The Lie by
Maggie Cole
A Midwestern girl who came to New York with a broken heart. A Texan tycoon who created his own billions.
A lie so devious it still haunts them a decade later.
Laura Aimee’s got her life together—until she crosses paths with the man who bootstomped her heart a decade ago. Back then, Blake Montgomery told her a lie so devastating she still hasn’t forgiven him.
But she also can’t forget the feel of his rough hands on her. The taste of his mouth. How he undressed her with his eyes.
She can’t forgive him, and she can’t trust him. But Blake will do anything to make her his. One night, she tells herself. Just one night together and then she’ll let him go forever.
Why are the men who wreck us the hardest to resist?
THE LIE is the fourth installment of the All In series. At approximately 70,000 words, this sizzling novel features a love-at-first sight romance and a guaranteed HEA. It can be read as a stand alone or after books 1 – 3 of the All In Series.
Excerpt
The car pulled up to my building. I walked into my lobby…and I almost turned and walked out. Blake stood there, hands in his pockets, his eyes full of emotion.
“What are you doing here?” I spat out.
He walked over to me. “Laura, please. Let’s talk.”
“How did you know where to find me?” I wracked my brain. Surely Tom and Phil wouldn’t have given him my address.
His face registered guilt. “I looked up Tom’s company and saw that you changed your last name to your grandma’s name. Then I Googled you.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I might have changed it so I wouldn’t be found?” I had changed it so my parents wouldn’t find me, but he didn’t need to know that.
He ignored my question. His voice sounded desperate, and he begged, “Please, let’s talk.”
I pointed to the door. “I have nothing to say to you. Get out.”
He stood there. “You don’t know the truth. Please, let me tell you the truth.”
It wasn’t fair. Blake looked better than in our twenties. His body was hard, filled out, and his lips looked as delicious as ever. The spicy smell of him made my nostrils flare, and butterflies danced in my stomach. The plea in his eyes made me want to wrap my arms around him and slide my tongue into his delicious mouth.
My body betrayed me, and I hated it at that moment. I laughed and pointed to the door again. “I know all about your honesty. Out.”
He looked at me, hurt, and didn’t move. “Laura, please…”
The security guard walked over to me. “Ms. Aimee, do you need me to escort this gentleman out?”
I raised my eyebrows at Blake.
He held up his hands in defeat. “I’m going.” He walked past me and stuffed a card in my pocket. “Call me when you want to know the truth.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” I walked over to the elevator, pushed the button, and quickly got to my floor. As soon as I got into my apartment, I leaned against the door and fell on the floor. But I didn’t cry this time. This time, my mind raced with thousands of thoughts.
I held his business card in my hand with all the information I needed to get ahold of him. I traced the raised imprint of his name with my finger: Blake T. Montgomery.
What had he been up to all these years? What was this new lie he wanted me to know? How old was his kid…nine? Ten? What about his wife? His beautiful, perfect fucking wife.
I had seen her picture in the paper. She was a perfect ten: blonde, blue-eyed, rich, and full of Texan charm. Unlike me, who was as Midwestern as they got, raised in Ohio by my grandmother, and with parents who preferred the bottle and the needle.
The day I left for New York was the day I saw Blake’s wedding picture in the paper. The smiles on their faces and the white wedding dress she wore—the dress that should have been mine—had haunted me since.
I leaned my head against the door and slightly hit it. These thoughts didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that I stayed as far away from Blake Montgomery as possible.
