Secrets & Lies
Copyright 2016 © by Michelle Iannarelli
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. This book contains sexually explicit material and is for a mature audience. The author acknowledges the trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Cover Model: Levi Miles
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Photographer: Christopher John/CJC Photography
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Design: Dynamic Design Team
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Editor: Out of the Blue Editing
Formatting: Champagne Formats
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Secrets & Lies
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Also by Michelle Iannarelli
Acknowledgements
This book is dedicated to my mother, Patricia LoBello Mamara.
Mommy,
Words could never begin to express how grateful I am to have you as my grammar police,
proofreader, biggest critic, total storyline changer, supporter and best friend
but most of all, my Mommy.
I love you to the moon and back and then some.
Love Always,
Pumpkin
Secrets & Lies
Undercover Love Series – Book 2
By
Michelle Iannarelli
“In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours.
In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.”
- Maya Angelou
MILES SAT AT RORY’S bar chugging down his beer while he watched the only woman he had ever loved dance with someone else. It was times like this that he wished he had never set eyes on her.
He thought back to that first time he met her. She was a sassy, little five-year-old with pigtails who bit him because he touched her Barbie doll. He never would have dreamed that she would grow up to be the one who would steal his heart, but she did.
“Hey, Miles, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Rory. I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Miles thought to himself how it had been months since he had a good night sleep. Once she turned down his proposal he started to unravel and he hasn’t been the same since.
“Yeah, it looks like more than lack of sleep. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Have you ever loved someone so much that it hurt?”
“Not since the fifth grade when she kicked me in the family jewels.” Rory laughed. He hoped it would lighten the mood.
“I’d take that kind of pain over what I’m going through now.”
Rory grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses and came around the bar and sat down next to Miles and poured them each a shot.
“This won’t make the pain go away but it will numb it for a while.”
Miles grabbed the shot and swallowed it down. “Thanks, Man.”
“So who is she? Anyone I know?”
Miles looked over at the dance floor and then back to Rory. She’s right over there. The one dancing with the tall blonde guy.
“SHIT! It’s not even like you can get away from her.”
“Don’t I know it. I asked her to marry me and she said no.”
“I’m sorry, Man.” Rory poured another shot into Miles’ glass.
“I know loving her is wrong on so many levels…but my heart, it belongs to her.”
Rory patted Miles on the back. “Then you have two choices…change her no to a yes or leave town and start over.”
Miles turned to look at her and she was staring directly at him. Once their eyes locked they stayed fixed on one another until Miles couldn’t handle it and he stood up to leave.
“Thank you for everything, Rory. I’m going to get going. Being here with her is pure torture.”
“Take care, Miles.”
Miles never looked back, he just headed out the door.
Faith was so excited that Eden asked her to meet at the bar. Ever since Alex and Miguel returned from London they seemed to be inseparable and Faith missed going out with her bestie.
“Faith.”
Faith turned around and Ryan was standing there.
“Hey.”
“How’ve you been?”
Faith hadn’t seen Ryan in a few weeks. She wondered who he was screwing that kept him too busy to knock at her door.
“Fine.”
Ryan could sense that Faith was not fine. If growing up with Alex taught him anything, it was that women are never fine.
“So, you’re pissed at me?”
Faith was not expecting Ryan to ask her but yes, in all honesty she was a bit pissed.
“Maybe. Look, Ryan, I don’t want to be but…”
“But you are.”
“I didn’t expect you to have sex with me once, moreover, multiple times and I guess even though I thought that I’d be alright with it, I’m not.”
Ryan felt bad. He never wanted to hurt Faith. He really liked her…a lot.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that, well you’re so fucking hot in bed and…”
“And that’s all you’ll ever want from me.” A tear escaped from Faith’s eye and rolled down her cheek. “Excuse me.” Faith stepped around Ryan and ran off to the bathroom.
Eden was sitting with Dane and some of his buddies who were passing through town. She saw Faith walk in but then she disappeared.
“Dane, did you see where Faith went?”
“No I didn’t but maybe she stopped off to see Rory on her way to the table?”
“I’ll be right back.” Eden got up to go search for Faith.
“So are you tapping that one?”
Dane looked up at his friend Randy. “Hell no. Miguel would chop off my balls.”
Randy glanced over at Eden’s ass as she stood at the bar talking to Ryan. “Well, I think I am willing to take that chance.”
Dane laughed. “Tell me how it goes.”
Ryan told Eden that Faith was in the bathroom. So Eden ordered their drinks while she waited for Faith. After a few minutes she decided that maybe something was wrong so she went to check on Faith.
“Faith, Sweetie, what’s the matter?”
Faith had been crying, she had mascara running down her face and she was blowing her nose. “I don’t know how I get myself into
these things?”
“What things?”
“I’ve been in lust with Ryan since I met him. We somehow ended up having sex one night and I wanted more, so I told him he could come by anytime.”
“And?”
“He had been…a lot but then recently he hasn’t been and I’ve missed him something terrible and I found myself becoming so jealous wondering who he was with that wasn’t me.”
“Ouch. That must sting.”
“He came over to me as soon as I walked into the bar and my feelings overwhelmed me.”
“Well, let’s get you cleaned up and then you can come and meet some of Dane’s friends. Besides, maybe it will make Ryan jealous and he will realize what he’s missing.”
Faith smiled. “Thank you Eden, for making me feel better.”
“You are very welcome!”
Miguel was on the phone in his study when Alex came in holding a newspaper and she did not look happy.
“Ahh, Fredo, I have to call you back.” Miguel hung up the phone. “Alex, Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Alex walked over to Miguel and plopped herself down on his lap and handed him the paper.
Miguel opened the paper and read the headline: Miguel Cruz Engaged.
“Alex, you do remember that we are engaged?”
“Keep reading.”
Miguel read the article and then he tossed the paper in the trash. “Sweetheart, the reporters will say whatever they want to sell their stories. I love you and you love me. I know that you aren’t some gold digger who is trying to take over my company. Can we just forget about it?”
“I suppose. I think I will have Ryan draw up a pre-nuptial agreement though.”
“I don’t want you to feel that way. I want you to have everything that I can possibly give you and I trust you. A pre…”
“I know and I love you even more for that. It will just make me feel better.”
Miguel shrugged his shoulders. “Ok, if it will make you happy then so be it.”
“It will.” Alex kissed Miguel.
EDEN OPENED HER EYES, looked around and realized she wasn’t in her own bed. She had way too much to drink to even remember how she got there. She wondered if the day would ever come that she would wake up and be happy, truly happy. It had been so long since the last time she even had hope of fulfilling that dream.
“Oh, look who’s finally awake!”
Eden rolled over and Miles was standing there with a glass of orange juice and a bottle of Ibuprofen in his hand. Eden sat up and her head felt as if it was spinning.
“Guess I had a little too much to drink?”
“No guessing, you had a lot of too much to drink last night.”
Eden took the glass and swallowed down three pain relievers.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“You’re my best friend’s little sister what else would I do. Let me know when you’re ready to go and I will drive you back to your car.”
“Miles.”
“Yeah.”
“What happened last night? I mean, how did I end up here? You left hours before me.”
“You apparently took a taxi here from the bar at four this morning.”
“Oh God, Miles, I’m so sorry.” Eden got up and realized she was in her bra and panties.” She looked up at Miles.
“Nothing happened. You pulled your dress over your head when I told you that I was taking you to bed.”
Eden looked down at the floor, she was so embarrassed and she felt awful about what she had done to Miles.
“Miles…”
“I will let you get dressed.” Miles walked out.
Ryan was flipping through contracts on his desk when he smelled chocolate mint muffins. He didn’t even have to look up to know that his sister was there.
“Muffins!”
“Well, I can see that you are happy to see me…or should I say, my muffins?” Alex smiled.
Ryan walked over and kissed Alex as he snatched a muffin. “Both.”
“I figured I would bake some since I was planning to stop by today and I know that they are your favorite.”
“That they are. So what’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you if you’d draw up a pre-nup for me?”
“Miguel changed his mind?”
“No, in fact, he is still dead set against it. He did say that if it would make me feel better that he would allow it.”
“Then why…”
“Because I don’t ever want there to be a question in anyone’s mind that I am a gold digger or with Miguel for any reason other than that I am completely and totally in love with him.”
“Ok.”
“Ryan, thank you for accepting Miguel. I know that he may not be the person you had hoped I’d marry but I love him and I know that he really loves me.”
“I know and that’s why I am doing my best to keep a lid on my overprotective brother feelings.” Ryan smiled.
“I appreciate that especially when you are talking to our parents.”
“Ahh, yes, I was invited for dinner next week when Miguel meets the parents.”
“You are coming, right?”
“I will be there.”
“Good, thank you.”
“Anything for my sister who bakes me my favorite muffins.” Ryan winked.
“Only the best for my brother.” Alex smiled.
Miguel and Dane spent the last few hours going over security issues for one of Miguel’s biggest clients.
“That should do it.”
“Thanks Dane and thank you for agreeing to come on board as Vice President of Secret Security at Cruz.”
“Thank you for having me. I was wondering what in the hell I would do to keep myself out of trouble now that we are all officially retired from the Agency.”
“Life sure has changed.”
“It has but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss the adrenalin rush.”
“Me too. But, I have Alex now and she is the most important thing in my life. I can’t screw that up.”
“It was time to retire. Alex or no Alex.”
“So do you think that now that you have a steady job and a new home that you’ll find the one and…”
“Oh…hell no. The closest I ever got to a relationship was sleeping with the same woman more than twice.”
Miguel grabbed Dane’s arm. “That woman was Alex, wasn’t it?”
“Migs.”
“I will take that as a yes.”
“Yes, ok. Look, maybe it’s better if I move on.”
“Dane, I’m sorry. I guess I feel guilty…”
“Don’t. As much as I enjoyed being with her, I was never in love with Alex. She deserved better than me and I’m happy for both of you.”
“You’re a good friend, Dane.”
“The best and don’t you forget it.” Dane smiled.
Eden sat down on the edge of the bed to buckle her sandals. Last night was a true indication that she needed to deal with her broken heart and not drink to avoid it. She laid back on the bed and thought about their first kiss. His lips were so soft and his tongue tasted like the cinnamon gum he always chewed. After they kissed he rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. He was the first man to ever kiss her. She had been so in love with him that she never let anyone else get that close.
Eden sat up and walked towards the door. She needed to come to terms with the past and sort out her future. It was time.
Miles was drinking his coffee and staring out the window thinking while he waited for Eden. If Miguel knew that his baby sister was out getting drunk and taking taxis to places at four in the morning he’d probably lock her in her room and throw away the key. Miles had half a mind to do just that or even worse, threaten Eden that if she didn’t knock off the dangerously childish behavior that he would tell Miguel himself.
Eden walked into the living room and stood there for a minute watching Miles as he drank his coffee. She took a deep breath and then exhaled. It was
now or never.
“Miles, I’m sorry…for everything.”
Miles didn’t turn around; he took another gulp of his coffee before he replied. “Yeah, whatever. Let me drive you back to your car.”
“Can we talk…”
“Talk? Last time we talked, Eden, you made it abundantly clear that we no longer had anything to TALK about!” Miles slammed his coffee mug down on the table and grabbed his keys. “Let’s go.”
Eden panicked, she didn’t know what to say or do, all she knew was that she wasn’t leaving…this time. “I know I hurt you…”
Miles looked at Eden. “Hurt me? You fucking destroyed me, Eden.”
Eden walked closer to Miles and she reached out her hand and grabbed his. Miles didn’t pull away but he also didn’t wrap his hand around hers.
“Miles, I love you.”
Miles pulled his hand away and turned away from Eden. “Shut up, Eden. I don’t want to hear your lies.”
“I’m not lying; you know how…”
“How what? How you treat me like some pawn in a stupid game? When you want me to be there, I’m there and then when you don’t need me, you push me away? I’m done playing your fucking games, Eden.”
Eden promised herself that she wouldn’t cry but the more it seemed like Miles wasn’t going to forgive her the harder it was to hold back the tears, until finally they escaped her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks. “Please, please…just one last chance.”
“How many chances have you already had and it didn’t make any difference. Nothing. Ever. Changed.” Miles watched as the tears began to roll faster down Eden’s beautiful face. Even after all that had happened he felt the need to hold her and comfort her. “I…I just can’t. I’m barely surviving.” Now tears were escaping from Miles’ eyes as well.
“I’ll call Miguel right now and tell him everything. I’ll do anything you want me to do. I can’t lose you, Miles.”
For the first time in months Miles almost felt hopeful when Eden mentioned confessing the truth to Miguel. He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to Eden to see if she meant what she said.
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