Chapter Six - Stuck With Him

“I don’t think they’ll be back tonight. Do you know the way to Rebecca’s uncle’s place?” asked Matteo, softening a little. He didn’t know why her tears shifted something in his heart, but it did. Now he wanted to make amends and release her. Maybe he would think of another way to see her again! After all, he wasn’t in this for just the money. He wanted her near him! It was a crazy wish since he had just met the girl!

“I don’t!” Amelia wiped her eyes and looked at him hopefully. “Would you drive me over to get my card?”

“I can after closing this place down. Why don’t you ask them for the address in the meantime?” He smiled at her and left the office to wrap up his work for the day. Amelia messaged her friends, but they didn’t reply. She called them but they didn’t take her call! She searched for Rebecca’s uncle on her mobile phone and found out the address of his house at last. Relieved, she walked out to inform Matteo.

She saw Matteo working on a damaged Rolls-Royce with two other mechanics. She went up to him and tapped him on his shoulder. “Matteo?”

He wiped his hands and turned to look at her. “Yes, Signorina? Did you find the address?”

“Yes, here it is.” She showed him the search result and watched a frown appear on his features.

“I won’t get off before 11 in the night. Will that do?” Matteo searched her tired face and felt sorry for her. With friends like hers, who needed enemies?

“You can go over to my apartment and rest if you’re tired. Here are the keys.” He fished out the keys and handed them over to her. Amelia hesitated a little, but accepted them reluctantly. What other option did she have? She couldn’t sit cramped up in his office for another minute.

“Thank you, Matteo. I’ll make dinner for you,” she offered to compensate for his thoughtfulness. He was much better than her so-called friends, who only considered her nothing more than a money-minting machine.

“I’ll take you up on that!” He flashed her another dazzling smile that set a flutter in her stomach. “Do you want me to accompany you?” Amelia shook her head, seeing that he was really busy.

“I can manage. Will you inform me if my friends return with my bank card?”

“Not likely, but will do.” He went back to his car and Amelia walked away towards his apartment. She wanted to take a cab and go to Rebecca’s uncle’s house for a confrontation, but something held her back. What was it? Was it because of a man with eyes like whiskey?

‘It’s just that I don’t want to break his trust in me. Who gives his apartment keys to a stranger who owes him 5k?’ she mumbled to herself as she walked. Her fellow pedestrians gave her weird looks at seeing her talking to herself. Amelia rolled her eyes. Maybe she had really gone crazy! Thanks to her ungrateful friends! She would love to give Rebecca a piece of her mind!

The guard at his building gave her a salute and a grin, making her smile back at the good-natured man. She went up the elevator to his apartment, unlocked his door, and went inside. The moment she went inside, Matteo’s soapy, spicy scent hit her, making her senses reel. Her good sense should have prompted her to remain at the garage rather than come here, but something about Matteo made her trust him more than her friends. He might be a stranger she had met today, but he thought more about her than them.

Freshening up, she went into the kitchen to make dinner. Maybe her friends would arrive with her bank card after dinner and she could leave with them. She wasn’t as good as Matteo was in the culinary sector, but she could prepare a decent American meal. So, preparing pork chops, mashed potatoes, and grilled vegetables, she sat down to relax and sip some chilled orange juice from the refrigerator.

Why hadn’t Matteo called her yet? Maybe because he didn’t have her number. Should she call Seth and find out if her friends had returned?

Amelia checked the landline number on her mobile phone and called Seth. After the fourth time, she could connect to him.

“Hello, Seth! This is Amelia. Have my friends returned to the shop?”

“Hey, Amelia! No, they left with the car. Right?” he sounded confused. Maybe Matteo hadn’t updated him about the state of things.

“Yes, but they were supposed to return.”

“I see. No, they haven’t. Should I call back on this number if they do?”

“Yes, please. Thanks, Seth. Is Matteo around?” It just slipped out of her tongue, although she had no intention of asking after Matteo.

“Yes, should I call him?” There was amusement in his tone that made Amelia blush. Why did she have to be so obvious?

“No.” She quickly disconnected the call and walked over to the kitchen to serve herself dinner. Matteo could have his afterwards when he was free. Would he expect her to wait for him? No, why would he? She wasn’t his wife!

Her thoughts went to Cadence, his ex-fiancée. Did he really not feel anything for the exquisitely beautiful woman? How could he not if he had agreed to marry her? How did Cadence know that she wasn’t his type? Maybe she was missing something here! Maybe they knew one another more than Matteo admitted to her.

She didn’t want to eat after the thought and went to the spare bedroom to curl up on the bed and rest her tired body. It had been a traumatic day for her. Never in her twenty-two years of life had she experienced so much trouble as she did today. All because of Rebecca’s stupidity. How could they behave as if it was okay to leave her alone in a body shop and disappear? It was different in the day but at night. Would she have to spend the night here in Matteo’s apartment if he didn’t get off early to take her to Rebecca’s uncle’s house?

The door unlocked, and she sat up straight, alert and wary. With Matteo busy at the shop, who else did Matteo give his keys to? Did he have a roommate? He did mention he wouldn’t get over before 11, so it couldn’t be him, right?

The sound of footsteps around the apartment made her get up and tiptoe towards the door to peer out. Her eyes locked with Matteo’s and he grinned at her, taking her by surprise.

“Hey? Have you made my dinner?” His cocky, demanding tone literally had her rolling her eyes. His tone hinted a possessiveness as if she were his wife!

“I made dinner for both of us.” She walked out of the room, ignoring his knowing smile as if he was aware of her thoughts. With him following her to the kitchen and leaning against the door, her stomach knotted up with awareness. What was she doing in a stranger’s apartment, cooking dinner for him?

“Are you done for the day?” she asked him hopefully and he nodded, to her relief. Somehow, she had the feeling he had wrapped up his work only for her. Of course, he did! It had nothing to do with her personally.

‘Stop getting your hopes up, girl. He just wants his payment from you!’ prompted her inner mind.

“Mm, smells delicious. I could keep you here forever for this. I hate making dinner.” Amelia’s jaws dropped and sinful thoughts of being kept hostage in his apartment played in her mind. Would he tie her to his bed later and have his way with her, too? He looked the type! A shudder of dread went down her spine, and she gulped and gaped at him.

“W-what?” she stammered out.

“Joking, Emilia! Shall we eat?” He entered the kitchen and took the plates heaped with food from her hands, brushing her skin lightly. A shot of electric current coursed through her at the contact. He walked out of the kitchen with the food and she stood there in confusion. Why did she react this way to him when he wasn’t affected at all by her? How could she be so pathetic?

No one had affected her this way in the last twenty-two years and all her friends had made fun of her. Then called her ‘Ice Queen’ at college because of her lack of interest in the guys there. She had almost started believing herself to be one until Matteo came along.

“Mm, this is good.” His moan of pure delight brought her attention to his kissable lips. At that point, he looked up and somehow Amelia had the feeling that his moan was intended to arouse her. Well, it was working on her innocent heart and inexperienced organs.

“Come here and start!” he said in a husky whisper, leaning towards her. Amelia gasped, wondering how he knew she wanted a taste of his lips!

“What?” she asked with confusion. He smiled as if trying to lure her into some kind of flirty game.