The Lies That Shatter by A.V. Asher

Author:A.V. Asher [Asher, A.V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781736543924
Publisher: Winter Zephyr Press

Thirty-One

As Mercedes entered the speakeasy, she was overwhelmed by the tearful group of friends and colleagues that banded around her. Ezra brought her an amber-colored cocktail in a martini glass with a sugary cherry on the end of a pick.

Her eyes caught sight of Alec, making her pulse skip.

She could look at him all day. That delicious scruff she loved gave him a dangerous look. He wore a black suit jacket without a tie and his white collared shirt was unbuttoned just enough to expose the V of his neck. Memories of the moans he made when she’d run her tongue over that very spot flooded through her.

Alec’s gaze suddenly shifted, and his blue stare pierced into her. His beautiful lips turned up into a soft smile, and her core clenched. She blinked and looked away to cover the flush growing on her cheeks.

Ezra kept putting his arms around her and rubbing her shoulders. It wasn’t his touch she minded; it was that Alec could see it. She wasn’t sure why that mattered to her, but it did.

Mercedes knew what Ezra wanted from her. He’d made his intentions clear the night before. But Mercedes had enough of the pain of love to last a lifetime. She wasn’t willing to put herself in the way of it again. Once she was in New York, she would move quickly to get out of Ezra’s apartment.

An ash blonde head caught her eye and Mercedes wanted to throw her cocktail glass at it. Kristin was standing near the bar, gazing out at the gathered guests.

It didn’t matter. Mercedes only had to watch them together for one more night. Then she’d find a way to heal from this screwed up situation. It bothered her that she wouldn’t get to say a proper goodbye to Alec. That woman had latched on to him and she’d lost her chance.

“Such a great turnout, don’t you think?” Charlotte’s voice said in her ear.

Mercedes put her arm around her sister. “It is. You’ve done such an amazing thing here, Charlie. Thank you so much.”

Charlotte beamed at her, glowing with happiness. Luke brought Charlotte a water, his fingers delicately caressing Charlotte’s baby bump as he leaned in for a kiss.

Mercedes smiled at them with an ache in her heart. Her own life might be a level ten disaster, but her baby sister was living the fairy tale.

At least fairy tales still existed.

A headache was niggling behind her eyes, and she needed a break. She excused herself and went to the restroom. The ladies’ room had a small lounge area with a lighted vanity and a variety of hair products and lotions set out for guests to use.

Mercedes flopped onto the velvet-lined chair with a sigh.

God, this was a mess. The man she didn’t know she could ever trust again wanted another chance, and the man she longed for had chosen someone else.

Mercedes opened her purse and pulled out her makeup case.

“You’re making this harder for him than it needs to be,” a voice said from behind her.

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