Picture Perfect Lie by Marquita Valentine

Author:Marquita Valentine [Valentine, Marquita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: steamy romance, best friends to lovers romance, contemporary romance, beach read, fake marriage
Publisher: Valentine Publishing, LLC
Published: 2018-03-24T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Campbell

I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE but to trust Knight.

After all, he knows his family better than I do, and maybe, just maybe, it’s the right thing to lie this time. Maybe our lie is exactly what his family needs to heal, or move past—not get over—the disappearance of their brother.

I can only imagine what they’re going through right now. The waiting and wondering. The lack of answers that give birth to both false hope and the worst fears imaginable.

Knight shared a little of what happened, so I wouldn’t be caught unaware if anyone talked about it. He warned me his brother Duke would be the one who’d be the most suspicious, ask the most questions, and generally be a doubting Thomas.

Only Duke hadn’t shown up to eat and it’s their brother Barron who won’t stop staring at me... and not in a ‘I think you’re hot’ kind of way either. Behind his silver eyes, I can see gears turning, suspicion building, and an unholy glee as he peppers me with questions about my relationship with his brother.

“How long did you know Knight before you started dating?” he asks.

We’re in yet another warm room, a wall of windows facing east for an amazing view of the ocean, as we are served platter after platter of breakfast dishes until the table all but groans under the weight of it all. Knight’s momma assured me this isn’t normal, but I’m not so sure.

“Not long,” I reply.

“Care to be more specific?”

Care to be more of an asshole? “Longer than one day and less than a year.”

“Leave her alone, Barron,” their mother chides. “Can’t you see the poor dear’s exhausted from all that traveling?”

I can’t hide my smirk, yet I know it won’t help endear myself to Barron. I’m not here to make enemies; I want to make friends. Honestly, I want to continue to sleep in a comfortable bed with my baby at my side, in a room that a has a working lock on the door.

He narrows his eyes. “What his middle name?”

Oh dear God. I have no idea. “A very sensible one, just like the rest of y’all.” I take a bite of eggs, and turn my attention to my daughter. She’s in one of those seats that enable babies as young as her to sit up. “Look at you, big girl, sitting up by yourself.”

It wasn’t easy to come downstairs and face everyone at breakfast, but just like in L.A., it’s a ‘fake it until I make it’ situation. For me, it means I have to pretend to be Knight’s loving wife until he comes back and tells everyone the truth.

A rush of warmth flows through me, just like it always does when I think of him. If I were actually his wife, it wouldn’t be hard at all to be loving. He makes it so easy, and I swear I’m jealous of a woman I don’t even know who will someday marry him.

Quinn grins at me from across the table.

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