Lies in Love (8 page)

The
day had been monotonous. Talia went along on several different
deliveries just to try and keep the evening ahead off of her mind.
She’d been so stupid to suggest they meet at Sergio’s.
Wasn’t it bad enough that she had so many memories of dates
with Mason there? Now she was adding more misery by agreeing to this
farce of a date with Landon. The girls had apathetically asked Talia
to join them for dinner after their deliveries, and, although she was
tempted, she sensed their lack of sincerity and was glad she already
had plans. She just refused to tell the girls anything about them.
When the shop was closed, the girls didn’t waste a second
getting everything put up and ready for their Monday morning tasks so
they could get away from her company. Talia was well aware of the
distance she’d forced between herself and her friends.

Shutting
off the lights in the shop, she headed upstairs to prepare for her
date
.
She was using the term loosely since she still wasn’t
completely on board. Thoughts of backing out crept in her mind dozens
of times, but as determined as he’d been, she was certain
Landon wouldn’t give up easily. She knew he would continue to
show up at
Satin
until he got what he wanted and Talia couldn’t stomach
the thought. Beyond frustrated, she decided to begin her search of
the ideal outfit to make her statement. She may have begrudgingly
agreed to the date, but only because she wanted him out of her life
and off her mind. She didn’t need the distraction that he
created in her day-to-day.

She
retreated to the front of her closet, but nothing in her standard
attire was appealing. It was at the back that she found what might
qualify as acceptable for this dinner with Landon. She pulled out an
old and flouncy chocolate-brown camisole with lace trim for a
feminine affect, but layered it with a turquoise waterfall blazer
that said
strictly
platonic.
She
found a stiff pair of dark denim skinny jeans that she rarely wore,
because they did nothing to flatter her body, and added a pair of
short brown slouch boots and a brown fedora with a cheetah sash. Her
hair was down and looked a little windblown, but it suited her
opinion of this
date.
Her
ensemble looked more business than casual and Talia instantly felt it
was satisfactory for this evening. She had no intention of trying to
make this enjoyable for either of them.

Checking
the clock, she realized if she left soon she would arrive on time.
She didn’t intend to seem eager by arriving early, but she
didn’t want to be downright rude and show up late, so she set
out for her car parked at the bottom of the stairs outside. She could
already envision it, her royal-blue diesel Jetta wagon sitting in a
halogen halo, mocking her as it waited to carry her away. Heading out
the door, Talia snatched her winter coat from its peg and threw it
on, trying to keep the chill out and heat in. Once in the car, she
cranked up the heater and headed to the swanky diner she agreed to
meet Landon at. If nothing more, Talia would at least try to make
this evening memorable.

The
streetlights were glowing against the window, creating a romantic
feel to the restaurant that was deepened by the burgundy booths
draped with jade tablecloths. Landon looked around at young couples
out for an evening meal as he removed his leather jacket to reveal
the gun-metal gray, corded rib sweater beneath. He shoved his hands
in the pockets of his dark wash jeans when he realized he was the
only single currently in the place. His mind quickly focused on the
ambiance and he got the slightest suspicion that maybe Talia had been
playing hard to get; maybe she wanted him and she was captured by the
thrill of the game. A cocky grin spread across his face as his
fingers scratched along his freshly shaved jaw. If she wanted to play
games, he was in. Thoughts of her moaning his name had trickled in
when a curvy hostess appeared, her raven hair curling over her
shoulders.

“Table
for one?” She batted her eyes as she flirtatiously thrust her
breasts closer.

On
any other night, Landon would have flirted back, but tonight he was
focusing all of his energy on Talia and getting her into his bed.
“Actually, I’m meeting someone.” He watched the
hostess’ shoulders fall as she withdrew from him and reached
for the menus.

“Right
this way.”

She
led him to a booth in clear view of the front door, but just out of
sight of the hostess’ station. He was certain it was strategic
on her part, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Taking the
menu she dropped in front of him, he focused on it until she was no
longer in his peripheral.

A
soft breeze swept over his table and he found himself anxious,
checking to see if Talia had arrived. He was disappointed to find
another couple entering, but he quietly chided himself, remembering
he’d arrived nearly half an hour early for their date. He spent
the next thirty minutes looking from his menu to the front door and
back again, trying to calm the quiet anticipation he felt. Not one
minute early, Talia finally sauntered through the door. Her hair was
blowing around her as the winter wind followed her through the door.
Her cheeks were pink from being kissed by the wind and he realized he
wanted to cause her skin to flush like that. He wanted to be the
reason her hair was a mess all around her. And he pondered what she
was wearing. Whatever it was, he found that take-charge façade
sexy as hell.

While
shaking his head trying to clear his thoughts, he began wiping his
hands on his napkin and rose when Talia approached the table. “Good
evening, Petal.”

She
rolled her eyes, but smiled faintly at his remark and took a seat.

“How
was your day?” His eyes looked over her brown camisole, briefly
hovering on the even rise and fall of her chest framed by the
slightest bit of lace. He planned to enjoy every minute of this
evening.

“Fine.”
Talia’s voice was soft and empty while she looked anywhere but
at Landon. “Thank you.”

A
silence fell between them and the thoughts of her moaning his name
came creeping back in. The fidgeting of Talia’s hands on the
table caught his attention and he cleared his throat to say, “Thank
you for coming.” He forced his eyes to smolder when she looked
to his face. She grimaced in response, however, and it caught him
off-guard. The pliable woman he’d convinced himself he was
meeting wasn’t sitting before him, or maybe she was better at
this game than he realized. “Is everything okay, Petal?”
He had to get her talking.

“It’s
Talia.”

He
was taken aback by her reply. “What was that?”

“My
name … it’s Talia Byrne.”

“A
beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“Really?
You’re going to use that line?” Talia’s voice grew
indignant.

“It’s
not a line. Look…” Landon suddenly was tongue tied. The
cockiness he felt just moments before had quickly faded at the
realization that he’d completely read the situation wrong.
Genuinely frustrated, he grunted and mumbled, “Why can’t
I win with you?”

Talia’s
eyes shot open in response. She must have heard him. “I didn’t
realize this was a game.” She inched toward the edge of the
booth, looking rather offended.

“It’s
not, it’s just…”

“This
was a mistake.” She rose from the booth, only stopping when his
hand took hers.

“Talia,
wait.”

She
looked down at his hand, her eyes softer than before.

He
let go before imploring, “Please don’t go.”

When
she’d reclaimed her seat across from him, he tried again, “I’m
sorry, Talia. I don’t usually do this sort of thing, so help me
out, okay?”

“I
don’t understand. This was your idea, you know.” She
locked eyes with him skeptically. He couldn’t read her like
other women and it was overwhelming. “Why did you even push for
this pointless date?”

Landon
ran his hand through his hair. “Because there’s something
about you that … I don’t know. I just want to know you.”

“Right,
because every guy just loves eternally pissed-off females.”
Talia rolled her eyes again.

“I
like your spunk. You’re not afraid to be who you are and it’s
… refreshing.”

Talia
suddenly looked confounded by Landon’s explanation.

When
she didn’t speak, he continued, “You know, you don’t
have to be eternally pissed off. It’s okay to have fun every
once in a while.”

“I
can have fun; I just choose not to have said fun in the company of
men. In the past, it has gotten me nowhere.”

Holy
shit.
Landon
instantly recognized the cause of her hostility. Some idiot must have
ripped her heart out.
“Not all men are the same. I’m not the guy that did this
to you.”

“Did
what to me? Who says this has anything to do with a man? Maybe I’m
a lesbian.”

Landon
chuckled. “No, I’m not buying that for a second.”

Talia
smirked. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean I am
interested in any sort of relationship
with
a man. I have no intention of ever going there again.”

“Why
are you so against relationships?” The thought of another man
hurting her had his blood boiling until he realized the hypocrisy of
it all. He was the epitome of anti-relationship, but for some reason,
that didn’t matter with her.

Talia
shook her head and began looking out the window. He could tell she
didn’t want to talk about it, but he had to get past this wall
she’d created. He needed to be the wrecking ball that broke
through and set her free.

“Talia.”
Dropping his guard even further, he reached across the table to still
her fidgeting fingers and began stroking his thumb across the back of
her hand. “I’m not the guy that did this to you, but I’d
like to try to help you forget what happened.” She slowly began
to pull away again, breaking their contact. He couldn’t let her
retreat within herself, not now. “I’m not asking for a
commitment. All I ask is that you give me a chance so we can see
where this leads.”

“I
won’t
do a commitment. They are stupid and pointless and I’m…”
she paused briefly, biting on her bottom lip. “Someone in the
relationship ends up not being enough. Someone always has to change.”
She dropped her head, wringing her hands in front of her. “People
shouldn’t just confess their undying love only to turn around
and betray them, you know?” When she’d finished speaking,
her gaze returned to him, her fury pouring from her.

“I
understand. Really, I do. I watched that very thing being done to my
father and I vowed to never feel the way he does now. I just won’t
do it.”

“Then
why are we sitting here? Why are we wasting our time on this?”

Such
a valid question, but he had no idea how to answer. “I don’t
know. You’re different.”

“You
don’t even know me.”

“That’s
why we’re here, isn’t it? I keep telling you that I want
to get to know you. I’m not even asking for a second date. I’m
just asking for right now.” He couldn’t stand the thought
of her walking away from him again. He had to find a way to win her
over. “Just from the few times I’ve been around you I can
tell you’re not like any other woman I’ve ever known.
You’re realistic and a tad cynical, but I like that. You don’t
have any misconceptions of what this world has to offer.”

In
that moment, she seemed to relax. Her back didn’t seem so stiff
and her hands weren’t clenched in front of her. The corners of
her eyes weren’t so tight and she was finally looking at him,
really looking at him. “I don’t have misconceptions, but
I have doubts. I know the only person I can really trust is myself,
but maybe I could try to be less contemptuous.” She stifled a
laugh. “How do you do that?”

“Do
what?”

“How
do you get under my skin so easily? How do you make me want to care?”

“I
could ask you the same question. Ever since I met you, everything’s
changed.”

Talia
nodded and smiled at him.

Landon
took it as an opening and the two spent the better part of the
evening talking about their likes and dislikes as well as sharing a
few embarrassing moments from their past for a good laugh. When the
diner was empty and their waitress began drawing the blinds on the
place, Landon grasped the lateness of the hour. “Wow, we shut
this place down.” He had her smiling again. She had an amazing
smile. Her lips plumped just right against her beautifully straight
teeth and her eyes sparkled with sincerity. He wanted to keep making
her glow like that as long as possible. “Thank you for agreeing
to come out tonight. I know it was the last thing you wanted.”

“I
actually had a good time.” Her cheeks flushed when she spoke.
“I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad seeing you again.”

“I’m
a pretty loveable guy once you get to know me.” He raised his
eyebrows lightheartedly as he tried to bury the laughter that was
bubbling up from inside. Knowing the agreement they’d made
before their date, he hadn’t held his breath for another chance
like this, but he started to think this wouldn’t be it for them
after all.