Lies in Love (38 page)

“Talia,
the flowers are beautiful. You’ve really outdone yourself, this
time,” Marisa’s right hand, Celine, gushed. She’d
always been extremely hard to please, so her words were a true
compliment.

“Thank
you, Celine. I’m so happy that Marisa entrusted her special day
to me.” Talia worked her way past a few more guests, receiving
the occasional compliment on the flowers and thanking them as she
went. She was bursting with the words she needed to say to Landon as
she worked her way through the crowd, tugging him behind her to a
quiet room.

“What’s
your rush, Petal?”

“We
need to talk.” Talia couldn’t wait any longer to say what
was on her mind. The words were sure to spill out any second and she
wanted to be alone when she said them. Seeing Marisa’s office,
she ducked inside, knowing it wouldn’t be used today.

“Is
everything okay?”

Talia
nodded, pushing through the outer room of Marisa’s quarters to
her office within. When they were greeted with silence, Talia began
to relax infinitesimally.

“Petal?”

She
breathed deep, trying to find the perfect way to express what was on
her mind. “Just give me a second.” She took another deep
breath, struggling for a place to start. Putting distance between
them, Talia began, “You’re amazing. Do you know that?”

Landon
stared in bewilderment. He evidently didn’t know where this was
coming from.

“You
never gave up.”

“No.”
His voice was pensive.

“Why?”

“Did
you want me to?” Leaning against the counter, he shoved his
hands in his pockets, watching her.

She
shook her head. “I’m miserable to live with.”

“I
know.” Landon chuckled and strode to her. “I like that
about you.” He bit the tip of her nose, placing his hands on
her hips.

She
giggled as his hands steadied her and she continued. “I finally
understand. You’ve made me better. You’ve made me whole
again. I guess it’s just one of the many reasons why I love
you.”

“I
love you too.” Landon smiled, but the smile quickly shifted.
“Wait, what?” He stepped back a little, staring. “Did
you just say you love me?”

Talia
nodded, her eyes flickering closed. Before she opened them, she felt
Landon’s mouth, hot on hers, his hands greedily pulling at her
hips. Between kisses, she whispered again, “I love you.”

Landon
pressed into her, then began moving her around the room, stopping
when she was pressed against the counter along the wall. He hoisted
her up, sitting her there as he delved deeper, devouring her mouth
and moving his hands to her neck.

Talia’s
head fell back against the wall when Landon’s tongue traced the
pulse in her neck. He sucked at the base while thrusting his hands in
her hair and pulling her ponytail free. A soft whimper fell from her
lips as he tugged at the tresses spilling down her back and bit at
the hollow of her neck. Her hands moved of their own volition as his
mouth continued to trail across her collarbone to the swell of her
breast spilling out of her dress. She arched her back in invitation
and Landon’s hands fell away. “What are you…?”
Talia began, looking at the vehemence on his face.

“Shhh,”
Landon instructed. He fell to his knees, reaching beneath her dress
and removing the satin panties that were soaking against her center.
He slipped the bit of fabric in his pocket then pushed up at the hem
of her dress, exposing her wanton flesh. Pressing her legs apart, he
pressed his mouth to that delicate bud that triggered an ache deep in
her belly. His tongue swept in and out before his teeth grazed
against her sensitive clitoris. Her hands thrust in his hair as his
mouth moved. The ache grew heavier, her legs trembling as Landon’s
hands held them apart. She was on the precipice, about to fall into a
deep ravine, when he whispered against her, “Say it again.”

His
hot breath sent shivers up her spine. As she came crashing down she
panted, “I love you. God, I love you.”

Landon
stood, dropping his pants around his ankles and eased into her
greedy sex. “Again.”

He
pulled out quickly only to slam into her as she murmured, “I
love you, Landon.”

Landon
growled deep and low as he continued to pump into her.

Talia
knew this would be quick. She knew of the hunger that had lingered
there, a yearning to hear her say the words, words she should have
said a thousand times. Now that those words had been spoken, they
could truly be together,, releasing every piece of themselves they’d
been holding back before her declaration.

He
drew out her next orgasm with each plunge. As he rocked into her one
last time, she quaked in his embrace, her climax taking over, forcing
her body to quiver in his grasp. As they breathed in unison, Talia
whispered, “I truly love you, Landon.”

With
his forehead pressed against hers, he purred, “I truly love
you, Tal.”

“Where
have you been?” Camey came rushing at Talia as she and Landon
entered the reception, now well under way.

Talia
pressed her hand over her hair, hoping she had tamed it back to its
original place. “Sorry. I needed a minute in the ladies’
room.” When Camey turned her back, Talia tugged at the hem of
her skirt, recalling her panties that were now tucked away in
Landon’s pocket.

“What’s
going on, Tal? Why is Mason here with Brandy?” Sara came
barreling toward them.

“He’s
here with Brandy?” Talia mumbled, stumbling backward into
Landon, his arms quickly catching her.

Camey
had turned her attention to the dance floor, where Talia could only
assume Mason and Brandy were dancing. “He’s pawing all
over her, her and her humongous pregnant belly.”

“What?”
Talia knew Mason and Brandy had slept together; she’d witnessed
it with her own eyes, but the revelation of Brandy’s pregnancy
shocked her beyond belief. Mason swore to her he’d been safe.

“She
must be damn near nine months along,” Camey muttered. “Wait.”
Camey began counting on her fingers, no doubt realizing the timeline
for Brandy’s pregnancy. “Talia?”

Talia
started to walk out of the room, Landon, Camey, and Sara close on her
heels.

“Was
this your reason for breaking things off with Mason?” Camey
called, rounding on her.

Camey
was standing mere inches from her face, but all Talia could see was
Brandy lying naked in
her
bed. She couldn’t speak. Brandy was pregnant. And Mason had
proposed to her with the promise that he wanted her, only her.

“Talia.
Answer me.” Camey was relentless.

“For
God’s sake, yes. I caught him screwing Brandy in
our
bed right before our rehearsal dinner. Is that what you wanted to
hear? How I’m a big fucking failure? I couldn’t even keep
Mason satisfied. Happy now?”

“Why
didn’t you tell us?” Sara looked wounded. “You let
us believe it was all your fault.”

“You
believed what you wanted to believe. I didn’t owe you any
explanation. I still don’t.” Talia turned for the door,
aching to run away.

“But
I’m your sister.” Sara’s voice cracked. “Doesn’t
that mean anything to you?”

Talia
took a step toward the door before turning to face her sister. “It
means everything to me. It’s the main reason why I couldn’t
tell you. I couldn’t stand to see the looks you would give me
if you knew, the one saying that I’m just not good enough. I
know I’m a failure at relationships. I’m just like Dad,
for Christ’s sake. I bury my feelings in the shop and push away
anyone that cares about me. I’m lucky Landon’s put up
with me this long.”

“I’m
not putting up with you, Tal.” His hand grazed her elbow before
she pulled it away. When she wouldn’t look at him, he pulled
her to face him until their eyes met. “I told you, I love you.”

Tears
were forming in her eyes. She turned toward the reception hall,
trying to hide her weakness, but when she had her back fully to them,
the door opened and Mason appeared, followed by Brandy and her
swollen belly. “Perfect.” When a calculating smile formed
on Mason’s face, she spun on her heel and ran.

“So
you’re
my replacement?” Mason stood in Landon’s path,
interfering with his pursuit after Talia. “You know you’ve
got a little head case on your hands, always sending mixed signals.”
Mason’s arm wrapped around Brandy and mockingly rubbed her
belly. “Hell, just yesterday she had her sister at my door,
begging.”

“You
lying piece of shit. You were the one begging me to take that ring to
Talia. And the whole time,
she
was pregnant with
your
kid.” Sara marched closer to Mason, with Brandy’s
humiliated face in her sights, but Landon’s arm extended,
holding her back.

“Let
me handle this.” Landon’s words pacified her hostility as
he turned his attention fully to Mason. They were practically nose to
nose except for Landon’s obvious height advantage. “Who
do you think you are? You come out here all high and mighty with your
whore and try to put Talia down? You don’t have the right. And
if you really believed a word of what you just said then you didn’t
know Talia at all. She was smart to drop you when she did.”

Mason
stood slack-jawed, listening to Landon’s every insult. When
Landon was heading for the exit in search of Talia, he heard Mason
say, “I knew her well enough when she was screaming my name.”

Landon
chuckled, turning around to find Brandy tearing up in Mason’s
clutches. Feeling sadness for every woman who had ever been involved
with Mason, Landon determinedly walked back to him. He stared
straight in Mason’s eyes, loathing the gloating smile on that
repugnant face. When he was feet away, he took Mason by surprise and
punched him square in the jaw.

“Enjoy
the party, asshole.” He didn’t wait a second longer for
Mason’s response. He had to find Talia, to ease the pain she
was feeling. It tore at him that she was so affected by the fact that
Mason would soon be a father, but he loved her and he had to make
sure she was alright.

The
hall seemed a mile long as he ran for the exit, his mind racing,
wondering what was going through Talia’s mind. When he finally
reached the door, he ripped it open and called her name, but saw the
empty spot where the van had been and knew his summoning was useless.
He turned back around to reenter the hall when Camey and Sara came
storming out.

“Where
is she?” they cried in unison.

“Gone.”
His shoulders dropped, trying to think of what to do next.

Camey
stated, “We’ve got to find her. God only knows what she’s
thinking right now.”

Looking
around the lot, Landon spotted Reina’s van. “Where’s
Reina?”

“She’s
inside with Wade,” Sara answered. Obviously comprehending
Landon’s query, she added, “Let’s go.”

The
trio ran back into the reception, passing Mason, who was now
demanding Brandy believe his stories. Inside the hall, Landon spotted
Wade and Reina on the dance floor, swaying to the music. He
unapologetically pushed past several of the wedding’s guests
until he was standing at their side. “Reina, I need your keys.”

“¿Perdoneme?
I don’t think so.”

“Talia
took off. We need to go after her.” Sara interjected, pleading
their case.

“What?
Where did she go?”

“She
had to have gone back to the shop. She took the van. Where else would
she go?” Sara seemed to be reasoning with herself.

“Okay,
I’ll take you.”

“No,
I need to go alone.” Landon didn’t want an audience when
he found Talia, wherever she was.

Reina
shook her head, her arms crossing over her chest.

“Come
on, Reina. I need to find her.”

When
Reina didn’t speak, Camey stepped in. “We’re going
with you.”

Landon
shoved his hand through his hair and muttered, “Fine.” He
couldn’t waste any more time. He had to know she was alright.