The Lies I've Told

by J. L. Berg

  “Wasn’t that your sister I saw across the street at the ice cream shop?”

  “Yeah.” I laughed. “But she’ll understand. Now, go lock that door. And hurry.”

  “Okay.” A wicked grin spread across his face.

  With his return, he’d brought the other half of my heart with him, and I finally felt whole again. I knew what challenges lay ahead for us, but together, I knew we could face anything.

  As long as we had each other.

  One Year Later

  “Did you look at those bridal magazines I bought for you?” Molly asked as we took our seats.

  I shook my head, making a sour face. “No, not even a little.”

  “Millie! How am I supposed to be your matron of honor if you won’t even help me plan the wedding?”

  I looked up at the stage, the sparkling blue water setting the perfect backdrop, as Aiden and several other members of the town congregated before the ceremony.

  My sister nudged me. “I mean, you won’t even share with me the proposal story! The least you could do is let me do my job.”

  I turned, slightly annoyed. “Okay, first of all, sometimes things are too personal to share—”

  “He proposed during sex, didn’t he?”

  I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile as the memory of Aiden’s head buried between my legs came back to mind.

  Oh, boy, did he.

  “Like I said, some things are too personal to share. And, secondly, I never made you matron of anything!”

  She made a whiny sound, something I was sure she’d picked up from her toddler. “Oh, come on, I want to plan a big wedding. Everyone wants a big wedding!”

  I huffed. “No, not true. Because I don’t.”

  “Will you just take a look—”

  “Molly, I did. And you know what I saw. A bunch of stuff I don’t need. A giant, over-the-top dress my husband wouldn’t even be able to see. An elaborate cake that would be demolished ten seconds after we cut it—that my husband also wouldn’t be able to see.”

  “Millie, I’m—”

  I smiled, taking her hand. “I’m not saying this to make you feel sorry, Molly. I’m just trying to make you understand. All I want to do is marry that man up there. And it could be in a courthouse—”

  “No, that’s not acceptable.”

  “Or,” I continued, “in a backyard. I honestly don’t care. I just want to be his wife.”

  She smiled. “Well then, set a date.”

  I smiled to myself. “You’ll be the first to know. Now, shut up. I think they’re starting.”

  “There are a lot more people here than last time,” she whispered as we both took a look around.

  I hadn’t been to the first memorial dedication in Ocracoke, but it was clear to even me that the area around the ferry terminal was loaded. Highway 12 was packed with cars, parked on either side as far back as I could see.

  And the media had come out.

  I was glad I wasn’t the one up there speaking.

  I sent a silent prayer up to the heavens as Dean took the podium, and although he and Jake were two of the actual survivors of the ferryboat accident—the reason for the memorial—I thought the majority of the crowd this time around had come for someone else entirely.

  The blind stone carver.

  Aiden had tried to keep a low profile, not wanting to make a spectacle of himself. A simple life—that was what he’d wanted.

  He wasn’t joking when he’d asked to rent a space in my shop for his work.

  We’d negotiated on the price, and he paid me well for it.

  But not in cash.

  At first, the sales had been few and far between. His stuff wasn’t cheap. But then word had gotten around, thanks to a few local bloggers, that Ocracoke had itself a blind sculptor, and sales had kind of skyrocketed after that.

  So much so that I’d had to kick him out of my store and force him to get a real place of his own. Now, he took commissions like a proper artist again.

  And he was about to deliver his biggest one to date…to the town of Ocracoke.

  “As much as I’d like to believe you’re all here for me,” Dean began, causing muffled laughter among the crowd, “I know that’s not entirely true. The town of Ocracoke grew a bit larger a year and a half ago when Aiden Fisher came to stay with us. I can honestly say I was puzzled when he agreed to come to our sleepy town and carve a replacement for the beautiful memorial we’d lost to a thoughtless vandal. But what I’ve realized over the years is that this town has a way of being a beacon for those who are weary, lost, or even a little broken.”

  Aiden’s gaze met mine and even though I knew he couldn’t see me—his sight so poor now that he could only make out blurry images from such a distance—I gave him a warm smile.

  “This memorial is about survival, perseverance, and honoring the ones we lost so tragically. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect individual to capture these ideas into our memorial, and I am honored to introduce him to you today. So, without further ado, Mr. Aiden Fisher.”

  The crowd erupted in cheers, and I joined them. Jake and James, who flanked Aiden on each side, stood up and helped guide him to the podium. When I’d offered, he’d shaken his head, saying he wanted me to be in the crowd.

  “Knowing you’re out there will calm me, love,” he’d said.

  So, I’d agreed, and allowed someone else to be at his side.

  I took a moment to drink him in as he took his place up in front of the crowd. He might have lost his sight, but it hadn’t diminished the power or the raw sexual magnetism he had.

  And, with all the carving he was doing, he was still every bit as ripped.

  If not more so.

  I couldn’t help but smirk a little.

  Standing before them, I watched as he turned his head toward the memorial.

  “How does it look?” he asked, making everyone chuckle a little under their breath. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get it back to you. I know this town has gone on a while without it, and I thank you for your patience as I figured out how to do the impossible.”

  His gaze turned back to me, and he smiled. “You see, I’m engaged to a wonderful woman who reminded me a while ago that nothing is impossible with a little patience and prayer. Well, she can attest to my mastery skills in the practice of patience, but prayer, that was a little harder. But I took her advice anyway, and you know what I found?”

  He paused for dramatic effect.

  “You,” he said simply. “I found a town eager to take me in. I found a soon-to-be father-in-law willing to step out of retirement and become my assistant.”

  I leaned over and found a big, happy smile across my father’s face.

  Their bromance or father-son thing they had going on really was adorable.

  Possibly bordering on disgusting.

  He really had become the father Aiden never had, but always wanted.

  “And I found a family and love. Love that will last through all the trial and tribulations life has to offer. You, Ocracoke, are the answer to the prayers I hadn’t even realized I was sending up to the heavens. So patience and prayer,” he said once again, his voice growing heavy with emotion, “you’ll find it at the base of the memorial next to my signature.”

  My eyes followed everyone else’s. He’d changed the familiar bird carving a bit. It was no longer one bird but two, as he’d realized he had his own path to live, outside of honoring his brother. From now on, he’d be remembering Ben and forging his own path at the same time.

  “I hope that, whenever you find yourself up against the impossible, you’ll come here and remember the blind carver who made a beautiful life with just a little patience and prayer. Thank you.”

  I stood the second he finished his last word, so filled with pride that my eyes were leaking. I rushed the stage along with the rest of my family. I knew he’d be flooded with media asking for interviews, but I needed to get my hands on him first.

  Jake and Jame
s were doing a pretty good job of giving him a wide berth from the crowd. Too much commotion caused him to panic when he was in an unfamiliar area, but the second they saw me, they let me through.

  And he caught me the moment my body collided with his.

  “It was perfect,” I whispered in his ear.

  “Yeah?” His hands tightened around my waist.

  “I love you,” I said, pulling back so that he could see me.

  Up close, he could still make out features, like the color of my hair and the gentle slope of my nose.

  He smiled gently. “Wanna make that official?”

  “Shh!”

  “Do they have a clue?” he asked, his voice lowered, as I turned us away from our prying family members.

  “No, and let’s keep it that way. Meet me back at the inn? After your adoring fans?”

  “Fans?”

  “There are media trucks all over the place.”

  “Great.” He sounded less than thrilled.

  “Two words,” I said. “I do.”

  “Temptress. All right. But only because—”

  “Shh! I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  I quickly kissed him and then disappeared before he could say another word. After all, we’d worked hard to pull this one off.

  Wouldn’t want to risk ruining it at the last minute.

  “I’ve never loved you so much in my entire life,” I said as my brother helped me out of the car.

  We’d just arrived back at the inn after he singlehandedly handled a dozen news crews like a bloody pro.

  “Save the poetry for your fiancée. By the way, are you ever going to share how you popped the question? Knowing you, it was probably something well thought out and bloody boring.”

  I grinned. “No, it wasn’t and not a chance.”

  He suspiciously eyed me. “Bollocks. Did you ask her to marry you while you were shagging?”

  I rolled my eyes. “No one says shagging in America, James. Who are you, Austin Powers? You’ve been here for fifteen bloody years. Acclimate!”

  We walked to the front of the inn, my home for nearly a year, until I finally talked—to the extreme pleasure of Molly—my blushing bride-to-be into buying a house of our own. It had taken a lot of persuading, her nerves on high alert with the business still just starting out, but I’d assured her I had enough to keep us going for a while.

  And now that I finally had her all to myself, I was never letting go.

  “Acclimate. You acclimate, you damn jerk!” my brother muttered as he helped me to the front door.

  “See”—I laughed—“there you go. Perfect. Now, perk up. There is a lovely party inside in my honor. Try to enjoy yourself.”

  And, before we entered, I stopped him.

  “What?” he asked. “Is there something wrong?”

  “No,” I said, suddenly feeling awkward.

  With Millie, I could bare my feelings without a second thought. Doing so with my brother though was…

  Difficult.

  “Thank you,” I quickly blurted out before taking a deep breath. “For never giving up on me. I know I’m stubborn and a flight risk, but you never gave up on me, and I just—”

  “You’re my baby brother,” he said.

  “Perhaps you could leave off the baby part when introducing me to people?” I grinned.

  “Not a chance.”

  He pulled me in for a big hug before we entered the inn, the old house full of energy and warmth. I didn’t know how but I could feel her the second before Millie’s arms wrapped around my middle.

  “I thought you’d never get here.”

  She placed a quick kiss on my check, and my hands found her as I smiled. She was wearing the dress I’d picked out. The one with the soft silk fabric that felt like butter to the touch. Up close, I could see the subtle blue color, which made her tan skin look radiant.

  I would cherish these memories forever.

  Especially the one that was about to follow.

  “You ready?” she asked.

  “I was born ready for this,” I said.

  She took my hand and ushered me to the center of the parlor. Everyone quieted, probably expecting a speech or a toast.

  And they were going to get a hell of a one.

  Just not the one they expected.

  “Hi everyone!” Millie began. “Thank you all for gathering here tonight to celebrate my wonderful fiancé, Aiden.”

  They all clapped.

  I kind of felt ridiculous.

  “But, actually, we had a different plan for the evening, if you don’t mind.”

  It was already dark, the benefit of early March, and if everything went according to plan, Millie was going to let go of my hand, walk over to the switch on the wall, and flip it, illuminating the patio—bingo.

  The entire crowd of family gasped.

  Thankfully, it was a happy gasp as they took in the altar of flowers and lights that Millie’s mom and dad had put together earlier that day.

  We’d needed someone’s help, and I couldn’t exactly marry their daughter without asking permission, which they’d given.

  In spades.

  “You’re getting married?” Molly squealed. “Right now?”

  I felt Millie’s hand return to mine.

  “Yes,” we both answered, her grin so infectious that I couldn’t help but kiss her.

  I may be blind, but even I could see the love radiating between us.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” someone shouted, most likely my brother. “Let’s get these two married!”

  I turned to the woman I loved, knowing, in just minutes, I’d take her to be my wife.

  This was exactly where I was supposed to be.

  Taking that flight down to Ocracoke was the best damn decision of my life, and it didn’t matter what obstacles life threw at us from here on out. We’d face them together.

  With a little patience, prayer, and a whole lot of love.

  Thank you for reading The Lies I’ve Told! If you remember meeting Taylor Sutherland, you can read his story in The Mistakes I’ve Made! (Coming Sept. 2018)

  I was waiting for my life to start…

  After years of hard work, I’d finally managed to turn around the family business, pulling it from the brink of bankruptcy and now it was thriving.

  That is, until Leilani Hart shows up.

  She is a hotel heiress; intent on turning our quaint island town into something it’s not.

  I should hate her. She’s trying to destroy the town I love, but, I can’t help falling…for the enemy.

  Coming Sept. 10th. Pre-order coming soon!

  If you enjoyed The Lies I’ve Told, you’ll love When You’re Ready, an emotional, second chance romance about a widowed young mother who finds love with an ER doctor intent on mending her broken heart.

  Also, check out fan favorite Within These Walls that will certainly tug at your heartstrings with its super swoony hero and sweeping romance!

  Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay on top of new releases and sales! You can also join my Facebook group, Berg’s Bibliophiles for exclusive giveaways and content!

  If you loved this book, please leave a review on your favorite book site or tell a friend! Word of mouth is still the most powerful tool we have as readers!

  Turn the page for an excerpt of The Mistakes I’ve Made…

  **The excerpt from The Mistakes I've Made is not final and may change before its publication.**

  Chapter One

  Taylor

  My alarm woke me, as it did every day. The blaring sound of the radio made my eyes spring open, the sun barely breaking over the horizon on this new day.

  “Jesus,” Carly cursed. “What the hell is that?”

  “It’s called an alarm,” I said, throwing the covers off me. The cool air hit my bare skin at once and I immediately missed the warmth of my bed. “It’s what responsible people use to wake up in the morning.”

  I heard her groan into t
he pillow, the sight of her naked body moving underneath those sheets doing all sorts of things to me as I dragged myself out of bed.

  “I’m responsible,” she defended herself. I listened as she rustled around in my bed, and by the time I managed to pick up a shirt and shorts for my morning run, she’d managed to find her own set of clothes.

  “You’re a fifth year college student, taking a semester off to spend time with your grandparents on a nearly deserted island.”

  She finished pulling her shirt over her head, just in time to give me a hard stare. “I am a double major—that takes longer and I happen to like my grandparents and this island, even in the low season.”

  My brow lifted, not believing her for a second.

  The truth was, she’d broken up with her boyfriend last semester, taken it hard and she was using Ocracoke, this little blip of an island town where her grandparents had chosen to retire, as a place to hide out while she tried to get over her heartbreak.

  I was just someone she used to pass the time, and I was more than okay with our arrangement, because as a guy who didn’t do more than casual dating, “low season” as she called it, was usually also a dry season for me - at least in the ladies department.

  “Now what does a girl need to do to get breakfast around here?” she asked, giving me a pouty look that made me all sorts of uncomfortable.

  And not in the naked-in-my-bed sort of way.

  “Creep back to your Pop’s place and make some there?” I suggested. I watched as her pout only deepened. “Come on Carly, you know I don’t do breakfast. Hell, I’m already a dead man if Jimmy finds out you’re sleeping over at my place. Did you know he flew me and my mom to the hospital when my brother was involved in that ferry accident? He’s a good guy, your pops.”

  “Yeah,” she nodded, her hands going to the pockets of her jeans. “He is.”

  “Look, if this is getting to be too much for you, maybe we should just call it quits before anyone gets—”

  “No,” she said, a bit too quickly. “I’m fine. Really.” A fake smile pulled at her cheeks. “I’m just hungry. I’ll grab something when I get home, and you’re right—wouldn’t want my Pops finding out about this. God knows he doesn’t need the spike in his blood pressure. So go ahead and grab your run. I’ll let myself out.”