Ella Ingraham makes up stories for a living, and even she has a hard time believing the turn her love life has taken.
Hot guy? Cue Josh Devereaux.
Even hotter night together? Hello kitchen counter.
Morning-after phone call to Josh from her ex? Um, what?
The truth about who Josh is and what he’s done are on the other end of that phone. He knows he lied. He also knows that isn’t the worst of it. It isn’t even that Ella’s ex thinks Josh is the right man to help destroy her. Again. The worst part is the way Ella looks at him now. Or doesn’t.
Ella isn’t sure what the worst part is – Josh lying to her about his past, or the fact she can’t stop thinking about him anyway. Not that he’s making it easy for her, with his idea to stop her ex’s slander campaigns against her before her next big book release. Even Ella has to admit it’s a better plan than she – or her lawyer – have come up with. But for the plan to work, Ella has to not only rely on Josh, but trust him. Implicitly.
Ella knows she’d be a fool to trust him a second time. So why does her heart keep trying to convince her otherwise?
“What do you mean you doubt you’ll be seeing her again? Correct me if I’m wrong, but spending the night is usually a good thing?” Trudi asks.
“Unless, you know, you weren’t exactly…?” Si leaves the question hanging there with a grin.
Compatible? In sync? Satisfied?
So not the problem. My stomach twists at the memory of exactly how compatible we were. Even Michael never got that many moans out of me in one night and that’s saying something, considering our relationship was based purely on sex. At least as far as I was concerned.
The last thing I want is for Josh to answer Si, so I cough before he can. The three heads around the kitchen counter turn towards me. I lift my fingers in a wave and keep my eyes on Si. “Hi. Um, I’m back. I need to make a bunch of phone calls, but I wanted to say hey.”
“Well, hey to you, too.” Trudi lifts her hand from Josh’s arm. “I just made a big old jug of sweet tea. Do you want some?”
Yes, but that means coming in the kitchen to get it and I’m not sure I can do that. My feet feel glued to the floor where I stand.
I shake my head with a quick glance towards Trudi, but she’s too close to Josh and my eyes skid over to him despite my best efforts. Fuck me for still finding him attractive, even after everything. And fuck him for that wounded look on his face, like this is my fault. We wouldn’t be here if he’d been honest from the start. Hell, I’d probably nearly be through Texas by now.
Catch up on the series with Lies We Live!
About Lies We Live: Ella Ingraham is a best-selling novelist. She's also a murderer. At least that's what most of the world thinks after her ex brought a tabloid frenzy and a civil suit down on her for "negligence" following the stillbirth of their unplanned child at eight months. Her cross-country drive is meant to be an escape, and Horatio, AR is just another random exit off the highway. Until she meets Josh Devereaux.
Josh Devereaux – seductive, charming and hot, hot, hot – is a part-time farmer, full-time tech genius holed up in his hometown after a few years in New York turned him into someone else. Someone worse. His closetful of skeletons has been locked up tight since he returned to Arkansas, right along with his heart. He knows Ella could unlock both – and what a bad idea that would be.
Ella has no intention of getting involved with Josh, but as one date turns into more, feelings surface Ella hasn't felt in years -- like hope. As their relationship grows, Josh knows he should tell Ella the truth about his past. If only the lie wasn't so much easier to believe.
When she's not writing, Brenda enjoys hiking, running and reading. In theory, she also enjoys cooking, but it's more that she enjoys eating and, try as she might, she can't live on Doritos alone.
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