The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) (18 page)

We both turned to look at Olivia, who was speaking to one of the servers.  “What happened?”

Drew directed me to a seat, and it was there I told him everything.  When I finished my tale, a sigh escaped him.  “That’s it then?  No more hiding.  No pretending.  I can kiss my girl whenever I want and not worry about Olivia making a scene.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.  She’s hurt and has the right to be.  It wouldn’t be very considerate of us to start making out in front of her.”

He rubbed his chin then loosened his tie.  “Hmm.  Making out sounds like a great idea.”

I gave him a light shove.  “Oh, stop.  We’re supposed to wait here with Jared and Andie for the bride and...”  I glanced around.  “Wait a minute.  Where’s Jared and Andie?”

Drew reached for my hand.  “Who cares?  Gavin and Morgan are changing and what I have in mind won’t take long at all.”

“You can’t be serious?”

He quirked me a lopsided grin, causing the lines around his eyes to crinkle.  “I am.”  He gripped my hand tight and tugged me up from my seat, hauling me out the side entrance of the tent.  Servers smirked at the sight of us, but no one was there to stop us.  It was a good thing I enjoyed running, because Drew sprinted across the lawn.  Once inside, the cool air prickled my skin.  Drew flipped me around, pushing me against the wall.  His hands cupped my face as his lips captured mine.  He coaxed his tongue into my mouth, curing the ache I’d had for him.  

“I’ve wanted to do that from the moment you appeared at the end of the aisle,” he breathed between rapt kisses.

Soft, warm tingles electrified my body.  I nipped his bottom lip, tugging it between my teeth.  His hands dropped to my hips, digging deep into my flesh.  “I’m glad you did, but now you’ve started something you better finish.”

Drew’s eyes darkened with lust and want.  He kissed me hard and deep, then took my hand, leading me up the stairs.  “I’ve wanted to fuck you in my bedroom since we got here,” he growled.

The tapping of our shoes against the hardwood reverberated through me with each step we took.  Energy crackled around us, fusing our hands together.  Our bodies moved in harmony as we rushed up the stairs in need of a place of solitude.  Liquid heat blossomed inside me, the very sound of his breath flowed through my bloodstream.  Each step filled with longing touches, stolen kisses, and need.  

We reached the landing of the second floor and rounded the corner.  “Jared,” Andie laughed, “you naughty boy.  I’m going to have to spank you for that one.”

Drew and I came to an abrupt stop, the sight before us unexpected; Jared and Andie were locked in the throes of passion.

“What the hell?” Drew yelled.

They pulled apart, Andie quickly adjusting her dress.  “Drew?”

“It’s not what you think,” Jared deflected.

“Bullshit.  You’re making out with my sister!”

Andie straightened to her full height.  It was then I realized how tall she really was.  She was nearly as tall as Drew and Jared.  “Actually, he was about to fuck me until you interrupted.”

Drew covered his face.  “I didn’t want to hear that.”

Andie marched toward Drew, patting him on the cheek.  “Get over it, Nova.  Your sister’s a big girl now and she likes to fuck.”

Jared stood there, open-mouthed.  He happened to glance in my direction.  “Um, hi, McKenzie.”  He rubbed the back of his neck, and despite the shadow on his face, I was pretty certain he was a brilliant shade of red.

I gave a little wave, afraid to say anything for fear of laughing.

“I’m well aware…” Drew groaned.  “You know what.  Never mind.  As you were.”  He flipped his hand in a dismissive gesture.  “Let’s go, Mickie.”  He took me by the hand and directed me toward his childhood room.  As we disappeared behind the door, I took a gander at the two of them in the hall.  Jared leaned against the wall and Andie buckled over, both laughing.

The door closed behind us, and Drew threw his hands in the air.  “Can you believe those two?”

I shrugged, moving a little closer to him.  “I know,” I gasped.  “The nerve of them attempting to have slutty wedding sex before we could.”

Drew turned to me, his mask of anger diminishing in an instant.  “You know, we could beat them if I fuck you with your clothes on.”

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth, wiggling my eyebrows.  “What are you waiting for?  Let’s show them what it sounds like to be thoroughly fucked.”

Drew rushed me, pushing me down and pinning me to his bed.  “God, I love you.”

I wrapped my legs around his hips.  “I love you more.”

Andrew

“Do you think anyone noticed we were missing?” McKenzie clung to my side as we slipped into the tent.  Every inch of my body tingled with the memory of her wanton touch.  If I closed my eyes, I could recall the expression on her face as she reached her climax.  Yes, lust was there.  Desire.  Want.  But most of all, I saw love in her eyes.  That, to me, was the most gracious gift she could ever bestow on me.

I glanced out toward the crowd.  Gavin and Morgan held tight to one another in the middle of the dance floor.  All eyes were on them.  Couples were already in the process of joining them, relishing the romance of the evening.  I tilted my head, pressing a kiss to the top of McKenzie’s.  “I highly doubt anyone even…”

“I noticed,” Ethan hissed from behind us.

Startled, we both turned around to find a cocky Ethan, leaning back, his palms flat against a table and his legs crossed out in front of him.  How I missed him when we entered the tent, I couldn’t say.  He was the type of guy that stood out in a crowd, especially wearing a neon pink bowtie and vest with his classic black tuxedo.

McKenzie’s hand flew to her chest, a light gasp expelling from her lungs.  “You noticed what?”

Ethan pushed up from the table, taking the few steps needed to close the distance between us.  “That you’re glowing.  Which means only one thing.  Drew’s a lucky mother fucker, and I’m getting shafted.”

Straight faced, I glanced back out toward the crowd and adjusted my tie.  “How many times have you been shot down, tonight?”

“Me? Shot down?” he scoffed.  “I’m never shot down.  My issue is that all the good ones are already taken.  Since you and Jared took the two bridesmaids, I’m left with the…” He cleared his throat, “‘If I don’t catch the bouquet,’” he squeaked in a terrible impersonation of a woman, “‘I think I might die.  Please fuck me so I can forget I’m single.’ girls.  Dude, those bitches be crazy.  I tend to go after bridesmaids only because they’re not in it for the wedding, they’re in it for slutty wedding sex, case in point,” he waved his hand up and down in front of McKenzie, “and for the support of their good friend.  But mostly for the wedding sex.”  Ethan wiggled his brows at McKenzie.

McKenzie withdrew her arm from mine, crossing them over her chest.  “I see.  You have commitment issues.  You think by bedding a bridesmaid at a wedding, you’ve done your civil duty, but let me tell ya, Bub, you fucked up because technically I’m not a bridesmaid,” McKenzie noted.

I covered my mouth, snickering and snorting into my hand.  

Ethan tilted his head in disbelief.  “Fucking needy chicks is my civil duty, Ms. Evans, and last time I checked, bridesmaids are the ones at the alter with the bride and groom.  So, if that wasn’t you standing next to Morgan earlier, who was it?  You have a twin I need to know about?”

McKenzie pursed her lips and extended her hand to Ethan.  “Sugar, you don’t want to meet my evil twin.  She’d eat your cocky ass alive.  I am curious, though.  How is that you know who I am, but I have no clue who you are?”

Ethan took her hand.  “Oh, I assumed you knew who I was.  My apologies.  I’m Ethan Montgomery, you’re boyfriend’s right hand man.”  He placed a light kiss against her knuckles.

McKenzie slipped her hand from his grasp and crossed her arms back over her chest.  “Ah, yes.  You’re Drew’s new bitch.  It’s nice to meet you.  I hope you’re better than his last one.”

An amused smirk presented itself across Ethan’s face.  He snapped his fingers and pointed to McKenzie, his thumb in the air.  “I like you.”

“Back off, asshat.  She’s mine,” I claimed in a teasing growl.

Ethan raised his hands, waving his proverbial white flag.  “I know that, but damn you for getting to her first.  You know it’s not fair.  You and Jared are getting action with kickass babes, and I’m stuck in the outs after all I did to liven up the party last night.  I’m a single, gorgeous, available bachelor.  I’m the one who’s supposed to have his knob polished today, but you and Jared had to snipe the good ones.  Why couldn’t Morgan be like other women and have a huge line?  Two girls?  Fuck that!  What about cousins or sisters or long, lost college roommates with whom she had a lesbian experience with.  Where are they?” Ethan tiraded.

McKenzie chuckled, her eyes shifting away.  “For a supposable fantastic legal admin, you really suck at doing your research,” she proclaimed.  “Had you actually done homework rather than expected women to fall from the heavens at your feet, you would’ve discovered I am not a true bridesmaid.  I’m a fill-in.  The real maid of honor is over there.”  McKenzie pointed out Natasha.

Ethan zoned in on the pretty brunette sitting at the bridal party table talking to Andie and Jared.  She covered her laugh with the back of her hand, her eyes bouncing at whatever my sister had said.  “Who’s that?” Ethan requested.

McKenzie placed her hand on his shoulder and leaned into him.  “That, my horny fella, is Natasha Carrere, Morgan’s true maid of honor.  And let me tell you, she’s been waiting for your arrival all week long.”

Ethan dropped his gaze down to my girl, his eyes burning with excitement.  A week ago, I would’ve been ready to rip his arms off and beat him with them for looking at her like that, but now, watching them interact, I was at peace.  McKenzie and I were happy.  We were together, and nothing, not even Olivia or my father, could destroy that.  

The thought of Olivia stirred a fire in my blood.  I glanced around the room, my mind momentarily checking out of the ongoing banter between my girl and my employee, to hone in on the woman who’d made my life a nightmare these last few months.  All this time, Olivia knew about McKenzie and me, yet, instead of bowing out gracefully and accepting me as nothing more than the father of her child, she chose to force herself on me.  She used our child as a reason to reestablish a relationship that she knew I didn’t want.  Olivia was beautiful.  I couldn’t fathom why she would stoop to such deception.  Her manipulations knew no bounds, apparently, and it left me wondering what her motives were.

“She’s not looking for anything serious,” McKenzie advised.  “So don’t go falling in love with her.”

Ethan groaned.  “A girl after my own heart.  Wonder if she’s into role play,” he pondered.

“Only one way to find out.”  McKenzie pushed him forward, her hand pressed into his back.  “Go get her, tiger!”

Ethan roared, clawing at the air.  He moved through the crowd with his target in sight.  “Who hired that guy?” McKenzie asked me, linking her arm back into mine once Ethan was out of earshot.  

“Gavin thought it would be funny if I had a male assistant.  I must admit, he’s good at what he does.”

We slowly maneuvered through the crowd toward the dance floor.  The funny thing was, I still hated dancing, but with McKenzie, I didn’t mind it as much.

“If I didn’t know better, I would’ve sworn he was gay.”

“I thought the same thing at first.”

“Are you sure he’s not?  I mean…” She raised her hand toward the conversation going on between Natasha and Ethan.  Natasha already appeared flushed and ready to jump Ethan’s bones.  I gave them forty-five minutes before they defiled another room in the Wise Estate.  “…that could be all show, you know.”

“If you look up manwhore in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Ethan, baby girl.”

“That doesn’t mean anything, Andy!  Gay men can be manwhores, too.”

“You make a good case...
counselor
,” I teased, pulling her into my arms and spinning around across the dance floor.  

The night flew by in a whirl of toasts, dances, and mingling.  For most of the evening, McKenzie and I had managed to steer clear of my father and Olivia.  I knew it was killing her not to speak with Olivia about the earlier discovery, but no matter how much the guilt plagued her mind, she withstood the temptation.  It pained me to see her looking over at Olivia with that lost look in her eyes, but until the evening was over, there wasn’t much that either of us could do.  

While dancing with my mother, I was surprised to discover how much she knew about my excursion to Amarillo to retrieve McKenzie.  What came as no shock was where she ascertained her information.  My father had kept track of our whereabouts through Gavin’s admin.  So much for keeping secrets.  It also explained why my father lit into me the moment we arrived in Boston.

“Are you mad at me?”

I lifted my hand to her cheek.  “If you’d told me this hours ago, I probably would’ve been furious, but,” I shook my head, “no.  I’m not mad at you.  You were only looking out for me, and your approval of McKenzie means everything.” I glanced in Olivia’s direction as she danced with my father.  “I have a lot to make up for with Mickie, but I know everything’ll be okay now that we’re together.  Don’t ask how I know, but I do.”

Mother placed her hand over mine, bringing it back to her waist.  “I’m happy to hear it, Drew.”

“Thank you.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Niles.  He stood at the edge of the crowd, his hands buried in his pockets.  Mother glanced over her shoulder to see what I was staring at.  She inhaled deeply, but said nothing.  Niles nodded toward my mother, as if to silently ask my permission to cut in.  I returned the gesture and prepared to vacate my position.  A few long strides and he stopped behind my mother.  “May I?” he requested.

I stepped back from my mother, smiling at my former professor.  “Of course, sir.”

Niles shook my hand, but his focus was on my mother.  She shuffled her balance from one foot to the other.  Tension tightened her shoulders and her breathing increased.  She forced a smile when he greeted her, but her eyes shifted to someone across the room.  I glanced in the same direction to where my father and Olivia were dancing and laughing together.  “Kat, it’s been too long.”

“Yes it has,” she returned without looking up at him.

An awkward silence ensued.  “You look amazing.”

Mom said nothing.  Niles rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, nervous and awkward.  I tilted my head toward Mother, nudging Niles to dance with her.  Niles licked his lips and straightened up.  “Shall we?”  He offered her his hand, breaking the stillness.  

Mom jolted, her eyes moving to his hand.  She reached out, reluctant for a moment, but accepted.  Niles, careful not to overstep his boundaries, pulled her into his arms and shuffled them toward the outskirts of the dance floor.  I watched the man I once wished was my father and my mother, troubled and confused by the distance that had grown between them.  The voice within me screamed that this was wrong.  My attorney's instinct analyzed their body language in an attempt to discover the source of their repute.  The child inside me carried the guilt and grief of a broken home.

McKenzie rested her hand in the middle of my back.  I looked in her big, blue eyes to find a mirrored mask of my own concern.  “Is everything all right?”

I dipped my head down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, uncaring of who might see us in that moment.  Propriety be damned.  I needed her reassurance that everything was in fact all right.  “Yeah.  I’m just tired.  It’s been a long day.”

“That it has.  Morgan and Gavin will be making their departure soon.  Wanna head out after they do?”

I traced the curve of her jaw with my thumb.  “Where did you have in mind?”

“Back to your place,” she replied, a hint of color tinting her cheeks.  I could almost feel the heat boiling under her skin.  

She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, waiting for my reaction.  With the tip of my thumb, I pulled her lip from her teeth.  “Didn’t get enough of me earlier?” I teased.

“I’ll never get enough of you.”  The honesty in her cadence spoke a volume of truth that was undeniable.  We simply were meant to be.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” my father boomed from the corner of the tent.  He released Olivia, practically shoving her aside.  I glanced from him to my mother and Niles.  Mother pushed away from Niles, waving her hands at my father.  Niles stood taller, his teeth clenched and his fists tightened at his sides.  My father made his descent on them, barking something that I couldn’t make out.  

Mother raised her hands, placing herself as a barrier between the two men.  “Jonathan! Niles! No! Not here!” I saw her mouth form the words, but the sound of the crowd and music masked their voices.

Gavin caught my eye, and we both knew we had to get them out of the tent before something terrible happened.  I pushed my way across the dance floor, McKenzie close behind me.  When we reached my parents and Niles, my father had his finger in Niles face, hailing, “Where do you come off, you self righteous son of a bitch?  You act all high and mighty, but the truth is, had I not handed you that job on a silver platter, you would’ve been nothing.  Hell, you are nothing!”

“Jonathan, stop.”

Father turned to Mother, his eyes burning with hatred.  “There you go again, defending him.”

“Don’t attack your
wife
because you’re an inadequate husband,” Niles barked.  “You didn’t hand me anything.  I took what was mine because you weren’t man enough to tell Daddy no.  Sad thing is, you did the exact same thing to your own son.  Only, it sickened you that he didn’t do what you did and kiss his father’s feet.  No, he prioritized, like I did, and that’s what pisses you off.  That was something you never could or never would do.  So don’t you
dare
call me a self righteous son of a bitch…”