Page 62 of Memories of Santorini

Angela felt yet another lie forming on her lips. “I forgot my phone back at the villa. Is that stupid or what?”

The hole she was digging got deeper and deeper.

“And then you just happened to see a friend,” Tamryn added, her voice as sweet and bad for you as processed sugar. “Did you have a drink with him? Maybe dinner?”

It was ridiculous, but the excuses kept coming. How would she keep them all straight? “Actually, I was going to ask him to give me a ride back. I didn’t want to get caught in the crowds at the bus stop.” She glanced over her shoulder. Still talking to his friend, Xandros’s gaze was as hard as diamonds.

As if he’d seen the truth.

But he couldn’t have. There were four girls at the table. He couldn’t know for sure which was her daughter.

Except that Sienna was a clone of his Juliana.

“We’re just waiting on dessert,” Carter said. “Then you can come back with us. Ride on the back of Reed’s moped.”

Reed’s eyebrows rose a fraction before his smile widened. “Sure. No problem.”

The waiter arrived with dessert and an extra chair for Angela. Taking the seat, she braved a glance at the second-tier patio.

Xandros was gone.

They drank black coffee and shared several Greek desserts. Maybe it was the delicious baklava, or the Greek donuts, maybe the custard tart drizzled with orange syrup or the almond shortbread. Angela’s blood pressure finally lowered. She could breathe again. Sienna wasn’t suspicious, talking excitedly about their day, the moped ride around the island, Akrotiri Lighthouse, the black sand beach, jumping off the rock into Amoudi Bay.

“And tomorrow we’re visiting the ruins at Akrotiri. Do you want to come?” Sienna was excited, buoyant, her eyes bright with enthusiasm, as if her work worries had melted away. Always focused and driven, this was a totally new Sienna.

It had to be Carter Ellis’s influence. Maybe it was even the beginnings of a romance.

“What time are you planning to set out?” She absolutely had to see Xandros at the café.

Tamryn, Bill, and Alyssa groaned.

“Please don’t make it the crack of dawn,” Jamal begged.

Carter shrugged, smiled. “Who knows with this gang? Probably not until noon. I’ve got to see about renting the mopeds again. Do you want your own or to ride on the back?”

“I’ll ride my own.”

Sienna’s eyes sparked, her gaze on Carter. “Can I share again?”

“Absolutely.” There was a sweetness in his smile.

Maybe they were both a little smitten. Or a lot.

At least when they returned home, there wasn’t a continent, an ocean, and an engagement separating them.

Not like her and Xandros. Even if he forgave her for ditching him tonight, there was still so much to keep them apart.