Between the Lies (Between the Raindrops #2)

by Susan Schussler

  “I think she just hasn’t been eating right and drinking enough water. She’s so worried about looking perfect in her dress. At least she hasn’t been juicing or doing colonics. She’s just been so busy that she forgot to hydrate. And we were out in the sun most of the day yesterday.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I’m sure she’ll be fine. David stopped by and checked on her and he thought she looked dehydrated as well. She probably needs the rest, too. What happened with Alli? You mentioned something had happened with Alli.”

  He explained the day’s events to Kate, leaving out the part about the money. He figured Sarah could tell her if she wanted her to know.

  “Oh my. That’s a lot to deal with. How are you holding up?”

  “I can’t wait to put this all behind us and start our married life together.”

  Kate looked at him pursing her lips as if deciding whether to ask another question or not, tucking her auburn hair behind her ears nervously. “You didn’t know she was on the pill, did you?”

  Taken aback by her question, he took a deep breath and let it out. He didn’t want to lie to his mother-in-law, so he chose his words carefully. “I knew she wasn’t ready for kids.” Oh hell. He may as well confess. “She hadn’t told me. How could you tell?”

  “You may be an actor, but I’m a mother and a photographer. I know faces. And yours said you were totally caught off guard.”

  Jon ran his fingers through his hair and looked down at the hem of his shorts, not wanting to meet her eyes.

  “I think she just needed to feel in control. She’s only twenty-one. Besides, accidents happen all the time. Condoms are so unreliable. That whole mess with Mia Thompson could have been avoided if…” Kate trailed off.

  Was he seriously sitting here talking condoms with his mother-in-law? What was wrong with him? This had been one of the weirdest days ever. Jon was certain condoms had nothing to do with Mia’s problem. Maybe if they’d used one, but that wasn’t the case. His mind flittered around, trying to catch up with the day’s events. So Sarah wasn’t ready to have kids. He could accept that. He looked over to Sarah on the bed. She was angelic, beautiful. And hell, not having to wear a condom on his wedding night had to be the best wedding gift ever. Sarah was probably going to surprise him with it. He closed his eyes and blew out a breath. He didn’t need to be daydreaming about the wedding night with Kate in the room. How was he going to get out of this conversation?

  “You’re right, Kate. We have plenty of time to start a family,” he said, though he didn’t know if it was true. Ever since Jack’s death, he didn’t believe in timelines. He relied on the here and now, but he could wait for Sarah to be ready. He would wait. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he silently thanked God for the out. “I’ve got to take this. Will you stay here?”

  She nodded and he exited the bedroom before answering the line.

  ***

  Forty-five minutes later, after meeting with Jim, Jon was back with Sarah. He opted to lie on the bed next to her instead of starting another conversation with Kate, and his mother-in-law excused herself from the room politely. Jon wasn’t trying to be rude. He just really needed to be closer to Sarah. Her being unconscious on the bed with an IV in her arm was starting to be too déjà-vu. He needed to wake her just for his own sanity. The groomsmen wanted him to rehearse the song before tomorrow, and he was supposed to meet them in Nick’s suite at 5:30 p.m. He wouldn’t be able to go if he wasn’t 100 percent sure Sarah was all right.

  He pushed a strand of dark hair off her face and kissed her forehead. Her beautiful emerald eyes fluttered open, and he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips. “Hey, beautiful. I was worried about you.”

  She looked confused, but he could tell his presence comforted her. That was until the IV tubing caught on the bedding when she moved her arm. Sarah lifted her head, looking down at her arm, and then swore, something she rarely did. “What happened now?”

  He laughed. She looked so lost. “You haven’t been drinking enough water. You need to take better care of yourself.” Jon smiled because it wasn’t the first time he had said that last sentence to her. “I didn’t cancel the wedding, so you need to get better by tomorrow.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Sarah

  SARAH HAD BEEN WAITING for her bridesmaids too long, and her patience had all but disappeared completely. The breakfast buffet had been delivered to the balcony of her room, and Sarah was worried it would get cold and soggy before her friends arrived. She was supposed to be having breakfast with the girls—everyone except Alli, the betraying bitch. And Megan. She wouldn’t be there either, but that was Sarah’s fault. How could she have been so wrong? Her stomach twisted, and she wasn’t sure she could get any food down when everyone arrived. How could she have said those things to Megan? If she could do anything to change what she said to her, she would. But Sarah knew she couldn’t do anything about it now, not the day of her wedding. Maybe someday Megan would forgive her. They could go out for coffee and laugh about the entire ordeal, but it wouldn’t be happening today.

  She and Jonathan had slept in separate rooms last night, and that was probably a mistake because she didn’t sleep well without him next to her. They spent the evening until just before midnight under the stars with their friends, listening to the waves of the ocean lap against the shore while they sang around a huge bonfire. It was easier for the both of them to be surrounded by people than to be alone together. They not only gave up sex for the last month, which ended up being five weeks because of Jon’s mandatory Third Rung tour in Europe, but they also decided to uphold the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride until the ceremony on the wedding day. And somehow not being able to see him made this breakfast even harder.

  “Finally,” Sarah muttered as she heard the girls at the door. When she pulled the door open, Jessica and Ronnie walked into the suite, followed by Leslie and Megan. Oh my god! Megan was there. Sarah reached out, wrapping her arms around her and gushing, “Oh, Megan, I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry. I should have known you would never be as awful of a friend as I am. Will you ever forgive me?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” Megan rolled her eyes and smiled as she pulled out of Sarah’s grasp.

  “You’re really here. I can’t believe it. Did Jon call you?”

  “No. Honestly, I was so mad at you that I don’t think a phone call would have gotten me here. Jon sent Liam. He came to my house with flowers and a handwritten apology letter from Jon. Liam was so damn sweet when he showed up I couldn’t resist him. How could I say no? That groom of yours is dangerously manipulative.”

  Sarah, with a smile beaming on her face, met Megan’s eyes. “I’m just glad you’re here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” She grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She couldn’t believe Jon arrange it. “Come on. The food’s getting cold.” It probably wasn’t getting cold. There were warmers under it, but it would taste better if they ate sooner rather than later. The girls followed Sarah to the balcony and sat down on the cushioned chairs.

  “So what did Liam say to you?” Leslie asked as she pulled out her chair.

  “I’d rather not say, but it was incredibly sweet. I couldn’t resist him.” Megan sat and crossed her legs as a light blush crossed her cheeks. “It’s not important.”

  They ate breakfast, and Sarah shared the story about Alli. She explained how Jon had convinced her to sign a second nondisclosure agreement, leaving out the payoff amount. Sarah just shared that he gave her some money to leave them alone and sent her off on a plane to Minnesota.

  “I didn’t know where she went until I ran into your mom yesterday. She was supposed to meet Jeff and me to go parasailing, but she never showed. I just figured she found something better to do. You know how she is,” admitted Jessica. “I should have seen the signs. She’d been too gossipy lately. And she always asked me what you said when I got off the phone with you. I just can’t believe anyone would sell you out. Why would sh
e do that? What could she possibly get out of it?”

  “Two weeks ago, she mentioned she was thinking about not going to medical school. Maybe she was worried about paying for it. Her parents have been really unreasonable ever since those kiss pictures came out,” said Megan.

  “She told me her parents weren’t going to pay for her schooling. She needed the money to finish her degree,” Sarah added. She scooped a spoonful of eggs onto her plate and took a sip of her mimosa. She didn’t want to talk about Alli anymore. She tried to communicate that to her friends without words, and Megan was the one who caught on.

  “So are you ready to marry your movie star?” said Megan, following Sarah’s lead with dishing up the eggs. “Where are the circling helicopters and the scuba-diving paparazzi?”

  “Don’t even say that. I’m pretty sure the island’s government’s been bribed.”

  “Really?” asked Ronnie. “Can you do that?”

  “I don’t think they actually bribed anyone, but there’s security maintaining a perimeter around the island.” Sarah looked to Leslie for confirmation, but Leslie just smiled as if maybe the government had been bribed. She thought it was a joke when Sam had mentioned it.

  The conversation came easily after that, and it felt as if Sarah had never unjustly accused Megan of selling her out. Sarah loved that Jon had been able to fix her mistake and that Megan was able to get past it. Soon Kate joined them to get ready for the ceremony—three hours of hair, nails, and makeup.

  At first it seemed as if they had all the time in the world, but then too quickly Sarah was being helped into her dress. She felt like a princess as the silken fabric slid over her body. But when the photographer started snapping pictures, Sarah’s nerves tightened in her stomach. Pictures of her and Kate, pictures of her and the girls, even a picture of her and the wedding planner Nicole. Then Nicole was rushing them out of the suite and down the large staircase.

  Sarah spotted her dad waiting nervously in his black tux by the large cluster of palm trees that marked the procession’s starting point. He offered his arm and Sarah latched on, clinging to him. More pictures and then the music started. Her mother was escorted by Jon’s groomsman, Hayden, down the white carpet to her seat. He winked at Sarah as he turned, and she smiled back at him. She hoped her anxiety wasn’t apparent to all those around her.

  “You look beautiful,” announced David with a smile. “I can’t believe my little girl is all grown up.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I love you.”

  “If you want, we can take off for the beach.” His eyes sparkled with amusement as he cocked his head toward the beach.

  His joke loosened the tension and she began to relax a little. “Nah. I’ve got this,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder as the girls began their procession down the carpet. One by one, each of her friends disappeared. Then the music slowed and the violins joined the brass and keyboards in a more jazzy rhythm. Her father led her beyond the cluster of trees into the opening. The crowd was all standing and facing her, nearly overwhelming her, but she found Jonathan’s glacial blue eyes and locked on.

  She concentrated on the gorgeous guy in the perfectly fitted tux who was waiting for her on the other side of the gauntlet of people and with each step, she was a little closer to him. The music and the faces disappeared and all she saw was the man she knew she was meant to spend the rest of her life with. Finally her father kissed her cheek and slid her hand into Jonathan’s. Jon appeared so calm, as if it was just another day, but she could see the raw emotion in his eyes, and it made tears glaze her eyes as well. He leaned in and whispered in her ear as their fingers intertwined. “I’m glad you could make it. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment with you.”

  Sarah almost broke out bawling, but she swallowed the knot in her throat and turned to face the pastor. The warmth of Jon’s interlaced fingers spread through her, and she thought about all that led them here. She thought about how Jonathan had flooded her heart with love and forced her to take notice. She thought about how with just a touch he could make all the monumental problems in her life seem miniscule. And whatever problems they encountered in the future, they would face them together. She loved this man more than she ever believed she could love another human being.

  Minutes later, their vows had been recited, rings had been exchanged, and the pastor’s voice rang out loudly, with only the quiet waves lapping the shore in the background. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Jon turned toward her, cupping her face in one hand while his other hand curved around the small of her back pulling her in. His lips touched hers tenderly for just a second before he pulled back and whispered, “I love you, Mrs. Williams.” Then he dipped her back as his mouth covered hers, his tongue gently dipping in. The reverence in his gorgeous blue eyes bled into her soul, and she couldn’t help the ferocity of her return kiss.

  Chapter Forty

  Sarah

  SARAH SPOTTED HER gorgeous man across the candlelit room. He was talking to Uncle Phillip. She and Jon tried to connect every fifteen minutes since the big dance number, but with every guest demanding a chunk of their time, it was getting harder to do. She’d made her rounds with her relatives and danced with just about everyone at the party.

  The boy band-esque dance number Jon and his groomsmen performed earlier had blown her away. When Jon pulled her onto the dance floor and motioned for her to sit on the chair in the center of the floor with all the men dancing around her, she didn’t realize to what extent she would be embarrassed. Jon’s voice mesmerized her. It was such an unexpected treat to hear him sing. He and Nick must have spent months composing the beautiful words and music and then choreographed it with all the guys. Sarah was overwhelmed. When Jon handed the mic to Nick and the groomsmen formed a crescent, shielding her from the audience, she didn’t know what to expect. That’s when Jon got down on his knees in front of her, lifted her dress, and retrieved her garter with his teeth. His hands were not gentlemanly, and Sarah was sure everyone watching could tell by the blush of her face.

  He stood, opening his jaw, and the garter dropped to his hand. “Just a taste of what I have planned for tonight.” His words made her gasp, and she blushed even more. When the men’s shield opened to expose them, Jon reached for her hand, pulling her into his arms for a kiss, all the while he spun her garter on his finger. Nick threw him the mic, and Jon sang the closing line. “All my love for you, Sarah.”

  Now as she watched him from across the room talking to his uncle, looking completely innocent and refined in his tux, she wondered how much longer they would have to stay at the reception. Her eyes locked with Jon’s, and she watched as he excused himself before bee-lining for her. He offered his hand, and she followed him onto the dance floor. He pulled her against him.

  “I’ve wanted to touch you all day. I have thought of nothing else since the preacher proclaimed you my wife. But there are too many people around.” He kissed the spot on her neck that always made her melt into his arms. “And I don’t want to share you anymore. Can we leave yet?” Jon asked before closing his eyes and letting his lips gently whisper over hers. “I’m ready. Please be ready.” It was as if he could read her mind.

  “I just have to say good-bye to our folks and the girls, and then we can go.” She was definitely ready.

  “Let’s just go. They won’t even notice we’re gone.” He kissed her again. “Wait…” He gripped both her shoulders and pushed down slightly as if securing her to the floor. “I’ll be right back.” He strode up to the MC and took the microphone. “Sarah and I would like to say goodnight to everyone. We appreciate you coming and hope you enjoyed the celebration. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, but my wife and I have other plans for the rest of the evening. Goodnight.” His smile lit on his face, with his dimple dipping into his cheek.

  Jeers from the crowd roared as Jon’s eyes met Sarah’s, one of his eyebrows raised questioningly. She smiled at him. His gaze n
ever left her when he handed the microphone back to the MC. As he stalked back to her like a predator coming in for the kill, her stomach dropped with anticipation.

  “Shall we go?” He held out his elbow like a gentleman for her to loop her arm through, and when she did, they walked arm in arm to near the resort entrance where a car was waiting. The driver in white gloves, top hat, and tails opened the door. As Sarah climbed in, Jon helped by hoisting her dress for her. “I’m glad you left this on, but I can’t wait to strip you out of it,” he uttered only to her. She had made the choice to stay in her gown the entire day. She wanted to make the magic last as long as she could. After all, she would never have another wedding. This was her one and only.

  Jon nuzzled next to her and wrapped his arm around her torso, tucking his long fingers under the edge of her bodice under her arm. As he drew her in closer, his hand slid deeper beneath her gown, resting lightly on the top of her breast. She looked up at him, but he stared out the window innocently as if the circles he started drawing with his finger were on her hand and not the sensitive tip of her breast. She took a deep breath and rested her head on his chest, deciding that if he wasn’t going to admit what he was doing, she may as well just enjoy it.

  They drove twenty minutes in silence before the road narrowed. Tall tropical plants lined the street as it twisted and turned like a maze. Eventually the road ended, looping in front of a small cottage. Small really wasn’t the right word. It was about the size of the guesthouse if it only had one floor. It was a beautiful sandalwood color with a flagstone entrance and intricately carved heavy wooden doors that looked like they had been reclaimed from an ancient ruin.

  Jon waited for the driver to get out before sliding his hand from Sarah’s dress. He kissed the top of her head as the driver opened their door. Then he stepped out, offering her his hand. After she emerged from the car, he slid his hand behind her knees and lifted her up against his chest. He carried her without effort through the now-open wooden doors all the way through the master bedroom and through a second set of glass doors. He set her on a huge, round lounge bed on the patio facing the ocean.