Private Lies

Roxanne didn’t have to glance back to know who’d entered the restaurant, but she did anyway, unable to resist the temptation of simply watching Gage Dabon move.

She turned in time to see the maître d’ pointing out her table. Gage’s broad shoulders and trim physique were encased in an expensive-looking dark blue suit. His gorgeous, sculpted face and his confident, almost arrogant manner—no doubt delivered to him via his Creole ancestors—caused more than a few heads to turn. His thick, slightly wavy hair gleamed blue-black under the crystal chandeliers, as if an enhancing spotlight followed every step he took, every muscle he flexed. He moved with purpose, with an almost predatory gait. Nothing would sway him from his path. Deny him what he sought.

What the hell was he doing with her? she wondered, and not for the first time.

“Oh, God,” she said in a low tone to Toni. “I’m not ready to face him.”

“Be strong. I’m here. Ask him where he went to dinner last night.”

“Afternoon, babe.”

Roxanne reached deep for some Lewis nerves and lifted her face for Gage’s light kiss. His lips lingered just a bit on hers, longer than was really appropriate for lunchtime affection. But then they hadn’t seen each other in four days, and their reunions weren’t usually so public.

She craved him with a hunger that had everything to do with sexual need, and yet she knew there was so much more.

“I missed you,” he said against her lips.

As always, the wonder of his touch and his voice exploded in her stomach, rolled through her blood, making her glad she was sitting, as her knees would never hold her weight. He stroked her jaw with his thumb, his silvery gaze meeting hers. “You look tired. Not sleeping well without me?”

Lack of sleep was the least of her troubles. Her stomach clenched. “I’m fine.”

He continued to stare at her for the space of two heartbeats, as if deciding whether or not to accept her answer, but obviously choosing not to push. He glanced across the table. “Hello, Toni. I’m pleased to see someone can convince her to take time for lunch.”

He’s so cool, Roxanne thought, watching him unbutton his suit coat and slide into the booth next to her. Was he cool enough to lie to her? And why? Would he really betray her with another woman?

Her heart raced. Nervous, she fiddled with a napkin rolled up in a place setting, finally pushing it and her plate in front of Gage. “Have you eaten?”

He regarded the plate, then her. “No, and you haven’t either.”

“You have it.”

“Fine. We’ll share.” He dropped the napkin on his lap then forked up a bite of crab, holding it in front of her lips.

Knowing it never did any good to argue with Gage, Roxanne took the bite. His thigh brushed hers, and their intimate position reminded her of other nudges and sighs, erotic moments, familiar touches. She swallowed crab she didn’t taste, forcing it down with the tears clogging her chest.

“How’s business, Toni?”

“Busy. Everybody’s gearing up for summer.”

“I see more withdrawals than deposits. Not you, though?”

Toni fiddled with the stem of her water glass. “Clients are in the buying mood. In fact, I met with one last night.” She paused, her blue eyes cold. “In the Quarter.”

Roxanne could have sworn Gage flinched.

Then, a second later, slick as spit, he casually held another bite of salad against her lips. Her heart hammering, her mind buzzing with the answer he might give, she shook her head and leaned back.

One dark eyebrow quirked at the distance she formed between them, and she held her breath for his answer.

His gaze flicked to Toni. “I’ll bet things are wild down there.”

Roxanne gripped the table in an effort to interrupt, to accuse him of knowing exactly how the Quarter was last night. But she held her tongue.

Maybe because Toni had stamped on her foot.

“I keep my distance at night usually. Though Rox and I like that new restaurant on St. Ann. Maybe we’ll go next week.” His gaze, full of sincere invitation, locked with hers. “Want to, Rox?”

Roxanne’s body ceased beating, moving, or thumping. He’d lied. He’d just lied to her face.

A hollow sense of betrayal invaded her.

The waiter set café au lait in front of them, and Roxanne sipped, though she tasted nothing.

Under the table, Toni kicked her. Her friend had, no doubt, sensed the way of the wind. “How was Chicago?” she forced herself to ask.

Gage smiled, his even white teeth flashing beneath the antique lamplights in the restaurant. “Cold as hell. Guess they don’t realize it’s May up there.”

“But no delays,” Toni asked, her smile tight as Roxanne’s heart restarted and threatened to jump from her chest. “You were able to take off this morning?”

“Smooth takeoff, for which I was glad. I was anxious to get back to Roxanne.”

Roxanne noticed he didn’t deny taking off this morning. Nor did he exactly confirm. The vagueness bothered her, and she fought to remember other trips and itineraries he might have vaguely mentioned. He’d gone to New York a couple of weeks ago, said he’d be there for two days and wound up staying for four. Had there been other trips she’d blown off as insignificant business meetings and delays? How deep did this go? How long has the lying been going on?

Nauseous, she realized Toni had been right. She deserved the truth. She had to find out what was happening.

Gage angled his body toward her. “Unfortunately, we’re going to have to change our plans for tonight. An unexpected meeting has come up.”

Another lie? What is he really doing? And with whom?

“Really?” she asked, working for curious innocence—her usual mentality, so surely she’d pulled it off. “You just got back. I really wanted to share this new restaurant with you. It’s a client of mine’s first leap into the business. He needs the support.”

“I know it was important.” His voice deepened with concern, and he moved closer, angling his body toward hers, effectively boxing her between the wall and his broad chest. His spicy scent invaded her. She fought the urge to touch him. He had a great body. A responsive body.

“I’ll make it up to you next week, I promise,” he said. “This meeting couldn’t be avoided. I’ll be in town, but I have to stay over at the hotel.”

“Mmm.” She glanced at Toni, who sipped her coffee as if she didn’t have every molecule directed at their conversation. “Which hotel?”

“The Sheraton.”

“Good choice. They have a view of the river, you know. It’s—”

“Are you planning to surprise me and show up in my room—” he paused, his grin blooming with devilish enthusiasm, his voice lowering “—naked, perhaps?”

Startled, she raised her head.

He leaned forward, pressing a light kiss on her jaw, sending heat soaring through her veins. “As much as I would enjoy it, you would, no doubt, shock the accounts manager I’m rooming with right out of his Jockey shorts.”

She fought desperately against his allure—the spicy, male smell of him, his warm breath against her skin—reminding herself he’d never roomed with anyone before. A very smooth and flattering response to keep her from showing up unexpectedly at his hotel? She never would have considered interrupting his business meetings before today. Before he’d lied.