Italian Sunshine: He Called Her Bellissima

Chapter 3

“Oh my God, Kace, are you okay?” Chloe gasped, instantly crouching to help her friend up.

“This has got to stop happening to me,” Kacey groaned—but before she could fully rise, a familiar deep, velvety Italian voice cut through the thrum of club music.

“Let me help you up.”

Her breath caught. That voice. That voice she remembered all too well.

She looked up—and sure enough, there he was. The handsome Greek god from earlier at the airport, more striking than she remembered. He reached out his hand once again, and for the second time that day, Kacey let him help her up.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this, bellissima,” he said, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

The way that one word rolled off his tongue sent a chill through her. Her heart drummed so loudly, she was sure Chloe could hear it. His presence seemed to cloud her senses.

“I—I’m sorry again,” she stammered, unable to hold his gaze for long. “I should’ve been more… attentive.”

She was 25, not some teenager, yet here she was, flustered and breathless under the weight of one man’s eyes. Maybe Chloe was right. Maybe what she needed was to just… get laid. It had been months since her breakup with Chad—and even before that, their relationship had been a dry desert of romance and passion.

“You’re good, bellissima,” he said smoothly, his sea-blue eyes darkening as they swept slowly over her figure. The way he looked at her, like he was taking in every detail, made her shiver. He made no effort to hide that he liked what he saw.

Chloe cleared her throat—loudly—clearly amused.

Snapping out of her daze, Kacey straightened and finally remembered her manners. “Oh! Yes, this is my best friend, Chloe. And I’m Kacey. It’s… a pleasure to properly meet you.”

She extended her hand. He took it gently, then, without breaking eye contact, brought it to his lips and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.

“The pleasure’s all mine, bellissima. I’m Matteo Giordano.

Kacey’s breath hitched at the feel of Matteo’s lips against her skin. It was such an old-fashioned, romantic gesture—so out of place in a packed, pulsing club—but somehow, it suited him perfectly. He held her gaze as he slowly let go of her hand, his touch lingering just a second longer than necessary.

Chloe, ever the sharp one, raised an eyebrow. “So, Matteo… you just happen to be here at the same club we came to tonight?”

Matteo gave her a sly smile. “Let’s just say fate has a way of leading me exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Kacey laughed, the sound slightly breathless. “Fate or stalking?”

He grinned, unfazed. “I prefer ‘well-timed coincidence.’”

Chloe exchanged a glance with Kacey, then shrugged and smirked. “Well, fate clearly has good taste. We were just about to grab a drink. Want to join us?”

“I’d love to,” he said smoothly, eyes back on Kacey. “But only if your friend doesn’t mind.”

Kacey, still a little off-balance from the intensity of his gaze, nodded quickly. “Of course not.”

They made their way through the club to a quieter VIP section, one Chloe somehow had access to—thanks, apparently, to her mysterious boyfriend. Once seated, the music faded just enough for conversation, and Matteo ordered them a round of drinks with effortless charm.

“So, Matteo Giordano,” Kacey said, swirling her cocktail. “What brings you to Florida? You didn’t strike me as the beach holiday type when I bumped into you at the airport.”

He leaned back in his seat, arm resting casually along the top of the booth, looking completely at ease. “Business, mostly. Though I wouldn’t mind mixing in a little pleasure, now that I’ve met you.”

Chloe stifled a laugh behind her glass, but Kacey ignored her, narrowing her eyes playfully. “What kind of business?”

There was a flicker in Matteo’s expression. A quick pause. Then he smiled again—cool and composed. “Real estate investments. Luxury properties, mostly. I’ve got a few deals I’m looking to close out here.”

“Sounds… lucrative,” Kacey said slowly, studying him.

“Lucrative enough,” he replied. “But I have a feeling you’re not really interested in my portfolio.”

She couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “Maybe not. But I am interested in knowing why you keep crashing into me.”

“I told you,” he said, voice low and deliberate, “fate.”

And the way he said it—like it was more fact than flirtation—sent another chill racing down her spine.

But as the night wore on and the drinks flowed, Kacey couldn’t shake the feeling that Matteo wasn’t just some charming guy with a perfect smile. There was something behind those sea-blue eyes—something unreadable. Dangerous, even and Kacey could just sense that her life was about to get much more interesting.