Page 23 of His Housekeeper's Twin Baby Confession
He put out a hand, dislodging the woman’s fingers from his arm. Carrie took his hand, feeling ridiculously thrilled by the attention. He pulled her into his side, hand tight on her waist.
So this was what it felt like. To be chosen by Massimo. Like basking in the benevolent warmth of the sun, heat prickling along her veins.
He introduced Carrie to some more people but they all blurred into one at some point, and her cheeks hurt from smiling. Her feet were also killing her in the high heels.
Eventually he said, ‘Ready?’
Carrie blinked and looked around. There was no one else waiting to talk to Massimo. The crowd had thinned out. Only a few people were left on the dance floor.
She thought of that word.Ready. Was she ready for whatever she’d tacitly put in motion by not leaving? Not in a million years. But she knew that she’d prefer to be here than back at the apartment feeling a sense of regret.
Carrie looked up at Massimo. She wanted to project cool confidence, but in that moment, under his penetrating gaze, her insides quivered.
‘The truth is, I’m not sure.’
Massimo lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to her palm. A touch that felt shockingly intimate considering that up till now every physical interaction between them had been totally solicitous.
‘Nothing will happen that you’re not comfortable with, Carrie. I can promise you that.’
Something eased inside her. She hadn’t expected Massimo to be so unapologetically direct. He wasn’t trying to charm her, or flatter her, or guilt her into anything.
He led her from the room, saying goodbye to a few people en route. His car and driver were waiting outside. The evening was still and warm. It felt as if the world was holding its breath for something.
Carrie shook her head at herself. She was being ridiculous. The car was moving now. She tried to pretend she was absorbed with what was happening outside the windows, but she was attuned to every tiny move Massimo made. His scent. The fact that he’d undone his bow-tie and the top button of his shirt. The fact that he lounged beside her, long legs sprawled out.
In contrast she felt incredibly uptight. Tense. Suddenly wondering what on earth she was thinking. She couldn’t possibly do this. What had she even agreed to do? Sleep with Massimo? Panic started to rise. If they slept together she’d lose her job! She really hadn’t thought this through at all.
She turned to Massimo—and promptly forgot what she was going to say. They were pulling up outside his building now. He took her hand again and led her inside. To his private elevator. He and the concierge exchanged words. She didn’t even take it in. His hand was tight on hers, as if he sensed her vacillating turmoil.
The elevator ascended. Doors opened. Carrie’s breath was coming short and fast. If she wasn’t careful she’d hyperventilate. She took a deep breath. She had nothing to fear here. Massimo wouldn’t force her...
A sliver of cold went down her back. But how did she know that for sure? She’d witnessed how a man could turn into something else entirely.
Massimo let her hand go to enter the apartment and Carrie put some distance between them. She put her bag down on a table. The lights were low. She had her back to Massimo, but she sensed he wasn’t coming closer.
She turned around. He was near the door. Jacket open. Face cast in shadow. But she could still see its hard angles. The sensual curve of his mouth.
‘Carrie...?’
She bit her lip and then said, ‘Look... I don’t want to be a tease...but I’m not sure this is such a good idea.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re not being a tease. No woman is ever a tease, Carrie.’
Another knot inside her eased. ‘We haven’t really spoken about what this is...’
He stepped forward, out of the shadows. She could see his face now. It held a stark expression she’d never noticed before.
He said, ‘It’s desire. Mutual desire.’
‘But how...? Why now?’
‘I think it was always inevitable...we just didn’t acknowledge it till now. The first day I met you I noticed you, Carrie. But I managed to push it away...ignore it. Until I couldn’t any more.’
To know that he had felt a similar sense of awareness from day one made something shift inside Carrie. Gave her a sense of confidence. Nevertheless, she felt compelled to be the voice of reason when it felt as if everything she knew was going up in flames around her.
She shook her head faintly. ‘I don’t know if this is really a good idea...’
Massimo took another step closer. Now he looked serious. ‘You’re probably right.’
