Page 87 of Married With Lies

I’m sitting quietly on the sofa and barely moving a muscle while Richie and the two capo jokers chatter about trucker strikes and casino business. I’ve got nothing to add until I hear Franco say, “So when are we all going on this Colorado trip?”

I’m sure that I flinch. Richie’s eyes immediately dart my way. Yet he says nothing and waits for me to ask the question.

“What Colorado trip?”

Richie picks up a can of salted peanuts and slowly pulls off the lid. “Barone has an ownership stake in a resort called Consequences Hot Springs. Looks like it’s not far from your wife’s ranch. As a gesture of thanks for helping him solve some recent problems he’s invited us all to fly out on his plane for a free weekend.” Richie pops a handful of peanuts into his mouth and chews. “Anyway, I’m sure I told you this already.”

The fuck he did.

Richie casually munches on his peanuts and waits to see what I’ll say next.

Sadie mentioned that resort once. She pointed to some mountains in the distance and said she always meant to check the place out.

“Right,” I say. “So when are we going?”

Richie quits chewing. He swallows and grabs more peanuts. “A week from Friday. We’ll fly back on Monday morning. Note to all, this is a trip with the wives. Spread the word. No girlfriends. You know how the women talk and I’m not in the mood to deal with that kind of grief.” He points to me and grins. “Lucky you. Your wife will already be there.”

“Lucky me,” I agree without a pause.

There’s really no other choice but to go along for the ride.

On the one hand, I’m not looking forward to explaining to Sadie how her peaceful corner of the word is about to be invaded by a pack of mafia goons.

On the other hand, I’ll be seeing her again real soon. That’s the reason why I find myself fighting a smile.

The urge to smile fades when Richie laughs at a comment from Franco. The reality of what’s going to happen next weekend sinks in.

The men I’m sitting in the room with are bad men. They are a threat to everyone they meet, whether other people realize the truth or not. I’m no angel myself but I don’t harm the innocent. Besides, I’d charge straight into a firing squad for Sadie.

She doesn’t understand what these men are, not really.

And thanks to me, they’re all coming right to her doorstep.

24

SADIE

“Breathe,” Gus says while sitting on the edge of my bed and watching me squeeze my suitcase shut. “He’s just a man.”

“I’m breathing just fine,” I argue while jerking the zipper closed.

And I am. My heart is pounding and my palms feel clammy but I’m still breathing.

Gus deserves to be scolded for saying Cale Connelly is ‘just a man’ but I’m working on playing it cool. If I don’t practice, I might tackle Cale on sight. Ever since he said he’d be visiting (gasp!) and we’d be sharing a resort suite (GASP! GASP!), I’ve been a woman obsessed.

Him and me. One bed. So many things that can be done on that bed. And out of the bed too. Against the wall. In the shower. The combinations are endless.

I could hardly sleep last night. I keep checking the time every two minutes, hopelessly impatient for his arrival. I’m afflicted with at least six different sex fantasies an hour.

“I’m doing it,” I blurt out to Gus.

She blinks behind her huge purple-frame glasses. “What is it you’re doing and why do I get the feeling I won’t approve?”

Heaving a deep breath, I take a seat beside her on the bed. “I’m going to tell Cale that I’m in love with him.”

Gus says nothing in the wake of this colossal confession. Gus is never without a comeback. It’s one of the reasons we’re besties. Neither of us can keep our mouths shut. Either she’s been shocked into silence or else she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings.

“I see,” she says. She toys with a string of pumpkin-shaped beads around her neck and I get the sense she’s picking her words with care. “In the beginning you said it wasn’t like that between you and him.”

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