by Maggie Cole
I smiled. “Thank you.” I walked past him to the elevator.
It didn’t take long before I stood outside my door. I took a deep breath, dug into my purse, and found the key. I opened the door and slowly stepped inside.
I’m not sure what I expected to see, but my apartment was the same. A tree outside the window started to change it’s green leaves to orange and red. The sun shone brightly through the glass. Any sign that anything sinister ever occurred was erased.
Cautiously, I made my way to the bedroom and stood in the doorway. I stared at my bed, and a flashback of bed shopping with Jack and all the good times we had in it, popped into my mind. A small smile broke out on my face.
I stepped into the room farther, then laid on the bed. I glanced at the wall I stared at for so many hours, while being tortured.
Was it Liv and Tom? Was it Jack? The plaster had been redone where Mike drilled the camera into the ceiling, and the evidence of that day was forever removed.
Lost in thought, I wasn't sure how long I laid there when I heard a knock and gazed over to the door. "Jack, what are you doing here?"
"I kept calling you, and you weren't answering. I was worried and tracked your phone," he admitted. Some things, no matter how much therapy we received, would never change. I was okay with it.
I slapped my hand to my forehead. "My phone is on silent. I'm sorry to worry you."
"It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe."
We quickly laid together in our usual position. My head was on his chest, and his hand caressed my back.
"What made you come here?" Jack quietly asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. It just happened."
"What are you thinking about?"
I smiled. "I was remembering when we went shopping for this bed. That was a fun day."
He gave me his dimpled grin and laughed. "That was fun."
I sat up on my elbow. "I just realized that I sort of moved in with you."
"Maddie, please tell me you aren't moving out now?" Jack peered at me with worried eyes.
I laughed. "Nope. You'll have to kick me out."
“Good!” He leaned in to kiss me.
“But I did love this apartment.”
“Me too. Lots of great memories.”
“Lots of great orgasms.” I giggled.
Jack tickled me. “We can have some more of those right now if you want.”
I paused for a minute. “Let’s leave this apartment in the past, Jack. I’m happy working on only our future.” I sat up. “In fact, I think it’s time I moved the rest of my stuff into your place.”
He looked at me with his schoolboy grin. “Yeah?”
“Yep. Come on, let’s go. I’m assuming your movers can handle this for us?”
“I’ll get right on that, Ms. Burns.” Jack pulled me off the bed and kissed the top of my head.
We walked out of the building, hand in hand, as the early night air started to turn a bit chilly. Jack pulled me closer to his warm, muscular body.
All is right in the world.
It wasn’t long before we were back at the Penthouse.
“Hey, Maddie, let’s go up on the roof for a bit, while the weather is still decent.”
“That sounds nice.”
We walked up the stairs and out into the night air. The night skyline sparkled, and the buzz of the city hummed below. Out of the corner of my eye, near the pool, millions of rose petals grabbed my attention.
I spun to see Jack, on one knee, a massive diamond ring in his hand, and lots of emotions in his eyes. I bit my lip and smiled.
“Maddie, I fell in love with you the minute you fell into my arms. There are so many things I could tell you, but the biggest one is that you’re my life and I want you as mine, forever. Will you marry me?”
Tears of happiness fell, and I grabbed Jack’s face in my hands, as I pushed my forehead into his. “Yes, Jack, I would love to be your wife.”
He picked me up, twirled me around, as both of us laughed. He kissed me again, then snatched my hand and slid the ring on my finger.
“It’s beautiful, Jack.”
He led me over to a table that had been set up with a bottle of champagne and popped the cork. He poured me a drink and one for himself, too.
I grabbed both the drinks and put them on the table.
“What’s up, Maddie?” He looked at me, confused.
“I have a gift for you too.”
“Last time you told me that, you gave me a cock ring.” His dimpled grin popped out.
Throwing my head back, I laughed. "Sorry to disappoint you, but there's no cock ring." I stopped smiling and gave him a serious look.
"Okay…what is it?"
I sat on the bed under the cabana and patted the seat next to me.
He sat down and looked at me, curiously. I propped my body onto him and put my face right next to his.
"What's up, Maddie?"
I whispered to him, "What do you think about being a daddy?"
Jack froze for a moment, then jerked his head back. He scanned my eyes. “Maddie, are you...?”
I nodded and smiled.
“We’re having a baby?” he whispered.
I laughed a little. “Yes.”
He jumped up, once again, and twirled me around. “I’m going to be a daddy!” he shouted.
I laughed. “Yes, Jack, and you’re going to be the best daddy.” Then I kissed him with all my love.
Also by Maggie Cole
THE LIE - All In Series Book FOUR
A Midwestern girl who came to New York with a broken heart. A Texan tycoon who created his own billions.
A lie so devious it still haunts them a decade later.
Laura Aimee’s got her life together—until she crosses paths with the man who bootstomped her heart a decade ago. Back then, Blake Montgomery told her a lie so devastating she still hasn’t forgiven him.
But she also can’t forget the feel of his rough hands on her. The taste of his mouth. How he undressed her with his eyes.
She can’t forgive him, and she can’t trust him. But Blake will do anything to make her his. One night, she tells herself. Just one night together and then she’ll let him go forever.
Why are the men who wreck us the hardest to resist?
THE LIE is the fourth installment of the All In series. At approximately 70,000 words, this sizzling novel features a love-at-first sight romance and a guaranteed HEA. It can be read as a stand alone or after books 1 - 3 of the All In Series.
The Lie - Prologue
Ten Years Earlier
The knock on the door sent a cold shiver down my spine. It's like I knew my life was about to change.
I thought about not opening the door.
There was another knock.
I went over and opened it. "Sherry, you shouldn't be here."
Sherry had tears in her blue eyes and was holding something in her hand. "I'm pregnant. It's yours."
My mouth went dry. No, this can not be happening.
Sherry and I were engaged to be married. Not because either of us wanted to marry the other, but because she was a Rockman, and I was a Montgomery. Upon birth, our parents planned our wedding, so the largest merger of wealth in Texas could occur.
And times were getting harder in Texas. Competition of wealth was increasing. No matter how much Sherry or I told our parents we did not want to marry each other, it wouldn't change our fate.
"Blake, are you going to at least let me in?" Sherry asked quietly.
I opened the door wider. "Sorry. Come in."
Sherry cautiously stepped in.
"It was a mistake, Sherry. I was so drunk I don't even remember it." I rattled off.
And I didn't remember it. A few months ago, I had called Sherry to inform her that I was telling my parents that there was no way I was going through with this wedding. They would cut me off, I knew it, but I was in love with Laura.
It was the wedding announcement in the paper that started
it all.
Laura had stormed into my house, with tears in her beautiful brown eyes, and threw the paper at me. "You're engaged?"
My gut dropped. "Let me explain."
"Explain? Explain that you've been fucking me for almost a year and telling me you love me and you're engaged?" she hurled at me through tears.
I grabbed her shoulders. "Sweetheart—"
"Don't call me your Sweetheart!"
"Please, listen to me. Let me explain. I don't love Sherry. She doesn't love me. We don't want to get married," I cried out.
Laura picked up the paper and shook it in my face. "Then why is there a wedding announcement?"
"Our parents planned it. They want to merge our wealth."
Laura's head snapped back. "What are you talking about?"
I swallowed hard. "I come from one of the richest families in Texas."
Laura didn't say anything. She stared at me through tear-filled eyes. "So you've just been lying to me this entire time about who you are?"
I quietly admitted, "I guess you could say that. I'm sorry."
Laura's eyes filled with more tears. "Why would you lie to me, Blake?"
I shook my head. "You don't understand how they are. I've been trying to tell my parents that there will be no wedding before I even met you."
Laura looked at me with disgust in her eyes. "Then why haven't you?"
I sighed. "It's not that easy. But I will. Tonight. I will go to my parents and tell them. I'll be cut off, but I'm not marrying her, I promise you that."
Laura stood frozen.
I stepped forward and pulled her in my arms. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let this get this far. You're the only woman I've ever loved and ever will. I'll make this right. I promise you."
And I had meant to keep my promise. But I decided I need a little bit of liquid courage to face my parents and after a few drinks, I decided that I need to tell Sherry that I would not be marrying her.
Sherry came over, and we both drowned our sorrows in liquor about our family situations. Well, I thought we were both drinking.
After blacking out, I woke up next to Sherry. Both of us were naked under the covers. I panicked. I had never cheated on anyone and never thought I would have cheated on Laura.
Sherry promised me she wouldn't say anything. I told Laura that I told my parents, needed to get out of Texas for a bit, and we spent two glorious weeks fucking each other's brains out in Cabo.
Except for my guilty conscious hanging over my head, I thought I had gotten away with it.
The plan hadn't changed, and I would tell my parents the wedding was off. I just needed some more time. There was no way I would marry Sherry. I only wanted Laura.
Sherry looked at me with pissed eyes. "Yes, I know it was a mistake. But now I have the consequences of that mistake."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Stop being a dick. "I'm sorry I'm in shock."
"What are we going to do, Blake?" Sherry stared up at me, frightened, with more tears in her eyes.
What are we going to do? My heart was about to beat out of my throat, and my stomach was flipping.
Sherry stepped closer to me. "Our child needs both of us, a mother and a father."
Our child.
I snapped my head up at her. "You know I would want to be in my child's life.â€
She looked at me with her lip shaking. "And you know how they are."
They meant our parents.
And she didn’t have to say anything else. Unspoken words said it all.
Our parents would never allow me to be in my child's life if I wasn't married to Sherry. If I didn't marry her, I would be cut off. Whenever Sherry or I had tried to tell our parents we didn't want to marry each other, we both were warned. We knew they didn't only make threats.
No, they took action.
If I were cut off, I would never know my child. I would have no money to fight them in court, and I would have a child in the world who was fatherless.
So I made the hardest decision I ever made. It was a decision that would haunt me. I knew when I made that decision that I would never forgive myself or be happy again. Happiness didn't exist without her.
My heart broke before I broke Laura's.
The LIE - Chapter One Sneak Peak
Laura
The snow fell so hard the wipers could hardly clear the windshield before more snow covered it again.
Phil glanced out the window. “It’s really coming down. I wonder if we’ll take off tonight.”
I let out a big sigh. We were already late for our flight plan, and it had been several long days in Michigan. Nothing sounded better than a warm bubble bath and my bed. “I hope so. New York is calling my name!”
Tom held his finger up. “Hey Cindy, are we going to be able to take off in this storm?” He sat next to Phil, with his phone to his ear.
Please, Cindy, say yes. I prayed quietly in my head.
“Ok, see you soon.” Tom hung up. “Cindy said we are good to go.”
I threw my arm in the air in a victory pose. “Yes!”
Tom laughed.
Phil laughed then absentmindedly looked out the window again. "Hopefully, it stays that way.”
"Let's not put anything bad out into the universe, Dad," I teased Phil.
Tom gave me a fist bump.
"Ha, ha," Phil rolled his eyes at us.
Tom and I loved to tease Phil and call him Dad even though he was only a few years older than us.
Tom’s phone rang, and he picked it up. “Hey, Jack.”
Must be Jack Stevens, one of Tom’s investors.
“Yeah, it’s snowing like a blizzard right now. I bet you’re jealous you didn’t join us on this trip,” Tom sarcastically teased.
I looked at Phil. He looked as tired as I did. While Tom should have been tired, he didn’t seem as worn out as Phil and I. Maybe it was all his athleticism that kept him full of energy. Who knew.
Tom Marko was the captain of the New York Knicks and a self-made billionaire. He was also my boss, although he never treated me as anything but an equal.
“No, everything is handled. The investors understood you couldn’t be here.” Tom told Jack.
Yep. It was definitely, Jack Stevens.
Tom continued, “Cindy said we are still good to take off. Tell him he’s more than welcome to hop on the jet back to New York. Have him go on in and introduce himself to Cindy. I’ll text her now.”
I looked at Phil and wondered who Tom could be referring to. Phil shrugged his shoulders and gave me his ‘I don’t know’ look.
“No problem, Jack. I’ll see you this weekend.” Tom hung up and sent a quick text.
“Looks like we’ll have some company on the way home. Jack’s friend from college is supposed to be coming out to New York, and his jet broke down. He’s already on the runway, so I guess he beat us,” Tom informed us.
“I don’t care who’s in the jet as long as we get home and I get to sleep in my bed tonight.” I grinned at them.
“I hear you on that,” Phil agreed.
Tom laughed. “I won’t argue. I'm ready to see Liv."
Phil grinned and rolled his eyes.
"I bet you are," I teased and smirked at him.
Tom softly laughed, and his face got a tad red.
We sat the rest of the ride in silence, which wasn’t long. The car pulled up to the jet, and we quickly but carefully trudged through the slippery snow. By the time I got up to the jet doors, I was covered in white and looked like a snowman.
The three of us got into the jet and removed off our snowy jackets. I laughed, “I guess it’s not Michigan if you don’t get to experience the snow.” I walked through the door to the middle of the cabin.
I shook the snow out of my hair. I turned to go into the last cabin when I caught a glimpse of the back of his body. He was tall and built. His thighs filled out his pants in just the right way. His dress shirt clung to his back and arm muscles. I could see his
muscles flex as he ran one hand through his chestnut hair in frustration. His other hand held the phone up to his ear.
My vagina pulsed, but at the same time, I stopped dead in my tracks. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and my skin quickly was covered in goosebumps.
No, it couldn’t be, I thought, as little volts of energy shot through my veins.
“Laura, is something wrong?” Tom stood next to me, but I hardly heard him.
There was only one man who had ever made me feel that way, and that was over ten years ago.
I stood in the aisle, oblivious as Tom and Phil stared at me. Part of me prayed it wasn’t him. Part of me prayed it was. I stood paralyzed, except for the beat of my heart which had quickly increased in speed.
“Laura?” Phil now questioned me, too.
I slowly gazed over at Phil. My mouth went dry.
He squinted at me through his glasses. “You all right?”
I slowly nodded and took a deep breath. Get a grip, Laura. I must be super tired because it can’t be him. There’s no way it can be him.
“Just tired,” I managed to say quietly.
“Let’s go sit down and have a drink. We’ve all had a long week.” Tom motioned for me to go first.
I took a deep breath and willed my body to move. I shuffled my feet into the cabin. That’s when I heard the Texan drawl.
“They said it’s mechanical. I’m grateful they found it before I took off in this storm.”
I froze once more. This must be a bad dream. This can not be happening.
But I knew that voice anywhere. That voice haunted me in my dreams. It would pop up when least expected, crush my soul and break my heart over and over again.
I scanned the back of his body once more. He was more filled out then I remembered. But then again, we were only what…twenty-two and twenty-four? Back then, he was just a boy. Standing in front of me was a man. And he looked better than he did at twenty-four.
While I tried to convince myself it wasn’t him, my eye caught it on the couch. A cowboy hat: brown, real leather, faded from use. I knew that hat well. I bought him that hat.