Liar Liar (21 page)

“So, you’re willing to give up your perfect company record for my feelings?” Her eyes welled up, but those luscious lips remained firmly pressed together. He wanted her, open and wanting him.

He had to find a way to convince her.

“You told me no one can put a guarantee on love. You were right. Even if my system hadn’t matched us, I would’ve fallen for you anyways.” He took her hand, stroking a thumb over her soft pale skin. She didn’t pull away. “I can’t explain how I feel.”

“And your family?” she asked. She looked less unsure.

“They’ll agree. The system works,
querida
. It just doesn’t always know what’s best.” He smiled ruefully. “I should’ve never tried to trick you like that.”

“I get why you did it, Matt. I just don’t know if I can get past what you did. But, I guess I should’ve been more honest about my investigation.” Her shoulders were hunched, like she wanted to shrink in on herself. Oh, no. Not his Jessica. His Jess was a confident, wanton woman. He refused to let her think badly about herself.

“Neither of us was being totally honest,” he countered. “Let me change that. Right here, right now.”

Her stance shifted towards him, even if her face was shuttered.

“I’m falling in love with you, Jess.” He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her eyes to meet his. “And I think you feel the same about me.”

She had to know he meant it, to feel the truth behind all the half truths between them.

A sweet little gasp escaped from her lips. “Matt, I…” she trailed off.

“I want you…I want more time with you.” He stroked the velvety sides of her face with gentle fingers.

She shook her head. “It’s not as easy as that. I don’t trust, easily, Matt. You lied to me,” she said.

“Not about you…about this.” Matteo shook his head. “Tell me you don’t want me. That you don’t feel exactly the way I do.” His arms dropped and went around her, holding her against him. She let him.

“I don’t want you,” she parroted. “I don’t feel the way you do.” But her lips trembled, giving her away.

“Liar, liar,” he crooned. And pulled her into his embrace. He kissed her cheek, near the corner of her mouth. She shuddered against him, and closed her eyes. “Do you want me,
querida
?”

“Oh, yes, Matt.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. “Right or wrong, I do.”

It was like the sun breaking from behind the clouds.

He kissed her, willing his lips to impart everything his heart felt. Her lips parted and he delved inside her mouth tasting her. When it was over, both of them were breathless.

“Then it’s all settled. We start over. From the beginning.” He leaned back to see her reaction.

She tilted her head, as if listening for something, then smiled and shook her head. “I’m not sure if we need to back up quite that far.” She laughed and gave him a hot glance. “But no more keeping secrets, no more hiding.”

“Agreed.” He tightened his hold around her.

“From now on,” she ordered. “The only thing that’s going to be under cover is our naked bodies.”

Under the covers or on top of…he didn’t care as long as she was with him.

“Just what I wanted.” Matteo grinned and planted a kiss on top of her head. “Hey, it’s almost lunch time. Are you hungry? Your hotel has some excellent room service. What do you think? Hot fudge sundae or a soufflé?”

“Both?” Jess suggested, reaching up and threading her fingers through his collar. “This might take a while.” She smiled as she pulled his head down for another kiss.

What else could he do? There was just so much you could do with a beautiful woman and chocolate.

Did you enjoy LIAR, LIAR? Please consider leaving feedback on your purchase at
www.Amazon.com
. And don’t miss the next book in Julianne Floyd’s Sexy Southerners series,
PANTS ON FIRE
, available Fall 2013.

Mexican Chocolate Soufflé (Jess and Matt, SS Book 1)

Featured Recipe
- Matteo knows there's so much you can do with a beautiful woman and chocolate. Here's the decadent soufflé that went untouched at the Horseshoe Lodge in Montana.
-Based on the recipe at Eating Well, 2008

Ingredients

3 tablespoons white granulated sugar, divided

2 1/2 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 large egg, separated, plus 2 large egg whites

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)

Preparation

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Lightly coat two 10-ounce ramekins with cooking spray; coat the insides of each with 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.

Using a microwave melt chopped chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl on medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes.
Note: You may also use a double boiler, if you prefer.

Whisk egg yolk and cream in a medium bowl until combined. Temper by adding a small amount of melted chocolate and whisking, to bring to temperature. Then whisk in the remaining chocolate until smooth. Be careful not to dump it all, or you will have chocolate scrambled eggs!

Whisk flour and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to cream/egg/chocolate mixture until incorporated.

Using an electric mixer or hand held mixer (separate bowl), beat egg whites and salt on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in four additions, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Egg whites should stand up when touched and not meld back into the bowl.

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold (a “bottom to top” motion—don’t stir!) half the beaten whites into the chocolate mixture until fairly smooth; then gently fold this combined mixture back into the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain. Divide between the prepared ramekins and place on a baking sheet. Bake until puffed and firm to the touch, 18 to 22 minutes. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. Serve immediately.

Want more sensuous treats? Check out Julianne’s Kitchen at
JulianneFloyd.com

SNEAK PREVIEW-PANTS ON FIRE

(Sexy Southerners Series - Book 2)

That
bitch
.

Suzanne turned her cell off and tossed it in the depths of her designer leopard print handbag. She couldn’t believe that her cousin would have the nerve to keep texting her, not after what she discovered her doing in Barbados.

Or
who
, rather.

It was bad enough that her best friend Jessica’s cheating ex-asshole was playing the field in Suze’s scheduled vacation spot.

It was quite another to see your cousin slipping out of his hotel room in the wee morning hours, half dressed and clearly doing the walk of shame.

Except that Caro had no shame.

Suze was livid.

She hustled it back to Atlanta, and buried herself in her charity fundraising to take her mind off the fact that her closest relative was a backstabbing bitch.

Really, did no one have any loyalty these days?

Suze scanned the room, taking in the white linen tablecloths and pricey orchid floral centerpieces, all designed to impart a sense of elegance. Everything was set to perfection—her exact specifications. The musicians were queued. Decor dripped of exclusivity and expense with polished silver candlesticks and crystal stemware.

The benefit guests were just starting to arrive, so she tucked her clutch under her arm and mentally steered herself for another evening of too much Chardonnay and speeches designed to jerk tears and empty wallets. A-listers from Atlanta society, such as herself, were not expected to display boredom, even if she had spent the past two weeks planning out every minute detail, from the height of the centerpieces to the number of wait staff in attendance.

At least she wouldn’t have to spend another night alone.

She plastered a faint smile on her lips, nodding to the patrons who were handing their raffle tickets to the concierge for their silent auction number assignment. Anything was better than going back to an empty house, even a dull society affair.

She’d made sure to tap the right people for auction donations —everything from luxury vacations to professional sports memorabilia. Tonight’s fundraiser would no doubt land her on the front page of the Atlanta Weekly Journal society column. She waved at an AWJ photographer making the rounds, snapping shots of everything. He gave her a ‘thumbs up’ gesture, grinned and took a photo of her by the picture windows. His flash popped, dancing like disco lights in Suze’s vision.

Disco. Just like the music on the night she’d found her cousin doing the horizontal mambo with Jessica’s ex.

Suze blinked and meandered to the center hall to clear her head. She was here to help raise funds for the new wing of the children’s hospital, not to fume about Caro. And now that Jess was moving to Texas with her new man, Suze needed to find ways to fill the gaps in her social calendar. While she couldn’t be more thrilled that Jess had found love, her bestie’s big move was going to leave a big gaping hole in Suze’s life—a hole that might never be filled.

Especially since Caroline was
persona non grata
. That
bitch
.

The musicians started to play, another droning classical piece. Suze stifled a yawn and snagged a glass of white wine from the circulating trays and moved towards the reception hall podium to check the guest list of arrivals.

“Well, well…look who the cat dragged in.” The male voice behind her was confident and deep, with a buttery southern drawl like caramel. “Hello, Blondie.”

Suze froze.

That voice. That nickname.

Of all the charity events, in all the cities in the world…he had to crash hers.

Suzanne gritted her teeth and pivoted on her Jimmy Choos. “Hello, Chase.” She gave him a chilly smile. “How nice to see you again.” Nice didn’t begin to describe her feelings. Her fingers tightened involuntarily on the stem of her wineglass.

Chase Weston, former football star and jet setter of the southern hemisphere. At her local charity event. She wanted to die.

She was a tall woman, especially in her four inch stilettos. But Chase Weston was even taller. An ex-University football star, he had the most gorgeous Caribbean blue eyes and a chiseled chin that would make a movie star jealous. As a junior coed, she’d succumbed to his magnetic charms, swooning for him on more than one occasion. Not that he’d noticed.

“Nice?” Chase leaned in to give her the perfunctory cheek kiss, smelling faintly of bourbon. The jerk would be drinking hard alcohol at a polite social event. “I don’t recall ever being labeled that. Not by
you
.” He turned, and Suzanne noticed a shorter, balding man with glasses just behind him. “Billy Jessup? Meet the infamous Suzanne Collins. Suze and I are old…ah…friends, Billy.”

Jessup maneuvered around Chase’s broad form to shake her hand. “Hello, Suzanne. I’m Mr. Weston ‘s agent.”

“Handler, is more like it.” Chase muttered, sloshing a little bourbon over the side of his tumbler. He seemed more than a little tipsy. Suze compressed her lips. Chase had never been much of a drinker that she recalled. He’d been too busy with physical training and all those five a.m. workouts. Ten years later and he still looked too damn good.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Suze replied, dutifully. Her nose wrinkled at Chase’s bourbon dripping fingers. He noticed her gaze, and immediately stuck his fingers in his mouth to suck off the alcohol. Those blue eyes of his seemed to turn a shade darker.

Suze averted her eyes, and swallowed the urge to wet her lips.

“What brings you two here?” she forced her tone to be bright, as if she was really interested.

“Just checking out the local scenery.” Chase’s fingers lingered on his lips. Then, he dropped his hand and tipped his chin in a devilishly charming manner. “You look good, Blondie.”

“Ahem,” Jessup cleared his throat. “Er…we wouldn’t miss the most promising event in Atlanta society.” He elbowed Chase hard in the ribs. Chase grunted, but barely flinched.

“Yes,” he echoed, his eyes raking over her face. “Promising.”

“Hmm….” Suze tilted her head, pretending his butterscotch charisma didn’t affect her. Inside, her stomach did flips. “I didn’t see your names on the invitation list. What a very pleasant surprise.” She purposefully left a bite in her tone that left no room for misunderstanding.

“Well,” Chase nodded. “We figured you wouldn’t turn down a few party crashers, as long as a contribution to the cause was made.” He patted the coat of his jacket, emphasizing the check book outlined against his lapel. The navy blue of his suit made his eyes even more breathtaking. Suze took a shaky breath.

“Wonderful. Then we’ll be seeing you two at the silent auction. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe the dessert buffet needs some attention.” She had to get out of here. Suze found herself wondering if that hungry look on his face had more to do with her than the fact that the food hadn’t been served. If his intent expression was any indication, the only thing on his menu…was her.

Nope, nope, she chided herself. She wasn’t going to go there.

Chase Weston was a playboy and an asshole. And there was no way she was falling for him again.

***

Well, god damn.

That was literally the first thing that crossed his mind when he caught sight of Suzanne Collins.

She trotted around looking more delicious than ever. She wore a platinum dress, simple and elegant, that showed off her lean, trim figure. He’s always liked the athletic chicks. Her hair was pulled up in one of those fancy hairstyles, piled on top of her head like a crown with little wispy pieces tickling the back of her neck. He wanted to pull out the pins and run his fingers through it.