Free Dirty Little Liars by Missy Lynn Ryan Page A

the dance floor. Staring at her and her stunning black dress. Juliette wanted to turn away, to run and hide from that unmasked look in his eyes. But she was paralyzed by his gaze. And as he moved closer to her, she realized with regret that she wanted him.
    “You look amazing,” he said.
    “It’s mostly the dress.”
    “No,” he argued. “It’s not.”
    His gaze moved from her shimmering shoulders to the round curve of her breasts to the large diamond brooch centered at her waist.
    He started to reach for it but froze as if only then realizing what he was about to do.
    “It’s great isn’t it?”
    “Yeah,” he muttered.
    Juliette couldn’t make out the expression on his face. She thought he had sent the dress, but he was staring at the brooch as if in shock. As if he hadn’t expected her to show up wearing it.
    “It looks like an antique. Maybe something from the 1920’s. What do you think?” She tested her theory further.
    Ty shook his head. “It looks familiar,” he muttered. “But honestly, I have no idea.”
    He was lying, she could tell. His eyes were drawn to the jewelry as if it was calling out to him.
    “Oh look,” Courtney purred. “It’s my two favorite people.”
    Courtney gave Ty a chaste kiss on the cheek before turning to Juliette and taking in the dress.
    “Wow,” she said unenthusiastically. “That dress is really something.”
    “It was a gift,” Juliette said and Ty’s brow line darkened. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t been the one to send her the dress and the unsigned note. But who else could it have been? Courtney?
    Courtney gave her one last look before dismissing her completely. Instead, she leaned into Ty’s chest and whispered something in his ear. “Daddy says it’s time,” was all Juliette caught. What could that possibly mean?
    Ty nodded and let Courtney drag him over to her father, who was in deep conversation with the small orchestra.
    The song they were playing faded to silence as Governor Anderson stepped on stage and took the mic. Courtney and Tyler followed him.
    “Good evening, ladies and gentleman. I’d like to thank you all for joining us this evening.” The governor paused at a soft round of applause. “This night is incredibly special to me. Not only do we have the opportunity to support the expansion efforts of an incredible charity that is near and dear to my family’s heart, but because I also have the opportunity to leak a bit of personal information with you tonight. Many of you know that I have been a very vocal supporter of Senator Chase and his re-election campaign.”
    Anderson extended a long arm in Tyler’s direction and another handful of applause broke out.
    “The Senator, like many of us, has officially been initiated into D.C. politics. Yesterday he became the subject of some very disturbing rumors. Rumors that I know wholeheartedly to be untrue. Many of us in this room have been the victim of libelous slander, false accusations, and half-truths thrown about by the media. So don’t take it personally, son. You have a calling to serve the greater good of this nation. God will not abandon you on your journey.” He smiled at Tyler and Ty nodded in response. Courtney reached out and took his hand in hers and gave it a tight squeeze. Standing on the stage, the three of them looked a bit like a campaign postcard. The almighty governor and his real-life Barbie and Ken.
    Ty was practically glowing as he smiled back at Courtney and they shared a knowing look. Then he glanced out into the crowd, all smiles and dimples. His mask only lifted for a millisecond when his blue eyes met hers.
    Juliette couldn’t look away, her eyes were locked on his as she listened to the governor ramble on.
    “So tonight I am proud to give my five hundred closest friends an Anderson exclusive. Because I am not only celebrating Tyler Chase the candidate, but I am also celebrating a new son-in-law. Tyler, I am so thrilled to have such a fine young man and brilliant