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As I get into bed, I reflect on what a strange evening it was. I would never admit it, but I really enjoyed myself. I mean, aside from the fact I loathe Matteo for what he’s done to me, I have to say it was a nice evening.

Gio is adorable, and he’s completely won me over. I smile as I think about him and his curious nature. I feel strangely at peace and don’t have strange dreams throughout the night.

I wake up before sunrise. I do a quick workout, shower, and get ready for the day. Maria is surprised to see me when she opens the door to collect me. I don’t have my breakfast in the bedroom anymore. I make my own breakfast in the kitchen, but today I want to do something a little extra special for Gio.

We go downstairs, and I start prepping everything, sticking the batter in the fridge for an hour. I search through the kitchen and find some dinosaur cookie cutters that are large enough to make the pancakes with. Once the batter has sat for an hour, I fry up the pancakes and pile them onto a plate. Gio comes in as I’m finishing them off, and when he sees them, he’s clearly super excited.

“Can I help?” he asks. “I just washed my hands.”

“Get your step stool and come whip the cream with the hand mixer,” I say.

Plugging the mixer in, I put it in the cream and show Gio how to hold it. He starts to whip the cream as I slice the fruit. Once we’re both done, he helps me wash off the fruit, and we pile it into a serving tray.

Between Maria, myself, and Gio, we carry everything through to the veranda where Matteo is already sitting, having a cup of coffee. He seems surprised to see us both helping Maria with the food.

Maria meets his eyes and shrugs. “They wanted to help,” she says. “I’m not going to say no.”

Matteo shakes his head, but sees Gio smiling, and Matteo grins at his son. I ignore Matteo. I’m not giving him any satisfaction by looking like I’m enjoying myself.

I don’t care if he’s surprised by the fact we helped Maria, or if he finds it odd. I always help the help; it’s just what I do. I like doing it. I’m not a lazy shit or a spoiled brat, which is probably what he thinks of me.

We pile the food onto the table, spreading it out so we can see what’s available before Gio runs to sit on the other side of his father.

I sit on Matteo’s left again, but only because I want in on this breakfast. Gio bounces in his chair as he looks at Matteo.

“Gia made dinosaur-shaped pancakes, Daddy,” he explains. “She used dinosaur cookie cutters to get that shape. Did you know you could do that, Daddy?”

Matteo chuckles. “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

Gio grins happily. “Gia is really smart.”

“Now that I know,” Matteo admits. “She is very, very smart.”

“Are you going to have some dinosaur pancakes?” Gio asks.

“I would be a fool not to,” Matteo says, and that surprises me.

I wait for him to dish up for Gio before I dish up for myself. Gio continues to ramble on, mostly about little boy subjects that he finds exciting. Now and then, though, Matteo glances at me, and it makes my heart race.

I don’t know why; he’s an asshole.

I try to ignore him, but the looks he gives me…they’re not as stern as they once were. He looks at me in… awe. Wonder maybe. As though I’ve done something to his son, something good.

Maria leaves, and we start to eat. I left some of the breakfast stuff for Maria in the kitchen to share with Jesabel.

As Gio talks, Matteo laughs, deep and from the heart. It’s an intoxicating kind of sound. It stirs up feelings deep inside me, feelings I didn’t think were possible.

I watch Matteo through my lashes, indulging myself in how handsome he is. I can’t deny he’s fucking hot. I mean, he must be in his forties, but he looks like he could pass for his thirties.

I’ve seen him with his shirt off. He must work out every day to be that ripped. It’s enticing. I wonder what it would be like to run my hands over his muscles.

No. What the fuck am I thinking? He’s the enemy. He’s holding me captive. He’s…

I realize with sudden horror that he’s staring right at me, and I choke on a piece of pancake in my mouth. Gio jumps up and runs around to pat me on the back while Matteo laughs.

I recover from the piece of pancake and hug Gio tightly. “Thanks for saving me, Gio,” I say.

As we hug, I glare at Matteo over Gio’s shoulder, but Matteo only chuckles.