Real Liars

by S. M. West

  “But I don’t know the first thing about planning an event like this or about Nuit Étoilée.” The pitch of my voice climbs in agitation.

  “I figured you would say as much and that’s why I brought you this.” She bends and pulls a large leather folder from a bag at her feet.

  It’s thick with papers and my stomach clenches at the similar feeling I’d get just before taking an exam. “I’m really not sure about this.”

  I shake my head and my hands clasp together under the table, not willing to take the folder. I will give the offer serious thought, but I should have my head examined for even entertaining the idea. I haven’t said yes to any of this, yet I’m already feeling the pressure and responsibility.

  “Just take a look. These are the files for the past five years.” She rests the folder in front of me. “And come to our next foundation meeting on Tuesday evening.”

  My mind swirls at how fast things are moving. It’s as if I’ve been blindfolded and spun around a dozen times, only to then be expected to walk a straight line.

  “I-I don’t—”

  “I’ll have my driver pick you up on Tuesday, and all you have to do is listen.”

  Sure. I eye her cynically. This lady is one sly devil but even she can’t possibly believe I’d fall for that. Just listen, yeah, right.

  “At the very least, Bettina will get to see you again before returning to Calgary and Cormac will be beside himself.”

  Before I can add another objection to her crazy idea, a tall blonde woman sidles up to our table. She’s pretty in an understated way and if I had to guess, I’d say she is a few years older than me, but not much more than that.

  “Nan, so lovely to see you.” She air kisses the older woman’s cheek before casting me a sideways glance. “So sorry to interrupt, but when I saw you, I had to come over.”

  “Hello, Reagan.” Nan gestures to me. “This is Paige Hayes.”

  “Hello.” Her smile is forced. “I’m Reagan Hussey.” She extends her hand and limply shakes mine.

  “Hi.”

  Brushing an imaginary strand of hair from her face, she swiftly turns her back to me. “With Grandmother off to England, she’s asked me to be her proxy for the foundation.”

  “Yes, yes. Blythe told me. She felt bad about leaving us for the entire summer, but I told her that’s nonsense. It’s lovely she’s spending time with her sister.”

  “Yes, she didn’t want to leave you and the foundation in the lurch with the benefit coming up. I gladly offered. I’ll be at the meetings and available to help in any way you need me.”

  All this talk about the benefit and foundation and my food sloshes around, unsettled, in my stomach and suddenly I feel queasy.

  “Well, thank you. The help is appreciated.” Nan dons an almost crafty smile. “And you should know, Paige here…”

  Reagan swings in my direction, disinterest clear in her now blank green eyes.

  “She’s with Zachary, they live together…she’ll be running the benefit this year.”

  I don’t know what just happened, but Nan’s news is something akin to dropping a bomb. Reagan staggers back a step before grabbing hold of herself.

  “Oh.” Straightening, her expression flattens. “Is that so?” Her gaze narrows imperceptibly and I swallow with difficulty, finding it hard to refute her comment.

  “Yes. So you’ll be seeing a lot of her,” Nan says, and it sounds like a cautionary promise or taunt and Reagan lifts her chin, giving me her back again.

  What just happened here? Was it the news about my supposed role in the benefit or the mention of Zach? If she wants to run the benefit, she can have at it.

  “Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. Nice to see you.” She leaves without so much as a backward glance at me.

  “Who was that and why do I get the feeling she doesn’t like me?”

  “No one for you to be concerned with, my dear.” Nan hooks her arm in mine and we walk through the restaurant to her waiting car.

  We spend the drive to Zach’s talking about anything but the gala and foundation and I’m grateful for the distraction. I’m not quite grasping all that this entails.

  “Please give my love to Zachary and Morgan.” Nan pats my hand and I slide across the leather seat to the open door where the driver extends a hand.

  “Morgan?” I peer back at her.

  “Yes, dear. The timing is poor. Unfortunately, these arrangements were made before you moved in. I leave for London on Wednesday and I tried to get her to come with me, but she insists on staying. It isn’t a good idea to leave her alone for too long.”

  She pauses and I’m lost as to her meaning. It’s as if she’s suggesting her granddaughter is unstable or a child.

  “My granddaughter can be boisterous and unruly at times, but she does know how to be discreet. She won’t bother you lovebirds.”

  Lovebirds? Zach and me?

  I want to correct her but don’t. Morgan can stay as long as she wants. I’m leaving tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. Staying at my mom’s is best and she’s expecting me to move in. If I tell Nan my plans now, she won’t let me leave the car until I see the error of my ways.

  This woman has other plans and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Zach and his grandmother are in on this fake relationship but for different reasons. His goal is purely business, whereas Nan’s vision is to solidify a future where Zach and I are a couple. For real.

  Fifteen

  Zach

  My phone vibrates and, absently, I answer with my eyes glued to the spreadsheet on the computer screen. I’ve been in my office for several hours now, and even when Walker and Donovan arrived earlier, I left them with Morgan so I could get some work done. I hope they take the hint that I’ve no time to socialize and leave soon.

  “Rothwell.”

  “Zach, it’s Drew Hayes. Paige’s brother.” He sounds formal and uptight.

  I bite back my smirk at the mention of Paige. We knew each other before his sister, but now that I’m supposedly with her, he’s calling about her. I expected this call, just not so soon.

  “Drew, nice to hear from you.” Resting back into the chair, I push away from the desk. “Paige is fine.”

  “Yes, I spoke with her a few hours ago. Why are you seeing my sister? And now she’s staying in your home. She isn’t alone. She has family.” He’s unapologetically blunt and I tamp down my irritation at his tone, forcing myself to see things from his point of view.

  “I’ve got the best lawyers dealing with her landlord. He won’t get anywhere near her again. As for why I’m seeing your sister, something tells me Paige wouldn’t be impressed if she knew you were asking. What goes on with your sister is between us. All I’ll say is, I like her. As I’m sure you’ll agree, she’s a smart, funny, and beautiful woman. I enjoy her company.”

  He emits something akin to a growl but offers no words, so I continue, “And she’s staying with me because she experienced a traumatic event and I didn’t want her alone in a hotel, or in your parents’ home for that matter. I find it hard to believe you would have wanted that. As for why she agreed to stay with me, you’ll have to ask Paige.”

  It’s a gamble to respond in this way because I’m not clear as to what response Paige may give him. She wants to be independent and while she talks about staying with her parents, it’s clear to see that is the last thing she wants.

  “No, you’re right. I’m grateful she wasn’t alone last night or now. Thank you,” he relents, and his tone loosens a bit. “Look, Zach, don’t be a dick. If this is a game for you, make sure she knows your intentions. She plays a good game at needing no one—and don’t get me wrong, my sister is strong—but she doesn’t deserve to have her heart broken just for fun.”

  “Drew, understood, and just so you’re aware, I have no intentions of hurting your sister.”

  “Well, we’ll just have to see about that, now won’t we?” He ends the call. No longer able to concentrate on work, I s
tare out the window thinking over our conversation.

  His concern doesn’t change anything with Paige or our deal, and everything I told him was true. She may be my business partner, but I was concerned for her last night and will do everything in my means to protect her. As for our arrangement, we’re both adults and Paige entered into this with her eyes wide open.

  No longer focused, I abandon my home office, knowing any further work will be fruitless. I near the living room, where Morgan is entertaining Donovan and Walker—they are still here—and Paige enters from the other side. She’s returned from her lunch with Nan.

  “Hey.” Morgan waves to her.

  I stride through the room to greet my faux girlfriend, despite the visitors, or if I’m being honest with myself, because of my visitors.

  Cheeks flushed, Paige’s plump red lips pop and wild waves of chocolate hair fan around her petite frame. Gone is the timid, anxious woman of the night before.

  “Hi.” I wrap an arm around her slender frame and my other hand cradles her face.

  An electric thrill ripples through me and what should be a mere peck on her lips gives way to something more. When my mouth crushes hers, the tip of my tongue coasts along the seam of her lips, demanding she open for me. She doesn’t protest or retreat and I take, my tongue delving into the depths of her warm mouth.

  Raspberries. That’s what she tastes like. Raspberries.

  The soft, inviting feel of her in my arms, our mouths entwined, is all that matters. Everything else fades into nothingness. Sugary goodness. My fingers grip the flesh of her hip and the other hand holds the graceful slope of her neck and we kiss and kiss.

  With the loud clearing of throats, I groan and slip back, resting my forehead on hers for a beat or two. She exhales softly, eyelids shuddering, and I force myself to step away. Fresh sweetness lingers on my lips and my tongue darts out to taste the remnants of her.

  “Well, I can’t say that wasn’t worth the price of admission,” Donovan drawls, leaning his shoulder against the wall.

  Morgan’s tittering and Walker’s chuckles come from behind me and I glare at them over my shoulder, tempted to kick them out before turning back to her. Her cheeks burn and she bows her head, eyes downcast, before sweeping past me.

  “Hi, Morgan, Donovan, and—” she falters, searching for his name.

  “Walker.” He smiles. “Walker Drummond. We met last night.”

  “Yes. Sorry, I couldn’t remember your name.”

  “Did you have a good time?” My troublesome cousin smirks.

  “Yes.” Paige doesn’t falter, only accepting the question at face value.

  “Good. So, I’m guessing this guy,” Morgan hooks her thumb at me, “never told you when I visit, I split my time between my grandmother’s and Zach’s. I hope it’s okay.”

  “I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.” My eyes narrow in annoyance. She’s been here barely two hours and if needling us is going to become her favorite pastime, she’ll have to go back to our grandmother. Or I could be on edge because Paige seems distant and there are too many people here.

  “Of course, that’s fine. I won’t be here long, anyway.” Paige glances to me and Morgan raises her eyebrows, as does Donovan.

  “Where are you going?” I close the distance between us.

  “I’m staying at my parents’.”

  Masking my irritation, a huge smile lays claim to my mouth and I wrap my arms around her. “No, you aren’t.” I nuzzle her neck, spiking arousal throughout my body and she shivers, releasing a breathy puff that sounds a lot more like pleasure than shock.

  “Zach.” Her body stiffens in my embrace and there’s a tension to her tone I’ve never heard before.

  I’m not convinced it’s all ire. I can sense a need and I want to explore, get to know this side of her. She scowls at me, then to the men who are quietly albeit smugly watching. Morgan’s curious, and with the spectators around us, I’m reminded this is for show.

  “Paige.” I play along, squeezing her tighter and breathing in an alluring combination of vanilla and seductive floral notes.

  Still craving the taste of her, my tongue licks and sucks at the warm flesh of her neck and she wobbles as if her knees have given out. Luckily, I’ve got her, bringing her closer. Now would be the time to distance myself from her. Even if only a charade, being this near is an attack on my senses, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

  “Morg, grab us some snacks. I’m hungry watching this sex show,” Donovan quips. “Although something tells me food isn’t going to cut it.”

  “Get it yourself,” she fires back.

  I growl, lifting my head to glower at him and Paige takes the moment to slip from my arms, dropping the leather-bound folder onto the table.

  “What’s that?” Walker scratches his dark-stubbled chin, smiling warmly at Paige in an attempt to put her at ease.

  I clear my throat, hoping it’ll also clear my head, and study her while she looks anywhere but at me. “Foundation stuff.”

  “She got to you, didn’t she?” Morgan asks and Paige frowns.

  None of us need clarification as to whom Morgan means. Nan shared with me her desire to have Paige run the annual gala. I’ve no doubt she can do it, but I also told Nan to let her decide. My grandmother’s ready acceptance of Paige is a very good sign.

  “I wouldn’t say that, but I’m going to the foundation meeting on Tuesday.”

  “You seemed really cozy with Nan at lunch.” Donovan’s eyes glitter with no good and my stomach clenches with the knowledge he saw Paige at the restaurant.

  Morgan cackles, slapping her knees. “Hon, you’re in. Don’t kid yourself, the fact you have a folder means you’ve already committed.”

  “No, I never said yes. I’m thinking it over. Besides, I already have a job.”

  “See!” Morgan jumps to her feet, wildly pointing at Paige who is now backing away with her palms out in the universal signal for stop.

  “You have this all wrong. Besides, if the rest of the foundation board is like Reagan Hussey, they’ll boot me off the island before I even get out of the boat.”

  “What?” I stiffen and both Donovan and Walker straighten, too. Donovan pushes from the wall to edge closer to her like a shark smelling blood in the water.

  My cousin stops dancing and her eyes widen. “Reagan? Reagan the Hussey was at lunch?”

  Paige bites her lip as if stifling a snicker. “Is that really her last name?”

  Walker nods, tight-lipped, and Morgan continues, “Sadly, for her, yes. The family made their fortune in textiles. And Reagan is a Hussey.”

  She does it again, her play on words, and this time Paige giggles and Donovan barks out a laugh, adding, “Yeah, that’s true.”

  “Not funny.” My chastising tone brings silence, all laughter petering out.

  We stand in silence and Walker gazes at his feet while Donovan stares keenly at Paige. My cousin blinks a few times and then sticks her tongue out at me. “That’s her name.”

  “You know what I mean. The innuendo is childish.”

  “Whatever.” She shrugs. “What did Reagan have to say?”

  “Morgan.” I rub at my temples, keeping a brewing headache at bay.

  Needing no further warning, she slumps into a chair and mimics zipping her mouth shut. Donovan grins and sits next to her. Normally, I wouldn’t let him get that close but with Paige clearly of interest to him, I let it slide. No matter the flirting or whatever else he tries, Morgan wouldn’t go near Donovan, married or not.

  “I’m going to change.” Paige leaves with no acknowledgement I’m following behind her.

  She is aware of my presence. I can tell with every one of her cautious steps up the stairs. She’s anticipating my move.

  “JP moved your things into my room,” I say and she freezes mid-step, glancing over her shoulder at me. Her long hair sways, her brows tightly knit as her mouth forms a thin white line.

  “No way. The clothes are g
orgeous and the gesture way too generous, but I have my own clothes.” She takes another step before turning back to face me. “I’m not staying. Do you think your driver could take me to my mom’s?”

  “I will,” Donovan says from behind us.

  Pivoting, I narrow my gaze as a sudden rush of heat propels me to get in his face. “Leave us alone.” He doesn’t budge but rather cocks his head to the side, his features cool and controlled. “Better yet, leave.”

  “I’ll leave only if Paige wants me to.”

  As if punched in the gut, everything in me wants to retaliate and lash out with a swift right hook to his jaw. But I don’t. It takes everything in me to stand still and trust in Paige to do the right thing.

  “I’m fine. There’s no need for you to stay.” She’s way more polite than I would be, but the message is clear. Leave.

  “All right then. Bye, Paige.” He wiggles his fingers in the air to make light of her rejection and I bite back a smirk. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”

  Not if I have anything to say about it.

  He’s a spoiled child, always wanting what or whom he can’t have. Sure, they may have known each other from before, but to him, the thought of tearing Paige away from someone like me makes her all the more enticing. Not to say she isn’t tempting enough on her own, but he’d sooner have her than drop her cold, moving on to the next person someone else is interested in, rather than leave her to me.

  “Like I was saying, your things are in my room.” I guide her back up the stairs.

  “I can’t stay.”

  “With Morgan here, we can’t be in separate bedrooms,” I whisper.

  “Didn’t you hear me? I’m leaving. Did you drop my clothes at my mom’s?” She nibbles on her bottom lip and then turns to finish her ascent to the second floor. Once on the landing, she hesitates, uncertain where to go.

  “I had JP bring your clothes here.”

  “Zach, I promised to make it look like we’re in a relationship but living together was never part of the deal,” she whispers, arms stiff and hands balled into fists at her sides.