Scandal: The Lies We Tell (Volume 1) Read Online Free Page A

in my chair and crossed my arms.
       “Why do I know your name?”
       “Because I told it to you?”
       Nick shook his head. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. I’ve heard your name, and it happened long before these last 24 hours.”
       “It’s a common name. I’m sure there are dozens of Charley Tanners floating around.”
       Nick smirked. “Female Charley Tanners? I doubt that.”
       I shrugged. “I’ve lived in Washington a long time. We run in similar circles.”
       “Everyone in Washington runs in the same circle. This town is one giant political circle.” Nick twirled his beer bottle in a slow loop on the table. “I could just pull out my phone and Google you.”
       “Our first date and you’re already talking about Googling me? Scandalous.” I tried to keep my tone even but we both knew he had me. Even if I kept my mouth shut on the matter, it would take less than thirty seconds for him to find out on his own.
       “Wait.” Nick held up a hand to stop me. “Where are you from?”
       “Wisconsin.”
       “Where in Wisconsin?”
       The second I answered that question, Nick would figure it out on his own. I didn’t so much as blink when I answered, “Morville.”
       I could see the recognition pass over his face. Any flirtation that had been skirting at the edge of our conversation was now gone completely. “How old are you?” Nick wasn’t at all embarrassed by his bold question.
       “Twenty-eight.”
       “Charley Tanner.” This time when he said my name his voice sounded haunted. “The lone survivor of the Morville High School Massacre.”
       “You make it sound so creepy.” It had been at least two years since I had heard anyone mention that part of my past. The shock of it never faded. “So that’s my big secret. Now you know.”
       Neither of us said anything for a long time. Nick finally waved the waitress over and ordered us another round of drinks. When she was gone, he said, “I’m sorry I pushed the issue. It’s none of my business.”
       “Don’t worry about it. You were much more tactful about it than most people.” I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t been bombarded with questions once someone found out about my past.
      “Let’s try a different line of questioning,” Nick said as the waitress returned with our beers. “Charley- is that short for anything?”
       “Charlotte.” I allowed a small smile. “My mother was a big Bronte fan.”
       “Not Emily or Anne?”
       “Apparently not.”
       “I always thought Charlotte was the most interesting Bronte sister.”
       I laughed. “You’re telling me that you have actually spent time considering which Bronte sister was the most interesting?”
       “What can I say, I’m a man of layers. You just have to peel them back one at a time to get a full appreciation of my many facets.”
       “Kind of like an onion.”
       “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
       “Take it any way you’d like.”
       Nick smirked. “I like where this date is headed.”
       Twenty four hours earlier, I had never met Nick Cooper. I had heard his name on the news and read about his personal life in the gossip blogs. I thought he was arrogant, condescending and smug. Fast forward one day and I was on a date with that very same man, no longer caring if he was arrogant or smug. I no longer cared because he was also charming and funny. Despite all the reasons to the contrary, I liked Nick Cooper and for some unknown reason, he seemed to like me, too.
       It took another five rounds of beer and four more hours of conversation before either of us thought to check the time. I was the one to call it quits first.
       “I had a nice time,” I said as Nick walked me back to my building. It was late, and there was no one else on the quiet side-street.
       “You sound surprised.” Nick’s arm brushed against mine and neither of us moved