Lies in Love (15 page)

Camey
slipped off her shoes by the front door and slogged through her
apartment. She was exhausted from another Saturday of wedding
deliveries. She would give anything for a nice warm bubble bath and a
massage, but she was too tired to run the water and she wasn’t
sure which of her latest conquests’ company she could tolerate
this evening. Instead she settled for falling onto her bed staring at
the ceiling, trying to work out the kinks in her back. As she lay
motionless she remembered her conversation with Sara that morning and
realized she had a call to make. She had to make it perfectly clear
to Landon that he needed to cut all ties with Talia so she could
finally start to move on with her life. It was fairly evident that
Talia still wasn’t over whatever happened between her and
Masen. Camey rifled through her bedside table to find Landon’s
number. She reluctantly dialed after she found it scrawled on a pad
inside the drawer.

“Hello?”
Landon answered on the second ring.

“Landon?”

“Yeah?
Who’s this?” He sounded slightly out of breath.

“Did
I disturb you? Are you on a job?” Camey hoped he wasn’t
in the middle of some sexual escapade.

“What,
no? I’m rearranging furniture. I just moved in with my …
Never mind,” Landon stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing he
didn’t owe Camey any explanation.

“Look,
Talia is pretty upset that you didn’t show up at the club a
couple of weeks ago and I need you to fix that. You need to figure
out some way to make her realize that she’s better off without
you.”

“And
how exactly should I do that?” Landon sounded agitated.

“I
don’t know. Go by her shop and tell her you’re buying
flowers for your girlfriend. Make her think you’re a total
sleaze. Maybe then she’ll realize she can live without you and
she’ll move on.”

“Why
does she have to live without me?”

Camey
grew tired of Landon’s constant rebuttals. “Hello. You’re
an escort. Do you really think it’s a good idea for her to get
any more attached to you when you can’t even commit to one
woman?”

“Oh.”

Camey
waited for Landon to say something more, but he was silent. She grew
impatient and asked, “Look, can you just make her realize she’s
better off without you so she isn’t so miserable?”

“Where
can I find her?”

“She
runs
Perfect
Petals
on
the east side. You think you can find it?”

“Sure.”

“Go
by Monday just before five o’clock. She’ll be there
getting ready to close. It’s usually quiet by then.”

“Okay.”
Landon’s voice was solemn. He was being overly compliant.

“I’m
sorry it had to come to this, but I appreciate you being so
agreeable.”

“Sure.
I’ll stop by Monday and make it right.”

He
hung up before she could thank him. After hearing how despondent
Landon sounded, she almost felt bad for asking this of him, but she
had to protect her friend. Getting Landon involved with all of this
was the worst idea she’d ever had. She’d never forgive
herself for making such a stupid mistake. She hoped that after Monday
maybe Talia could finally get her life back to normal.

The
mid-March air was cool and breezy. It had made for a frigid ride to
Perfect
Petals
.
The chill kept Landon’s nerves at bay for what he had planned.
He knew he wasn’t what was best for Talia, but it stung too
much to think of walking away from her. He’d never longed for a
woman like he longed for her. Her inability to fall for stupid love
clichés was captivating. He just wanted to be near her; no
matter what it took. He couldn’t let Camey force him to give
her up so soon. He had changed so much of his life so he could be
deserving of her.

He
sat on his bike, leaning over the handlebars, watching her arrange
displays in the window, acutely aware that she was alone. He’d
seen all of the girls wave their goodbyes nearly half an hour ago.
Now he was just waiting for the right moment to walk inside, the
right moment to apologize. The longer he waited the harder the words
were to find.

She
was beautiful standing there in the window wearing an oversized navy
cable-knit sweater that hung off one shoulder and dark skinny jeans
with a cream crochet slouchy beanie. Her hair wrapped over her
shoulders, framing her face in a sea of auburn. She completely took
his breath away as she moved throughout the store. When she
disappeared from view, Landon got off of his bike and walked toward
the glass front door. He was surprised when she walked outside and
they were standing face to face.

“What
are you doing here?” Her voice was full of ire.

“I
needed some flowers.” He immediately regretted his response.
She’d flipped the closed sign nearly an hour ago. It was a
little late to come calling for flowers.

“We’re
closed.” Talia picked up a folding sign from the sidewalk and
began to heave it inside.

Landon
hurried to her, helping her carry the sign.

Just
inside the door, she set it down and said, “Thanks.”

“You’re
welcome.” He spoke softly, trying to ease her anger. “I’m
sorry I didn’t make it to the club last Friday.” He
wondered if she would expect him to get on his knees and grovel.

“Where
were you?” The hostility in her tone had diminished.

“I
had some business I had to take care of, but that’s finished
now.”
She’s
definitely pissed.

“Oh.”
She continued adjusting things around the shop while he watched her
work. She moved without effort; like every motion had a set plan. No
movement was wasted.

She
must have realized he was still standing there staring, because she
turned to him and said, “Well, thanks again for the help.”
Landon could tell it was an invitation to leave, but he didn’t
wasn’t ready to leave; not by a long shot.

“Are
you hungry?”

She
turned around, her hair whipping around her as she faced him once
more. “I could eat.” Her voice was a mere whisper.

“Why
don’t I help you finish up so we can go grab dinner?” He
was trying for friendly. He had her softened and he couldn’t
risk pushing her back to anger.

She
stopped to study his face. He wondered what she was thinking as she
looked him over. “Could you bring in that plant stand out
front? That’s really all that I have to get done now.”

“Sure.”
He turned to the front door but stopped and spun back to face her.
“Are you just asking me to do this so you can lock me out and
avoid going to dinner with me?”

Talia
smiled. “No, I’m not going to lock you out. Just get the
damn plant stand, okay?”

Her
words were callous, but she was still smiling. Damn, Landon missed
that smile.

He
struggled to carry in the massive plant stand on his own and he
wondered how Talia ever did it alone. “Do you usually carry
that in on your own?”

Talia
smiled again, “I usually take the plants off first and carry it
in a piece at a time, but I figured with a big muscular man here, you
could just carry it all in at once.”

“Gee,
thanks.” He was glad to see she had warmed to him again. When
she began to move his way he stopped her. “You probably ought
to get a jacket. It’s pretty cool out.”

“I
can handle it.” She continued toward him, but he stopped her
again.

“Just
get your damn jacket.” He laughed as she pouted and turned for
the back room. Moments later she returned in her puffy brown winter
coat. “Brown, huh?”

“It’s
the color of dirt. It’s easier to clean at the end of the day.”

“That
wasn’t the answer I was expecting.” He extended his arm
to her and was pleased when she slipped her hand beneath his elbow.
“What are you in the mood for?”

“A
big juicy burger.”

Landon
smirked at Talia. “You serious?”

“As
a heart attack.”

Landon
pulled Talia through the door and waited as she locked up. Out on the
sidewalk the breeze was pleasant. He knew that would change once they
were riding down the city streets on his motorcycle.

“You
know, it’s not that cold. I really don’t need this big
thing.”

“I
think you’ll change your mind.”

“Don’t
be ridiculous.” Talia stopped talking when Landon climbed onto
his bike.

“Your
chariot, milady?” He lifted his black half-helmet from the seat
behind him and held it out for her.

“You
expect me to get on that?”

“I
do.”

“You’re
out of your mind.”

“If
you only knew.” He was mad for her. He adored the way her mood
changed from anger to sarcasm to just plain obstinate. He was still
holding out his helmet when she snatched it from him and began
staring at it.

“I
have no idea how to put this on.”

Landon
stood from his bike and delicately pulled the beanie from Talia’s
head, slipping it into his interior jacket pocket. Her hazel eyes
were intent on his, her lips gently pouting as he watched the
hardness at the corner of her eyes soften. She stood absolutely still
as he placed the helmet gently on her head and tightened the straps
to fit. When the helmet was properly secured, Landon whispered,
“Perfect.”

She
inhaled suddenly and continued to watch him as he pulled his hand
away.

“Have
you ever ridden a bike before?”

She
subtly shook her head, looking adorably timid.

“All
you need to do is hang on to me and don’t let go. And whatever
you do, don’t lean.”

She
nodded, still standing frozen.

Landon
climbed back on his bike and started the engine. When Talia didn’t
immediately climb on, he patted the seat behind him in invitation. “I
promise, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to
you.”

His
words must have done the trick because she clambered on behind him
and wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging tightly to his
jacket.

He
stroked his hand over hers, trying to ease the grip she had on him.
If she’d clutched him much tighter it was likely she could have
broken his ribs. With each gentle stroke, she loosened her hold until
finally she leaned her head against his back. In that moment, he
pulled away from the curb. The sudden jolt had her strengthening her
hold. He reveled in the feel of her pressed against his back, the way
she warmed every inch of him with her nearness. He needed her near
him more than he needed his next breath. He just hoped he could
convince Camey to keep their secret so he didn’t have to lose
Talia now that he had her in his life.

The
ride was over all too soon as they pulled up in front of Landon’s
favorite fast food joint. The burgers were thick and greasy, just as
they should be.

Landon
held the bike in place as Talia climbed from the back and then he
propped up the kickstand before he climbed off himself.

Talia
was fiddling with the strap at her chin, but had no luck removing the
helmet.

“Here,
let me.” He unclipped the helmet, briefly letting his hand
graze along her cheek, then slipped the helmet over the mirror on his
handlebar before taking Talia’s hand and leading her inside.

“This
place is amazing.”

“So
you’ve been here before?” Landon was pleasantly surprised
to know Talia had been to his favorite burger joint. It gave him hope
that in another life they would have met even if it weren’t for
her friends setting them up.

“I
have. They have the best burgers. I love this place.”

Landon
was immediately delighted with his choice, and even more delighted
that he got her on the back of his Harley. He’d never had a
woman on his bike before, but he longed to have her there again. He
was instantly thankful for the ride that awaited them to return her
home.

As
the time swiftly ticked by, he longed for more minutes, hours, in the
day. He held fast to her hand as she pulled him toward a booth along
the front wall, giving him clear sight of his motorcycle. Everything
about her was tugging at his heart.

They
took a seat opposite each other and both removed their jackets.
Landon began looking over the menu even though he already knew
exactly what he’d order. He was startled when he heard her
speak.

“How
did you find my shop?”

The
question took him by surprise. “Well, I needed to buy some
flowers and your shop had great reviews.”

Talia
ogled him skeptically. “No, I don’t believe that.”

“You
don’t?”

“Not
hardly.”

Landon
searched his mind for a good excuse and decided to go with a near
version of the truth. “I have my sources.”

“Really?
You have sources? What sources?”

“A
gentleman never divulges his secrets.” Landon held his finger
in front of his lips and mumbled, “Shh.”

Talia
rolled her hazel eyes. The green was practically glowing at him.
“Spill.” She smirked, waiting.

“I
went to the club Friday night, because I wanted to see you, but you
weren’t there. I recognized your friend, Cassie?” He
tried to hide the fact that he knew who Camey was.

“Camey?”

“Yeah,
that’s the one. I told her I wanted to see you and she told me
where to find you. I suppose she thought it was safe since the flower
shop is a public place.”

“And
it’s not?”

“What?”

“Is
it not safe that you know where my shop is?”

Was
she really asking him this question? “Of course it’s
safe. I told you, I’ll never let anything happen to you. I
meant that.”

“Well,
if I’m being honest, I’m kinda glad you came by today. I
was a little angry you didn’t show last Friday, but this more
than makes up for it. And I’m sorry I wasn’t at
Satin
Friday. I had a…” Talia cleared her throat and
continued, “A meeting.”