Page 2 of Lie for a Lie

I blink, slightly startled, and feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment, needing to adjust myself in the seat to regain my composure.

“Thank you for that advice. I am so bored with it, I almost fell asleep.”

Our eyes meet and a genuine smile dances across my lips. His eyes dart down toward them, and I can swear electricity begins to hum between us. He then smiles, making something primal stir beneath my skin. I have to sip my drink to quench the fire in my lower gut.

“I fell asleep a few times while reading it. I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I hadn’t been deployed and bored out of my mind.”

“How many tours?”

“Two.”

“And the best book you could find to read was full of questionable fairy porn?”

He lets out this laugh that causes my chest to ache. I take another sip of my drink before reaching a hand out to the beautiful stranger.

“Paige,” I say, introducing myself.

Recognition flickers in his eyes at my name as he takes my hand into his.

“It is an unexpected pleasure, Paige. I’m Graham.”

His name echoes through my soul as I take in his dark, curly hair and handsome, robust features. But it is the perfect dimpled smile that seems to keep widening that is getting all my attention.

“Do you have a sister named Breanna Harris by chance?”

I suddenly realize what the recognition in his eyes is from. A bit of anxiety runs through me, and I finish what is left of my drink.

Please be the single friend Bre was talking about.

“Yes, and call her Bre. If she hears you call her Breanna, she will lose her mind.”

He lets out a low chuckle and holds my gaze long enough for me to realize how blue his damn eyes are. Causing me to suck in my bottom lip slightly.

“She terrifies me,” Graham said playfully, making me genuinely laugh.

“Yeah, she is a bit intense. We are polar opposites. She is Little Miss Perfect, and I am just happy to be here most of the time. More of a wall flower.”

Graham chuckles as the bartender comes over and greets him.

“Whiskey and whatever she would like.”

I smile.

“Red wine, please.”

As the waiter leaves, I can feel Graham’s eyes rolling over me, and I play with the piece of hair that keeps falling into my face.

“So, anything I need to be worried about with Chris?”

I shrug, and Graham smiles.

“Nope, he is one of the good ones.”

He seems proud of him, and it makes me feel a little less nervous. I don’t have time to respond before hearing Bre’s shouting from behind me.

“Oh, that’s where you two are!”.

I feel nothing but disappointment as our drinks appear, but all I can notice is my sister and the tall and rather pretty redhead glaring at me.

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