“Everly, please.” My voice cracked. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”
“It’s okay. I know. I can’t imagine,” she said in a quiet melodious voice. “After everything you went through. You already lost one baby—to lose another like this …”
She understands. She’s still here, even though I—
My blood turned to ice. “Wh … what did you say?”
“That I can’t imagine how it must feel,” she whispered, pressing soft kisses on my skin.
“The other thing.” I pulled her arms from my waist, turning to face her. “Everly, what did you say?”
Colour drained from her face.
And in that moment, I knew that she knew. She’d made a big damn mistake, and I’d figured it out.
“You said I’ve already lost one baby.” I gritted the words out, trying to keep cool, calm, in control. “But I didn’t tell you about that. It didn’t make the news that Bella was pregnant when she died, and we hadn’t told anyone except my dad. What’s going on?”
“I …” She shook her head and took a step back. “I was going to tell you—”
“Tell me what?” I ground out between my teeth, advancing upon her. Anger fired through my blood, ravaging the space where sadness once lived. “How did you know? Were you spying on me? Did Giselle—”
“No! Cameron, just hear me out.” She retreated, her hands up in defence.
“When did you know my wife was pregnant?” I seethed.
“Right from the very beginning. I was the—I was a midwife at …” She sobbed, and I was a monster for making her feel that way, but right now, I didn’t give a flying fuck. Familiar. When I first saw her, I’d thought she looked familiar. Maybe that was because she did.
“Fuck!” I threw the phone at the wall. Everly jumped when it made impact. “Is that why you approached me? Why you came to me that day at the beach?”
She nodded, silent.
“Goddamn it!” I roared, my hands to the sides. “You’re just like the rest of them, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not, I—”
“Cameron Lewis, some broken man you’re out to save. Well, maybe I don’t want to be saved. Maybe I’m too screwed up to be put back together,” I yelled, and she shook her head, no.
“That’s not true. I’ve seen the real you. I’ve seen—”
“Get out.” I jerked my hand toward the door.
“Please, let me tell you everything. She wasn’t just a patient. Bella was—”
“Don’t you ever say her name to me again.” I raked my hands through my hair. Tears stung at the backs of my eyes. “You don’t get to speak about her to me. Not after I trusted you. Not after this.” I pointed to the garage, where we just made love. She betrayed me. Another pity fuck. Goddamn it. Never again.
“But I need to tell you the truth,” she begged. A lone tear travelled down her ivory cheek, and I hated the way my heart betrayed me. My heart itched to wipe that tear away, but my head told me she didn’t really care.
If she did, she wouldn’t have let things go so far. She wouldn’t have lied for so damn long. She would have told me her truth when I gave her a piece of my own, back at the care centre when Dad had that breakdown in front of her. My long confession about the attack—she would have already known. She pretended it was news. She pitied me.
A cry sounded from Piper’s room.
Piper.
It was a hit straight to the chest. I’d gone ten rounds with my worst nightmares, and they’d come out screaming victory.
I trudged toward the hall, toward Piper, whose cry had become a definite wail. Piper. My little—
No.
Not my anything.
Just Piper.
When I wrapped her in my arms holding her close to my chest, she settled. Her breathing evened out, and a soft little sigh escaped her lips. As if this was what she needed. As if she’d been waiting for me all along.
But she’s not mine. She’ll never be mine.
And I’d been a complete and utter fool for thinking that she was.
Slowly, I lowered her into her crib, taking out her stuffed unicorn and carrying it with me back into the living room. There was no sign of Everly. The only sign she’d ever been there was that goddamn washcloth.
And as the rain outside finally eased up, the storm inside me broke. I held that goddamn stuffed toy and I cried, I cried for everything I’d lost, and everything I’d never regain. The memories I fought so hard to hold on to swirled about in my head until it hurt, a physical pain that was so much worse than any wound I’d ever had. So much deeper than any scar.
I stayed like that until the sun came up, only the golden hues lied about the day ahead. It wouldn’t be sunshine. It would be rain, inescapable, torrential rain.
Three names ran on repeat through my mind.
Bella.
Everly.
Piper.
And in that moment, I knew Dad was out of touch even before the bomb. Because honest love was a nice idea, but it didn’t exist.
We weren’t in that café anymore.
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for reading Honest Love. If you would like to know more about upcoming releases, please join my e-newsletter by visiting www.LaurenKMcKellar.com
And read on for your sneak peek at Bitter Truth, available April 5, 2018.
BITTER TRUTH: A PREVIEW
BITTER TRUTH
Broken Hearts duet #2
You can run, you can hide, but the truth will always find you.
Everly Jenkins knows darkness—but that doesn’t stop her living life to the max. Not until she meets Cameron Lewis, the tragic reminder of her past that she just can’t seem to shake.
Being “just friends” with a man who sends her soul flying and her body up in flames is near impossible—until her secrets come out, leaving her alone.
Will the darkness overcome her once again? Or will Everly fight for the man she loves and help him face the bitter truth?
Here’s your sneak peek at what’s in store for Everly and Cam in Bitter Truth …
Everly
Sometimes, life was cruel. It was mean and irrational, kicking you while you were down. Throwing everything at you when you were ill-prepared, like a soldier ambushed when still training to go to war.
I trudged through the street. Rain plastered my hair to the sides of my face, and despite the heat that had ravaged my body just moments earlier, I shivered, suddenly cold. What would I do now?
When things with Bentley and I ended, I’d let him walk away. I’d let him exit my life as quickly as he’d come into it. Could I do that with Cam? Could I just say goodbye?
No more fooling around in the garden.
No more car trips to the care centre.
No more hot, sweaty nights in the garage.
Thunder clapped.
I flinched.
Tears welled in my eyes, merged with the rain that soaked my cheeks. I didn’t want to walk away. I love—did I love him?
I reached my street, my heart aching just as much as my cold, tired muscles. Losing him hurt so much more than Bentley’s affair ever had.
The affair. Another time when a man I’d cared for shut me out. Why wasn’t I worth it? Why wasn’t I ever enough?
No.
That was what the old me would have thought.
But I was stronger now.
I didn’t have to just roll over and let him go—not when what we had was worth doing anything for.
I could fight.
I could fight for him. I mightn’t have been ready for battle, but I couldn’t just let this go, couldn’t wallow in my misery. That’s not who I am anymore.
With Cameron, I was alive. And I wanted to experience that again.
With that decision made, I walked faster. I’d give him some space, one day, maybe two, then I’d go over there. Perhaps I could speak to Jo about lawyers—I knew she’d done some design work for a local company when she lived here.
He was going to need a good one if he was going to fight this.
The warm glow from inside the house looked inviting. A shower. I’d take a shower, then I’d do some research online, paternity tests and the like. After all, if this Wayne guy was anything like Giselle, he hardly presented as a credible source.
As I pushed the door open, something made me pause. It wasn’t dark when I left.
I didn’t leave the light on.
The door creaked.
My living room was bathed in the golden light from the lamp that sat in the corner. Everything was just how I left it. Clean. Tidy. Ordered.
Everything except the man sitting on the white lounge chair, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.
Bentley Anderson.
My ex-husband was back.
Pre-order Bitter Truth on Amazon today.
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to everyone who has helped create Honest Love and bring this book to life. There are so many amazing people who have contributed, and I appreciate you all.
First up, my fabulous team of beta readers—JJ, Carrie, Anthea and Marie. Thank you so much for your insight, your kind words, and the love you showed for Cameron and Everly. Having people like you around makes writing so much easier.
My editor, Marion, thank you so very much for the back and forth and all your fabulous advice. I really appreciate how much care you showed for Everly and Cam, and your insight. Thank you so much.
Ben, your cover wasn’t just beautiful and sexy all at once—it was this book. It was absolutely perfect, and I thank you so much for being a part of this journey.
Every blogger who has shared this book’s cover or news of this release, I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. Of course, most of this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Give Me Books Promotions. You ladies just rock my world! A special thanks also to Enticing Journey for your help with my review tour and cover reveal—it has been a pleasure working with you.
Of course, I couldn’t have written this book without the support of my beautiful family and friends. Thank you so much for everything, the brainstorming, the missed coffee dates, and the babysitting. Special note goes to Kate and our endless Voxes, Mum and Marg for your fabulous babysitting skills, and Anna, for our conversations we will never finish.
Pete, you are my world, and I couldn’t write without you. I just adore you, and our beautiful son and baby-to-be.
Most importantly, thanks to you, the reader. You make this dream real for me. I appreciate you so much.
If you’d like to learn more about my upcoming releases, visit www.LaurenKMcKellar.com and sign-up for my e-newsletter for more. I also have a reader group on Facebook, where I talk about my upcoming projects, give special insights and more! I’d love to see you there at www.facebook.com/groups/LaurensFoxes
Finally, if you did enjoy this book, I would love it if you left a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Your kind words make a huge difference to me.
About the Author
Lauren K. McKellar is a writer of contemporary romance reads that make you feel. This hybrid-published USA Today best-selling author loves writing books with stunning local settings, heart-throb heroes, and leading ladies who overcome great hardships in their lives.
In addition to writing, Lauren loves to read, and you can often find her up at all hours of the night with a glass of wine, some chocolate, and a good book. She lives by the beach in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband, infant son, and their two dogs. Most of the time, all four of them are well behaved.
Keep in Touch
Lauren’s website
Facebook
And you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @LaurenKMcKellar
Also by Lauren K. McKellar
Note: All Lauren’s books can be read as standalone novels, with the exception of THE PROBLEM WITH HEARTACHE.
NOT LIKE THE MOVIES
#0.5 FAST
#1 FAME
#2 FORTUNE
#3 FAIL (coming soon)
SURFERS WAY
SEEKING FAITH
A BINDARRA CREEK ROMANCE
THE VINE
CRAZY IN LOVE
#1 The Problem with Crazy
#2 Eleven Weeks
#3 The Problem with Heartache
EMERALD COVE
#1 How to Save A Life
#2 The Twenty-One
Standalone:
FINDING HOME
Honest Love Page 15
