Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Gen lifted her gaze to meet Matteo’s striking face. In that instant, every flicker of doubt, every shadow of anxiety and suspicion that had clung to her moments before seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only a quiet calm between them.

“So, I do get to see you in that dress after all,” Matteo said with a teasing smile. “Come inside, or would you rather face the slow, torturous death of hypothermia out here?” When Gen remained silent, his grin faded, replaced by a guarded look that reminded her painfully of the photograph she had glimpsed in the newspaper. “Are you alright? Did something happen?”

Without answering, Gen slipped past him and stepped into the foyer. She heard the soft click of the door closing behind her. Matteo reached out, taking her purse and gently removing the jacket draped over her shoulders.

“You could have called,” he murmured quietly behind her.

“I threw your number out the window,” she replied coolly.

His hands paused briefly on her arm before continuing downward to take her coat. “I suppose I can forgive you… since you showed up here in person instead,” he said with a teasing edge.