Lovers and Liars: An addictive sexy beach read

by Nigel May

  Thankfully the evidence to clear Sutton had come quickly and easily. The camera that Sheridan had set up in the corner of the suite to record his tryst with Kassidy had inadvertently been left running, Sheridan obviously forgetting to switch it off. Police officers were able to watch the sexual antics with Kassidy, followed by Sutton’s arrival and departure from the suite and the entire build-up and delivery of the fatal blow that had killed Sheridan from boxing champ Hatton Eden. After everything, it had been a hidden camera that had proved to be the undoing of Hatton after all, just not the one that had recorded him and Fidge in the gym.

  Sutton had accompanied the police to his dressing room to arrest Hatton for murder. She had watched as the boxer was taken away. He said nothing except ‘Evil had to be punished’, over and over again, as he was marched off, madness holding him tight in its grip. Fidge sat and wept as he watched the man he loved being manhandled out of the room, the red roses already seeming to droop in the corner.

  Sutton, left alone with Fidge, had wrapped her arms around him upon seeing his despair. ‘Not my Hatton,’ was all he could say. A women’s intuition told her that perhaps there was more to the relationship than she had previously thought. Her suspicions were confirmed weeks later when Fidge held a press conference to announce to the world that he was coming out. Maybe the media were putting pressure on him to do so, she didn’t know, but no mention was made of Hatton Eden. Fidge was asked but made no comment, allowing even a murderer like Hatton the chance to make his own decision. Days after the press conference he was inducted into the National Gay And Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame for services to the sporting world. Sutton sent him a letter of congratulations and her full support. She liked Fidge and wished him well. His only fault had been to fall in love with a man who had chosen to do wrong. She could relate to that.

  Sutton was as shocked as anyone that Hatton was capable of murder. As one of the biggest sporting bombshells in history unfolded in the press, she read so-called expert reports about how the signs of Hatton’s madness had always been visible, especially if his tattoos were to be analysed. How his early life in Bulgaria and the death of his parents had shaped his inner demons and how he had finally been pushed over the edge into near insanity.

  The will cutting Nikki out of the family business and making sure that Kassidy was well catered for was never properly filed before Sheridan’s death and it was the original document that still stood in the eyes of the law. The Velvet empire was passed down to Heather and Nikki equally. Both daughters had reason not to want to take over the business for the moment and both legally handed it over to Sutton, who fired Kassidy from her position as assistant. She had changed the will and couldn’t be trusted, but Sutton wished her no harm. She might have been screwing Sutton’s husband, but that had been foolish ambition and perhaps a fear of saying no. Sutton had been through much the same with Dirty Dick and his wandering hands back in New York. She had arranged for a considerable amount of severance money for Kassidy and of course let her keep her Barbados home in Oistins.

  ‘Care for a sherbet lemonade?’ Heather offered her mother the glass as she joined her on the edge of the St Lucia swimming pool.

  ‘Thank you.’ Sutton took the drink and downed a mouthful, savouring the coolness. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

  ‘I am – I’m getting there anyway. I’ve made the right decision.’

  ‘To leave Velvet?’

  ‘For now, yes. The billion-dollar hotel world you and Dad thrived in was never mine. I need to do something else. I knew exactly what I needed to do the moment I was saving those turtles the night that Dad died. I need to do some good. A friend of mine is helping to rescue leatherback turtles in Trinidad and Tobago and is always looking for aid so I’m going to shut this place up for a few months and go and live there with her. It’s what I need to put all of the heartache behind me. I might as well use my so-called celebrity for some good and it will help me take my mind off everything that’s happened.’

  ‘Do you miss him?’

  ‘Whether you mean Max or Dad, the answer is yes to both. I had made up my mind to disown Dad completely when he was alive but it’s better that I let him back into my heart now that he’s no longer here. I have to believe that maybe I could have grown to love him again. To put love before lies. For my own sanity as well as his memory. And as for Max, well, my beautiful man not being here is a darkness that will never go away, but he’d be behind me one hundred per cent about going to Trinidad. And he’d be thrilled about Nikki.’

  Sutton looked across at her other daughter. She lay on a lounger, her hands across her belly, protecting what was underneath. Nikki had announced to the family that she was pregnant with Blair Lonergan’s baby shortly after her father’s funeral. She and Blair had aired it to the press not long after. Nikki too had decided to step back from Velvet to concentrate on starting a family. Plus, there was the small matter of community service to deal with, which would now be much more lenient given her condition.

  Sutton Rivers drained her lemonade and watched as Heather walked over to where Nikki, Blair and Pasinetta were sitting. With Nikki’s unborn baby there were now five generations of the family around the St Lucia pool. Sutton looked up to the sky and smiled. For once she didn’t think about laughter lines and potential wrinkles spoiling her appearance. She was sure that her mother, Tilisha, would be smiling down too, loving the joyful moment, and that was all that mattered.

  Letter from Nigel

  Greetings from paradise! You find me underneath a palm tree with a cocktail in my hand!

  I really hope you enjoyed the heat and the drama of Lovers and Liars as this novel was a sun-soaked joy to write, especially as it gave me an excuse to head off to Barbados in the Caribbean as I couldn’t think of a more exotic and tropical setting for a lot of the action. What an amazing place!

  Did you correctly guess who was behind the killing of Sheridan Rivers? Or were you completely shocked when the murderer was revealed? I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in Lovers and Liars and I have a real soft spot for sassy Sutton and her grandmother, Pasinetta – they were such fun to write. It was great to expand on the highly sexy DJ Blair Lonergan too, who first popped up in Deadly Obsession of course and also to go ringside into the sporting world with boxer Hatton Eden. Who was your favourite character and why? Which of the sisters did you love, Nikki or Heather? And what did you think of Kassidy and Julian?

  If you enjoyed my latest blockbuster I would be tickled pink if you could leave me a review. Reading what you guys have to say about my novels means so much to me as I really enjoy writing them as well as clocking up the air miles to check out all of the glamorous locations that my characters just have to visit. You can find out more about the locations for all of my books on my website, where I will take you behind the scenes on the research for all five of my novels so far – Trinity, Addicted, Scandalous Lies, Deadly Obsession and now Lovers and Liars! If you enjoyed my latest book, then maybe you’d like to read more of my stories.

  Let’s have a good chat too – I love to talk all things bonkbuster and glamour-soaked spicy crime on Twitter (find me at @Nigel_May), Facebook and Goodreads. And if you’d like to keep right up-to-date with the latest tantalising news on my hot new releases just sign up using the link below.

  Nigel May new releases email

  Thank you for reading Lovers and Liars and I hope it’s brought you a huge dose of skin-tickling sunshine. I’ll see you again soon with my next action-packed jet-set romp. Where are we off to? All I’m saying is ‘ooh la la!’ and ‘à bientôt’…

  Now, back to my cocktail, love Nigel x

  @Nigel_May

  nigel.may

  www.nigelmay.net

  Also by Nigel May

  DEADLY OBSESSION

  SCANDALOUS LIES

  TRINITY

  ADDICTED

  Deadly Obsession

  Out now…

  What would you do if you saw your husband killed right in fr
ont of you … identified his body … had him cremated … then six months later received a letter written by him two days ago?

  Amy Barrowman grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. So when she falls in love with millionaire Riley Hart and he asks her to marry him she can’t believe her luck. She has found true love and her happy ever after.

  Riley Hart is a Millionaire Man about Town. Men want to be him and women want to bed him. But to achieve Riley’s status, you have to tread on a lot of toes and make a lot of enemies.

  When Riley is gunned down at the nightclub they own, Amy is determined to avenge his death. She receives a mysterious letter detailing a list of suspects including Riley’s sworn enemy, actor Grant Wilson. But with an obsessive passion brewing between her and Grant and a dangerous assassin trailing her every move it would seem Amy has opened a deadly and tempting Pandora’s Box. In settling the score for her husband has Amy put herself into terrible danger?

  A sizzling story of deadly secrets, perfect for fans of Tasmina Perry and Victoria Fox.

  BUY HERE!

  ‘LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! Seriously exceeded ALL expectations and then some.’ Book Addict Shaun

  Addicted

  Fame, fortune and five-star luxury. Meet four fabulous women – all of them hold a dark secret… one of them won’t live to tell the tale.

  Nancy Arlow – the fading entertainer determined to gamble and charm her way out of a mountain of debt.

  Laura Everett – behind the façade of the perfect politician’s wife lies a woman with an outrageous past and a spiraling drug habit.

  Portia Safari – the world famous opera diva, adored by millions, has it all, but could her secret drinking problem cost her everything?

  Martha Éclair – The millionaire wine heiress whose appetite for kinky sex could bring down her father’s business empire.

  Each woman must face their own addiction before they pay the ultimate price…

  Switch off your phone, grab a glass of bubbly and escape into an outrageous word of thrills, glamour and passion. You’ll be addicted…

  BUY HERE!

  ‘Packed full of sauciness, darkness and intrigue, this lively romp of a story takes you on a colourful journey through the world of showbiz, from the ultra-highs to the face-planting lows. If you're looking for a sexy, racy, riotous read for your sun lounger this summer, this is the perfect choice.’ Heat Magazine

  'ADDICTED is a sexy, dark, thrilling celebrity whirlwind that lifts the curtain on some blistering superstar scandal. It's the most fun you can have between two covers. I need more!'

  Victoria Fox

  Scandalous Lies

  Out now…

  Lovers and liars, divas and sinners, welcome to a world of scandal, where one woman will pay the ultimate price.

  SUSPENSE: Georgia’s best friend, ballroom dancing sensation Mitzi, has vanished with boyfriend Foster while on holiday in California. Can Georgia get to the truth of their disappearance before it’s too late?

  SECRETS: Reality TV star Nova could give the Kardashians a run for their money. But while she allows millions of viewers into her fabulous home, she’s unaware what her husband, celebrity mogul Jacob, is up to behind closed doors …

  SEX: Tanya is filthy rich, married to a man who adores her but she is restless. And her sexual appetite is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

  SCANDAL: Victoria, once the trophy-wife, has lost her mojo. Determined to get her life and marriage back on track, she’s desperate to inject some excitement in her life – but at what cost?

  From the glitz of Hollywood to the glamour of Milan and the exotic luxury of India, Scandalous Lies is a deliciously unputdownable read.

  BUY HERE!

  Trinity

  Read Nigel’s bestselling first novel Trinity out now…

  When friends become enemies there are no rules…

  Ambitious gossip queen Anoushka Silvers is the daughter her abusive father never wanted. Determined to prove herself to her family, she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. But when her bitchy tongue gains her death threats and the unwanted attention of a stalker, it could be Anoushka who is making the headlines.

  For actress Evie Merchant, her childhood dreams of becoming the world’s hottest movie star are just about to come true. But a string of hurtful liaisons with lovers out to use her fame, has made Evie uncertain about her future. And with Oscar day looming, Evie’s biggest prize of all could be cruelly snatched from her.

  A loveless upbringing has made wild child Regan Phoenix search for quick-fix highs from drink, drugs and meaningless sex. But when the opportunity of starring in her own reality show comes along, Regan grabs it with both hands, hoping to put her trashy past behind her.

  From fashionable London to stunning Venice and glitzy LA, Trinity takes you into a glamorous and thrilling world you won’t want to leave.

  ‘An addictive plot that is packed with twists and turns. Prepare for larger than life characters, fabulous locations and plenty of humour.’ The Sun

  'Sex and scandal abound in this full-throttle thrill-ride through the hidden lives of the mega-rich. Trinity sizzles with bitchery, bling and betrayal, and is the perfect accompaniment to your sunlounger this summer' Victoria Fox

  Acknowledgements

  There’s a cast list of many fabulous people to say thank you to who have been hugely instrumental in making Lovers and Liars such a tropical joy to write.

  Heated Bajan thanks to the gang from Brighton Beach, Barbados. To Ryan at Sandy Lane for showing me the celeb-dipped hotel glamour and to Tinks for sharing the love of a Caribbean jewel.

  Inked thanks to my very own Tattoo Fixer, John Russell at Eastern Ink Peterborough, for showing me how you create your masterpieces and for tatting me up in celebration. Also to Adam Ellison and his mighty body canvas for inspiration.

  A twelve-inch remix of gratitude to Dan Clare at Mixology UK for spinning me in the right direction and making sure that life at the DJ decks was authentic.

  Decoupaged thanks to Julie Hickey, Mel Heaton, Mark Alexander, Rossella Cottrell and Lizzy Curtis for much fun, laughter, friendship and expert creativity. And to my ‘angel’ Jenny Hawkins.

  For book talk and happy vibes I thank Tommy Carter, Jimmy Sutton, Scott Pauley, Tash McCarty and the legendary Steph. Also Digistamp Dreams for art and Joel & Bedders for sexing things up. And to Ben Jones for a shiny new website.

  To my Brighton Belle Melly Mel – Mel Brown at Impressive PR. Your excitement about my novels thrills me. Major love for telling the world what you think.

  To Stuart Hatton Jr. Pumped-up pride and respect to you. Poppy love to Anna Smolander and never-ending adoration to ‘my more! Girls’. Plus a huge ‘merci pour tout’ to Staffs and Gree. To Mikey and Marcy – you guys have such an exotic love affair and it seems only right that I give you my love in this sun-soaked read.

  Tequila-flavoured kisses and gleeful merriment to Cleo Rocos for serving the perfect drink with such sexiness and gaiety. I raise a glass to all of the wonderful bloggers and authors who continue to support me so joyously. Cocktails ahoy to Book Addict Shaun, Daniel Riding, Shell Baker and the troops.

  As ever, I salute the brilliant team at Bookouture, especially Oliver, Kim and Lydia for expert guidance.

  To my ‘Main Man’ Alan for being my total everything for a decade. And to Vicky, Paul and Elia. New family perfection.

  Published by Bookouture

  An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.

  23 Sussex Road, Ickenham, UB10 8PN

  United Kingdom

  www.bookouture.com

  Copyright © Nigel May 2016

  Nigel May has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

&nb
sp; This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978-1-78681-021-2