Truth or Dare (Liar Liar #2) (2 page)

“Makes perfect sense,” I interjected. “It seems to me your father’s worked hard all his life, Maura. Isn’t it time for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor?” I smiled at Eric. I was saying all the right things to ingratiate myself to the man, but I could tell his daughter wasn’t buying it.

She knew the real deal. I was using my money to get to her, and she hated it. If she weren’t being so obstinate, I wouldn’t have to go those lengths. Until she was willing to admit to me and herself that I was the one she wanted, I’d do whatever I had to to manipulate the situation so I had the upper hand. Some called me ruthless, but I preferred to think of myself as savvy.

“I guess this means we’ll have to continue our conversation over dinner tonight, Maura,” I said, reaching for my overcoat. Of course dinner tonight was a fait accompli, even though she’d never officially agreed. “I’ll pick you up at your place around seven. Semi-formal attire.”

She closed her eyes as though she was seeking the patience to deal with me. I thought her reaction was cute. She was trying so hard to fight it, and that would just make the victory that much sweeter.

“I look forward to it, Blaise,” she said, forcing a smile.

I’d won this round, and we both knew it. Of course, she wouldn’t stop fighting. She was tough, determined, especially when it came to her convictions, and I admired that about her. But her will was no match for mine. Once I’d decided I wanted something, it was as good as mine.

“As do I.” I mouthed “
Angel
” as I walked by her, winking when she narrowed her eyes at me.

“Enjoy your lunch,” she said to her father. “I suppose you’ll be at the country club in the morning to discuss the wedding?”

“I’ll try,” he said, “but I have a developer in from out of town. He’s trying to buy the vacant lot by the old Morrison place, and the city is giving us a hard time about zoning.”

“But you were the one who was so insistent about us getting married at the club,” she said, obviously trying to maintain her patience. “I assumed you would want to be there to weigh in.”

Eric waved dismissively. “Your mother told me I should stay out of it, let you kids decide where and when you want to get married.”

Looking stunned, Maura said, “You’ve been pressuring me to set a date for the past year. Now you finally decide to stay out of it?” She crossed her arms. “Why? What happened to change your mind?”

“Nothing,” he said, his cheeks reddening under his tan. “I’m just, uh, busy. Besides, planning a wedding is your deal, not mine.”

He was hiding something, and I intended to find out what it was.

“Now’s a fine time to tell me that,” she said, throwing up her hands. “I’ll never understand you. I’ve been telling you to back off and let me deal with my own life ever since Jeff and I got together. Now that I’ve finally decided to do what you want, it seems you couldn’t care less.”

So her father had convinced her Jeff was the right man for her? I couldn’t say I was surprised. He’d always tried to run her life.

“I’m sorry,” Maura said, looking at me as though just remembering I was there. “This is a private family matter. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

I laughed. She had to know I was eating this up. “Think nothing of it.” I brought her hand to my lips. I didn’t care if her father considered it an inappropriate gesture for business associates. “Until tonight.”

Looking flustered, she said, “Yes.”

Eric led me down the hall to the elevators and looked distracted as he punched the button repeatedly.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Lancaster?”

“Uh, no.” He forced a smile. “And please, call me Eric.”

“Only if you’ll call me Blaise.”

“Certainly.” He slapped my back as we stepped on to the elevator. He suddenly looked weary, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “You don’t have any kids, do you, Blaise?”

“No, why?”

“Sometimes I think it’s the hardest job in the world.” He sighed. “You try so hard to protect them, to lead them down the right path, only to realize they’ve done what you wanted them to do and you’ve led them astray without meaning to.”

I frowned. The man was talking in riddles, but there was a story in there somewhere. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“My son, Jason, is a surfer.” He barked out a laugh. “A surfer. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his education, and he woke up one day and decided he wanted to chase the waves.” Waving, he said, “Whatever the hell that means.”

I smiled. I had no idea Jason Lancaster had it in him to be rebellious. Good for him, charting his own course. “Where is he living?”

“Maui.” He tipped his head. “I guess if you’re going to be a beach bum, there’s no better place to do it.”

I laughed, surprised to find that I didn’t hate Eric Lancaster as much as I thought I would. “Personally, I think Maui is a little piece of heaven on earth. Have you ever been?”

“Many times. The first time Jason went there was on a family vacation. That’s when he fell in love with it. I just never thought he would drop everything to buy a surf shop and move there. He gives people surfing lessons,” Eric said, frowning. “He competes too. From what I hear, he’s good. He’s even set a few records.”

“So maybe you should just be pleased that he’s living his dream.”

Eric regarded me carefully. “I’m surprised to hear that from a man like you. I thought you of all people would be relentless in your pursuit of success.”

“I am, but for me, the pursuit of success has nothing to do with how many zeroes are tacked onto my bank statement.” I watched the wall panel as the elevator delivered us to the ground floor. “I’ve already made more money than my great-grandchildren will ever be able to spend. Now it’s about the personal satisfaction of seeing my vision realized.”

“I can understand that,” Eric said and sighed heavily. “I used to have a vision too. I knew how I wanted to my business life and my personal life to take shape. Once I accomplished those goals, I turned my attention to my children’s lives. I started planning and plotting to ensure they would have everything I wanted for them.”

“Hmmm.” I’d never expected Eric to open up to me, but now that he had, I realized how valuable that information could be. “But their visions didn’t match up with yours?”

We stepped out into the parking lot, and Eric pointed at a silver Mercedes sedan parked in a reserved spot by the doors. “No, I guess not.” He waited until we were in the car before he spoke again. “I feel guilty for trying to manipulate my daughter into doing what I wanted her to do, especially since I’m pretty sure I misguided her.” He looked up at his office building. “What the hell was I thinking? We were going to tour this building first, weren’t we? I’m sorry, I got so wrapped up in my own problems that—”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, fastening my seat belt. “We can go to the other building first, have lunch, then come back here.”

“Sounds good,” he said, starting the engine before fastening his seatbelt.

“You said you felt you misguided Maura. How?” I was delving into personal family matters, but since he’d brought it up, I felt it was fair game.

“That’s what I was coming up to talk to her about. Seeing you gave me a reprieve.” Tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he eased into traffic, he said, “I don’t know how the hell to tell her, what to say.”

I was dying to know what he was talking about, but I had to play it cool. I couldn’t seem as though I had an ulterior motive for asking. “It seems like you and your daughter have a good relationship. I’m sure whatever you have to tell her, she’ll understand.”

“If only it were so simple.” Eric stopped at a light, failing to notice when a gray-haired man crossing in front of his vehicle waved at him. He sighed, a body-racking sound. “Part of me thinks I should keep it to myself, let her figure things out on her own, but how can I? She’s my baby. It’s my job to protect her.”

I was sure that was what he’d thought he was doing when he warned her to stay away from me, a laborer with no ambition who used his fists to settles his scores. But he had been wrong about me, and I wondered whether he might be wrong about whatever perceived problem was troubling him now. “What are you trying to protect her from?”

He paused before accelerating when the light turned green. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you about any of this. We just met. Besides, you’re my daughter’s business associate, and possibly mine if you like what you see today.”

“Sometimes a complete stranger can be more objective than a family member or friend,” I suggested. “It sounds like you need that right now, Eric. Objectivity. I assure you, whatever you tell me will be kept in the strictest confidence.”

Eric glanced at me when we rolled up to a stop sign, probably trying to decide whether he could trust me. “Maybe you’re right, maybe I could use another person’s opinion before I spring this on Maura.”

I waited, trying not to appear anxious. I looked out the window instead of looking at him.

“I found out something about her fiancé, Jeff, that’s very troubling.”

“Is that so?” He’d really piqued my curiosity. “What did you learn about him?”

Eric sighed. “I mentioned that developer who was in town? We went out for dinner last night, and he wanted to check out this… spot.”

“Uh huh,” I said, knowing there was much more to the story. “A piece of land?”

“No, it was a night spot.”

“Okay.”

“A gentlemen’s club.” He shook his head, looking disgusted. “Normally I wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that, but he’s an important client, so I made an exception.”

“Understandable. I probably would have done the same thing in your position.” I could barely contain myself. I knew Eric’s secret was going to be big, a potential game changer for me and Maura, and I needed to let him know I was on his side so he would just tell me.

“Well, imagine my surprise when I found my future son-in-law enjoying a lap dance in the V.I.P. section.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. I thought maybe he was there for a friend’s bachelor party or something. But no, he was there alone, and apparently he’s a regular.”

“Hmmm,” I said, trying to sound dispassionate. “How do you know that?”

“You know how it is. Slip the right person a few bucks, and they’ll sing like a canary.”

“Yeah, I know how it is.” I’d done the same thing myself countless times. That was how I knew everyone had a price. “What else did you find out?”

“He’s been going there at least three years. That’s as long as he and my daughter have been together.” He scowled. “And he’s been getting more than lap dances too. The son of a bitch has been taking the girls up to their… V.I.P. room for… god knows what.”

“I think we both know what he’s doing with them, Eric.”

“Jesus!” He slapped the steering wheel. “I could kill him for doing this to Maura. He was the one who pursued her, the one who begged her to marry him. Why would he do that if he wants all these other women?”

I hated to add fuel to the fire, but Eric wasn’t seeing the most obvious reason. “Have you ever considered the fact that he may want to use your money and connections to further his career? He’s the D.A., right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Being connected to a prominent family, having a wife like Maura, it would make him look good.” I hated to think what that information would do to Maura when she found out. She’d been with that asshole for three years, and while I knew she didn’t love him nearly as much as she pretended, she would still be crushed by his betrayal.

“You might be right.” He pulled into a parking lot and cut the engine, closing his eyes as he tipped his head back against the headrest. “I can’t believe I didn’t see the signs sooner. I encouraged her to give him a chance. She said he wasn’t her type, but I reminded her that her taste in men was questionable and told her that maybe she should try something new.”

I bristled at his reference to Maura’s previous relationships. “You had no way of knowing he was a pig. Try not to beat yourself up about it.”

“Easier said than done, my boy, easier said than done.”

My boy?
Years ago, I would have done anything to win his approval. Ironic that when I couldn’t care less, he seemed willing to give it so freely. “Would you like me to break this to her?”

He looked taken aback by my offer. “You?” He shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but I couldn’t ask you to do that. This is my problem. I have to figure out how to deal with it.”

“Actually, it’s Maura’s problem, and she has to figure out how to deal with it.” I had no doubt she would throw that bastard’s ring in his face and tell him it was over. I only hoped I was there to witness it. “She just needs someone to enlighten her. Maybe it would be easier coming from me.”

Eric seemed to consider my point. “That feels wrong, like I’d be taking the coward’s way out. She’ll be devastated. She’ll need someone who loves her to support her and help her process it.”

The moment of truth. “Eric, you’ve confided in me. Perhaps it’s time for me to do the same.”

He removed his seatbelt, eyeing me curiously. “Okay. About what?”

“Your daughter. My interest in her goes beyond business.”

“It does?” A slow smile spread across the old man’s face. He probably felt as if he’d hit the jackpot. A billionaire for a son-in-law would exceed even his wildest expectations. “Does she know?”

“She does.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” He grinned. “This changes everything.”

I wasn’t surprised he was so smitten with the idea of me and his daughter being a couple. From what I knew about Eric, his important connections were the reason for his success. That, and his inheritance. “We’ll see about that. I have feelings for Maura, but I don’t think she’s decided how she feels about me yet.”

He waved off my concern. “That’s just because of Jeff. Maura’s loyal to a fault. She made a commitment to him and was trying to honor it.”

I didn’t doubt his characterization of his daughter was true, which spoke volumes about her decision to sleep with me. “So you’ll let me tell her about this?”