Bury Me with Lies (Twin Lies Duet Book 2)

by S. M. Soto

  I hang back in my office after the call, doing some thinking. The media is still out for Mackenzie’s blood. Since the photos and articles of us together have been printed, most of the fodder has died down, but that isn’t enough for me. It won’t be enough until Mackenzie is safe from the harsh words.

  I have an idea of how I can fix this, but I know she will never go for it. I am sure one more secret won’t hurt anyone.

  My arms glide through the water, pumping until my back and shoulders ache, but I push through and keep going. I keep swimming, even when I feel someone’s gaze on me. I know who it is, without having to stop and look. I feel it in the shift in the air. Once I finish with this lap, I wipe the water from my eyes and slick my hair back out of my face.

  Mackenzie stands there, her gaze eating me up in the water. There’s heat in her eyes, but there’s no missing the unsure expression on her face. She doesn’t know where we stand after last night, and I don’t really blame her.

  She’s had that same wall built around her for protection since I stepped back into her life. Even with everything that happened last night, I can’t see her knocking it down anytime soon. Mackenzie hovers by the pool, watching me, an unsettled air surrounding her. She traps that plump bottom lip into her mouth, chewing on it anxiously, as she works out how to say whatever it is that’s bothering her.

  I quirk a brow, egging her on. “Just gonna stand there staring?”

  Her body jolts. She plays it off well with a sassy eye roll, lowering herself to the edge of the pool. She rolls up her pants to her ankles and sets her feet in the water. I let her have this moment to gather her thoughts.

  She glances at me through her lashes, a slight frown marring her features. “About last night…” Her cheeks heat, and I can’t help myself. I smirk, which is probably the wrong thing to do. Clearing her face of emotion, she straightens her spine. “You said doing what I did would give me my freedom. I want it back now. I don’t care about the media. I can deal with it. I’m done. I’m ready to go.”

  I fist my hands in the water. She’s running, just as I knew she would. Because last night changed things for her. It made her remember what it was like. For one blissful night, she wasn’t thinking about revenge or all the people who wronged her. No, last night, she just thought about herself and pleasure. And now that we’re here in the light of day, she’s scared. Scared of falling back into whatever this is between us.

  Like hell am I going to let that happen. I’m not letting her push me away. Not anymore. I’m done keeping my distance from Mackenzie.

  I swim toward her, my gaze soaking in every delectable inch of her. I settle my hands on her knees, and she gasps as the water soaks into the material. Her slender throat works a swallow as we stare at each other. I can see everything she’s not saying. She’s too proud to beg me to cut her loose, to let her go, because she knows, just as well as I do, that anymore time together will break down what’s left of our walls, and we’ll be well and truly fucked.

  “We’re not done here, Dirty Girl. Not even close.”

  Her features tighten. “Give it back to me, you son of a bitch. I did what you wanted me to do last night. This little game is over now.”

  “You going to act like you didn’t enjoy last night as much as I did?”

  “I didn’t,” she challenges. “I let you fuck me. I let you watch another woman fuck me with her mouth. That means nothing, Sebastian.”

  I scoff. I see we’re back to the use of Sebastian. She uses that name when she wants to put distance between us.

  “See, the thing is, Mackenzie,” I muse, tightening my grip on her knees, and she gasps. I lean into her, water droplets still dripping down my skin, now onto her. She takes it all in, her gaze following the droplets. I lean in, prompting her to look back up at me. “I know you. I know when you’re lying, and right now, you’re lying to me. Guess some things never change, do they?”

  I use her legs as momentum to push away from her, and I climb out of the water. I hear her ragged gasp when I leave her. I have no qualms about swimming in the nude. I can feel her gaze on every inch of my skin, as I leave her to her own devices.

  Mackenzie remains holed up in the guest room for the majority of the day, likely to keep her distance from me. After Dan delivers dinner to us, I knock on her door, half expecting her to ignore me and starve herself, but she doesn’t.

  She throws the door open with a little attitude; her face twisted with annoyance. “What do you want?”

  “Meet me in the kitchen for dinner.”

  She guffaws. “I’ll pass. I’m fine eating in my room by myself.”

  I grit my back teeth together. “This isn’t a request. Meet me in the kitchen, or I’ll drag you there myself.”

  Those hazel eyes narrow skeptically. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Try me, baby.”

  After setting out the food, I give her a good ten minutes before I decide to drag her here. As if knowing she’s testing my patience, she strides down the hallway with a scowl on her face, mumbling under her breath. I smirk in victory.

  She makes it too easy.

  “Is there a reason you’re forcing us to eat together?”

  I take the seat across from her with a smug smile on my face. “As a matter of fact, there is.” When I don’t say anything more, she quirks a brow.

  “Are you going to elaborate?”

  “Tomorrow morning, we’re flying out to New York. Friday is the UNICEF Snowflake ball. I also have some business I need to handle while I’m there.”

  “Tomorrow morning?” She does a double take, eyes widening. “I haven’t even had time to pack or tell—” She cuts off midsentence, realizing what she almost let slip. My eyes narrow into thin slits.

  “Tell who?” I quirk a brow, daring her to finish that sentence.

  “Forget it,” she huffs. “Though, it would be nice to get a heads-up when we’ll be flying places. You can’t just snap your fingers at me and expect me to jump.”

  “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? And isn’t that exactly what I’m doing right now, giving you a heads-up?”

  She drops her fork, and it clatters against the plate deafeningly. “Are you actively trying to piss me off because that’s what it feels like.”

  I laugh. “I might be.”

  “Why?”

  I lean forward, loving the way her eyes flare as I do it. “Because watching you get angry makes my cock rock hard.”

  The air around us charges with potent tension and electric sparks. She swallows. That pink tongue of hers darts out, licking across her bottom lip enticingly. I bet she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

  “Believe me, the way I’m feeling about you right now,” she whispers huskily, leaning forward to meet my stare head-on, “you wouldn’t want me anywhere near your cock.”

  My brows shoot up, surprise at her sassiness sending a thrill down my spine. She ignores me for the duration of our meal, doing her best to avoid my gaze. Once she begins toying with the remaining food on her plate, pushing it around with the tip of her fork, I know she has something on her mind, and she’s unsure of how to talk about it.

  “Is there a reason you’re bringing me to this gala instead of Mia?”

  I set my fork down lightly. “I released a statement that you’re my girlfriend. Why would I take another woman who isn’t you?”

  “It would be easier for you, would it not? I’ve seen what the press writes whenever we’re out pictured together. Don’t you get tired of it?”

  “I don’t care what they say about me. I only took Mia as my date last time because I had already put in the RSVP a few months in advance.”

  Her eyes flick to mine. “She likes you, you know.”

  Leaning back, I cross my arms over my chest. Her gaze darts down to the movement, taking in my arms before she forces her gaze back up. “I know.” Her face falls at the admission. Did she really think I was that blind? That I didn’t notice Mia was developing feel
ings for me?

  As if she’s over and done with this conversation, Mackenzie pushes away from the table, heading back to her room. My next words stop her in her tracks. “Which is why I fired her.”

  Slowly, she turns to look back at me, surprise written all over her face. “You fired her?”

  I nod, leaving it at that. Keeping Mia on would be a mistake in the end. Even though I’ve made our professional relationship clear from the start, it was obvious she was hoping that might change. It wouldn’t. There is only one woman I want, and she drives me crazy half the time.

  “I gave your friend Katherine a call earlier about our upcoming New York visit,” I say, changing the subject.

  Her face scrunches with confusion. “You called Kat? Why?”

  I shrug. “Figured if you were going to be in New York, she and Vera would want to know.”

  She keeps staring at me oddly, so I push away from the table and stride into my bedroom. I’ve given too much away already. That is the problem when I’m around Mackenzie. She makes me give away much more than I intended.

  “Oh, honey. I think this is my best work yet,” Wren says, as he puts the finishing touches on my skin. As I look at myself in the mirror, I think he might be right. Wren outdid himself at the last gala, but tonight, he’s done the impossible. I feel like a model or a movie star.

  I feel important.

  I feel like me.

  No dyed hair. No ulterior motives. Just me.

  This dress isn’t as sexy as the golden one I wore at the last gala, but this one…I feel like a princess. The gala tonight is the global UNICEF gala, meaning there will be even more press and stars there than last time. The dress itself is a one of a kind Gaurav Gupta Couture piece, but this one has a bit more flair than the last dress. The dress itself is a soft lavender with hints of champagne that glint in certain angles as well as diamonds and jewels that are woven through the fabric. It’s an off-the-shoulder, swirl sculpture gown that’s form-fitting with a swoop train that looks like elegant waves in the ocean behind me.

  “This charity is a bit more pretentious than the last, and this is perfect,” he assures me, as we stare at my reflection. My blond curls flow down my back. The hairstylist inserted the same Swarovski jewels that are embedded in my gown into a section of my hair. It looks like a waterfall of waves and jewels, and I couldn’t love it more.

  “Thank you again, Wren. I don’t know how you keep doing it, making me look like a princess, but thank you.”

  “Go get your man, girl.” He winks at me, and I laugh, pulling him in for a hug. When all of this pretending is said and done, I’m going to miss him the most.

  I try not to be too disappointed that Baz isn’t here to meet me and see my dress like he did last time at the penthouse. I imagined him seeing me and kissing me like he did that day. Only when Dan walks me down to the waiting car, Baz is nowhere to be found. It feels like he left another gaping hole in my chest from his absence.

  “Where’s Baz?” I ask Dan begrudgingly. He meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “He’s meeting us. He had a meeting that ran late, so he’ll be heading straight there.” I nod, trying to decipher by the look on his face if he’s telling the truth. What kind of meeting would Baz have right before this event? I wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, it was obviously important.

  My palms grow damp with sweat when we pull up to the Cipriani Wall Street where the event is being held. There’s a red carpet, and dozens of limos are lined along the street with car after car stopping at the main entrance to let out their guests.

  When it’s my turn to get out, I feel like I’m going to be sick. The idea of walking inside alone doesn’t sit well with me. This isn’t some kinky sex club. This is a highly publicized event with a red carpet. I can’t walk in there alone. The press will eat me alive. I start to hyperventilate but then my door suddenly opens, and I breathe a sigh of relief. The tears that were teetering on my lashes blink away as I stare up at Baz. His face softens when he sees me, likely taking in my panicked expression. He bends, leveling our gazes.

  “Hey, it’s just us out there. Tune them out. They’re going to shout questions, going to say stuff to get a reaction out of you, but you’re going to keep your head held high and ignore them. Got it?”

  I nod, even though I’m positive I don’t have it. I don’t see how I’ll be able to walk in there and pretend I can’t hear the rapid-fire questions that will, no doubt, be yelled out at me. Baz sticks his hand out between us, palm up, for me to take, and he helps me out of the car. The sounds hit me first. The yelling, the loud clatter of voices, the flashes and clicking of photographers as they try to snap the perfect shot to sell. My body shakes as I stand upright, straightening my dress.

  I wait for Baz to start leading the way, but when he doesn’t, I look up at him, wondering what’s wrong. I stop short when our gazes collide. His eyes are devouring me. Warmth spills into my chest at the gleam of awe in his eyes. His lips part on instinct, and he pulls me into his side, squeezing my palm in his for reassurance.

  He dips his head near my ear, and the photographers around us go crazy. “You look like an angel,” he whispers, as we walk the red carpet. Heat rises to my cheeks, and I can’t help but smile up at him. That must’ve been the reaction he wanted because he grins. It’s short-lived, but he smiles down at me and presses a kiss to the side of my head, leading the way. I realize then, it’s the first time he’ll ever be seen smiling on a red carpet, and it’s with me.

  He shields my body with his, and I work to tune out the questions as we make our way through the never-ending carpet. I try not to flinch at the harsh accusations as they abrade my skin. I keep my hand firmly planted in his as we stop for photographs on the red carpet.

  After what feels like we’ve smiled and posed for hundreds of pictures, we step off the carpet into the main hall. Even though this is a different event, I can’t help the sense of déjà vu I get. I glance around the opulent ballroom that screams wealth. My heart pangs when I glance around, saddened I won’t be seeing Ava again. She was a slice of sunshine at the last gala I attended with Baz for orphaned children. I haven’t forgotten about her. She’s always at the back of my mind, and I’m always left wondering if she’s okay. If she’s happy. I wonder if a family has adopted her up yet and given her the life she deserves.

  “What are you thinking about?” Baz asks, his voice skating across my skin like gravel.

  I tell him the truth, seeing no use in lying about this. “Ava.”

  I don’t expect him to remember who I’m referring to, but I’m happily surprised when he does remember her. “She was cute. That event was on a smaller scale. That’s why it felt a little more intimate than this one does.”

  “I’m surprised you remember.”

  “There’s a lot I remember, Mackenzie,” he says vaguely, guiding us to one of the many waiters milling about. He’s carrying a tray filled with flutes of champagne. Baz hands me one and makes his rounds, speaking to different groups of people, all the while I’m working to process all the familiar faces I’m seeing. I didn’t think Baz knew half the people who he’s greeting, but Christ, he does, in fact, know most, if not all, of the important people in the industry.

  I let out a ragged gasp, my eyes growing round with shock when I see who’s only a few feet away from us. I grip onto Baz’s arm, squeezing to get his attention. He looks down at me, one brow quirked in question.

  “Is that Rihanna?” I whisper-hiss. He follows my line of sight, and he chuckles lowly.

  “She’s a UNICEF ambassador.”

  I squeeze his bicep for support, suddenly feeling faint. Jesus Christ, I’m at an event with Rihanna. Lord help me.

  Amused over how starstruck I am, Baz leads us to our table. We’re seated with a handful of other people I don’t know. But if the way they’re dressed were any indication, I’d say they’re important.

  After two glasses of champagne, I start to feel its effects. I even cozy
into Baz’s side. Not that he seems to mind. He takes it in stride, pulling my chair right up next to his and wrapping his arm around the back of my seat, caging me into him. He smells so good tonight. Like spice, clean laundry, and something manly that is inherently Baz.

  Through the speeches and the handful of presenters, I lean my head on Baz’s shoulder and I close my eyes, wishing things were different. I can almost imagine this is real. That it isn’t all some façade and that he brought me as his date because he feels the same way about me as I feel about him. The tips of his fingers circle the back of my neck in dizzying strokes that almost put me to sleep.

  Once the attendees are up and walking around, conversing after dinner, I decide to use the restroom and stretch my legs. I try not to blush when I get compliments on the gown from other women who are dressed just as impeccably, if not more so.

  I wander around for a while as I finish my fourth glass of champagne. Drinking so much probably isn’t the smartest decision, but I want to be numb. I don’t want to think about the what-ifs of tonight anymore.

  My legs take me farther and farther away from the large crowds of attendees. I walk around the venue, my feet screaming in these heels. I eventually come to a stop just outside of the great hall where the main event is being held. This is another ballroom of sorts, with artisan rugs and furniture that costs more than anything I’ve ever owned in my life. I plop down in one of the leather seats with gold trimming. A few other guests are milling about, but they’re far enough away that I can’t hear anything but the low murmur of their voices. Which is perfect—it gives me a chance to get lost in my own thoughts.

  “I was wondering where you ran off to,” Baz says, coming to a stop in front of me. I heave a deep sigh. I keep replaying my sister’s words, and I keep thinking about the last event we attended.

  “Just needed some air.” I shrug, glancing around and taking in the opulence. A scoff bubbles up my chest.