Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(94)

Jenna took in a deep breath. “But I do have one condition. No more lies. None. Can you live with that?”

“I’m a very good liar,” he said. “My life depended on it. How will you know?”

“Because I saw you lie to your brothers without blinking, but when you lied to me…let’s just say, I can tell.”

Zach frowned, then recognized the glint in her eyes. He smiled. “I don’t believe you. Prove it.”

“Oh.” She drew back and smiled. “Is that a challenge, Mr. Montgomery? Just try me. Tell me something untrue.”

Zach stepped forward and framed her face with his hands. “How about this…” His heated gaze captured hers. “I don’t love you with everything I am,” Zach whispered and kissed her cheek. “I don’t love your son, Sam, as if he were my own, and I don’t want us to be a real family.” His lips touched her forehead. “I don’t want to make love to you for the rest of my life, or to give Sam a baby brother or sister, as soon as possible.” He pressed his mouth against hers, gently, reverently. “Most of all, I don’t want us to be together. Loving each other. Forever.”

He lifted his head and stared into her green eyes. The love shining there warmed his very core. Jenna had healed his soul and filled his heart.

“How’d I do?” he said.

“Wow,” she whispered. “You are an excellent liar. Thank God, you’re all mine.”





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Epilogue




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The voices over the airport’s public address system droned on and on. Jenna stood just outside of security, searching for Zach’s distinct ginger hair. Sam held on to his mother’s hand and danced at her side.

“Where is he? Is he here yet?”

She tightened her grip as Sam became even more energetic. “Not yet…”

Then she saw a very familiar, very tall, strong figure striding toward her, a duffel thrown over his shoulder. She smiled. “There he is.”

Sam let out a whoop and started running.

By the time Jenna reached Zach, her son had already leapt into her new husband’s arms. Husband. The husband she’d dreamed of, the one she now called hers. Three months of wedded bliss down and fifty years to go.

“Did you take care of your mom?” Zach asked Sam.

“Yep, and I didn’t even have to hit anybody in the you-know-where,” he whispered way too loudly.

“Whoa,” Zach said, laughing. “Speaking from experience, I’m glad about that, buddy.” Zach grabbed Jenna by the waist and plastered her against him. “Hey, there. I missed you, wife.” He pressed his mouth against hers, his lips warm, wonderful, and oh-so-full of promise. “And I love you. Two weeks is much too long to be away from my family.”

“Did you bring me a present?” Sam asked, shoving between them.

Zach smiled at the boy’s eagerness. “Didn’t I promise?” He knelt down and pulled a small tabla drum from his bag. “I love you, buddy. I missed you.”

“I love you, too.” Sam grinned and pounded his hands on his new toy.

“A real drum?” Jenna groaned. “You’re kidding.”

“I couldn’t resist.”

Jenna sighed with resignation. “Then you get to tell him to quit pounding on it when he gives us all a headache.”

Zach tugged out a vibrant pashmina scarf and let the soft cashmere flutter around her head and shoulders. “Emerald green to match your eyes.” He kissed her temple above the red scar from one of the knife wounds. “You’ve almost healed.”

Self-conscious, Jenna covered the injury. “Does it look terrible?”

“No, sweetheart, I see that scar as a badge of honor. To me, you’ve never looked more beautiful.”

“Flatterer,” she scoffed, but couldn’t stop the smile, knowing he told her the truth—even if he was wrong.

His warm eyes met her gaze, revealing the heat that always burned just beneath the surface, and she shivered in anticipation.

Zach clasped her hand, then kissed it. “By the way, the movie director was ecstatic to have Matt back as the lead on the film. Sterling and I explained what we could and sort of paid off any other questions. As a thank-you, the director introduced me to a contact in Bollywood, who offered to send me an authentic Indian belly dancing costume for nighttime entertainment. I accepted,” he said with a grin.

Jenna slapped her hand over Zach’s mouth and tilted her head in Sam’s direction. “Small ears. He’s embarrassed me enough recently. Your brothers all know about our favorite morning pastime.”

“I hate to tell you it probably didn’t surprise them all that much,” Zach chuckled, taking her hand as they strode through the airport and into the parking lot. “Except maybe your penchant for whipped cream.”

He tossed his duffel into the back end of the car. “Do you mind if we make a quick stop first?” he said. “I need to see Mom, and I asked my brothers to stop by.”

Sam started pounding on his drum.

“I told you,” Jenna yelled over the racket.

“That’s all right. I like that he’s happy. It was touch and go for a while there.”