Thishadto be him.
A brief biography of twenty-five-year-old Roman Matteo quickly emerged from the local news stories, Facebook posts, and sports updates. Born in Melbourne, raised in Satellite Beach, played football at the University of Florida, and now, was a second-string receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Nice genes, Tessa.
And speaking of Tessa, she could walk in any second. So Lacey clicked out of the search and erased her browser history on the laptop. Then, she snagged her phone and tapped the Instagram app.
Please be public, please be public.
There were a few accounts with the same name, but only one was verified with ninety-seven thousand followers and Jacksonville Jaguars in the bio.
She clicked on his profile and slid down to a rare closeup. Clicking it, she dropped back in her chair, exhaling shakily.
This is him.
Her fingers hovered over the message button. Should she or shouldn’t she?
Was she throwing a monkey-wrench into happy lives…or inching two people who really should meet a little bit closer? Who deserved a son more than spectacular Tessa Wylie?
Or was Lacey just walking into something she should never start?
She took a deep breath and tapped the message square on his page.
Hey Roman,
This is a little out of the blue, but I promise I’m not some weird random fan. I know your biological birth mother. If you’re open to learning more about her, I’d love to talk. No pressure—just wanted to reach out.
Was that too bold? Should she send?—
“Lacey? Where are you?”
As the door popped open, her trembling finger accidently hit the screen and…shoot. It sent! Every drop of blood in Lacey’s head drained into a hot pool around her heart.
What did she just do?
Tessa stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her hair damp and hanging over a beach coverup.
“Closed door?” she asked with a teasing raised brow. “You job hunting? ’Cause you look like you’re about to commit a federal crime.”
Lacey forced a laugh. “Not today. Just…researching.”
“Researching what?”
She stared at her computer screen, as blank as her brain. What was her answer? What was she doing? Didn’t she have an alibi at the ready?
“Dating apps.” The explanation slipped out as she glanced at her phone. “And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
A flicker of surprise flashed in eyes that were the precise color of the ones in the pictures she’d just seen.
“Good,” Tessa said. “Remember, I’m the one who told you to find a cute guy.”
Notthiscute. Notthatguy. But Lacey just shrugged. “It’s weird, is all. Don’t ask questions. I hate this part of the process.”
“Who doesn’t? Although, I’ve never done a dating app. Can I see your profile?”
“No.”
She drew back. “Well, okay.”
