Tell Me No Lies Read Online Free

Lily’s house. That is, if my parents didn’t sell the horse first.
    I bit my lip, tears smarting in my eyes. “She’ll be okay here for now.”
    I turned to go, but Gage’s hand shot out to grab my arm. I felt a momentary shiver of fear, and he must have seen it in my eyes because he dropped his hand instantly. “Sorry. I just—are you in trouble? Is there something I can do to help?” He was uniquely appealing at the moment, a mix of little boy and wild-looking ex-con. I hadn’t noticed how tall he was before or how broad his chest, and I wondered what he looked like under all that facial hair.
    I forced a smile. “How about a ride to Las Vegas?” My old car had been sold, and the new one, a wedding gift from Julian’s parents, wasn’t scheduled to arrive until after Julian and I returned from our honeymoon. “I’m kidding. Look, thanks for your concern, but everything is fine. I’m not the first woman to have her heart broken.”
    He arched a brow, and I noticed he had nice ones. Expressive. “You look more mad than heartbroken.”
    He was wrong. My heart did hurt. I hated knowing that I wasn’t enough for Julian, that he didn’t love me the way I loved him. Yes, I was also furious at him, and at my parents, but most of all at myself. I was the reason I was in this mess, the reason Lily was in danger. I’d trusted the wrong man.
    “Then you don’t know me very well,” I told Gage. “Good-bye. It really has been nice knowing you.”
    I could feel his eyes on me as I left. Grabbing Serenity’s mane, I pulled myself up on her bare back and let her take me to the other side of the pasture.
    “I’ll miss you more than anyone here,” I whispered, giving her the last cube of sugar in my pocket. “But I’ll be back some day. I promise.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    I t took all of fifteen minutes to stuff several extra outfits in a backpack, and all my valuables—jewelry, cash, credit cards, small electronics that I could maybe pawn or sell on eBay. Most of my clothing was already at the house where I’d planned to live with Julian. I hoped I could get that later.
    Going online, I transferred every dime I had in my two savings accounts to the personal checking I had opened as an adult, the only account on which my mother wasn’t a joint signer. Two thousand dollars. Not a lot, but enough to get started. I took more time to locate important documents and to type up a contract on my laptop. I’d need to make sure I didn’t get swindled out of my entire trust fund. I didn’t e-mail Julian because the hurting part of me wanted him to find out from someone else the way I had.
    I should let Sadie know I was coming, but there wasn’t time for that because her phone was busy, and I had to get away before my mother returned from wherever she had gone. She’d stop me from leaving and call Julian and my father. My bid for freedom would be over.
    The last thing I did was to remove my engagement ring and set it on my desk where I knew my mother would see it. Pawning it might be wiser, but I couldn’t resist the message it would send to Julian—and to my parents. I would not settle for half a marriage.
    The house was quiet as I slipped outside and headed for the road. Already, I could tell it was going to be a long, long walk. With each step, the pack grew heavier. I could only pray my mother wouldn’t drive down the road and see me. My thumb went automatically to the place on my third finger where I’d worn the ring, finding nothing but bare skin.
    I hadn’t walked a mile when I realized I was being followed by a motorcycle. Fear tingled at the base of my spine, and I forced myself to walk faster. Another two miles or so and I’d be at Sadie’s, and I was hoping she would lend me a car. After that, I didn’t know. I needed to find someone to help me get my trust fund, a temporary husband who wouldn’t mind making a fast buck. I ran over candidates in my mind, discarding one after