Page 55 of The Lies We Tell

“So you want to buy out our stake.”

Matteo lifted a shoulder and took another drink. “If that’s your preference, we can discuss that.”

“And if it’s not?

“A continued stake and an additional investment for renovations. Of the seven hotels, at least three of them need modern upgrades. Milan, Venice, and Naples. With those upgrades in place, we could increase rates, attract more international business, conferences, things like that. Grow profits year over year.”

“I told Nicolette not to invest eight years ago. We certainly haven’t seen the return we were promised. But she has a soft spot for Salvatore. I suspect they were having an affair, as he spent quite a bit of time in Paris that year.”

“Is that going to be a problem?”

Laurent studied Matteo with a tilt of his head. “You’ve got a good head for business. The deals we made last year netted me more profit in six months than Antonetti has in eight years. No, it won’t be a problem.”

Matteo grinned, reaching out to give Laurent’s hand a firm shake. He loved it when closing a deal was this easy.

“You do whatever it is you need to do to gain legal control of Antonetti Hotel Group, and I will make sure the board votes in favor of your proposal.”

“And Nicolette?”

Waving a dismissive hand, Laurent downed the rest of his wine in one swallow. “She makes business decisions with her heart instead of her head. I’ve been looking for a good reason to get rid of her, and this might be it.”

“So what you’re saying is, don’t fuck it up.”

“Precisely,” Laurent said with a chuckle, turning for the door.

“I hope it goes without saying I don’t want any of this getting back to Nicolette or Salvatore before I’ve had a chance to make my move.”

“Believe me when I say I want Nicolette out too badly to ruin this opportunity. Your secret is safe with me. Now”—he clapped Matteo’s shoulder—“let’s get back to our women. Another drink?”

“I think I’m going to take Tessa back to the hotel.” Matteo drained the last of the cognac in his glass. “And get her out of that dress.”

“Good man.”

Laurent pulled open the door between the two rooms, and Matteo followed him through. Tessa and Margot sat in front of the dark fireplace, chatting in low voices, coffee forgotten on the table between them.

They looked up at the same time, and Tessa’s eyes immediately found him, her whole body relaxing and her eyes going soft. He closed the distance between them and leaned down to kiss her because he could.

“Mind if I steal her away?” he asked Margot.

Margot gave him a knowing smile. “Not at all. Enjoy each other.”

“Oh,” Matteo said, reaching down to help Tessa to her feet, “I intend to.”

Tessa blushed a pretty shade of pink as he led her to the door with his hand on the small of her back. Their coats were waiting for them at the front, and he helped Tessa into hers before shrugging into his own.

“Did you get what you needed?” Tessa said once they were in the car on the way back to the hotel.

“I did. And then some. You were fucking brilliant.”

She grinned. “I was, wasn’t I?”

He reached for her hand and pulled her up against his side, cupping her face in his palm and brushing his thumb over her cheek. “Absolutely fucking phenomenal. If I’d had you with me the last time I met with him, he might have given me a better deal on the loan I needed for the airport I wanted to buy.”

“You own an airport?”

He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “A small private one in Belgium.”

The car slid to a stop in front of the hotel, and Matteo climbed out, reaching in to give her a hand. He nodded at the attendant who held the door for them and let his hand wander down to the curve of her ass as they crossed the lobby.

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