Free Truth or Dare (Liar Liar #2) by C.A. Mason Page A

shaking her head. “I can never tell when you’re being serious.”
    My eyes locked with hers as I reached for her hand. “I’m being serious, angel. Everything I just said is true.”
    “How can I believe that?” Her free hand drifted through the air. “Look at you. You’re…”
    “I’m what?”
    “Too sexy for my peace of mind,” she said, pinching her lips together. “I had enough trouble trusting a man I thought no other woman would want. How the hell am I supposed to trust you?”
    I laughed at her characterization of her ex. “Let me prove myself to you. Let me show you that you can trust me.” I was taking a huge risk. If—no, when—the truth came out, if our relationship wasn’t strong enough to withstand the fall-out, Maura would be devastated that she’d been lied to again and I would be crushed.
    “I can’t make any promises. You and I are from two different worlds. I have a life here, and yours is in New York. Have you thought about how this might work from a logistical perspective?”
    I reached for the red wine our waiter had delivered earlier. “The way I see it, I’m already putting down roots here. I have an apartment, an office, a car. I own a private plane, so I can fly in whenever I want. The flight is only an hour, the drive a little more than five. It’s not the other side of the world, you know.”
    “You make it sound so easy,” she said, smirking.
    “Honey, when you have as much money as I do, everything is easy.” Except uncovering the truth and proving that I’m an innocent man.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Dinner at Maura’s parents’ home the following evening was surprisingly effortless. We talked about our travels, laughed about Maura’s relatives’ escapades, and compared notes about the charitable organizations we were involved with. They weren’t nearly as pretentious as I’d expected. Dinner was a casual affair, with grilled fish, seafood, and vegetables, and the home that had once seemed huge and intimidating now felt warm and comfortable. I realized that my own insecurity may have made dealing with Maura’s parents so challenging before. They could give their daughter everything I thought I’d never be able to, and I’d resented them for it.
    “Well, I think we’ll leave you two down here to enjoy the pool,” Eric said, reaching for his wife’s hand. “The water’s warm, and there are extra swimsuits in the pool house. Help yourself.”
    “Thank you for a lovely evening,” I said, standing.
    Eric shook my hand, pumping it enthusiastically as he winked and clapped my shoulder. Maura’s mother, Gayle, surprised me with a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
    “It was so lovely to meet you, and I have to thank you for convincing my husband to part with some of his holdings.” Squeezing my arm, she said, “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in—”
    “That’s enough, dear,” Eric said, reaching for his wife’s hand. “Let’s go and give these two some privacy.”
    I watched Maura hug both of her parents before they left. When they were out of earshot, I said, “You and your parents are very close.”
    “Yes.” She picked up her wine glass. “Unlike my older brother, I’ve always tried to please them.”
    I chuckled as I swirled the wine in the bottom of my glass before taking a sip. “Ah yes, Eric mentioned his son, the surfer dude.” My eyes twinkled with amusement. “He’s so proud.”
    “At least my brother’s living his dream.” She reached for the wine bottle and topped up both of our glasses before she said, “In a lot of ways, I envy him. He doesn’t live under their constant scrutiny, having them and everyone else weigh in on every decision he makes.”
    “Does that mean you’re a little too close for comfort?” I wondered if she’d ever consider relocating, maybe to New York.
    “I’ve considered it.” She sighed. “I don’t know, Blaise. I’ve worked hard to build a business and a reputation here. Bigger cities