by A. B. Medley
Dr. Ray meets us in the room. She shakes mine and Sterling’s hand. “Ivie, we’re going to do a transvaginal ultrasound today. If you’ll undress from the waist down and have a seat on the table, there’s also a paper blanket to lay across your lap. I’ll give you a few minutes and be back.” She smiles and walks out, closing the door behind her. I do as she says, and Sterling sits in the chair beside the bed with stirrups, but he keeps his head down in an effort to give me privacy.
I finish and sit on the bed and lay the blanket across me. “You can look now.”
Sterling gives me a smile just as Dr. Ray breezes back into the room.
She talks me through the process and pulls out a wand. “I’m going to put a little lubricant on the wand and then I’ll insert it.” She does that with one hand while clicking a mouse a typing on a computer with the other. She moves the wand around a little and stops. “Ah, here we are. There’s the baby, and there’s the heartbeat. Would you like to hear it?”
I nod yes and hold my breath a little. I feel Sterling’s hand touch me before he links his fingers through mine. Then we hear the sweetest sound. A thumping little heartbeat. I can’t stop the tears as they run down my face and into my hair. Sterling is at my side in an instant and runs his free hand through my hair and kisses my forehead. He whispers in my ear, “That’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.”
We keep our eyes on the screen as Dr. Ray talks us through the images and tells us everything looks healthy and on track. “It appears you’re right around five or six weeks along.” She smiles at us brightly and congratulates us before leaving me to clean up and check out at the front desk.
Sterling walks me to my Jeep carrying the information Dr. Ray gave us. “Thank you for coming, Sterling. I’m glad you were here and got to hear the heartbeat for the first time with me.”
“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else, baby girl. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you and the baby.” He leans in and runs the back of his fingers over my cheek. He looks from my eyes to my lips. I think for sure he’s going to kiss me, and then he surprises me with another kiss on the forehead.
When he releases me, I feel disappointment. “I’ll talk to you soon,” he tells me as he walks to his cruiser.
I get in my Jeep and think about all that just happened. What am I doing? I need to give him another chance. He loves me just like I love him. I can’t let some crazy, murderous stalker keep destroying our lives. If I don’t go to him, she wins, even from the grave.
I pull out my phone and text Bree and Lucy. I know what I need to do; I just might need a little help getting it done.
It’s Friday night, and Briella assured me that Sterling would be home alone. Lucy came over and helped me get ready. She even shaved my left leg. That’s some sisterly devotion, right there. I still have some fading bruises on my neck, but they’re almost gone. My hair is down in loose curls, courtesy of Lucy’s skill with a curling wand, and my makeup is light but helps bring out my eyes.
Lucy picked out a red dress. It’s sleeveless, and I paired it with my black leather jacket and black wedges. It stops about mid-thigh. I look myself over in the floor-length mirror. Lucy walks up behind me. “That’s my gorgeous sister. You’re going to knock him right out of his boots when he sees you.”
“Are you sure this is okay? I mean, this dress is a little snug. I have a very small pooch where I’m beginning to show, but it’s there,” I ask, placing a hand over my lower abdomen.
Lucy grins bigger. “Honey, that’ll make him love it even more. He’s the reason you have something to show. Trust me.” She winks at me and smacks me on the butt. “Go get him, girl. Go get your man!”
I give myself one more glance before meeting Lucy’s eyes in the mirror behind me. We’re a pair. She’s looking better from her attack, too, although there’s still some bruising. I grab my purse and keys off the bed and head toward Sterling’s ranch, hoping this is the beginning of forever for us.
I pull up to the ranch, and Tate and Briella are already outside and walking toward me. “Hey guys. Is he in there?”
Tate grins mischievously, like he’s proud to be in on a conspiracy. “He is. Y’all don’t get too crazy tonight.” He waggles his eyebrows.
Briella slaps his arm and tells him to shut up, laughing herself. “He doesn’t suspect anything. He thinks we’re hanging out watching movies. We told him we would go grab dinner. He was in the shower when we walked out, so he should be done or just about done by now.”
“Thank you, Briella. For helping me set this up and for…everything.”
She pulls me in for a hug. “Don’t mention it. You’re my sister now. You’re good for him. He’s met his match in you, and I couldn’t be happier for the both of you.”
“Don’t make me cry Briella. I’ll mess up my makeup,” I scold while wiping at my eyes.
Briella grabs my hands. “You look beautiful. You better tell me all about it after. Except the intimate parts. I don’t need to know details about my brother’s sex life.” She makes a gagging noise and laughs. “Seriously though, go get him.” She winks.
Tate slings his arm around Briella’s shoulder. “Come on, Bree, let’s get out of here. I think you owe me a game of pool and some cheese fries, maybe a beer.”
She rolls her eyes but goes with him to his truck. They hop in and I watch their taillights get further away as I work up my courage to go to the front door.
“It’s now or never.” I mumble to myself.
I manage to walk up to the front door without breaking an ankle in my wedges, thankful for small favors. I take a deep breath and knock three times on the front door. Sterling opens the door in sweatpants that hang low on his hips and no shirt. His hair is damp from his shower, and he smells so good. Every muscle is on display. I could drown in this man.
“Hey. Can I come in?” I manage to get out through my lust-filled fog.
Sterling looks surprised to see me. “Of course, please.” He opens the door wider to let me in.
I walk through the door and into his kitchen and lay down my purse and keys.
“Can I get you something to drink? Bree and Tate just went out to pick up food. I can call them to pick you up something if you want.” He comes to stand in the kitchen with me.
“No thanks. They aren’t coming back. I asked them to help me.”
“With what?” His brows furrow.
“We needed to be alone, to talk.” I smirk a little. “Tate was a little too excited to be part of this little act, just saying. Something about you needing to lighten up.”
“He said that?” He laughs and runs a hand down the stubble on his face.
“Yeah, something like that. Sterling, I’ve done a lot of thinking and soul-searching.”
Sterling keeps his eyes on mine as I continue. I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows hard. I walk to where he’s standing. He looks me up and down, taking me in, his gaze thick with desire.
“I love you. I forgive you, totally. Let’s put the past behind us where it belongs and start our life together. It’s always been you. I’m sorry it took so long to let you know. We both seem to have the same stubborn traits, but I hope I’m not too late. Will you forgive me too?”
He steps forward and puts a hand on my face and brings me close to him, his other arm around my waist. I close my eyes and lean into his hand.
“You’re right on time, baby girl. I’m so glad you came home to me. I forgive you. I love you, and I’m ready to start this life with you.”
He leans down and kisses me fiercely. I moan against his lips as he runs his tongue along mine, demanding access. I open to him, and our tongues dance together. I hear a deep rumble in his chest, and he pulls up the hem of my dress and cups my ass. He lifts me up and turns us, so my back is pressed against the wall. He kisses down my neck and back up to my lips again.
“Bedroom.” That’s all I can say. The fire in me burning so bright, and I need him to tame it. He carries me to his bedroom
with my legs wrapped his hips. His lips never leave my skin as he helps me out of my jacket. As he’s scattering kisses down my neck, he reaches behind me to pull my zipper down. One hand slides into the opening and grips my ass, pulling me closer, allowing me to feel very clearly how much he wants me. He pushes back just slightly and puts me on my feet so I can slip out of the dress. He looks over me with hungry desire. “You’re perfect.” His voice is deep and filled with need.
He steps forward and moves me backward until the back of my knees hits the mattress. I flop back with a giggle and he follows, hovering over me and kissing a trail down my neck and to my breasts, taking time to show each one affection. Then he makes his way down my stomach, kissing the little bulge I have now. He glances back up at me, and I feel myself melting. He reaches my underwear. There’s a sudden movement and I feel them rip and he tosses them over his shoulder.
Before I can even respond, he’s between my legs, laving with his tongue, tasting me. I arch off the bed in pleasure but need more. He steps back for a few seconds to shuck off his pants, and his long, hard length springs out.
“Are you ready for me, baby girl?” he asks huskily. I reach up and run my hands on his chest and grab his arm to pull him to me. He doesn’t need any more encouragement. He gets between my legs and lines himself up with me, taking my mouth as presses inside as deep as he can. He catches my gasp with his lips. I close my eyes, lost to everything but this man and how he feels with my body, with my heart. It’s all that matters.
The intensity of our feelings and the time apart have us both hurtling to the finish line within minutes. We both find our release together, as I come apart around him and he spills everything into me. We lie there intertwined, catching our breath as he nuzzles my neck and strokes my side. Once we finally gather the strength to go clean up, we crawl back into bed and he puts my back to his chest and kisses my neck. “How did I get so lucky?” he whispers in my ear.
“I’m the lucky one. I love you so much.” I turn just enough to kiss him.
He puts a hand on my little pooch protectively. “I love you so much, both of you.”
We spend the rest of the night and into the morning making love. He’s right. I came home. He is my home.
Two months later…
“I’m really starting to show, babe,” Ivie says as she looks in the mirror sideways. She moved in the day after she came to talk. She’s been trying to find clothes she feels comfortable in, as her pants are beginning to get uncomfortable.
I walk up behind her and place a kiss on her neck right where she likes it and slide my hand over her growing bump. “I love it, baby girl. You look more beautiful than ever.”
She leans back on my chest and puts her hand over mine as we hold our baby the only way we can until it’s born. We find out what we’re having in just a few more weeks.
“You know I’m starting to swell a little, my ankles and hands. I know this is a beautiful thing, minus the swelling.” She giggles, and my heart soars. Every sound she makes, every touch from her, drives me crazy, in the best way.
“I’ll rub your hands and feet when we get back home. Now get dressed or we’re going to be late.” I kiss her cheek and let her finish dressing.
I walk into the kitchen, and Tate is at the island. He’s dressed up. He’s gotten a lot more serious lately. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but he’s dealing with something. I just wish he’d let me help.
He smiles when he sees me. “Let me see, dude.” I grin. “You’re acting like a girl.”
“I resent that. I just want to see if you have good taste.”
I reach in my pocket and pull out a black velvet ring box. I pop it open, and he peers down at it. It’s a solitaire diamond in a platinum setting. “I mean, that’s pretty impressive, Sterling. She’ll love it.”
“I hope so. If she says yes, will you stand up with me and be my best man?”
“You know it, brother.” He stands and hugs me, his grin even wider.
“Okay, now get out of here. I have to do this before we leave, so we can meet everyone for the surprise engagement party at the Silver Note and be on time. Thanks for helping set the stage while she was getting ready.”
“Anytime. Good luck—not that you need it.” He winks and walks out the door.
About that time, I hear Ivie coming down the hall. She stops short when she sees the lights down low and tea lights flickering. She looks stunning. Her long dark hair is draped over her shoulder in waves and her green eyes sparkle. “What is this?”
I take her hand and get in front of her. “Ivie, I’ve always loved you. I always will. You’re my forever.” I get down on one knee and pull out the ring box. I open it so she can see, but her eyes are on mine. “I can’t wait another minute to get my ring on your finger, and I can’t wait for you to take my last name. I want to spend all our days together, you and me and this baby, and any other kids we may have. You’re the one, Ivie. My one. Will you marry me?”
She gets down on her knees with me and wraps her arms around my neck. “Yes, Sterling! Yes! Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife.” Tears fall down her face as I kiss her lips.
“I love you, baby girl.” I slip the ring on her finger.
“It’s beautiful. I love you, Sterling Brigg.”
She starts to kiss me behind my ear, in just the right spot to send chills down my body and heat my desire. “Ah-ah-ah, sweetheart. We have to go, baby girl, we’re going to be late. Everyone’s waiting for us at the Silver Note.”
She winks at me and starts unbuttoning my pants. “Then they’ll have to wait a little longer while I make love to my fiancé.”
She pushes me back and kisses me, and I know this is the only truth that matters: I love this woman more than anything, and I waited years for her to be mine. Everyone else will just have to wait.
Read on to see what’s next in the Finding the Truth Series!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Ivie and Sterling’s story, Deception in the Truth, as much as I enjoyed writing it. I started this book over twelve years ago. Writing a book has been a longtime dream of mine, but life got busy, and I didn’t get to work on it as much over the years as I would’ve liked. I finally buckled down and decided I couldn’t put it off anymore—and I finished! What an amazing feeling!
Ivie and Sterling’s story originally had a slightly different plot twist involving one of my favorite supporting characters, but the more attached I grew to all the characters as I wrote them, I knew I couldn’t do what I had first plotted out. I’m so glad it played out the way it did, because now I get to explore those characters in a better way, a way I hope you will love when you read it. Sterling and Ivie’s story is one filled with mystery, pain, overcoming fears and trials, forgiveness and love. I felt it all as I wrote their story. Sometimes, you just have to trust your heart when it knows the way.
So next up, I’ll be taking two characters I absolutely loved in this book, and I’m giving them their own book. Book Two—I haven’t officially titled yet, but I’m pretty certain I have it narrowed down to what I want—will be Tate and Lucy’s story. I cannot wait to share their story with you. I’ve already started writing it, and it’s plotted out. We know from Deception in the Truth that Lucy has some secrets she hasn’t told anyone, and Tate—there’s a reason he feels the way he does about love. But you’ll have to read their book to figure out the answers! Stay tuned for their story, the second book in the Finding the Truth Series.
Thank you so much for reading Deception in the Truth and stay tuned for what comes next.
-A.B. Medley
A.B. Medley lives in Tennessee with the love of her life and two sons. Her husband stole her heart when she was sixteen and their relationship is one of those meant to be love stories you find in magazines and novels.
She is a dental hygienist who loves to read and has always dabbled in writing. When she’s not making people’s smiles shine, she enjoys belting out songs wit
h her boys, dancing, raspberries, baseball, and anything vintage. Like any proper Tennessean, Sundrop is her drink of choice.
She loves her family and friends fiercely and believes in always chasing your dreams.
Deception in the Truth is her debut novel, but now she’s hooked, and there’s more to come!
Connect with A.B. Medley on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Goodreads!
Website coming soon!