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24
It seemed so natural to lay in Carter’s arms after making love. He’d taken her home with him after the plane landed. His apartment was minimalist, although his TV, stereo, and computers were all state of the art. His bedroom was manly, with a big wood headboard and a walk-in closet that was less than half full. Carter wasn’t a clotheshorse.
“I’m glad you listened to her.” He didn’t need to say he was referring to her mother. “Now that you’ve had time to think about it, how do you feel?”
Sienna had half the flight and the rest of the evening to think about it. But she’d made love with Carter instead. “I don’t know how I feel. I may never know.” She tipped her head on his shoulder. “I need to talk to my father.”
Carter raised an eyebrow, and she knew what he meant.
“I’m not suddenly going to call him Donald,” she said. “He’s always been my father.” Despite the crap he’d pulled over the last few months. She’d told Carter everything, from how much she cared about Bron and the baby to how her dad tried to cut her out of the wedding to his sabotage of the Smithfield and Vine job the first time around. She knew in her gut that those actions supported what her mother had said, that her father was controlling and threatening, that he’d emotionally blackmailed her.
But Sienna wanted his side of the story. “I need to know how he’s felt all these years.”
Carter kissed the top of her head. “I’m not going into the office till Wednesday. I’ll come with you for support.”
Her heart lurched. Carter was so good, but she had so much baggage. “I don’t deserve someone like you,” she whispered.
He hugged her tight. “You deserve the best of everything.”
She drank in the feeling of those words. Refusing to let her go home alone after the tumultuous trip, he’d prepared a delicious dinner of chicken cacciatore. Afterward, he’d made love to her until she felt weak and sated. He was so good to her.
She didn’t know how she could have thought he was a lazy loser. Carter was amazing. He was smart, funny, and caring. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. But no matter what he said, she wasn’t sure she deserved this kind of happiness.
Not that deserve mattered. She needed him.
She stroked his chin with gentle fingers. “Can you wait outside while I talk to him? I have to do this alone. But I’m going to need you when I’m done.”
He held her tight. “I’ll be wherever you need me to be. For as long as you want me.”
She was afraid she would need him forever.
* * *
Though her confessionto Sienna had gutted her, Angela could wallow in the pain until she’d told Matthew.
The day after her return from Santorini, she made a lunch date with her son. Though she hadn’t been able to tell Sienna before she figured out the truth, she wanted Matthew to hear it from her.
They’d never been close. He never called her on a whim, never invited her to lunch, had never even shown her his condo in the city. But he didn’t turn down today’s invitation.
She’d chosen a posh restaurant in the city frequented by executives entertaining investors, with white tablecloths, quiet conversation, and floor-to-ceiling windows providing an amazing view of the bay. Matthew approached the table wearing an expensive pinstripe suit. He was only twenty-eight, but he looked every bit the confident businessman. Her heart melted for him, and because he, like Sienna, would probably never want to see her again.
She couldn’t let that stop her.
He bent to give her cheek a perfunctory kiss, like he always did.
“You look wonderful, darling.” She tried to sound as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
“Santorini seems to have suited you.” He reached out, but didn’t touch her, taking the seat opposite. “You got a lot of nice sun.” He didn’t mention that she was back early. He probably wasn’t aware when she and Sienna would return.
The waiter took their orders, and once he was gone, she didn’t see any reason for idle chitchat. “I have to tell you something. I should have told you a long time ago.”
Matthew smiled easily. “You’re going to tell me that Sienna is only my half sister, not my full sister, right?”
If a person’s jaw could actually drop, hers did. A rush of blood went straight to her head, making her dizzy. “Did Sienna already talk to you?”
He laughed softly. “She didn’t have to. I’ve known for years. Does this mean you’ve finally told her?”
Angela could only nod. She’d had a speech prepared, but now it took her long moments to reply. “She guessed while we were on Santorini. But how do you know?”
