Liar (a FAUX-MANCE novel)

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  Cori did as she was told and put on the lacy undergarments that were indeed in the bag, then the dress — a long, blush colored, silk gown that hugged her curves, flared at her feet, and felt like butter when she moved.

  Three gasps filled the room when she walked back into the office.

  “Miss Jersey, you are an artist.”

  “No. I bow down to the great Devina Devine. This was your vision, and she is just… I don’t know if there is a word for what she is,” Jersey said in a daze.

  “Breathtaking, baby. The word is breathtaking.”

  Chastity turned the mirror around so Cori could see just what they were talking about. Her eyes filled with tears. The dress was stunning, her hair amazing, and face flawless. She couldn’t identify the emotion she was feeling. She liked what she saw and appreciated what the ladies had done for her, but her heart hurt a little knowing it was for nobody but herself.

  “Oh no you don’t. Don’t you dare cry!” Jersey threatened. “You’ll ruin your makeup!”

  Laughter erupted among the group, until Devina’s phone chimed and she jumped. “It’s time! We’ll come back for this mess later. Let’s get you downstairs.”

  “Downstairs?”

  “Your chariot awaits, madáme.”

  “My what?”

  “Your ride, honey. Your ride is here!”

  CHAPTER 22

  They quickly made their way down to the lobby and through the front doors where a black town car sat parked, its driver looking totally dapper in a dark suit, holding the door open for her. James. She ran to him, tears threatening to spill over again. He hugged her tight and lifted her off the ground.

  He kissed her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when you needed me, but I’m here now. You’re going to be okay, kid.”

  “Don’t you dare cry!” Jersey shouted. “Don’t you make her cry!”

  James helped her into the car while the ladies piled into a waiting car behind them and left, going the opposite direction. Odd, Cori thought. James filled her in on Ohio and decided it wasn’t for him. He would be coming back to Portland and taking a job teaching at one of the local theatre art schools.

  James was known to be a talker, but he didn’t shut up and didn’t let Cori get a word in edgewise. She also noticed they circled the same blocks a couple times, as if they were going absolutely nowhere. Was he stalling?

  “Okay. We have now circled this block twice — the last block three times. We’ve been in the car long enough to get to Vancouver by now, yet only gone maybe six city blocks. What gives, James? Where are we going?”

  His phone beeped, and he checked the message when they stopped at a red light before answering her. “Ah ha! Looks like you’re about to find out!”

  Without even looking, James pulled out into the intersection from the far-right lane and crossed multiple lanes of traffic to turn left, earning several honking horns and choice words from other drivers. He responded by sticking his arm out the window and giving them all the middle finger.

  “I missed you, Portland!” he shouted, followed by a wicked laugh that sparked Cori’s laughter.

  It was only minutes later that they climbed the winding foothills and landed in the heart of the city parked in front of the exclusive Pittock Mansion. James met her at her door and helped her out of the car.

  “Wh-Why are we here? This. This was supposed to be—”

  “Just go with it, Cori. It’ll all make sense in a minute. You know I love you, right? Want the best for you?” He paused, waiting for her nod. “Then just go with it, because this is the very best.”

  It was stunning inside, exquisite. There were beautiful white columns, exposed brick walls, gold statues, and chandeliers — so many chandeliers. It was everything she imagined it would be and then some. James seemed to know exactly where he was going, nodding and smiling at the different attendants as they passed them.

  He stopped outside a set of double doors where two attendants stood. It was the grand ballroom, according to the sign on the wall. James nodded to the attendants, and they each opened his door in sync with the other, exposing what looked like a dream straight out of a fairytale.

  There was a gold dance floor in the middle of the room, surrounded by round tables with elaborate floral arrangements that sparkled with dangling crystals on each. The gold chairs were each wrapped in a satin bow that had crystals hanging from them, matching those of the chandeliers. Peonies — there were peonies everywhere, in every shade of pink and pops of red.

  Tony met her at the door and kissed her cheek, his eyes full of emotion. “You, my dear, just…beautiful.”

  “So, this is where you had to be, huh?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m in charge of escorting you to the dance floor, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His smile was full of pride and comfort, exactly what Cori needed. “Oh, you’re missing something, though.”

  He reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a familiar velvet box. “Tony, that’s…” she choked on her words, trying to hold back her tears.

  He reached behind her neck to connect the clasp. “I know it is, honey. I’m supposed to tell you it’s real — very real.”

  When he pulled her arm through his and started down the path to the dance floor, Cori noticed Devina, Jersey, and Chastity. James was at their table too. In fact, the tables were full of people she hadn’t even noticed until now. When she looked at the dance floor, Bronco sat in a white tutu, and Bunny was there in a black tuxedo tie.

  It was when Nick walked out to join them that her breath caught. He was in a tux, handsome as ever.

  “Hear him out, Cori,” Tony whispered before leaving her on the gold dance floor, standing right in front of Nick.

  “Hi,” he said, nerves clearly consuming him. All she could do was smile. If she spoke, she would cry.

  Nick grabbed her hands, and pulled her closer. “I…uh…miss you. I knew you were the woman for me long before I even really knew you. I didn’t realize just how much so until you were gone. Cori, I made a mistake. I should have done things differently, but I didn’t. I can’t change any of that, but I can tell you I love you — more than anything. I guess…I…I didn’t want to scare you off. I thought if I was patient, you would come around, and it would be all your idea, and it would be…amazing. Like you.”

  His smile melted her heart as his words picked up its pieces. “I should have just told you how I felt the minute I knew what that was. And if it made you run, I would’ve chased you, because I would chase you anywhere, for as long as I need to, because…I love you. I need you. I want you…more than anything. Being without you…well, I learned we aren’t supposed to be apart. Neither of us is whole without the other. I know that’s true because I see it in your face, your smile, your laugh. We were supposed to find each other, Cori, and I hope I read you right and you feel the same way, because I can’t go another day without you. Not one more day.”

  Jersey was going to have to forgive her, because there was no stopping the tears he provoked. She loved him. He did make her whole. She needed him too.

  “Nick, I—”

  “Cori…” he interrupted her, not wanting to hear anything she had to say but those two little words. He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring box from his jacket. “Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife — for real this time? Marry me? Please?”

  It was her ring, the one he’d bought for her. She didn’t need a minute or even a second to think. She knew what she wanted, and it was him — them. “I will.”

  He placed the ring on her finger as he got to his feet, pulled her into his arms, and swung her around, kissing her as he did. The place erupted in cheers and laughter, some tears too.

  When he placed her on her feet, she looked around, taking in all that he did just to propose to her. It was the wedding he had been planning. All of the favors he called in, from the cake to the catering, and even the flowers…it was all here. This
time, it was very real, no longer a lie, and a proposal rather than a wedding. That left her with one question.

  “There’s only one thing…” she said.

  “What? Anything.”

  “I’m not sure how we’re going to top all of this with the wedding. It’s one hell of a proposal.”

  With a panty melting smile, he said, “How do you feel about destination weddings? In the tropics. I have a private island…”

  “Of course you do…”

  THE END

  About Stephanie St. Klaire

  Stephanie St. Klaire is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in Portland, Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs that are used to the finer things in life like sleeping all day. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found with a plate full of taco’s, a side of bean dip, and probably some gummy bears while being a little bit hippy and a lot bit busy mom’ing and wife’ing.

  When she’s not tossing around gritty crime show inspired serial killers and diabolical bad guys, she likes to make people pee their pants a little with a good romcom. Sometimes, her worlds collide, and she writes really funny stuff right before she kills people off on the pages! She loves murder and mayhem as much as a good laugh and HEA! That’s why she’s a die-hard Hallmark junky but loves her gritty crime shows – balance!

  Stephanie has always been a story teller, with the gift of “gab”, and a life-long goal to be a writer. Unfortunate circumstances with her health, finally afforded her the time to do so. Irony at its best, she began writing her first novel at an adverse time, to escape her circumstance and explore the stories in her imagination for relief. She is happy to share those stories with her readers, and bring a little fun, entertainment, and of course smexy characters to the pages.

  Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, how often she really eats taco’s, and to keep up with her work.

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  WHAT TO READ NEXT…

  START LAUGHING WITH STEPHANIE’S NEW STANDALONE ROMCOM SERIES, DILF DIARIES!

  Firefighter Jack Decker may put out fires by day, but he lets the sheets smolder at night. He likes to find the H-O-T and leave them W-E-T…because he’s a firefighter. What were you thinking?!

  BOOK 1: Oh Baby

  Or, start at the beginning with the widely popular McKenzie Ridge series, but don’t stop there..

  BOOK 1: Rescued

  BOOK 2: Hidden

  BOOK 3: Forgotten

  BOOK 4: Fearless

  BOOK 5: Redemption

  WANT MORE OF THOSE O’REILLY BROTHERS?

  Check out Stephanie’s McKenzie Ridge spin-off series, Brother’s Keeper! Get ready to fall in love with these alpha heroes with heart. They’ll take you to the edge of your seat with nail biting suspense, roaring laughter, and steamy h-o-t lovin’!

  BOOK 1: Declan

  BOOK 2: Liam

  BOOK 3: Luke

  COPYRIGHT © 2018

  Stephanie St. Klaire

  DILF DIARIES: Oh Baby

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system, is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law without written permission of the author.

  EDITOR: Monica Black – Word Nerd Edits

  COVER ARTIST: Alyssa Garcia – Uplifting Designs

  FORMATTING: The SSK Group

  Chapter 1

  “Someone’s car alarm is going off!” Jack yelled over the music. “Wait, make that two car alarms. Hurry up before my neighbor gets pissed — again.”

  The only thing better than hot summer nights were hot summer barbeques at Jack’s house with the best meat in town. Firefighters, cops, and paramedics. First responders? Yes, please!

  “Who would be dumb enough to try to break into cars here? Everyone knows this is your place and chances are those cars belong to cops and firefighters,” Jack’s best friend, Officer Felix Munoz, added. “Dude, there are more going off now. What the hell, you getting pranked?”

  Jack shrugged. Nothing seemed to bother him. He was as laid back and cool as they came. “It’s summer, man. Probably just a bunch of bored kids.”

  With a little more urgency in his step, Jack went through the house and opened his front door. A pile of partygoers behind him, he grinned ear to ear. He wanted to stop the noise before the warden next door started complaining about city ordinance and general decency as it related to respecting other people’s peace and quiet.

  Too late. Standing in his yard, tight fists propped on half-cocked hips and a heated glare that could melt ice was his five-foot-nothin’ blonde neighbor — and it appeared she brought her whole pissed off attitude with her. Great, he thought, this ought to be good. He crossed his arms and leaned against the porch railing as people piled out behind him, clicking their keychain remotes to mute the noise.

  Firefighter Jack Decker was an all-around decent guy — a local hero, a good friend to all, the town playboy, and a total freaking panty-melter. Women set their lawns on fire and stuck their neighbors’ cats in trees just to call him for help and get a look at his…hose. Jack Decker, known as Jack “The Pecker” Decker, wasn’t just Portland’s most eligible bachelor, he was also the most desirable too. To every woman in town — except his next door neighbor. Juliet Walker was a rule abider — emergency room nurse, local hard-ass, hero in her own right, kind to most, and the only woman in town immune to Jack’s swelling…charm.

  “You do this?” he asked the fuming blonde, anxious to push her buttons.

  “Well, I tried knocking on the door. Twice,” she sassed. “Even hollered over the fence, but darn it, your party was just a little too loud.” She turned and looked at all the cars lining the streets, silencing them one by one. “You left me no choice.”

  He chuckled at the sickening sweet tone, shrugged shoulders, and the way she tossed her hands in the air in defeat. Condescending much? This is the shit he enjoyed most about living next door to a feisty firecracker.

  “Too loud, huh?” He cupped his chin, rubbing his day-old scruff. “Huh.”

  “Yeah,” she replied, sarcasm slipping into her sugary tone. “See, I just spent a fourteen-hour day, you know, saving lives and stuff. I would like just a little sleep before I have to do it all over again. Can you cut the music down?” She pinched her fingers together, indicating a little bit, while squinting one eye for good measure.

  He didn’t buy the nice act. He knew she was just being an asshole, but that’s what he liked most about her. “I’m sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t think it was that loud.” Two can play at this game. He snickered. “See, I couldn’t hear the music at all over all the talking going on back there.”

  Juliet’s posture stiffened at his mocking jab. Her tongue swiped her teeth just before they clenched, her lips puckered. That was new. “Look, just turn down the damn frat party. Mmmkay?”

  Her tone was pitchy, her head rolled, and Jack was sure he saw her eye twitch. This was getting good. “Frat party? Oh, we’re not all frat boys, just a bunch of Portland’s finest first responders, ma’am.”

  “Lord help our city if this is its finest,” she fired back without hesitation.

  Two gir
ls in bikinis walked out, stumbling as they did, catching Jack’s shoulder.

  “Oh, good! The strippers are here! I won’t keep you.” Juliet rolled her eyes in disgust. This guy was a pig.

  The car alarms had been shut off since the banter began, but the chesty brunette in the barely-there bikini next to Jack decided to click her button anyway, sounding her alarm and seeming pleased with herself. When she started to dance to the sound of honking sirens, using Jack as her pole, Juliet’s jaw dropped. “Tell me she’s kidding with that car alarm. She doesn’t seriously think it’s music, does she?”

  “Oh, Frenchie Bosom here is very serious. She’s a professional. It’s all music to her.” Truth be told, Jack didn’t know her, or what her name was. Hell, she may have been a pre-school teacher for all he knew, but stripper sounded better, so he rolled with it.

  Juliet shook her head, caught off guard. She was really a stripper? “Frenchie…Bosom?”

  “Well, that’s her stripper name. Or…” Jack looked at the two women next to him, finger to his chin as if he was deciphering something, “maybe that one’s Bambi. Bambi Boom Boom. They’re twins.” He winked.

  “Oh, wow…this is…really happening.” Running her hands down her face in disbelief, Juliet’s eyes widened and steam all but came out her ears. “It’s not music, sweetie, it’s your alarm. Your car alarm.”

  “Huh?” the brunette, Frenchie, or maybe it was Bambi, tossed Juliet a twisted look of confusion. “I don’t get it? Oh, wait. Who’s messing with me? You guuuys…”

  “It’s you. You’re the one who turned it on,” Juliet said with a beaming smile, her voice full of sunshine and bullshit. “See that little clicky thing in your hand with all the little button-y thingies on it? Yeah, that’s the on button. Push it again, and it becomes…the off button. I know…my mind is blown too.”

  The twins looked at it together and giggled before pushing the button and silencing the alarm, to which they both bounced up and down clapping to.