Free Dark Demands 03: Totally His by Nell Henderson

Chapter 1
     
    Conrad put their luggage in the boot of the limo that was waiting for them at Christopher Columbus Airport in Genoa .  He sat next to the driver and after they exchanged a few words in Italian he turned to Gina and Matthew in the rear seats and told them they should reach Portofino within the hour providing the traffic wasn’t too heavy. 
    Gina was relieved it wasn’t far.  She felt exhausted, it had been one long , eventful day and after the spat with Matthew on the plane she just wanted it to be over.  She’d picked at the food he’d ordered for them but after the argument she’d drunk far too much of the red wine he’d chosen to go with it and she felt a little woozy.  Leaning on Matthew’s shoulder as they sped along the A12 she was soon asleep,
    The next thing she was aware of was the blaze of light punctuating the inky darkness from the hillside villa as they arrived .  She roused herself trying to wake up and take notice of what was happening.   There was a woman’s voice calling out and as Matthew alighted from the limo she ran to greet him hugg ing him close while lovingly stroking at his black hair.
    Finally managing to free himself from her grip he came back to the car open ed the door and help ed a groggy Gina to her feet.
    “This is my step mother, Luisa,” he told her as the woman came forward to see who he had brought home with him.  Feeling somewhat dishevelled and inadequate Gina held out her hand to the woman .
    “Nice to meet you, I’m Gina” she mumbled, her fuzzy brain trying to get to grips with the notion that Matthew was normal enough , after all , to have a family. 
    The woman smiled , a big kindly smile , and took Gina in her capable arms and hugged her close too.
    “You are welcome, Signorina, very welcome,” she greeted her in good English spoken with a rich Italian accent and turning back to Matthew added, “and she’s so pretty . ”   S he stroked Gina’s cheek and clapped Matthew on the shoulder as if to say he’d somehow done well.
    Matthew’s step mother had been at the villa all day getting it ready for him.  A task he insisted , given that he staff, wasn’t necessary .  B ut nonetheless she’d put fresh sheets on the beds and prepared some food and there were lovely freshly cut garden flowers in all the rooms.
    “Conrad will drive you home, Luisa,” he said kissing her cheek.  “It’s late and we’ll speak properly tomorrow.  Gina and I will come and eat with you and Katarina,” he promised.
    She seemed pleased with that and kissed him before leaving.  She was nice , pleasant looking with jet black hair pulled off her face into a bun at the back.  She was slightly overweight, too much past a or pizza, Gina decided to herself as she caught the savoury smell c oming from Matthew’s kitchen.  How much did she know about the real Matthew, she wondered?
    Once she’d gone Matthew helped Conrad bring in the cases and he carried Gina’s through to one of the bedrooms.
    Gina followed in his wake and was surprised to see that he’d put her in a bedroom of her own .  She’d fully expected to be made to sleep with him and this cheered her up a little.  There would be times when she’d appreciate a little privacy and her own space .   The room was very pretty too.  It was done out in cream and pink, quite girly for a man who apparently lived here alone.  It had a double bed, plenty of wardrob e space and a large picture window that he assured her looked out over the bay.
    “Get yourself organised then we’ll see what food Luisa has left us,” he smiled.  She’d a wonderful cook so sharpen up your appetite.”
    “ Y our step mother seems nice,” she told him.  “And this house, well I know I haven’t seen all of it but it seems to have a distinct ‘woman’s touch’ about it.”
    “Luisa looks after the place when I’m away and she and my sister are responsible for most of the furnishings,” he explained.
    “Your