Page 65 of Deception & Daylight
“That’s where you're wrong. I haven’t touched a penny of your money since I graduated college. Check the accounts. I’m doing just fine on my own.”
He dismisses that little bombshell with a wave but the fury in his eyes betrays him. “Your mother would be so disappointed in you.”
I stand abruptly, stepping up to my father who, to his credit, doesn’t falter for a moment, his arrogant facade remaining firmly in place. “Don’t you fucking dare. You have no right to throw that in my face.” I never knew my mother, but based on the stories I’ve heard, she was a kind woman and far too good for the man who contributed the other half of my DNA.
“I’m done with this bullshit. As far as we’re concerned, you no longer have a successor. Maybe you can contact one of your mistresses and see if you can borrow one of your illegitimate children to take my place.” Does my dad have other kids out in the world somewhere? I have no idea but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit. All the same, it seems I’ve struck a nerve, and it fills me with a smug sense of satisfaction when I return to Miles and lace our fingers together before pulling him along with me to my room.
Once we reach the second floor, Miles grips my hips and pushes me against the wall. “Do you have any idea how hot it is when your anger is directed at someone else?”
I laugh, gasping for breath as a smile breaks over my face. The weight on my chest lifts as I realize I’ve finally set myself free. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
“I’m so goddamn proud of you.” He kisses my forehead before pushing through the door to my room. “I have a surprise for you,” he says. “Well, not just me. Paige, too. She planned a birthday party at The Ridge tonight.”
I glance down at my purple maxi dress, wondering if I should change for a casual night out. As if reading my mind, Miles says, “You look beautiful. Don’t change a thing.”
When we arrive at The Ridge, I immediately find Paige and run straight into her arms. She squeals. “You’ve been too busy! It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever. We’re finally in the same town and I can’t even get you out for lunch at Rosie’s.” She glances over my shoulder, her fists landing on her hips. “What do you have to say for yourself, Miles?”
“Green isn’t your color, Sunshine,” he teases.
Turning her gaze back to me, she asks, “Is he being a good fake boyfriend?”
Before I can respond, Miles leans in close to my ear and whispers, “This is about as fake as those orgasms I gave you this morning.”
I flush, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Paige smirks. “Yeah, I thought so.”
Suppressing a smile, I slide onto the nearest stool and flag Liam down for a drink. “Hey Birthday Girl,” he says. “What can I get ya?”
“Margarita. Make it strong and I might tell you what Miles said in his sleep last night.” The unintentional admission slips off my tongue, and everyone’s heads turn on a swivel, their eyes wide and jaws slack. There are a few faces I don’t recognize, and several of them are looking me up and down assessingly. Miles is practically beaming with pride, and my last fuck flies right out the window. I spin to face the crowd, throw my hands in the air, and declare, “Screw it. I’m sleeping with Miles Barlow, and I don’t care who knows it.”
“That’s my girl,” he says, tugging me off my stool and kissing me thoroughly in front of the entire bar. I wish I could blame it on the wine, but that buzz is long gone — it left the moment I confronted my dad. Nope — this is all stupid, reckless Mags.
Liam holds out his open palm to Cade across the bar. “Pony up,” he says.
I stare incredulously as Cade slaps down a stack of cash, grumbling a curse. “Did you guys seriously bet on us?” I ask.Just then, Liam shifts and both Miles and Dean add to the stack. “What the fuck, Miles?!”
“Sorry, Wildcat. For what it’s worth, I had a lot more faith in you than these assholes did. I thoughtyou’d at least make it two months before you staked your claim.”
I stare pointedly at my so-called friends. “You know what, fuck all of you. Liam, I’m gonna need that margarita and a round of shots for everyone. On Miles. Top shelf, make it hurt.”
He chuckles. “You got it, Shortcake.” I wrinkle my nose in disgust at the moniker.
“She doesn't like food nicknames,” Miles says, attempting to take my hand while I playfully slap it away.
“Noted.” Rapping his knuckles on the bar, Liam heads off to prepare the drinks, and I spin to face the man who’s swiftly made his way back onto my shit list. I lean in close, grab him by the belt loops and pull him between my spread thighs. Once I have him where I want him, I discreetly palm his cock and with my lips brushing gently against his ear, I murmur, “It would be a shame if you had to suffer with a boner for the rest of the night. Hope you have enough material in your spank bank because this pussy is closed for business.” With one last nip of his earlobe, I pull back and watch in amusement as he tosses his head back and groans.
So much has changed in the two months since I fled Toronto for Oak Ridge without a plan in place. Knowing I’d come face to face with my past, I wavered over the decision, ultimately concluding I’d be far better off here than I would’ve been suffering alone in my apartment with a roommate I haven’t bothered to interact with. Miles has been the most unexpected plot twist, and I don’t regret the events that brought us together anymore. We’ve both changed a lot in the last two years, and what we’ve built here far outweighs anything I felt when it was a long distance situationship.
A short while later, Liam returns with our shots and one massive margarita. We down our shots, then head to our usual combined tables, but as I step closer, the breath seizes in my lungs. It’s laid out with a purple tablecloth, the exact shade of my dress, a massive bouquet of pastel wildflowers spilling over the sides of a delicate vase. Lucy Barlow, a warm smile gracing her kind face, sits at the head of the table, where a beautiful heart-shaped birthday cake is centered on an antique cake stand.
I quickly rush to her side and pull her in for a tight hug. “Did you do all of this for me?”
“I had some help,” she says, glancing over her shoulder where I know Miles is hovering close by. I’m not used to being doted on. Paige always did her best to make me feel special when it was just the two of us, and she’s always been the family I chose, but this feels different somehow. Lucy cups my cheek, her kind smile instantly settling my anxiety. “I meant it when I said you deserve the world, sweet girl. Let him give it to you.”
I’m not sure how to respond so I nod and she seems to accept that as an answer for now. Two strong arms band around my waist as a pair of soft lips touch my temple and I instantly melt into the embrace. “Does this mean we can have cake now?” Miles asks.
“Do you ever stop thinking about food?”
His response is a quiet whisper against my ear. “I can name at least three other things I’m thinking about right now. Not the least of which is smearing that cake all over your naked body just before I devour every delicious inch of you. But considering the effort my mom put into it, I’m gonna be a gentleman. For now.”
