The Perfect Lie (Hope Falls Universe)(5)

Because she wasn’t the type to make up stories like that. She wasn’t the type to use other people to get her kicks off or as a joke. She could apologize all she wanted, but if she truly wanted to make her guilt known, she couldn’t just run away with her tail between her legs. That’s what her parents would do. That’s what some rich debutante would do. But if she wanted to tell herself she was different, she would have to be different. “You know what, Shelby? I’d love to stay at your bed-and-breakfast.”

~~~~~

Josh had a long, stressful day and all he wanted was to drink a beer and relax. But when the woman of his wet nightmares took a seat next to him at the bar, he suddenly knew he wasn’t about to get what he wanted.

“Hi, Josh,” she said in a bright voice and with a cheerful smile.

“You have to be kidding me.”

“No joke, sorry.” She then raised her hand to signal Levi. “Can you get him a second of whatever he’s drinking? On me.”

“Don’t.” Josh gave Levi a warning glance.

Levi Dorsey, the large tattooed owner of JT’s, eyed the two of them as he seemed to judge who he was going to listen to. Then he pointed to the woman. “Tenants win.”

Mother— “Tenant?” Josh turned to glare at the woman.

“Tenant,” she confirmed. “I’m staying at the charming Mountain Meadows Bed and Breakfast out back. It’s adorable. Stephanie, by the way. Steph, if you want.”

“I don’t want,” he lied as he took a deep swig of beer.

She ignored him and continued, “So, I was thinking.”

“Please don’t.”

“I was stupid this morning and I told you I was going to work for your employer when obviously that was a lie. So I think the only way for me to really make it up to you is if I actually work for you.”

Josh frowned as he tried to figure out what the hell she was talking about. “Work for me?”

“Sure. What do you need done? I can clean your place. Wash your car. Paint a fence, Tom Sawyer-style. Name it and I’ll do it.”

“I know what you can do,” he muttered. She leaned in closer. “Leave me alone.”

Levi came over with another beer at that moment and set it down. “He treating you okay?”

“Me?” said Josh. “This woman is harassing me.”

Stephanie smiled sweetly up at Levi and Josh had a feeling that this girl got whatever she wanted on a regular basis. Hell, he was in trouble.

“If you need help, scream. I’ll send Shelby to rescue you,” said Levi sarcastically to Josh.

“Your support is appreciated,” said Josh dryly.

“Thank you,” said Stephanie as Levi walked away. “Now, come on. Tell me a time and place and I’ll be there. And don’t bother lying to me because it’s a small town and I will find you one way or another. I’ll just tell people I’m your girlfriend.”

“You really like lying, don’t you?”

“These are apology lies. That’s different.”

“Why is your apology so annoying?”

“Because you’re being difficult. Come on. I did something wrong. I admit that. Now if I were some entitled rich girl, which I am, I would just walk away and forget anything ever happened. But I don’t want to do that. I want to face the consequences. How can I do that if you won’t give me any consequences? Come on. I’ve been bad. Punish me.”

He was about to take a drink but he stopped with the beer just an inch from his lips as he glanced over to her. He honestly thought she hadn’t meant it to come out that way because her cheeks turned a bright red and she was pressing her lips shut.

“I mean…”

“I don’t think the innocent Levi and Shelby renovated Mountain Meadows for that,” he said.

The corner of her mouth tugged up. “Josh, I wasn’t trying to throw myself—”

“No, no. I get it. You want to be taught a lesson in private.” He didn’t think it was possible but her cheeks got even redder.

“You’re embarrassing me on purpose,” she accused.

She wasn’t wrong. “You’re cute when you blush.”

Her blue eyes widened and he glanced away as he finally took another drink of beer. She didn’t need to look any cuter. She was already damn adorable and this whole ignoring her thing would go much better if he wasn’t telling her how cute she was. “Now go away,” he added for good measure.

Stephanie leaned in closer until her arm touched his and Josh hoped she didn’t feel him stiffen. He especially hoped she didn’t realize all the parts of him that stiffened. For fuck’s sake, it was an arm. He was better than this.

“Josh,” she said in a serious tone. “I don’t want to bore you with what’s going on back home, but this morning wasn’t about you. I wasn’t playing a prank or giggling in my head. I have some problems back at home and I just jumped at the chance to be someone else for a moment. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble or cause you any pain. It was all a stupid mistake.”

He really wanted to be mad at her but he believed every word she said. “Listen, don’t worry about it. I didn’t get in trouble. I told Justin that some annoying tourist pulled me aside while I was restocking the bags and he was fine with it.” It was the truth, too, even if it felt like it was more than that.