Lies & Secrets (Boston Latte Book 1)

by Fiona Keane

  “Uh…” She giggled, her head shaking while turning away from me. “No.”

  I shook espresso grounds from the machine and began preparing my potion. Emma sighed as she approached my left, her hand tapping my arm as she walked past me into the back room. No. Don’t leave. My eyes followed her trail to the right as she slunk into the darkness behind the corner. I reached for the jar of honey without looking, having memorized the espresso bar.

  “Where’d you go last night?” Dammit.

  I closed my eyes, buying time to think of my response. Something about Julian’s tone, reminding me of his unwavering help in saving my life, filled me with guilt, desperate to apologize. Yet I wasn’t prepared to apologize to a murdering psychopath, no matter how handsome he might be.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t have me tracked,” I muttered, squeezing honey into the cloudy glass. Julian leaned against the counter, domineering and powerful, reminding me with just his hip pressed against the lip of the countertop that he controlled more than I could comprehend. His left palm rested against the counter, balancing his frame while he silently watched me. I reached for a spoon, mixing the honey and espresso with my almond milk, mesmerized by the swirling caramel melody.

  “Aideen,” he snapped, a low, gruff demand that I pay more attention to him than my coffee. But…it’s coffee. It’s more important than anything and anyone. I lifted the cup to my lips, not really giving a shit at that moment, and closed my eyes while the hot caffeinating slurp of heaven glided through my lips and down my throat. God, this is delicious.

  He repeated my name, his voice slightly closer. I peeked through one squinted eye, noticing Julian stood an entire foot closer to me than before I ignored him to drink my coffee. Creeper.

  “What?” I shrugged, taking another sip, focusing on how slowly it fell into my belly, feeling the warmth spread throughout my middle. I responded to his fingers around my wrist with wide eyes as I held the cup to my mouth.

  “Put down the coffee.”

  “Can’t.”

  “Why’s that, Aideen?”

  “Too tired.”

  “If you’d slept on an actual bed, you wouldn’t be having that dilemma.”

  I looked at him, my brow furrowed with sarcastic skepticism. “Like you care.”

  “Actually,” his hold tightened ever so slightly, gently securing his fingers around my skin, “I do. Very much so.”

  “Right,” I scoffed, wiggling from his grasp. “Business partner. Got it.” I winked at him, shaking my head at the ridiculous notion that he cared, that he could even move beyond his role as an elitist wannabe senator, probably with millions of dollars, to acknowledge I was a real human with actual feelings.

  “Excuse me,” a young man interrupted Julian’s possession of me, his hand quick to fall to his side. “I’m looking for Emma Daly.”

  “She’s in the back. I’m Aideen.” I nodded, swallowing another swig of my latte and spinning around Julian’s right side. His hand squeezed mine in the brief second we were next to one another, our hips touched, and I paused to look up at him curiously. I hushed the nagging tickle in my core.

  “He can wait,” Julian warned through a low whisper. Winking my right eye at Mr. Senator, I brushed by and approached the man standing on the opposite side of the counter.

  “How can I help you?” I inquired of the young man, completely aware of Julian standing off to my side. I could sense him with eyes closed. My mind buzzed with the smell of his cologne, the sweet and intoxicating nutmeg that lingered around like a freshly baked batch of cookies, with enough musk and masculinity to drive someone insane. Not me. Nope. Strictly business.

  “I saw the advertisement on your website. I hoped I could talk to one of you about the position you have available.”

  “Position?” Julian grunted, his voice now vibrating from the espresso machine, stealthily off in the darkness. I ignored him, knowing I’d pay for it somehow later, but not wishing to engage with the demon quite yet. I licked my lips mid-thought, catching a muffled cough coming from the espresso machine.

  “Sure. Let me get Emma and she can talk about it. Just wait here.”

  He eagerly nodded, agreeing with my statement, and began removing his coat. I turned to the right, preparing to find Emma in the back, when Julian’s mumbled words filled my ears.

  “What position, Aideen?” I may as well have some fun with this.

  “Any position I’d like, I suppose.” I smirked at him, flashing my own venomous grin, before carrying on toward the back where Emma stood filling a tin with dark roast coffee beans. She looked up at me, her eyes widening at my shadow.

  “You put something on the website,” I told her, ignoring the devil on my shoulder. “Some guy is here about the position.”

  “Well…with Elliott—”

  I shook my head. “Emma, just go talk to him. I’m fine with whatever.” I watched Emma finish sorting the coffee beans and wipe her hands against the thighs of her jeans when she straightened.

  “Um,” she squeezed by Julian and me, “okay.” I turned around, ready to follow her, but Julian stepped in front of me.

  “You’re not my fucking security detail,” I grumbled, afraid to look up at him. His arm lowered from the wall, giving me an exit, but neither of us moved.

  “If you weren’t such a magnet, I could trust you on your own. You slept here, didn’t you?” I watched his gaze travel behind me into the backroom.

  “Where did you sleep, Mr. Molloy?”

  His shoulders relaxed as his hands stuffed into his pockets. Julian smiled at me, the same grin that he showed me while laughing for the first time in his apartment. It was subtle, but beautiful, and relaxed, as though allowing me to briefly see something otherwise held from the outside world. I’m thinking too deeply about it. He is smiling because he is a smug bastard. Nothing more.

  “My bed.” He lifted a hand from his pocket, knuckles slowly grazing my left cheek, ablaze in his wake. “I didn’t sleep well either, though, if it’s any consolation.”

  “Ha.” I stifled my laughter. “A consolation? That would suggest I actually care about your feelings, pal.”

  “I’m glad we’re friends now,” he teased, his fist opening to cup my face. “We’re one step closer. Aren’t you the least bit curious as to why my sleep was so miserable?” Yes.

  “Not the least bit,” I mocked in reply, watching Julian lick his lips between a bright grin.

  “You’re a terrible liar, Aideen.” His expression changed, the smile disappearing as his face leaned closer to mine. “You were just as lonely as me. You always have been.”

  Chapter Twenty

  I always have been? Emma’s throat cleared, thankfully distracting my attention from Julian’s horrendous face.

  “I think we should hire Matt for a few hours a week. It’ll really help us out.” Her eyes fluttered between Julian and me, frightfully aware of his palm against my face. His contact was too natural, so authentic that we both must have forgotten it was even there, that he was touching me.

  “We haven’t officially met.” Julian extended his hand to Emma, melting her panties with his grin. “I’m Julian.”

  “Moll—Molloy.” Emma’s jaw fell to the floor while she glanced between Julian and me. God, this prick. Biting my bottom lip nearly to the point of drawing blood, I forced myself to fall into Julian’s right side as he pulled me in while shaking Emma’s hand with his left. I felt the familiar metal of his gun probing my side from beneath his sweater. His right fingers pressed below my ribs, a possessive reminder of what destruction he was capable.

  “I didn’t…I’m sorry, Mr. Molloy…Aideen hadn’t mentioned.” Her blush radiated onto me, burning my skin with Julian’s lie.

  “She didn’t?” Julian’s lips met my hair, my stomach exploding within the confines of my abdomen. I need to shower for the next twelve years. His cheek rested against my head once his fake affection subsided, and he continued watching Emma.

  �
�And please,” he continued, “Julian will do, Emma.”

  “How long…I mean, well, how long have you two been, um, together?” Emma inquired, her plump cheeks continuing to redden. I started shaking my head, an automatic defense to the fib.

  “Oh,” Julian thought aloud, looking down at me with a proud smile, “only a few months.” Months?

  “Months? Wow, Aid.” Emma giggled. “You sure know how to keep a secret.” So do you, Emma.

  “It’s an election year,” I muttered, biting my tongue while Julian kissed my hair. “I didn’t want to cause a distraction.”

  “You’re always thinking of me,” Julian cooed, tightening his hold, adhering me to his side. The palatable sweetness of his cologne swirled around my mind, like stepping into a candy shop. I want to buy all of it. Lollypops, chocolate bars, gummy bears. It’s fake. All of it. I needed to remind myself how angry I was at Julian for everything he did from the moment I first met him.

  “I sure am,” I groaned. Thinking about how much I hate you. I spun at his side, forcing myself away from Julian so I could return to guzzling the large honey latte screaming for me near the espresso machine.

  “I thought you said they…” Emma bit her lip as my shadow approached us. “I thought…you know?”

  Julian sighed, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind, holding me against him. “What exactly did our dear Aideen say about us?” Us. Not Julian and me, but the Molloys. I watched Emma swallow nervously, her eyes deep with worry as she scanned my face in search of a clue.

  “Would you mind?” I grunted, slowly shifting my shoulders within his hold. “I need to work.”

  “There are six people in here, Aideen, two of whom are with me,” Julian whispered in my ear, his breath shivering my nerves with each word. “What did you tell her about me?”

  “Emma.” I smiled kindly at her, hoping to reassure her. “Would you give us just a minute?”

  “Oh. Yes. I need to get some paperwork for Matt anyway.” She skipped away, bouncing toward the office, while Julian and I stood at the espresso machine. His hold released, and he leaned against the counter across from me, both of us engaging in a staring match. I crossed my arms, he crossed his. I groaned, he smiled.

  “I thought you kept secrets, Miss Leary.” He lifted a finger to warn me. “I end up not being the gentlest to people who betray me.”

  “Fuck,” I screamed at him through a whisper, “just stop!”

  Julian laughed at me, humored by my pathetic attempt to restrain the irritation and rage I felt building inside of me. Trying to avoid causing a scene, I placed my right palm around his left bicep, almost dying in the process as its warmth burned through the thin layer of his sweater, and pushed him back into hiding.

  “Listen, you,” my finger was now pointing at Julian, “you know quite well that I am not, and will never, talk to anyone about anything. My life is my private business. Your private shit makes things even worse. And you know what, Mr. Molloy?”

  “What, Aideen?” Julian’s grin melted my confidence, his lips parting around his perfect teeth.

  “I don’t know one god damned thing about you, and yet your private shit is making me insane. Please, just stop! Thank you for coming over yesterday. Thank you for saving me.”

  “Three times.”

  “God fucking dammit,” I roared, pulling down my cheeks with childish frustration. “Stop!”

  “I don’t think you’ll want me to stop once you get me going, Aideen.” Julian leaned forward, pressing his lips to my forehead as Emma barreled back into the hallway. She stood at Julian’s side in awe, unashamed of her blush.

  “Emma?” I questioned, taking her hand in mine, hoping to shake her from the stupor the drug of Julian caused. “We have to get back to work.”

  I tried pulling her away, but Julian’s voice stopped both of us. Emma was between us, continuing to turn into a pink tulip while consumed by Julian’s existence. She can have him.

  “Babby,” he called, “I’ve paid off the shop for the rest of the week. You don’t need to do anything. You can come with me now if you’d like. We have that dinner tonight. Remember? It would probably be easier if we’re already at my home since we’ll be arriving together.” No. I don’t remember, you arrogant bastard.

  “What?” Emma giggled, dividing us and acting like a perfectly positioned buffer. He couldn’t get me without toppling her first; I just had to keep backing away.

  “You did what?” I demanded, taking one small step in the opposite direction. His feet followed, stepping closer to Emma.

  “I paid off your expenses for the week.” Julian shrugged as though the ten thousand dollars was nothing to him.

  “I’d prefer if you didn’t do that. I don’t like owing people money.”

  “It’s a gift.” His brows met, honestly concerned. “Take it.”

  Emma glanced between Julian and me, unsure of where to go or what she should do. I watched her nervously study our faces, hoping for a clue from one of us.

  “Come home with me, Aideen,” Julian implored, stepping closer to Emma and me, his expression sincere as his deep blue eyes slightly squinted with the soft smile spreading on his lips. His hands extended, effortlessly lifting in the air for me to take.

  “Come home,” he continued, now stepping around Emma while I froze. “I don’t beg.”

  “I know,” I challenged, inhaling a shaky breath once Emma cleared our path. Julian’s palms cupped my face, tilting my head toward his to capture my gaze.

  “You don’t beg, and I don’t go home with killers,” I whispered as Julian leaned down, a small scoffing laugh tickling into my ear.

  “My gag wouldn’t have been fun if I let you die yesterday, Aideen.” His words were against my neck, his breath fanning my skin like a flame catching its ignition and spreading. “Don’t forget how many times I’ve saved you.”

  “I only asked once.”

  “A mistake?” Julian pulled his head back to look at me, his eyes skeptical as they examined my face. “Why did you drink so much, Aideen?”

  “That’s none of your business,” I snapped, folding my arms against my chest. I have to protect my heart and this nagging tug. Julian nodded over my shoulder, probably to his goons, and returned his penetrating gaze to mine.

  “If it had something to do with me, then I certainly believe it’s my business. You’re my business.”

  “Kindly go fuck off somewhere. Goodbye.” I stepped to my right, narrowly squeezing between Julian’s hip and the counter behind us, but he anticipated my movements like a stealthy hawk, prepared to hold me hostage in the searing burn of his hand.

  “I was hoping our first public fight would be about something more substantial than you drinking too much while alone.” He grabbed my arm, his fingertips pressing into the inside of my bicep as I spun back toward him. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m not going to fuck off somewhere. We’re going to go to my home together. Right now.”

  “I’m not your business,” I seethed, glaring up at his glowing eyes that burned into mine. His head hung in irritation before Julian released my arm and bounded behind me toward the office. I heard Emma shuffling around while I chased him. I should run away, but his goons are in the front. I’m stuck. Emma’s cheeks reddened while she listened to Julian. His back was to me when I finally caught up, making himself vulnerable to my attack. Had Emma not glanced past him to see me, he probably wouldn’t have known I was there and I could have done some serious damage. Why do you even care so much? You’re not a violent person!

  “You’ll enjoy the time off.” Julian continued speaking with Emma, as though I hadn’t interrupted, but turned around to flash his masterfully manipulative smile when he recognized I arrived. “Ah, there you are, darling.”

  “Oh my God,” Emma cooed, swooning for Julian. She had no idea what she was doing, and I was seconds from banging their heads together. They can have one another. She can have Liam too. I forgot about his phone call until the
n—he wanted to meet with me to talk about something he felt Julian wouldn’t explain. He knows Julian quite well. The man spoke in mysterious riddles, only giving away enough to keep my heart adhered to the unknown. It was devastating and fascinating, both traumatizing in their own right.

  Julian turned toward me, extending his muscular arm in my direction, and I melted into him without a second thought. My fucking brain. I need a lobotomy. I didn’t know why it was so natural, but my heart simply knew there was a body waiting to hug me, to hold me against it, and I clung to it without thinking through to whom I adhered myself. He smells so nice. See, it’s shit like this that I do which keeps him thinking I want to play his stupid games. But he smells so nice!

  “Babby,” he kissed my hair, eliciting a series of giggles from Emma, “Emma here mentioned you had a suitcase in the office. You didn’t tell me you spent the night here.”

  “There are a lot of things I don’t tell you,” I muttered against his chest, “just like there are plenty of details you omit when speaking with me, darling.”

  Julian’s face pressed to my head, his mouth nuzzling against my ear so only I could hear his humored words. “Gag or rope,” his threat tickled my hair, “you decide.”

  “Emma.” I ignored him, turning my head to escape the perfume of Julian Molloy. “Have you met his brother? He’s quite the catch. I should introduce you two.” Julian stiffened, his arm tightening around my shoulders while I spoke, challenging him with each word.

  “Um…” Emma shyly placed hair behind her ears, smiling at Julian and me. “That’s okay. I’m with Felix. Sort of.”

  “Isn’t Liam lovely?” I looked up at Julian, placing my palm against his strong chest. “Come to think of it, he’s supposed to come in today.”

  “Emma,” Julian’s jaw grinded through his polite grin, “would you let my companions out front know that we’ll just be another moment?” Emma nodded, dismissing herself at his request like she was one of Julian’s pawns. The moment we were alone, Julian’s hands wrapped around my shoulders, his palms pressed around me with his impenetrable grasp.