Page 88 of The Lies We Tell

They’d sent him to Canada for school. At least on paper. Tessa was worried someone would eventually ask the right questions or try to track him down, but Sienna, Matteo, and even Maeve assured her that because he had no living relatives, people would eventually forget he ever existed. It was best to let him fade into the background.

Once all the questions were answered, documents signed, and hands shaken, the press began to break down their big lights and pack up their cameras. Tessa sagged against Matteo’s side, feeling like she’d just run two marathons back to back without water.

“You were wonderful,” Carina said, giving Tessa’s shoulder a squeeze.

“You really were,” Emilia agreed. “I’d have been a nervous wreck.”

“I only almost passed out the one time.”

“Hungry?” Sienna wondered.

“I could use a glass of wine or five,” Tessa admitted.

Sienna chuckled. “I made a reservation for lunch. I’ve heard their wine list is quite good, so I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

“You made a reservation for lunch? Why?”

Luca’s frown lightened when Sienna raised an unamused brow. “Because Carina asked me to, and because being seen as a family right now is a good idea.”

“And I wanted to try their prawn risotto,” Carina added, grinning when Alexei laughed.

“You can stay here and pout,” Sienna said, turning for the lobby entrance.

“Sienna,” Luca said, reaching for her hand.

“You will have to get past it eventually, amore.” Sienna looked from Luca to Tessa and back again. “Lunch without you pouting the whole time will be a lovely start.”

“I do not pout,” Luca insisted, the rest of their conversation trailing off as he followed Sienna across the lobby and through the revolving door.

“Any other objections?” Carina met each person’s gaze in turn. Satisfied, she looped her arm through Alexei’s and skirted the dwindling crowd to the door.

They filed out to the sidewalk, waiting patiently by the valet stand as all the SUVs were brought around. Matteo waved them all into the cars until they were the only two left.

“Is walking to the restaurant another one of my punishments?”

“Punishments? Who’s been punishing you?”

She sent him a pointed look. “All of Luca’s little tests. It’s like he’s trying to constantly catch me in a lie.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Matteo promised.

“You won’t.” Tessa shook her head. “You won’t, Matteo. If this is the price I have to pay to earn his trust, I’ll pay it. Promise me you won’t say anything to him.”

He looked as if he was about to argue with her, but he ultimately sighed and nodded. “I promise. For now. But if it’s not better in two weeks, I’m saying something to him.”

“Two months,” she countered.

“One month.”

“Deal.” She grinned, pushing onto her tiptoes to brush a kiss over his lips. “Now. Why are we still standing here?”

“Because.” A sleek black town car rolled to a stop in front of them, and the valet stepped forward to open the rear door. “I wanted a minute alone with you.”

“You rented a car just so we could drive alone to lunch together?”

“Among other things,” he said, helping her in and sliding in behind her, pressing the button for the intercom to speak to the driver. “Drive in circles until I tell you to stop.”

“In circles?”

---