Filthy Beautiful Lies(#1#2)

Sophie

He hasn’t mentioned going to New York again and I’d almost forgotten about it. But when we reach his bedroom that evening, he heads straight into the closet, grabs a leather duffle bag from a drawer and begins stuffing articles of clothing inside.

“Are you packing?” I ask, entering the room behind him.

My side of the closet has filled out nicely with new dresses, jeans and tops. That one lone camisole still hangs haphazardly from a hanger and I still wonder about its owner.

“Yeah. I can’t put off going to New York any longer. I leave in the morning.”

I nod, wondering if he’ll ask me to go along, but he doesn’t.

“It’s just one night,” he says, reading my mind. “And I’ve asked Pace to come over and check on you.”

“Okay,” I murmur. An entire day and night without the promise of hanging out with Colton to look forward to? I’ll go stir crazy in this big house all alone, even with Pace stopping by. A plan takes shape in my brain. “I think I’ll call Marta for a girls night.” I saunter away, leaving Colton in his closet staring after me with his mouth hanging open.

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“Are you a candle? Because I want to blow you.” I purse my lips and blow. Marta chokes on her wine, sputtering loudly.

We’re drunk and practicing pick-up lines to use on guys. After our second bottle of wine, the conversation took a turn for the dirty – beginning with Marta complaining about her lack of sex life.

“Oh! I’ve got one!” She rises to her unsteady feet and thrusts out her chest. “If I told you I worked for the post office, would you let me touch your package?”

I burst into a fit of giggles. She’s smiling so big, I don’t want to tell her it’s the worst pick up line ever. “It could work.” I nod.

She plops down on the couch beside me and grabs the bottle to pour herself more wine. Quirking an eyebrow my way, she thrusts the bottle at me. “Want some?”

Peering down into my half-full glass, I shake my head. I better pace myself. It’s only eight o’clock and I’m decidedly buzzed.

“Seriously, why is it so hard to meet men in Los Angeles?” she complains, tucking her legs underneath her.

I shrug. “You’re gorgeous, you can’t seriously have problems meeting a guy.”

Her gaze locks onto mine. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You and Colton. What’s the real story?” She wiggles her eyebrows.

I chuckle nervously. “Nothing. No story.” My heart beat kicks up at the mere mention of his name.

She rolls her eyes. “Liar. Are you guys, like together?”

I shake my head. I don’t think so. I don’t know how to classify us. Our precarious start has led to something more, only I have no idea what. On my end, real feelings are developing. He’s driven, generous, utterly sexy and considerate. Of course I’m falling for him. But his own feelings remain tightly locked away. For all I know, he could be seeing someone else on the side. Although, I don’t know when he’d have the time. In between work, working out and me, he doesn’t have any free time.

Her eyes are still on me, weighing my reaction. “There’s not much to tell. Honestly, I have no idea how he feels about me.”

“Have you slept with him?” she asks, her voice dropping lower.

Have you? I want to ask.

“No,” I admit.

She bites her lip. “Hmm. That’s interesting.”

I want to ask her what’s so interesting about it, but instead I decide to pour myself more wine after all. The doorbell chimes and Marta hops up from her perch on the sofa.

“I’ll get it!”

Moments later, Marta strolls back into the den with Pace trailing behind her. “Look who I found.”

I’d forgotten that Colton said he’d send Pace over to check on me. Pace eyes the coffee table where the wine bottles signal exactly what we’ve been up to.

“Join us?” I grin at him.

He lifts two empty bottles from the table and flashes me a naughty smirk. “Trouble.”

“Who, us?” Marta bats her eyelashes at him.

“I’m good, thanks though. I just came to check on you ladies, make sure you’re not getting into too much mischief while the boss is away.”

“We’re being good. We’re just discussing why meeting a good man is so hard. Seriously, what’s a girl gotta do to get laid in this town?” Marta complains, taking another sip of wine.

Amusement gleams in Pace’s eyes and his lips curl into one of his delicious trademark smiles. “Let me know if I can help.”

Marta rolls her eyes. “Colton would have your balls if you touched me and we both know it.”

Pace’s smile fades. “True enough.”

I wonder what that’s all about, but my tummy grumbles, reminding me that we’d foregone dinner in favor of alcohol. I head to the kitchen, grabbing handfuls of crackers and pretzels and munching on them as I head back to the den where Pace and Marta are speaking in low, hushed tones. I sense the mood of the evening has shifted, only I have no idea why.

“He’s an asshole if he keeps this from her,” Marta says.

“He’s trying to figure it out, so we need to cut him some slack and let him do this his way,” Pace reminds her, his voice firm.

My crunching attracts their attention and the conversation immediately stops. “Are you guys talking about Colton?” I ask, swallowing down a dry mouthful of crackers. It’s obvious that they were, I just want to see if they’ll be honest or try to lie to me.

They exchange a silent look.

I plop down on the sofa across from them, meeting Pace’s concerned gaze. “Why doesn’t he like me?” The words fall from my mouth before I can filter them. Maybe I’ve had more wine than I realized.

“I know he likes you,” Pace says, confidence seeping from his every word.

“How?” I blurt.

“Because he’s finally dealing with shit he should have years ago.”

“Pace…” Marta warns.

“Relax. I’m not going to spill the beans. Besides, you know I’m right,” he says.

I wish I hadn’t drunk so much, I wish my head was clear enough to put together the puzzle pieces forming before me.

“Come on, we’re going out. Operation mancandy is going into effect starting tonight – for both of us,” Marta announces, hoping up from the couch. “Pace you’ll take us out clubbing, won’t you?”

He frowns but nods his head. “I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

I follow Marta upstairs to Colton’s bedroom. She heads straight for the closet and begins picking out outfits for both of us. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been out, but this is what people my age do, right?

Marta changes into a denim mini skirt and halter top right in the closet. Knowing Pace is in the other room, sitting on the chaise, I’ll take my black shift dress to the bathroom to change. I haven’t had that much wine.

Marta saunters toward the bed and plops down. “God, I’d forgotten how comfortable this bed is. Holy shit.” She snuggles into the pillows. “It’s like heaven threw up and this bed is the result.”

I want to ask her when the hell she’s been in his bed, but I don’t. I might belong to him, but he’s not mine. And I don’t want to imagine anyone besides me in his bed. Needing to hide my warring emotions, I head into the bathroom to get ready.

In the mirror, I see a girl with wide, curious blue eyes and her heart wide open. It’s a dangerous combination. Falling for the man who bought me was never part of the deal. Could I be any more naïve? He hasn’t even slept with me yet, and already my feelings are running way too deep. A tiny thought pushes into my brain. Maybe he hasn’t slept with you yet because he actually likes you.

Unwilling to let myself get carried away with the thought, I change into the dress, leaving my clothes in a heap on the bathroom floor, then fluff my flat brown hair in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed pink from the wine, but my lips look pale in comparison. I wonder if Marta has some lip gloss I can borrow.

“Marta?” I exit the bathroom only to find her stretched out across the bed sound asleep.

Pace looks up at me from the chaise. “I think she’s out for the night.”

Marta lets out a soft snore and curls onto her side.

I shrug. “That’s fine.” I’d be just as happy changing into pjs and curling up with the TV remote.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” I say to Pace.

“Not a problem.” He rises to his feet. “The truth is, I wanted to come over and check on you. I was getting worried about you. Colton keeps you locked away like some sex slave.”

My cheeks go bright red, but I force a laugh from my lips. Pace doesn’t know – he couldn’t possibly, I remind myself. “I’m doing good. You don’t have to worry.”

“He likes you, you know.”

I nod. I want to believe that. It’s crazy how much I can miss him. The house is too big and feels lifeless and empty without his presence.

I move to walk Pace out, but he stops me.

“I can lock up.”

“Thanks.”

Just before he reaches the bedroom door, he turns back to face me. “Just so you know, he would never cheat. He falls hard, gives people way too many chances and is kind and generous to a fault. Be careful with him.”

I strip out of the dress with Pace’s strange warning still ringing in my ears. I throw on one of Colton’s t-shirts. Now that I’ve grown used to sleeping with him, with his warm arms around me, tonight I’ll have to settle for his scent.

Luckily the bed is big enough that I hardly notice Marta curled up on the opposite end.

I’m drifting off to sleep when my cell phone pings, informing me of a new text.

Colton: Are you awake?

My mouth curls into a happy grin and I hit call rather than reply to his text, eager to hear his deep, rumbly voice. I burrow myself under the covers so as not to wake Marta.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” I return.

“Hi, sweetness. How was your girl’s night?”

Hearing the nickname reserved just for me and his gruff voice soothes me more than I could have imagined. I look over at Marta’s sleeping form in the bed next to me. “It was fun. How is…everything going there?”

“Eh. It’s to be expected, but I hope to have all this figured out soon so I can put it behind me.”

I hate the not knowing. “Will you tell me…”

“Not yet. Just trust me, okay?”

I nod, before realizing he can’t see me. “Okay.” The crazy thing is, I do trust him. So far, he’s given me no reason not to. “Will you be home tomorrow?”

“I have to stay another day,” he says, his voice somber.

Oh. Tomorrow is Sunday. What business could he possibly have on Sunday? “Is it work or personal?”

“Sophie…” He lets out a soft groan. “I wish I could explain it all to you, but I don’t want you to hate me.”

“I could never hate you.”

“You promise?”

I yawn, unable to hold it in a second longer. “Uh huh.”

He chuckles, sending little vibrating tingles all through me. “Get some sleep, sweet girl. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Okay.” I nestle into the pillow, hating that I have to wait another day to feel his strong arms around me.