Tell Me No Lies Read Online Free Page A

the other. Either they were married, seeing someone one, employees of my father, or friends of Julian. Maybe one of my college friends could help. Unfortunately, I’d been so wrapped up in Julian these past months that I hadn’t kept in contact beyond the occasional text message.
    The motorcycle moved closer, and I didn’t relax when I saw who was on it. I came to a full stop and turned to face Gage. “Why are you following me?” Maybe there was more to the ex-con rumor than I’d thought.
    “Are you really planning to walk to Vegas?”
    “Of course not. I’m going to a friend’s to borrow her car.”
    “And then you’re going to marry a stranger.”
    “Unless I can find someone I know to marry me instead.”
    He stared at me flatly without speaking.
    “Look, it’s complicated,” I said, “but once I have access to my trust fund, everything will be fine.”
    “To do that you have to be married?”
    “Yes.”
    “I see.”
    His eyes were greener than I’d ever realized, and I liked the way they crinkled at the sides, but it was hard to look past the scruffy exterior. I couldn’t imagine kissing someone with all that hair—not that I wanted to kiss him. My face flushed at the thought. Hopefully, he’d think it was the heat. Late September was better for walking than August, but not much.
    “Get on,” he said. “I’ll give you a ride.”
    I hesitated.
    “Come on. That pack looks heavy. You can put it in here.” He opened the hard compartment on the back of his motorcycle.
    Sighing, I handed it over, and he placed it next to small black duffel already inside. With a little moving around, it all fit.
    “What you carrying in there—rocks?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Can we just go?”
    He grinned, and again I wondered what he looked like under the facial hair. “Wait a minute. Isn’t that your mother’s car?”
    I glanced up the road at the approaching blue sedan. Instantly, I squatted down by the motorcycle, ducking my head.
    Gage laughed, a deep, resonate sound. “I take it you don’t want her to see you.”
    “Just looking for more rocks to put in my pack.”
    He laughed again, and something warm grew inside me. I laughed with him, straightening once the car passed. As soon as she found out I was missing, she’d call in the troops, but for the moment I was safe. Only an hour ago, I doubted I’d ever laugh again, but here I was, already laughing with Gage.
    “This will hide your hair,” he said, handing me a helmet, “and it can’t possibly make it look worse. Did you even comb it today?”
    He had some nerve, though now that I thought about it, I hadn’t washed or combed it. I’d been about to jump in the shower when Sadie arrived. I didn’t have makeup on, either. Not a good way to start a search for a husband, even if it was only a business arrangement.
    I silenced him with a hard look, but after I climbed onto the back of the bike, I found myself smiling again. My mother would be mortified to see me out and about with Gage. As for me, who did I have to impress? Julian was the only one, and I was running from him.
    “Where to?” Gage asked.
    I gave him directions to Sadie’s, and he revved the engine, starting forward much more quickly than I expected. I clung to him. I could feel his muscles under the T-shirt. Plenty strong to have hurt someone. Did the ex-con rumor mention something about that? I couldn’t remember. Cold sweat broke over me. What was I thinking even being with him?
    No, I knew him well enough, and this trip was only to Sadie’s.
    I enjoyed the wind in my face, the way Gage leaned when he took the turns. Julian had a motorcycle, but he didn’t like wearing the helmet and usually picked me up in his green BMW. I didn’t mind because the places we went generally required clothing not suitable for motorcycle riding.
    “Turn here,” I shouted in Gage’s ear.
    We turned the corner, and I felt my breath leave as I saw Julian’s BMW sitting out front of the