Free White Lies (A Twisted Fate Series) (Volume 1) by Kristin Mayer

about children made the revelation hit home.
    Going to the precinct two weeks ago left me with more questions than I ever thought possible. If only I hadn’t gone to the precinct that day… if only .
    The biggest hurdle I had left was getting my period—less than two weeks away. I relaxed back and my thoughts wandered back to a time when I was truly ignorantly happy for the last time with him.
     

     
    He moved within me, and I arched my back, relishing the friction. My nipples tingled as they brushed against his chest while he thrust in and out of me.
    I was close. So close.
    Gabe kissed along my collar bone before sucking the sensitive flesh of my neck. I reveled in the moment since he was leaving tomorrow to return to base.
    On a plea to reach my orgasm, I whispered, “Gabe, please.”
    A light sheen covered our bodies. “I’m with you, sweetheart.”
    Our orgasms rolled through us as we called out each other’s name. Gabe collapsed on me and quickly rolled me on top of him, keeping us connected. “I love you, Willow.”
    “I love you, too.”
    Fingers trailed up my back. “One day, I’m going to make you the mother of my children.”
    I wanted to be with Gabe forever and have his children.
     

     
    “Hey, angel.”
    Leaving the bittersweet thoughts, I smiled at the term of endearment Carson had used since we were younger. One time in the tree house, the light shone behind me, and he swore I looked like an angel. Plus, I’d helped bail him out of more than one situation throughout our childhood, earning me the name.
    Opening my eyes, I responded. “Hey, you. Is your conference all done? I thought it would be longer. Eva is still looking at my paintings.”
    Wearing athletic shorts with a T-shirt, Carson squatted, bringing him eye level with me. Those blue eyes were gorgeous—they always had been. “It is. I have an idea.”
    I quirked a brow. “That sounds dangerous. You’ve gotten us into a lot of trouble throughout the years with your ideas.”
    A hand went to his chest in mock surprise. “When?”
    “The time we played hooky from school and got caught drag racing your father’s car along the shoreline.”
    His eyes lit up as a hand raked down the stubble on his face. “You may have a point. Are you in the mood to be daring?”
    “I could be, depending…”
    He gave me a mischievous wink. “Good. I need you to pack a bag.”
    “A bag?”
    “I need your help.”
    Standing, I watched Carson. He was serious. “Help?”
    He chuckled. “Are you going to answer everything I say with a question?”
    “Hey, Willow. Am I interrupting?”
    I turned to see the brunette art gallery manager approaching. Her attire was not appropriate for the shore at all as her heels sank into the sand. Carson stood beside me as the familiar artistic nerves took over while I waited for her verdict. Ultimately, I never had to sell a painting and I would be financially secure. But I loved it and wanted to be successful on my own.
    “Of course not, Eva.”
    Since I let them observe my art by themselves, I was never able to ask what gallery managers thought about my work after they looked at it. I was fine with criticism, but asking felt like it forced people to give disingenuous compliments if they didn’t like it.
    Bringing her fingers to her mouth, she kissed them before moving them away in an exploding motion. “Willow. My word. I must have all of them for a show. You can’t say no. I have to have them.”
    Eva was my favorite art gallery manager because of her energy and passion for art. The gallery on Madison Avenue in Manhattan drew huge crowds any time she hosted an event and generally sold out within hours. “Wow! Are you serious?”
    I was stunned. Eva rarely took entire collections. She was very selective.
    She waved her hand. “Of course I’m serious. They’re fabulous! I’m going to showcase them as soon as possible.”
    Nearly hugging Eva, I remembered myself before exclaiming, “Yes, yes you can