A slow smile spread on Eleni’s face. “Thanks.”
In a second it reached her eyes. The crinkles. Oh, those stupid crinkles.
He lowered his gaze. “If you don’t want to go back to your room, you could come and sleep with me in the dive center.”
Eleni gasped. “I could what?”
Matteo’s neck started to burn. That came out all wrong. What was wrong with him? Had his brain gone haywire?
He held up his hand. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant you could sleep at my place. Just sleep. I’ll leave you the bed. In the morning, you can sneak back to your bungalow while Cath is at the fitness center.”
Eleni tilted her head and observed him. A faint smile played on her lower lip. “Okay, fine. Thanks for the offer. I accept.”
Chapter 24
Eleni scrubbed her skin under the shower. Was the memory of Nikolai’s touch ever going to disappear? She poured another bit of soap into her hands and washed herself again before rinsing the foam away.
Thank goodness Matteo had heard her. What would have happened if he hadn’t? She felt unable to breathe, and she had to force herself to exhale. But he had.
Matteo had saved her. Again. It was becoming too much of a pattern.
The fire in Matteo’s eyes when he hit Nikolai flashed though Eleni’s mind.
He had looked like a dark version of Thor descending from the sky to unleash his vengeance. So incredibly handsome. And sexy.
She was doing it again. She’d already decided that falling for Matteo was a lost cause. She reached out and turned the water to cold. Maybe the cool drops could calm her head somewhat.
After she stepped out of the shower, she dried herself. She slipped on the white cotton T-shirt and pair of shorts Matteo had given her.
Hmmm, they both smelled like him.
Butterflies erupted in Eleni’s stomach. How was she to keep her feelings at bay when Matteo’s scent was plastered all over her skin?
She looked into the mirror and rearranged her bun. Okay, she was presentable enough now.
Matteo was sitting on a chair in the kitchen, waiting for her.
As she stepped out, he stood up and walked to her. “Are the clothes okay?”
Eleni swallowed then nodded. “Sure. Yes, they are completely fine.”
Except they make me feel like I’m in your arms.
Matteo winked. “You look good in them. Certainly more classy than I ever did.” He pointed at the chair. “I cleaned the dry sand off your dress, but I guess it still needs some sewing.”
Eleni glanced at the blue fabric. She would never be able to wear this dress. Not after what had happened tonight.
“For what it’s worth, you can toss it into the trash. I couldn’t put it on without remembering Nikolai and—” Her voice cracked.
Matteo patted her arm. “I can throw it out right away, if you wish.”
He went to the chair and grabbed the dress. He stepped over to the bin and popped it inside. “There, you see?”
Eleni sighed. If only her memories were so easily erasable.
Her eyes moved to Matteo. “How am I supposed to face Nikolai again? It’s inevitable that I’m going to cross paths with him in the hotel. He’ll probably be angry with me.”
Matteo drew his brows together. “I thought about that while you showered. It’s unlikely Nikolai will make a scene about what happened. For that, he’d have to reveal that he was rejected by a simple hotel employee. No offense.”
“None taken. Are you sure of this?”
Matteo tilted his head to the side. “Pretty. Barking dogs seldom bite. Nikolai is all words but no action. I’ve known him quite a long time now. He won’t risk damaging his reputation, especially now that he’ll be the head of the Kasiljevs.”
That made sense. Eleni swallowed. Now, she only had to hope the guy didn’t suffer a concussion. “Nikolai won’t have lasting damage from your blow, right?”
Matteo’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re worried about that scumbag. He tried to rape you, for crying out loud.” His voice trembled.
Eleni’s heart sank. She had made Matteo angry.
She lowered her glance. “I just wanted to know…I don’t want him to sue the hotel or something.”
Matteo’s face softened, and he came closer. “I’m sorry. I reacted too harshly. It was just horrific to see how he mishandled you.”
Had he been so worried about her? Could it mean that a small part of his heart cared for her?
Matteo cleared his throat. “Anyways, as I said, don’t worry. I’ve learned how to knock somebody out without producing real injury.” He paused to swallow and added, “Nikolai won’t come near you anymore. If he does, I will make him stop.”
A wave of warmth washed over Eleni. Without thinking, she opened her arms and embraced Matteo’s torso.
He stiffened at first, but then his arms closed around her back, pulling her strongly to him.
She pressed her head to his chest. His manly odor wafted over her, making her giddy.
Matteo’s fingers wandered up to her nape. He slowly pulled out the large hairpin that kept Eleni’s curls in a bun.
Her hair fell down to her shoulders like a heavy cascade.
Why did he do that? Eleni glanced up at him, angling her chest backwards.
Her gaze met his. His eyes glistened in the deepest blue shade of the ocean. His dark pupils started to expand like a vortex opening up to swallow her down.
Eleni’s knees melted, and she squeezed his arms to stop herself from falling.
Matteo’s lips curled up. “I’m sorry I’ve destroyed your updo.”
Eleni swallowed twice before she managed to articulate a word. “Why did you do that?”
He inhaled. “I was curious how you’d look with your hair down.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. Could he hear it too?
“And how do I look?”
He licked his lips. “Pretty. Very.”
Then he broke his eyes away from Eleni’s and released her from his arms. “We should get you to bed. You had an exhausting evening.”
Eleni let her own arms fall and stepped back. “Yes, you’re right.”
Matteo led her to his bedroom. He pointed at his bed. “I changed the sheets while you were in the shower. Let me know if you need anything.”
Eleni’s chest stuttered. She couldn’t possibly throw him out of his own bed. “Where are you going to sleep?”
Matteo tilted his head toward the corridor. “On the sofa over there. I do it all the time when Bianca visits. Don’t worry.”
Eleni sucked in a breath. A real white knight. “Thanks. Good night, then.”
Matteo stood at the door. He opened his lips as if he wanted to say something, but then shook his head imperceptibly. “Yes, good night.”
He stepped out and pulled the door closed.
Eleni jumped under the sheets and let her body relax.
Ah, it felt so good to lie down. She turned her head on the pillow. This was the same bed where Matteo slept.
Her cheeks grew warm. How would it be if he was in here with her? Desire filled her with irrepressible force.
The way he unleashed her hair… Yes, for a moment, she’d thought he was finally going to kiss her. Maybe he wanted it, too?
Eleni buried her head underneath the cover.
Even if he did, what did it matter? He decided not to. Matteo had great plans for his future, and he was convinced a woman couldn’t possibly help him achieve that.
Could she ever change his mind?
Unlikely. And she mustn’t even attempt it. She had already burned herself by trusting a man. But the attraction she used to have for Connor paled in comparison to her feelings for Matteo. Wasn’t it worth at least trying?
No. What if he refused her? Her heart couldn’t take that.
She sighed and sniffed at the sheets. So this was the closest she was ever going to get to him.
Her in his bed.
Alone.
She put her palm on her chest. Her heart was drumming as if it wanted to break through her bones.
Oh, whatever. Maybe she should just let her heart have what it wanted. Being his. Even if only in her dreams. In reality, this wasn’t an option. Not now, and not ever.
She tucked her arms around herself and let her mind return to the image of Matteo touching her hair. And to his adorable dimples and his mesmerizing blue eyes that hid so much depth.
At least here, in the safety of her own memories, she could dive in them without the fear of losing control.
Chapter 25
By the time Eleni got back in the morning, Cath had already left for her class. Eleni’s shoulders relaxed as she took in their empty bungalow. It would’ve been awkward to come up with a good explanation for why she was wearing oversized men’s clothes.
Eleni ate breakfast and got dressed. She glanced at her watch. She only had an hour before she had to go to the Blue Lagoon and help Matteo prepare the dive boat.
Her throat thickened. After last night, it would be hard to see him. She had to pretend everything was normal even if she knew it wasn’t.
She was in love with her boss. Again.
She pressed her palms against her cheeks. Her eyes wandered to her cell phone on the couch. She flipped it open and skimmed through her messages.
No other news from Connor, since she had ignored his last confusing text. She sighed. It was better this way. Dealing with ‘what if’ questions from her past was the last thing her vulnerable heart needed.
Her phone beeped in her hand.
A message from Lydia. How many days had it been that she’d forgotten to speak to her family?
Driven by a sudden idea, she pressed call.
Lydia’s soprano answered. “Lenie, love, how are you doing? Your dad is out golfing.”
Right, it was his golf day.
Eleni drew in a breath. “No problem, everything is fine here. I’m actually glad to catch you alone. I have a question for you.”
She could picture Lydia drawing her fine brows together.
Her stepmom’s voice became higher. “Is there something wrong? You sound strange.”
“I’m good. I just—” Eleni walked to her bed and sat down. Was it even worth speaking to Lydia about this? But if she didn’t, who could she ask? “I was wondering…how did you know that Dad was the one for you? He was a mess when you met him. What made you think it was worth sticking around and waiting for him?”
Silence on the other end.
“Lydia? You there?”
A loud sigh. “Yes. I was just pondering your question. This is the first time you’ve ever asked me something like this. I imagine it would be pointless to inquire why now.”
Eleni chewed on her lip. “Will you tell me?”
“It wasn’t love at first sight between us. At least, not from his side. I think he even disliked me in the beginning because he thought I was too reserved, and a snob.”
Lydia paused for a second as if the memories were keeping her mind in another reality.
Her stepmother’s lean figure and long, noble nose came back to Eleni. A warm sensation spread in her stomach. She was lucky her father had changed his mind. Lydia was a wonderful person.
“But, what about you? Did you know it right from the start? Is that why you put up with his…um…struggles?”
The death of Eleni’s mother had destroyed her father just as much as it had affected Eleni. Lydia had brought him back to life. But Eleni knew it must have been an arduous task.
Lydia chuckled. “Not quite, but almost. A few weeks after I met him, we were at a cottage party together. We chatted the whole afternoon. When the party was over, I knew I wouldn’t want any other man in my life. Waiting for him wasn’t a sacrifice. It was a pleasure.”
A pain shot through Eleni’s chest. Was she ever going to be this strong? Did she have the tendency to give up too easily on the idea of love? Was it her fault her relationships didn’t work out the way she hoped? Maybe she should have fought for Connor. Learned to forgive him.
Matteo’s blue eyes filled her mind, erasing the image of Connor. Her breathing grew heavy. No, Connor was never worth her patience. But what about Matteo?
Should she try and wait for him? Was he ever going to change his mind about women?
“Lenie, why did you ask me this? Is there somebody on the island…” Lydia’s voice trailed off.
Her stepmother had always been very perceptive.
A lump formed in Eleni’s throat. “No, there’s nobody.”
It would have been nice to confide in Lydia. But Eleni didn’t have the courage. Saying her feelings out loud to someone would make them irreversible. As long as they stayed hidden inside her heart, she could pretend they didn’t exist.
At least to the outside world.
“I need to go now, Lydia. I promise I’ll call you soon. Say hi to Dad.”
“Sure, love. I will. Call me any time,” Lydia answered.
When the conversation ended, Eleni slumped her shoulders.
Speaking to Lydia had made her even more confused.
She inhaled deeply then rubbed her legs. Whatever. It was time to go to work now. To help Matteo. She pushed aside the quivers in her stomach at the idea of seeing him. She put the phone in her bag and stood up.
When she got to the Blue Lagoon, the beach was empty.
Where was Matteo? Eleni checked her watch. Her timing was perfect. Eleni looked around, but there were no signs of him. Why was he late?
She thought back to her conversation with Lydia. Was Matteo like her Dad? Would he ever have a change of heart?
He had seemed so convinced last night when he spoke about his priorities in life. Was there a chance that time would make him see a different way to happiness? And if there was, could Eleni be as strong as Lydia and stick it out till then?
Eleni shook her head. No, this wasn’t good. Her stepmother’s words had undoubtedly lit a small fire of hope in Eleni. Fires were dangerous to play with; one would always get burned.
Eleni shrugged and walked closer to the water. She chose a good spot behind a large rock and dropped her bag into the sand. She took off her sandals, shorts, and T-shirt.
She stood there in her bathing suit, observing the waves.
She had to take charge of her feelings and her life. She mustn’t let her emotions wander off to fairy-tale fantasies and happily ever afters. They might never happen to her.
Eleni dipped her toes into the water. Nice and lukewarm. Maybe she should go for a quick swim while waiting for Matteo. Just to refresh her ideas a bit. Why not? It could be her very first step to overcoming her past, and her present.
She walked back to her bag and grabbed a pair of goggles she’d taken from the dive center. Yes, she was going to take her first deliberate swim in the ocean.
She walked to the waves with slow steps. As the water reached her hips, a weird tingling spread through her body. She hadn’t been in the ocean since her mother’s accident except for her rescue mission of that woman.
Her lips curled up. She was letting go, at last. She immersed herself in the water, moving her arms in ample circles. The waves softly tickled her skin.
She put her head into the water, and opened her eyes.
Wow, what a sight. The sand glistened like a mirror, and the countless algae moved in a harmonious rhythm with the current. Groups of tiny fishes, in all the colors of the rainbow, danced elegantly around her.
Eleni swam with strong laps toward a larger rock. The bottom of the ocean sloped steeper, making the surrounding blue become darker and darker. Eleni’s heart squeezed. Almost the color of Matteo’s eyes.
No. She wasn’t going to go there. She lifted her head and turned onto her back. She let her body rest on the surface of the water, with her face toward the sun. She shifted her goggles to her forehead and closed her eyes. The undulating movement of the ocean eased her tense muscles.
Finall
y, a true moment of peace.
Something touched her leg.
Her shoulders tightened. What was it?
Her leg gave an involuntarily kick forward.
“Ouch.”
The water tamed the voice, but it was still clear enough for Eleni to recognize.
She jerked back, and came face to face with Matteo.
He was pressing his hand to his chest. His wet hair fell onto his forehead in a boyish disarray. “Hey, what were you trying to do? Kill me?” But a smile crept to his eyes. “What did you think I was? A predator?”
He made a scary face and reached out with his hands, grabbing Eleni’s forearms.
A sting, as if a jellyfish had bit her, skittered across Eleni’s skin. Only the tingling didn’t feel painful. On the contrary. It coursed through her veins, reaching each part of her body, warming, awaking, and unsettling her.
She drew back, chuckling. “I thought you might be a shark actually. What are you doing here? We were supposed to get the boat ready, but you weren’t at the beach.”
Matteo winked at her. “I got here early and decided to take a quick swim. I see you had a similar idea.”
Yeah, right. Maybe she should have waited in the sand. After all, she was only Matteo’s assistant. A boss could always decide to be a bit late.
“I’m sorry. I just thought—”
Matteo’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, no. I wasn’t scolding you. I’m glad you felt like swimming. It’s beautiful in the ocean, and you should enjoy it. We still have time before the dive trip. I already set up the boat this morning.”
He reached out with one hand, and took a hold on the large rock beside them.
Oh, so that’s where he’d been when Eleni woke up.
Eleni bit her lip. “I thought you wanted to avoid me after what happened last night. I’m still embarrassed that I kicked you out of your own bed.”
Matteo shook his head. “No. I told you already, you should never feel sorry when you’re with me.”
His eyes met hers.
The blue of the water deepened his irises to a surreal shade. No man should have eyes this mesmerizing.
Eleni’s breathing quickened.
Loving The Boss (Gems 0f Love Book 1) Page 14
