His Betrayal Her Lies Read Free Page B

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day life was going to throw her a problem and she was going to have
to put other people’s needs before her own. This must be one of
those problems. Money has already been spent and countless
friends and family will be flying in from around the world for the
wedding. I’d have to explain to my parents why I was canceling the
wedding. Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t notice when
Libby approached her and embraced her in a hug. For the second time
that evening, Taylor cried on a friend’s shoulder.
    Pam offered her some Kleenex. Blowing her
nose, Taylor took a seat, cleared her throat, and put on her best
smile. “Toni is right. The choice I make not only will affect me
but also the family. The wedding is already in the newspapers and
it’s the talk of the town. I have to go forward with this
wedding.”
    Pam set the box of tissue on the
espresso-colored wicker lounger and grabbed Taylor’s hands. “Tay, I
love you and respect any decision you make but are you sure about
this? Are you going to tell Ari you know about his infidelity? I
mean this woman, whoever she is, is threatening your life. You have
to take this seriously.”
    Taylor understood their concerns but she
didn’t scare easily and she truly still loved Ari. He was her first
real love. Taylor met Ari when she was eighteen and a freshman at
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She was pulling her
trunk up the dorm steps when someone with a Jamaican accent spoke
to her from behind. “Hello, Ms. Lady. Do you need help?”
    She had turned around and looked into the
most gorgeous pair of hazel eyes she had ever seen on a man. His
chocolate creamy skin was baby smooth. Teeth couldn’t get any
whiter than his; his smile captivated her. “Hmm … yes, please.
Thank you,” she had responded, trying to sound calm.
    Ari picked up the trunk with ease and carried
it up the steps as his muscles rippled under his tight-fitting tee.
“What room will this be going to?”
    Taylor had been admiring his firm butt and
hadn’t realized he had spoken to her.
    “Ms. Lady, what room?” he asked again, louder
this time.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Room 217. And the name is
Taylor Briggs.” She squeezed around him and the heavy trunk,
rushing up the last few steps and down the hall to open her
door.
    He caught up to her in no time, stepped
across the threshold, turned and dropped the trunk against the
wall, then extended his hand and introduced himself as he slowly
backed out the room. “Okay, Ms. La—I mean, Ms. Taylor Briggs. I’m
Ari Gallagher.”
    Taylor, who had never believed in love at
first sight, was totally smitten; from that day they were
inseparable.
    Taylor looked at the girls she called family
and walked across the wooden patio to lean against the railing.
“No,” she said, “I’m not going to tell Ari that I know about this
woman and his child. I expect you all to do the same. I’m going to
marry him like I planned.”
    Their expressions made it clear that they
were very concerned.
    “Don’t worry about me,” she added. “I can
take care of myself. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
    Libby leaned over to Pam and whispered
loudly, “Is she really okay or is she putting on a show for
us?”
    “Hel-lo. I’m standing right here. I can hear
you,” Taylor said in a sing-song voice. “You’ve got to trust me on
this. Like I said, I know exactly what I’m doing. Now will you all
go home?” she pleaded. “Besides,” she added, trying to lighten the
mood, “I know I look good, but this jumpsuit is not a
stand-out-on-the-patio-in-the-middle-of-fall kind of outfit, okay?
Get on out of here so I can go inside and think.”
    Toni grabbed her purse and keys and prepared
to leave.
    “You’re just going to leave your sister like
this?” Pam asked, hands on her hips. “You know she is lying and not
okay. She is hurting.”
    “You know our family,” Toni answered. “And
Taylor is a Briggs. She will overcome this hurdle just like she