The Truth in Lies (The Truth in Lies Saga) by Jeanne McDonald Page A

made.”
    “Talking from experience?” I asked.
    “More than I care to admit.”  He twirled his napkin around his finger.  “I know you feel alone right now, but you’re not.  You have Olivia, and from the looks of things, you have Jared too.  Lean on them.  That’s what they’re there for.”
    “They’re both very good friends, but they have their own lives to lead.  They don’t need me snotting all over them when I break down over my own stupidity,” I whispered.
    “Then you have me for that.” 
    I stared at him incredulously.  “You barely know me.”
    “And yet I feel as if I’ve known you my whole life.  You still have my number?”
    My heart leaped into my throat.  I felt the same way about him, and to hear him confirm the same feelings was all too exciting. 
    Amy returned with Drew’s receipt.  He completed the tip portion, and from what I could see, he left her a sizable donation.  When he was finished, I reached over and took the pen from him.  On the back of the copy receipt, I wrote down my phone number. 
    “I would feel more comfortable if you called me though.  I hate feeling like I’m intruding.”
    I pushed the receipt toward Drew, along with the ink pen.  He reached for the piece of paper.  Our fingers touched momentarily sending that wonderful feeling coursing through my veins.  He smiled acknowledging the feeling was mutual.
    I watched as he folded up the receipt and placed it in breast pocket of his jacket.  “I can respect that.”
    “Sorry about that, folks,” Jared announced in a loud boom, as he resumed his seat.  The chair screeched across the floor sending chills up my spine.
    “Ugh, that’s worse than nails on a blackboard,” I complained.
    “Sorry, McKenzie.”
    Drew looked down at his watch and gasped.  “Well, you two, I have to head back to the office.  I’m sure my secretary is probably on a warpath wondering where the hell I am.”
    I looked at my watch and realized Drew was right.  It was nearly one in the afternoon.  Jared and I were already late getting back to work ourselves.  “Thank you for joining us today,” I said, as Drew stood up from his seat.  He looked down at me and smiled.  
    “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” he replied.  He turned to Jared and extended his hand. “Jared, it’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
    Jared shook his hand.  “It was nice to meet you as well.”
    Drew leaned over the back of my chair, lowering his lips to my ear.  “I’ll call you,” he breathed, sending my whole body in an uproar of excitement.
    “Then call me,” I teased, giving him a wink.
    “Count on it,” he laughed.
    With that, Drew glided out of the sandwich shop. To my amazement, I realized he could see me through the shop window as he passed by.  He must have been watching me before he had even come inside.  Then Amy’s words resurfaced, “ I started it as soon as I saw you standing outside the window .”
    “Where’s the check?” Jared questioned, lifting napkins and plates from around the table in search of the receipt.
    “Drew covered it,” I replied in a hushed breath, staring at Drew’s delectable backside. 
    “I see,” Jared muttered.
    Turning around on his heel, Drew’s eyes met mine through the glass.  He began walking backwards in order to maintain eye contact with me.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t paying attention to what was behind him.
    “He keeps walking like that, he’s sure to hit that traffic sign,” Jared pointed out.  
    In a gasp, I started to wave frantically at him trying to make him stop, but instead, he took it as if I was playing with him.  He turned around and ran right smack into the pole.
    Jared burst into laughter, and I jumped from my seat, worried he might have hurt himself.  
    Drew took a step back, staring at the pole with a startled expression.  Realizing that we were still watching, he rolled his shoulders, grabbed the pole and twirled around it in a Gene