Love Me With Lies teaser

Here is the first long excerpt from Love Me With Lies! I love where the story is going so much that I felt like sharing a little with you.

To give some more context to the snippet below, Kova was supposed to pick Avery up from the airport, but Adrianna is nine months pregnant and had a fall. Kova won’t leave her side and asks Xavier to pick up Avery, much to Xavier’s dismay.

*this scene is unedited and probably contains errors*

“I don’t recall seeing a laptop,” Xavier says. “Are you sure you had it when you got off the plane?”

“Unless you had a guest in your car after me, it’ll be there. I was holding it when you picked me up. I put it on the side of my bag when I got the gum out. I never travel without it.”

His gaze falls to my chest. “Must’ve missed you holding it in that potato sack you’re wearing. Your boyfriend has shit taste.”

Is Xavier… jealous? The corners of my lips curve into the tiniest of smirks. A shadow crosses in his eyes. His fuck up just became a benefit to me – and he knows it.

I smile sweetly at him. “Shit boyfriends seem to be my specialty. You started a trend.”

“So you are dating Todd, yeah?” Kova says.

I groan inwardly at his question. Kova’s timing is truly the worst.

“Who’s Todd?” Xavier asks, but it sounds more like a demand for answers. Great.

“One of the strangers she met on the internet. He is an Investment Banker,” Kova offers up.

My jaw plummets, and my eyes widen. I could strangle Kova. “Since when did you become a gossiper? I thought Russian men were above that.” I shoot a glance at Adrianna. “Tell your husband to shut up.”

“She met him on a dating site. I told her they are dangerous and to delete her account, but she has a head like a rock,” Kova continues, and it’s like fuel to the fire. “Last time she was here, it was a different man. She could get herself killed. What if she picks up a serial killer?”

“Highly unlikely that will happen,” I say. “I could only get so lucky.”

Xavier lets out a boisterous laugh. “You’re on Tinder because no one wants to date your lying ass.”

“It’s called Honey,” I correct. “Tinder is for amateurs and STD’s. You should know that.”

His eyes lower, and his nostrils flare. Seeing a dark cloud of possessiveness hang above his head gives me great satisfaction. It means he still has feelings for me, whether he likes to admit it or not.

“How long have you been fucking Investment Banker Todd?” Xavier boldly asks.

Investment Banker Todd? My brows rise at the invasive question for someone he claims he hates with a fiery passion. It takes everything in me not to laugh, but I fail, and a giggle escapes. Even Adrianna laughs. We share a knowing glance.

Xavier seems so mad, and it’s comical to me. I’m not actually dating anyone or fucking. If I were, Adrianna would know.

“I thought you were leaving for your big jet,” I say sarcastically.

“Answer the question.”

“What difference is it to you who’s dick I’m on? Wishing it was yours?”

“Not even on my deathbed would I wish for that.”

“Lies.” I lean forward and place my hands flat on the cold island. “Then why the fuck do you care?”

Xavier stills. “I don’t.”

“Could have fooled me,” I say.

“She does not see them long,” Kova answers Xavier’s original question. “She has a time limit. Like it is a rule.”

“Oh, my god. You’re worse than a teenage girl in high school! I hope you have five daughters now.”

“They get one month,” Kova says to Xavier as if I’m not even in the room. “Seems like Todd got an extension.”

“What does that even mean?” Xavier says to Kova, his question filled with disgust.

I inhale deeply, glance at Adrianna, and let it all out. She’s trying not to laugh. “Motormouth Kova over here. This is amusing you, isn’t it.”

She winces, then nods her head before mouthing sorry. I’d never pray for anyone to blackout from drinking too much alcohol, but in this moment, I pray both Kova and Xavier blackout so they don’t remember this conversation in the morning. I don’t have to relive it with them.

“Okay. You’re cut off,” I say to a drunk Kova, then turn to Adrianna. “Take his vodka away and give him a sippy cup with warm milk.”

“Todd sounds like a fucking bore,” Xavier spits out. “I bet he knits socks for his cat at night.”

I almost laugh again when an idea hits me. I should let Xavier think I have a man. What’s the worst that can happen at this point?

“I am getting tired. Go get the damn computer,” Kova says, his accent a tad slurred. I had a feeling he was drunk for his lips to be this loose.

“I’ll get it. I know where it is,” I sigh.

“Don’t bother. I can get it myself.” Xavier bids a due with the salute, then strolls down the hallway.

Will he bring my laptop into the house or leave it on the stoop as he originally claimed he would with my luggage?

Being considerate seems too nice for someone he hates. I could see Xavier “accidentally” dropping my laptop on his way back. Then I’d have to punch him.

Without another thought, I stand and look at Adrianna. “I don’t see Xavier handing me the laptop. He’ll probably leave it in the dirt. I’ll be right back.”