“I brought breakfast. A housewarming gift.” The paper bag rustled as he dug inside and withdrew an orange juice. “Here. Drink, sweetie.” Over the rim of the bottle, my eyes met his brown ones. Short, bristly black lashes surrounded his chocolate irises, giving his angular features a deceptively sweet air. The squeeze of his hand on my knee corralled my attention. “Better?”
“Yes. Better.” I nodded and gave him a sheepish smile, but my stomach churned with concern. Somewhere, outside, Owen awaited. How was I going to face him? Or answer the questions Michael would ask when he learned of our connection?
“Don’t scare me like that. Maybe next time you’ll listen to me when I say you should eat regular meals.”
“Probably not.” As always, he was right. I hadn’t eaten since leaving Cleveland yesterday—too nervous about my new home, about returning to Indiana, about the ghosts of my past, to think of mundane things like food. Arguing with Michael did no good. As the county’s district attorney and a potential senate candidate, he took pride in winning every debate, whether personal or professional.
“Of course, what was I thinking? Stella Valentine doesn’t listen to anyone.” Despite his rebuke, a smile brightened his handsome face. With gentle fingertips, he brushed back the hair from my forehead. “Stubborn mule.”
“You worry too much.” I had to look away from his trusting gaze, afraid he’d see the darkness lurking in my soul, the secrets threatening to spill out.
“You don’t worry enough, in my opinion.” He chucked me under the chin, stood, and held out a hand to Dad. “You must be the contractor. I’m Michael Ludlow.”
“I know who you are, Mr. Ludlow. It’s an honor to meet you, sir. I voted for you in the last election.” They shook hands. “You can call me Dad.”
“Thanks for the support. I appreciate it.” Michael studied him for a beat. “Stella tells me you come highly recommended. I trust you’ll take care of her.”
“Absolutely,” Dad said.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to see your plans and the bid.” Michael straightened the knot in his tie, using his best business stare. Dad glanced in my direction for permission.
“I mind,” I said, finding my strength and voice at the same time. “Stop worrying. I’ve got everything under control.”
“Stubborn and independent.” Michael winked at Dad. “You’d better watch out for this one.”
“There’s a lot to be said for a woman who knows her mind,” Dad replied quietly. His statement made me like him even more. “And, if it eases your worries, she’s an excellent negotiator. I probably won’t make a dime on this project.” His eyes crinkled again. I gave him a grateful nod. “If you’re good, Stella, I’ll get to work.”
“Thank you.” Although my words were confident, my smile wavered. How would I make it through these renovations with Owen on his crew? Maybe I should cancel the whole thing and look for another contractor. I dismissed the idea as overly dramatic and straightened my backbone.
As soon as the door closed behind Dad, Michael grabbed my elbow and gave me a gentle push toward the stairs. “Are you crazy? Opening the door in your bathrobe? In front of all those men?”
“Well, someone had to do it.” Sometimes, like now, his ultra-conservativism got on my nerves. We were miles apart in every way—upbringing, social class, personalities—but because he made me feel safe, I chose to overlook our differences. To avoid an argument, I changed the subject. “So why are you really here? I’m not exactly on your way to work.”
“I’m going to New York on personal business. I wanted to see you before I left. Is that okay?”
Butterflies skittered in my stomach. I pulled back to search his face. We’d been living in different states, commuting on weekends, since we’d met three months ago. With my hectic schedule as a freelance photographer and his job as county prosecutor, we barely saw each other. When Stan had willed his house to me, it had given me the opportunity to move closer to Michael. Maybe I’d jumped the gun, but I really liked him and wanted this to work.
Following a tender kiss, he chucked me beneath the chin. “Discussion over. Now, run upstairs and put on some clothes. Then you can give me a tour of your new money pit.”
“Okay.” My friends in Cleveland thought I was crazy to uproot my life and move to Indiana after such a short relationship, but they didn’t know Michael the way I did. He was smart and handsome and successful, everything I’d ever wanted in a man, and he truly cared about me.
From a suitcase on the floor, I drew out a pair of slouchy jeans and a T-shirt and got dressed. I was used living on the road, roughing it. The dented plaster and peeling ceilings didn’t bother me. Overhead, footsteps thumped across the roof. Thoughts of Michael evaporated. Through the window, I watched the workers unload bags of shingles onto the driveway. The rumble of rough voices and male laughter floated on a steamy breeze.
I closed my eyes and conjured the memory of a face that had haunted my dreams since my sophomore year in high school. Wide hazel eyes with lashes longer than mine. A square jaw peppered with stubble and a mouth meant for kisses—long, slow, panty-melting kisses. Even though eighteen years had passed, not a day went by that I didn’t think of Owen Henry, the way I’d loved him, or the horrible thing he’d done because of me.
“I can’t work here.” The emphatic words floated up from the driveway. My eyes flew open. Owen stood next to the truck, tool belt and car keys in hand. I couldn’t see his face, but his shoulders tensed. “I’m sorry, Dad. It’s just not possible.”
Dad said something too soft for my ears to catch across the distance, but Owen’s posture relaxed. After a few seconds, he nodded and glanced up at me. I shrank back, hiding behind the curtain. The memories I’d locked away flooded into my head, insistent and unrelenting. Apparently, a leaky roof and faulty plumbing were the least of my problems.
Be sure to preorder Lies We Tell today! This book was previously released as Monster Love and contains new content.
Also by Jeana E. Mann
RICH, ROYAL AND RUTHLESS COLLECTION
(In reading order)
THE EXILED PRINCE TRILOGY
The Exiled Prince
The Dirty Princess
The War King
THE REBEL QUEEN DUET
The Royal Arrangement
The Rebel Queen
(Standalone)
The Ruthless Knight
PRETTY BROKEN SERIES
(In reading order)
Pretty Broken Girl
Pretty Filthy Lies
Pretty Dirty Secrets
Pretty Wild Thing
Pretty Broken Promises
Pretty Broken Dreams
Pretty Broken Baby
Pretty Broken Hearts
Pretty Broken Bastard
FELONY ROMANCE SERIES
(In reading order)
Intoxicated
Unexpected
Vindicated
Impulsive
Drift
Committed
STANDALONES
Lies We Tell
Dirty Work
SHORT STORIES
Everything
Linger
Before You Go
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About the Author
Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books, three series, and many awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambu
nctious dogs and dreaming about true love. Subscribe to Jeana’s newsletter and get the inside scoop on new and upcoming releases, giveaways, and much more! CLICK HERE
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Copyright © 2020 by Jeana E. Mann
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