Matteo raised a hand and wiped a stray tear from his eye. It had been a while since he had a laugh like that, and seeing Amelia’s hilariously adorable stunned expression was enough to raise a chuckle or two out of him.
On the other hand, Amelia’s lips were parted as she stared at Matteo wide-eyed. He laughed. She wasn’t even sure that man was capable of guffawing so loudly!
"Your face is blushing brilliantly, my love," Matteo smoothly said. His words acted like a second shot that was fired straight from Cupid’s bow, causing Amelia to suck in a deep breath through her teeth.
Matteo leaned in as though he hadn’t even noticed the stiffening of Amelia’s body or the reason behind the redness of her cheeks. Instead, his palm found her cheek, gently touching her skin.
He was warm just now when they were out in the cold, but in the heated room, paired with her madly blushing face, Matteo’s palm felt cool to the touch. It was like the first sip of a refreshing drink out in the summer heat, quickly soothing the heat that blazed and crackled in her heart.
Even with the distance between them shortened to virtually nothing, Matteo never lost the smile that curved his lips. He looked so much better with it too― there was no hint of the stress that usually marred his features, and for once, Matteo didn’t look like someone who was forced to grow up before his age, burdened by enormous responsibilities that took a toll on him.
He was young, sprightly, and as carefree as a bird soaring across the big blue sky. Amelia’s eyebrows furrowed just subtly.
This was the first time she had seen him smile, but it looked so familiar that Amelia’s heart bubbled in a ticklish manner as she tried to recall where she had seen it before but to no avail. Perhaps his smile just reminded her of Aiden― a son born to the same father but lived a much more laidback life.
Amelia’s throat was dry, yet she tried her best to choke out her next words. "No, none of them are prepared for us."
She tried to speak firmly but it didn’t straighten out the tremble in her voice.
"We’re not touching these," she said. "Who knows how many people have used those... toys before us!"
"That implies we will eventually use it," Matteo reminded without missing a beat, and with that, Amelia’s face flushed red again.
"You are incorrigible!"
Oh god. In her mind’s eye, she could so effortlessly picture Matteo’s hands bound in those scandalous handcuffs.
They looked just like the typical silver cuffs that police officers used, but around Matteo’s wrists, they held a whole other meaning. They held his muscular arms above his head, and it wasn’t difficult to imagine — or more accurately, recall — the way Matteo looked without a shirt to conceal his defined torso.
If her gaze dropped any lower...
She squeezed her eyes and shook her head harshly.
Amelia had to banish those thoughts as quickly as possible. This was not good for her heart in any way.
"Out!" she demanded before she ended up a stuttering mess due to her sinful thoughts. "I need to change, and the bathroom is out of commission!"
Matteo was carted out of the room, a huge grin resting on his face as Amelia pushed him out, her hands flat against his back. If he truly wanted to, it would be impossible for her to move him, but he dutifully allowed her to do as she wished. When she slammed the room door shut once she was out, Matteo was still smiling fondly at the closed door.
"You look sick in the head," Aiden said, quickly causing Matteo’s smile to drop from his face. "I heard that lovesickness is contagious and fatal. You might want to get that checked."
He turned, returning to the deadpanned expression he normally wore as he looked at his younger half-brother.
"There," Aiden said, and this time, it was his turn to grin. "That’s the older brother I know."
Aiden was met with no reply other than a scathing look that sent shivers crawling down his spine.
***
Since it was their first day in Lesterat and Amelia had never been here before, Horace Hawthorne had suggested exploring the town near the resort they were staying in before they dived into more strenuous activities the next day, such as skiing or snowboarding.
Most of the older generation had declined to follow, but that was all the better in Matteo’s eyes.
"It’s a long flight," Annalise said with a frown. "You need your rest, Dad, and not to run around with the kids in town."
"I can bring Amelia around town," Matteo suggested.
He lovingly edged closer to Amelia, placing a hand around her waist before tugging her close. Even through the thick down feather jacket she wore, she could feel the weight of Matteo’s hand on the curve of her waist.
Annalise immediately squinted her eyes at the action. She did not want her father-in-law to spend so much time with this country bumpkin that he eventually forgot her daughter, the true heiress of the Hawthorne family, Emmeline. However...
She turned and glanced at Emmeline’s way from the corner of her eyes. Her poor daughter looked as though her heart was about to shatter, and the sight of Emmeline this way made Annalise’s motherly heart ache.
"It’s been a while since we’ve all been to Lesterat," Annalise said, raising an eyebrow. "How about Emmeline following you two?" She then addressed her daughter directly. "You wouldn’t want to stay cooped up in the hotel for the rest of the night, do you, darling?"
With her name called out, Emmeline all but jumped at the opportunity her mother had created for her. She immediately came up to Matteo and batted her long eyelashes.
"I do want to have a look around town to see what’s changed since we were last here," Emmeline said, biting her bottom lip. She turned to Amelia and said, "You wouldn’t mind if I tagged along, would you?"
If it were any other man, they would’ve no doubt swooned for her large and innocent doll-like eyes. However, in front of Matteo, those tactics were akin to trying to use a candle flame to melt Mount Everest.
But before Matteo could snuff out her flame, Aiden walked over. He lazily put an arm across Emmeline’s shoulder, causing her to stiffen wordlessly.
"Of course my older brother wouldn’t mind," Aiden said. "After all, we’re just tagging along for an innocent walk down town. They’re not so narrow-minded as to care. Isn’t that right, Matteo?"