Just a Little Misgiving (Shades of Deception, Book 3) (22 page)

Excerpt from

Just a Little Lie

Shades of Deception

Book One

Mallory Rush

Bestselling, Award-winning Author

Sol fingered his black eye patch self-consciously. "When you said 'I do,' this wasn't part of the bargain."

Mariah wasn't aware of her action until she'd actually gripped his wrist. It put her hand close to his eye patch. The strip that held it in place slashed his dark, frowning brow and looped behind his white dress cap.

Sol was too still; she wanted to move from his pinpoint glare, but fought the urge. The moment was too crucial for her to back down.

"I think that patch bothers you, Sol, a lot more than it does me."

"I don't doubt it, because it bothers me a helluva lot." He gazed hatefully at his crutches. "They say I'll never walk without these."

"Do you believe it?"

"I don't want to."

"But do you believe it?"

"No."

"Then neither do I." Somehow, she found the courage to find out exactly where she stood with him. "If you want out because you married me with the idea we'd never meet, or if I'm less than what you'd hoped for—"

"I didn't say that!"

"No, but that doesn't mean you didn't think it. If that's the reason you're trying to run me off, why you'd rather spend your time glaring at me instead of... of kissing me, then fine. We both know you bought into this marriage without either of us certain what we were going to end up with, and, and—" Her voice caught on a sharp emotional chord, her doubts rolling out before she could stop them.

"Mariah, please, don't do this."

"No,
you
please be quiet and just listen to me." She couldn't believe her own words, but she was glad to have them said and done with. "If you want out, consider yourself out. But if you expect me to jump ship because your body's taken some abuse, then you've got a lot to learn about the woman you took as wife, Mr. Standish."

Just a Little Lie

Shades of Deception

Book One

Mallory Rush

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Just a Little Lie

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Mallory Rush, aka Olivia Rupprecht, has been published by Bantam, Doubleday, Harlequin Books, and Dorchester Publishing. Her many titles have frequented bestseller lists. Mallory is also the series developer for True Vows, the first reality-based romance line from HCI Books.

You can visit Mallory at
www.malloryrush.com
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