Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Matteo groans. “I don’t. But I know someone who loves shopping.”
He pulls out his phone, but I grab it from him.
“I don’t want a pity shopping partner.”
He snatches it back. “Trust me, my sister will be happy to go shopping. Especially with my money.”
I scoff. “I’m not spending your money. You do remember that I’m a Russo, right? When my parents passed away, I got half of everything. I might not be as rich as you, but I’m not hurting.”
Thankfully, despite Enrique mentioning us combining our accounts, we never got a chance to, so my family’s hard-earned money is still safe.
Matteo glares, and I laugh.
“What’s that look for? You want me to play the part of a gold digger? Will that make you feel better?” I coo, “Yes, please, Matteo. Buy me all the things.”
I bat my lashes flirtatiously, and he cracks a smile.
“You would make a crappy gold digger,” he says. “You’ve been living here for over a month, and aside from asking for some baking supplies, you haven’t spent a dime of my money.”
“I’m low maintenance.” I shrug and then remember something else I did buy. “I bought something for you. I’ll be right back.”
I run upstairs and inside my room, grab the package that came in the other day while Matteo was avoiding me, and then run back down.
He’s sitting on the couch, his phone to his ear, so I snuggle into his side and wait for him to get off.
“Okay, but she’s going to have Ian with her. I don’t give a shit if you have Daniil. He’s your guard, and Ian’s hers now that George is out of commission. I spoke to him last night, and he agreed. All right, see you soon.”
He hangs up and pockets his phone. “Bri will be here soon to go shopping.”
“And the guards?” I ask, setting the package on the coffee table.
“Daniil is her personal guard. And Ian will be yours. If you don’t mesh well, let me know, and I’ll pick someone else, but he’s loyal to a fault, and I trust him to protect you.”
“But why do I need anyone?” I ask, confused. “Enrique’s gone, so I’m safe.”
Matteo sighs. “Did you know that the entire time you were in college, your dad had someone watching over you?”
“What?” I gasp. “No …”
“Yes,” he volleys. “He might’ve kept you away, but his associates still knew about you, and he wouldn’t risk it. All it takes is one associate becoming an enemy, and you’re at risk. Bri has Daniil, and Peyton has Denis. Even Damien has a guard who goes to school with him every day.”
“And Lorenzo did the same thing?”
“No.” Matteo’s jaw clenches. “He didn’t want to violate your trust. And I get it. Though, maybe if he had, the guard would’ve reported back about Enrique, and you wouldn’t have married that fucker.”
“I really fucked up,” I mutter.
“No.” He pulls me into his arms, so I’m forced to snuggle closer into his side on the couch. “You remind me a lot of your brother. It’s probably what drew me to you.” He chuckles. “You both love with your heart on your sleeve. You trust and give people the benefit of the doubt.”
“That’s a nice way of saying we’re gullible and naive.”
He shakes his head. “No, you just haven’t been jaded enough to be cynical. And I love that for you. And my goal as your boyfriend is to make sure you stay that way.” Matteo palms the side of my face. “I just got you, Sweetness. You want to spend your own money? Fine. But I’m not backing down on keeping you safe.”
He presses his lips to mine for a kiss that ends far too quickly. “Now, what was it you needed to show me?”
Oh yeah! The reason I ran upstairs.
But then it hits me. “Did you just call yourself my boyfriend?”
A grin spreads across my face, and Matteo rolls his eyes.
“I’m thirty-five. I guess it had to happen sometime. But don’t expect any of that shit boyfriends do.”
“Like what?” I ask, now curious.
“Flowers and date nights and shit.”
I laugh softly at his admission and lean over to give the corner of his jaw a kiss. “I don’t need flowers or date nights or shit,” I say, repeating his words back to him. “I just need you. But …” I pull back and look in his eyes. “If you ever cheat on me, you’re going to need every one of your guards to protect you from me.”
Matteo scoffs. “That would never happen,” he says, pecking my lips. “I might not be boyfriend material, and I’ll probably suck at all of this, but I will never hurt you in any way. I watched Andrey cheat on my mom for years, and I will never be like that piece of shit.”
I nod in understanding.