mind.
Chapter 10
“YOU’RE BEING RIDICULOUS NOW.”
