Tempted by Her Boss (21 page)

A sound escaped her, faint but there, and he squeezed her again, spoke a little louder. “Paige. Can you hear me?”

“Stop,” she whispered. “Your voice is too loud.”

Relief flooding him, he hustled out of the terminal and headed for the parking structure where his car waited. She would be fine. She had to be. He’d already lost one woman in his life, he wasn’t about to lose another.

Juggling a slender woman, the purse that still hung off her shoulder, her duffle bag and his keys wasn’t an easy feat, but he somehow managed to do it. After opening the passenger side door, he slid her inside, settling her in the seat, thankful to see she was somewhat lucid and able to sit on her own. He leaned over her, buckling the seatbelt, and he could feel her gaze on him the entire time.

“I’m going to miss my bus,” she said when he was finished.

“You’re not going on the bus,” he answered before he slammed the door.

What the hell was wrong with her? Her behavior was odd and her reluctance over seeing him was, he had to confess, disheartening.

But damn it, he had to try and make it up to her. Beg her forgiveness. Whatever he could do to rectify this wrong he’d done to her, he would. No way could he let her run out of his life ever again.

He drove them home in record time, thankful she could at least walk when he opened the door for her. He escorted her the entire way, completely silent, his hand at her lower back as he guided her through the building, into the elevator. She remained quiet as well, the color back in her cheeks, though the look of exhaustion around her eyes told the truth.

She was so tired. And he felt as if he were to blame.

“Paige, we need to talk,” he said as soon as he shut the door to his apartment.

“Not now,” she called weakly over her shoulder as she walked into the living area. “Where’s Matty?”

“At my sister’s.” He followed her, grabbing her by the arm so he could turn her around and face him. “Do you want something to eat? To drink?”

“Water, please,” she asked primly.

He got her a glass of water, keeping his eye on her the entire time. She wandered about the living room, looking a little lost until she finally sat on the couch. He went to her, handed her the glass before he settled in beside her.

And she promptly scooted away from him. “Is Matty okay?” she asked.

“He will be now,” Matteo bit out, wishing he could reach out and touch her. But he held himself in check. “He was worried about you.”

“What did you tell him?”

“He knew you left. He figured it out first when he went in your room and saw that you took all of your belongings. I told him I was going to find you and bring you back. In fact…”

He pulled out his phone and punched a number.

She met his gaze, her eyes full of sadness as she realized he must be calling Matty. “You didn’t leave him alone, did you?” she asked, and he loved how her maternal instincts roared.

“No,
bella
. He’s with Stasia, remember? And he probably won’t sleep until he knows I brought you home. Hello? Stasia, can I talk to Matty?”

He handed over the telephone, and Paige’s face softened when a familiar voice spoke. Matteo could hear him too—he was sitting so close. “Ullo?”

“Matty!”

“Paige!”

“Are you being a good boy?”

“Yes, yes, are you with Daddy? He said he’ll bring you home, are you coming home?”

“Maybe. Yes. Yes. Go to sleep now. I’ll see you in the morning.” She hung up and glanced at Matteo, her cute eyebrows scowling a little bit.
 

“I’m not an object you can keep in your house, Matteo,” she said, her voice low.

“I know that. Paige, I’m sorry.” He tossed the phone aside and scooted closer to her, wanting to touch her but unsure if he would only worsen things or not. He clenched his hands at his sides. “I was an idiot. I was so upset when I saw that article, I reacted without thought and in the process, I hurt you.” He was probably already making a mess of this, but damn it, he needed to get his apology out in the open.

“You did hurt me. All I wanted was your trust.” She set the water glass on the table, then turned to face him once more.

He briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. “I wish I knew how to make this up to you. I wish I knew how I could prove how much you mean to me. You never even gave me a chance to explain. My brothers found a woman who used to work for Leonard. Said he did the same thing to her that he did to you. I was about to come and tell you everything, but you’d already left.”

“Your brothers?” Her jaw dropped open.

“They, uh, investigated you. But found nothing wrong,” he added quickly.

She stood, glaring at him. “I can’t believe this. Did you put them up to the investigation? Was this all your idea?”

“No, they did it on their own. You know how skeptical they were about us. I tried to tell them to mind their own business, but they didn’t. And for once, I’m glad.” He stood and gripped her by her arms, giving her a little shake. “Paige. You ran out before I could talk to you again. You wouldn’t answer your phone. How come you talked to my mother and not to me? I may be the one who overreacted and behaved like an ass, but you ran away. I need your trust too, you know.”

“You’re right.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry I ran.”

“And I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. It’s hard for me to let my walls down, but for you, my love, I have.” The anxiety coiled within him slowly unwound. He was this close to getting back into her good graces again. “I love you, Paige. I never wanted to hurt you and I’m sorry. I could tell you a thousand times, but it would never be enough.”

“I’m sorry too.” She gasped when he reached inside his pocket and pulled the diamond pendant she left on her dresser. He’d been destroyed when he found it. Spotting the necklace sitting there, her leaving had felt so final, their relationship so completely destroyed by a few choice, ugly words.

And he’d let them fill him with doubt. How he hated that. He hated even more how much he hurt her.

“You forgot this,” he said solemnly, holding it out to her.

She shook her head. “I didn’t think it belonged to me anymore.”

“It’s yours. Just like my heart is yours.” He reached for her and slipped the necklace around her neck, doing the clasp with ease.

Reaching up, she touched the stone, running her fingers over it, her gaze never leaving Matteo’s. The tears started again, and he stopped them with a gentle brush of his thumb. He hated seeing her so upset, knowing he was the cause of her distress. “I’m too much trouble.”

“What?” He slipped his fingers under her chin, his thumb caressing her along her jaw. “You’re not any trouble. Why would you say that?”

“Everywhere I go, I seem to cause trouble. At the Leonards’, with you.” She sniffed. “Maybe it would be best if I did return home.”

“No,” he said vehemently, shaking his head. His fingers trembled beneath her chin. “You’re mine, Paige. I love you. You love me. We belong together.”

Her eyes went wide and she parted her lips, almost as if she couldn’t believe what he said. “I’m yours?” she whispered.

“All mine.” Leaning in, he kissed her, wanting to convey all the love, all the hope and joy he felt for her in that one brush of his lips. “I love you. Matty loves you. I want you to be a part of my life, Paige. Forever.”

“Forever.” She slipped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. “I like the sound of that.” Her lips moved against his as she spoke just before she kissed him.

“I do too,” he whispered just before he took the kiss deeper.

And then proceeded to show her just how much she meant to him.

Epilogue

Eleven months later…

“I want to see the baby!” Matty cried, banging his fists on the kitchen table.

“Matty, stop,” Paige chastised, sending Matteo a look. That same look she always gave him when she was overwhelmed by Matty’s antics. The one that made him feel like a hero, because only he could help her.

“Matty, don’t be so rude. Your aunt and uncle will be here any minute with the baby. And they won’t let you see her if you keep acting like this,” Matteo explained.

Matty pouted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I don’t want a baby cousin. I want a baby sister. And a baby brother.”

Matteo agreed, but he wasn’t one to push. They’d been married three months. Paige was young. He couldn’t force her to have a baby. Though the idea held such tremendous appeal he’d dreamed of it just last night.

He blamed the dream on Stasia giving birth to a beautiful baby girl they named Nicola. It felt like only yesterday that they’d gone to the hospital to see her briefly, leaving Matty with his grandmother. Such a beautiful baby when she’d been born, with thick, dark hair and rosy skin. Matteo had never seen Gavin look so proud or Stasia look so content.

Months later and the even more beautiful Nicola smiled and cooed, so chubby and happy, especially when little Matty played with her. She lit up the entire Renaldi family with her sweet baby laugh.

The doorbell rang and Matty ran to go get it, throwing open the door and yelling with such abandon, both Matteo and Paige winced.

“Your family’s here,” Paige murmured, a little smile curling her lips.

Matteo went to her, drew her into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. “Let’s go greet them. Or we could run away and hide.”

She laughed, pressed her hands against his chest. “I’m dying to see the baby.”

“You’ve seen one baby, you’ve seen them all.” He shrugged, though he didn’t mean it. He’d never been so happy.

When Paige had permanently come back home with him, he’d demanded she become his in every way. And now she was. It pleased him to see his ring around her finger, and it made him proud to wear hers. To know she belonged to him—that they belonged to each other. And she had formally adopted Matty, which Matty delighted in—especially when he got to call her “Mama”.

They were a real family in every way.

As a wedding present, Matteo had revealed to Paige that her former boss and wife were being investigated for money laundering. A nasty little tidbit the investigators his brothers recommended were able to discover for Matteo. It gave him a big pleasure indeed when the information he’d provided to the IRS had seemed to help. Those rats had been out for Paige’s blood and now Matteo had both of theirs.

After that, everything—life, work, home—seemed so damned rosy both he and Paige sometimes lay in bed at night, just staring at each other and not believing their good fortune.

Now, Paige’s cheeks were bright red in excitement. In fact, she looked so eager to see the baby he rather liked the idea of making one with her tonight. He imagined her swelled with his child and his erection swelled in response at the thought of planting his seed inside the woman he loved.

“What about if we were to have a baby? Would you feel like that?” she asked him. Her eyes glowed as she studied him, her fingers curling into the front of his shirt.

“I thought we weren’t ready for babies yet.” Hope rose within him, but he batted it down. She wore the diamond around her neck, the pendant he’d given her the night of the fashion gala, and it filled him with pride to see it lying against her skin.

He most preferred to see her wearing that necklace and nothing else…

“I thought I wasn’t either. But sometimes, life delivers you a little surprise.” She smiled and he thought he might burst apart at her news. Wait. So…for real? She was pregnant?

“You’re serious?” He could hardly contain himself and felt too big inside his skin.

She nodded, her eyes shining with tears.

“You’re—pregnant.” He could hardly get the words out—he couldn’t believe what she was saying.

Paige nodded again, standing up on tiptoe so she could kiss him. “Are you happy?” she asked, her mouth against his.

“Paige.” Matteo closed his eyes for a moment and held her to him, breathing into her and she laughed. “I’m so happy I can hardly speak.” He slipped a hand down to her belly, caressing her still flat stomach. “A baby.”

“Yes. A baby. It’s like a miracle.” She sighed as he caressed her middle. God, he was consumed with so much love for her, he could hardly stand it.

“It’s our miracle,” he whispered as he pulled away from her, her hand grasped in his. “Let’s go see the baby. And tell everyone there’s going to be another one joining her in…”

“Seven months, give or take.” Paige beamed at him. “I love you.”

“I love you too,
bella
. More than you’ll ever know.”

About the Author

Karen Erickson has always loved the written word. From being one of the best readers in her kindergarten class to penning romantic stories that never ended about her favorite band members (Duran Duran) in high school, she always wanted to write. It just took her a while to seriously pursue it.

With the birth of her third child came a realization—it’s one thing to talk about writing a book, another thing entirely to actually do it. She’s been published since 2006.

Karen’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband, three children, one dog and too many cats.