Tell Them Lies (Three Little Words Book 3) (10 page)

And suddenly, this moment before he saw her felt big, making her heart hammer in her chest.

He must have sensed her staring, because he lifted his head, his jaw dropping while his gaze went from her face down to the floor and back up again. The look in his eyes was blazing hot when he took the couple steps towards her.

"You take my breath away," he said simply, dipping his head so she couldn't look away from him. The dress that Casey had picked looked like liquid gold, draping down her body in one uninterrupted column. It was simple from the front. Simple and stunning. But it wasn't the best part of the dress.

And when Kieran stepped forward to kiss her on the cheek, he placed a hand around her waist and on her back before he leaned in. Which stopped him short, because his hand landed on bare skin.

Lifting one eyebrow, Liz just smiled and turned to the side so he could see the back of the dress. Or lack thereof. It was completely open, connecting right between her shoulder blades with a delicate ribbon.

"Holy shit," Kieran breathed out. Feeling a blush flood her cheeks, Liz turned back to face him, and he looked gobsmacked. Never, she had
never
felt like a vixen, like someone who could seduce and entice. But apparently she was more than capable when it was this man on the other end of her attentions.

"It's not my usual style," she admitted, starting to feel a little uncomfortable at how he was still skimming his gaze all over her.

"Well," he stopped and swallowed when his voice came out gritty, "I think it should start being your usual style. The sexpot look suits you."

She laughed at how serious he looked when he said it. Laying a hand on his arm, she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. The scent that she pulled in as she pulled away was warm and spicy, and she filled her lungs with it. He drew back, eyebrows lifted, mahogany eyes of his looking rather...delighted.

"What?"

Kieran shook his head, and the left side of his lips quirked up. "That's the first time you've ever kissed me."

Ahh. Yes, yes it was. She felt flustered, and suddenly that fact that the narthex of the church was swelling with wedding guests managed to register.

"Oh, I should go. I think it's going to start soon. I'll see you after."

The smile spread to the other side of his mouth, and she all but fled back to the safety of the bridal suite. It was easy after that, to pull her mind from whatever it was that Kieran was making her feel, because the flurry of Casey's excitement was wonderfully overwhelming.

Within fifteen minutes, the guests had been seated, and the women were standing in the back of the church waiting for the cue from one of Rachel's interns. Liz and Rachel stood back by Casey and her father, watching Casey's sisters-in-law take measured steps down the aisle.

Liz blew Casey a kiss before it was her turn to go. While she took her spot on the steps, gripping her small bouquet of white peonies, Liz smiled easily at the emotion that read so plainly on Jake's face. And without even noticing the guests stand, she knew Casey was in view by the blindingly bright smile that spread over his normally stoic face. It tightened her throat and made her eyes well.

Because that look, and the returning beam that Casey was giving him, it was perfect. The ceremony progressed like someone had pressed a fast-forward button, random spots of laughter and poignant emotion punctuating the vows they exchanged. A few tears slipped down Liz's cheeks when Casey pushed Jake's ring onto his finger, her voice shaking slightly when she repeated the words Jake had just spoken.

"With this ring, I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward, you shall not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home."

At the pastor's command, Jake swept Casey into his arms, lifting her slightly off her feet to kiss her deeply. The church erupted in whistles and applause that just barely managed to break apart the newlyweds.

Threading her arm through Dylan's elbow, Liz smiled up at him before they walked back down the steps. The joy in the building, overflowing from every single person she saw, felt incredible. Why had she worried about this day? She and Kieran would be just fine. All eyes were on the wonderfully happy couple anyway.

The wedding party all hugged before Casey and Jake led them outside to finish the pictures. A blur of flashes and poses all jumbled together until Liz thought her cheeks might split down the middle from smiling. After they finally finished, Liz went to gather her things, and came out of the bridal suite to find Kieran leaning up against the wall opposite of her.

"Did I see a few tears up there, angel?" He reached out to take her bag from her when she stood next to him. Liz ducked her head, feeling strangely vulnerable with the rush of emotion from the ceremony waning.

"Maybe a couple."

"Ready to go?"

Liz nodded and followed him out in the parking lot. She'd had Rachel pick her up earlier that morning, so that Kieran would be able to drive her to the reception and then home again afterward. Like a real date.

He opened the passenger door for her, closing it after she'd safely pulled the hem of her dress away from the door. Like a real date.

The drive to the reception hall was comfortably silent. Like a real date.

Kieran held her elbow as they crossed a slightly uneven rock-covered walkway into the building. Like a real date. And she could barely breathe because of it.

Why couldn’t she just ask him if it was one? But no matter how simple that idea sounded in the abstract, the reality of opening her mouth to do it was paralyzing. Thankfully, they entered the reception hall and it helped to slowly pull her into the present.

Casey had chosen to do a sweetheart table for her and Jake, instead of the typical head table, so Liz went in search of where their seats were while Kieran went to get them a drink from the bar. The space away from him felt refreshing. Not because he was bothering her, but because she was just so
confused
.

It felt real. But it wasn't.

Was it?

One of Casey's aunts smiled at Liz when she walked past, and it helped to finally snap Liz out the gaping pit that seemed to be yawning over her mind. This was Casey's
wedding
, for crying out loud. Lifting her eyes, she took in the perfection of the decor. Rachel and Casey had gone all out planning this.

Whites and golds dominated the space, with various sizes of Chinese lanterns hanging over the ceiling, framed by large-bulbed white lights draped from one end of the room to the other. The tables were covered in white fabric, and the vases on the tables held different types of white flowers. But the touches of gold and some light pink in frames on the tables broke it up so that nothing was monotonous. There was soft music in the background, coming from the DJ set up in the corner, the stark white of the dance floor holding the new couple's initials in a large monogram at the center.

Everything looked so warm and magical that Liz couldn't help but smile looking at it. People slowly filtered in from the ceremony, placing beautifully wrapped presents in the designated spot, making their way to one of two bars that were placed in opposite corners of the large open space.

A hand slid around her waist, and Liz looked down at Casey's mom, who was smiling at the room with a look of absolute and complete contentment.

"It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn't it?" Marie asked on a slight sigh.

Liz hummed, wrapping her arm around Marie's slim shoulders. "Most beautiful I've ever seen. Does it feel different?"

"How's that, honey?"

"That it was your daughter getting married, instead of the boys."

Marie closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were a little shiny. "Yes. Casey hasn't lived at home for almost ten years, but this feels
so
different. Elliot, that darling husband of mine, I caught him crying into his coffee this morning. Of course he claimed he got creamer in his eye, but I know it was the thought of walking her down the aisle. We love Jake, he's perfect for her, but she's his responsibility now. We aren't the ones she'll turn to first."

"But she'll always love you."

Marie sniffed, then smiled up at Liz, who felt a little watery herself. "I know, honey. I know."

"And just think, curbing her shopping habits will be Jake's responsibility now too."

Tipping her head back, Marie hooted loudly enough that a few people turned to look at them, including Kieran where he was waiting in line at the bar yet. "You've got that right. Now, enough of my blubbering, let's talk about that handsome man of yours."

She felt it, the way the blush crept up her neck to cover her cheeks. "Wh-what would you like to know?"

"Hmm, why you've kept him hidden, for one. You two look so beautiful together, you should be dragging him every place you can show him off."

Like he knew they were talking about him, Kieran turned towards them again just before it was turn to place an order and winked at Liz. It felt like her skin was on fire. From just one tiny, practically insignificant wink, and the fact that she had to stand here and lie to Marie about it.

Because the scariest part of all was that she didn't
want
to lie. She wanted to gush about him and know that every word falling from her mouth was the absolute truth.

So she started small. "He's... he's a little intense. Sometimes I wonder if I can handle that."

Marie laughed and shook her head. "Intense is good, Liz. Because you deserve someone who will put all that intensity into
you
. I don't think you've had that yet."

"No," Liz admitted easily. "No, I have not."

The bartender, a lithe, feline-looking woman with jet black hair, leaned in to take Kieran's order and Liz felt the offer in her look from twenty feet away. Liz wanted to go and rip every dark, shiny piece of hair off her head. Kieran pointed at something behind her, and the woman smiled before setting about making whatever he'd ordered. Marie patted Liz's waist before pulling her arm away.

"Well, then enjoy it. Because it looks like he's very much enamored with you."

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe he was just taking this little arrangement very seriously in how he acted in public. Either way, she felt the jealousy pulse through her skin.

Because that woman, with her nose ring and the tattoo wrapping around her forearm, was edgy and beautiful and probably somebody he'd look twice at on a normal evening out. But, Liz didn't want Kieran to think that a flirty, gorgeous woman was within the realm of possibility tonight.

Not as long as they were doing whatever it was that they were doing. And it made her feel almost uncomfortable in her own skin, because of how incongruous it was to her, well, with her everything.

She wasn't this person, who felt violent, possessive tendencies, who lied to everyone she'd ever loved. And all of those discomforting feelings wrapped around her bones until she thought they might shatter underneath her muscles. People nodded and smiled at her where she stood frozen in place. Suddenly Kieran was in front of her, holding two frosted, ice-filled glasses of a medium gold color.

Not waiting for him to hand her one, she snatched one of the glasses from his hand and took a large draw. His eyebrows climbed on his forehead as she swallowed the crisp, biting liquid, taking another drink before she thunked it on the table next to her. She wasn't even positive it was their table.

"What is that?" she croaked out after she'd caught her breath.

"Uhhhh, that was a double seven and seven. I had the single for you," he said, holding up the other glass in his hand.

"Huh. No wonder it tasted really strong."

"You okay?"

Liz nodded, taking the correct glass from Kieran and taking another drink. Ahh yes, much better. It felt ridiculous, that she might feel that drink already, but she really did. And it felt good. Felt necessary.

Kieran opened his mouth to say something when the DJ announced that the new Mr. and Mrs. Miller had finally arrived. People started finding their seats, but Liz felt restless and fidgety, like the butterflies in her stomach flitted through her veins and settled in her hands and feet. She was about to stand, just to pace or something, when Kieran grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the table and through the entrance doors to the lush green grass outside.

"What's going on with you? You're acting a little..."

"What?"

He shrugged a shoulder, peering at her through narrowed eyelids. "Off. That's how you're acting. Really freaking off."

Not crazy. Which was surprising, that it wasn't his answer, because she
felt
crazy. Liz started pacing, the points of her heels sinking a bit into the grass as she walked.

"What are we doing, Kieran?"

He tilted his head, but didn't answer.

"We're lying, to all these people. Marie, who is one of the best women I know, wanted to know about you. Told me to enjoy all that intensity. Oh yes, because it's incredibly enjoyable not being able to look anyone in the eye when they ask me about you."

"You called me intense?" And then he grinned. Like it was funny.

She whirled at him, ready to shove him or slap him or kiss him or rip his shirt open just to see the buttons scatter. Instead she tightened her hands into fists and stalked towards him.

"Not the point. What will they think when we tell them? What will your mother think? She'll," Liz swallowed when she felt a boulder-sized brick lodge in her throat, "she'll be heartbroken."

Kieran dug his hands into his pants pockets, a clear defense mechanism, like it would shield his body from what she kept poking him with. Then he grated out a hard laugh. "Who says my mom will ever know? It's not like she'll be..."

The way he trailed off, the way that sentence dropped into the still, warm air around them dripped ice into her veins, effectively negating any of the warming effects of the alcohol. Stepping closer to him, she slid a hand up his arm, only stopping when she cupped the side of his neck.

"Kieran. Your mom has no plans of going anywhere. You can't assume she'll do otherwise."