Tell Me No Lies: The Black Orchid, Book 1 Read Free

architect. They eat that shit up with a spoon.” He laughed. “Okay. I get it. But seriously, when you’re done with your ass-set,” he winked at me. “You like that? Please, please text me, call me, something.”
    The vodka had helped. So did the burger and shooting the shit with an old pal. The darkness had momentarily slipped away, allowing for streams of light to shine in.
    “So, Zelie’s off-limits?”
    “Yeah. Speaking of which, she’s having a spa day, so it’s just us lads. What do you say we chill on the beach and catch some rays?”
    “And chicks?
    I chuckled. “And chicks.”
    * * * * *
    Two hours of lying on the beach, and my mood was much improved. I was halfway through the latest military thriller to top the New York Times bestsellers list, while Luke had stopped to talk to anything and everything in a bikini.
    “She was hot, right?”
    I looked up to see a pretty girl walking away, all chocolate skin and long legs wrapped in a chartreuse sarong. “You get her number?”
    “Even better, her address.” He settled back onto his towel. “I’ll see her later tonight at the bar. She said she was Miss Jamaica last year or some shit. Placed third at Miss Universe. Maybe we could have a threesome with her, like in Ecua—”
    He stopped talking and his mouth fell open. “Check out your three o’clock.”
    I put my book down and followed his gaze to a young woman in a crimson bikini. Her sleek dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Her braid trailed to mid-back. Not too tall or petite, somewhere in the middle, maybe five-five. She was on the thin side but toned with light musculature, like a competitive cheerleader with just the right amount of curves to be seductive but not vulgar.
    Dark, square Jackie-O sunglasses covered her face, but I could make out a slender, elegant nose and full red lips.
    “Fuck,” Luke said, beginning to rise.
    I touched my friend’s arm. “Hold up. You’ve talked to the last ten girls that have walked by. I’m calling this one.”
    “Dude. You know I like’em exotic.”
    I took a deep breath, watching as the girl passed us and walked away. She was beautiful. Her body was beautiful. Like a sun-kissed angel. There was something innocent and untainted about her. “I want to talk to her.” I stood up, dusting the sand from my legs.
    He licked his lips. “What about your China doll?”
    Zelie.
    “She’s work. You know that.” My eyes followed the girl as she passed, slowly making her way down the beach. I could still catch up with her. You want to drag her down to your cesspool of a life? You want to treat her like you treat Zelie and all of your other flings?
    I shook the negative thoughts from my mind. That was precisely what I didn’t want. I wanted a chance at something real, with a normal girl who didn’t lie for a living, or provoke the darkness out of me.
    With a girl like that, I might actually have a chance to crawl away from my old life and eventually start anew.
    Luke lowered his voice. “All you can do is fuck her. You know that.”
    I looked at him. Sadness swooped down like an avenging angel to pummel the freaking butterflies and rainbows zipping around my stomach. “I know the rules. What’s your problem?”
    He yawned. “It’s the look on your face.”
    “How do I look?”
    “Happy. Hopeful. Like a fucking puppy at the pound who’s found a new owner.”
    “I do not look like a fucking puppy.” I tried hard not to smile. Did I? I certainly felt like there was a frisky, exuberant puppy jumping up and down inside my chest. Damn Luke. He knew me so well.
    I watched the young woman pause as the tide lapped over her feet. I almost returned to my seat. He was right, after all. What was the point? I couldn’t offer her more than a good time, a one-night stand. Not with my job. Not with my lifestyle.
    What could I tell her about myself besides my name? That would be the first and last truthful thing I said to her. And then what? Lies.