Page 31 of Lorenzo

The man is silver-haired, his suit a quiet charcoal with an actual pocket square.

“Congratulations, Lorenzo,” the man says as his white-haired wife looks at me with appraising eyes.

Lorenzo drapes his arm around my shoulders, making us appear a loving couple.

“Thank you,” Lorenzo says with a warm laugh. “We were keeping it quiet. You know how these things are.”

When the couple finally drifts away, his arm drops.

“I hadn’t foreseen this situation,” he says, taking a sip of his drink.

“What ‘situation’ is that?”

“Having what I thought to be a simple signature on a marriage certificate turn out to be a real person.”

I stare at him. “You expected me to keep out of sight? Stay in the apartment all day?”

“I’m not sure what I expected. But now the cat’s out of the bag. People see you as my wife.”

His eyes drop briefly to Aunt Jane’s lapel pin, then back up to meet my eyes.

“You must begin to dress like Mrs. Ricci.”

“And what does ‘Mrs. Ricci’ wear?” I scoff. “Scandalous attire that befits your club?”

Lorenzo’s mouth turns up in something that’s not quite a smile.

“Certainly not. Don’t be ridiculous.”

He reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket and produces his phone. I watch as he makes a quick call, turning away so I can’t quite catch what he’s saying.

When Lorenzo disconnects, he turns to me.

“Antoine will be waiting for you at Saks when you finish lunch. My driver will take you there.”

“Who is Antoine?”

“A world-famous image consultant. He’ll know what’s required for your wardrobe,” he tells me before turning to the waiter.

Lorenzo orders lunch for both of us and another martini for himself.

“What?! Ordering for me? First taking possession of my wardrobe, then directing my meal?”

He pauses a moment, his dark eyes on me.

“The first thing you’ll learn is that Mrs. Ricci only wants one thing.”

“What’s that?”

Lorenzo picks up his martini and takes a slow sip, watching me as he does so.

“Exactly what I want.”

CHAPTER 15

EMILY

Lorenzo’s car picks me up after lunch as promised.