Bound by Lies: Bound #1 (Adult Romantic Suspence) by Hanna Peach

the unopened bottle, I catch the
label.
    I gasp. “Dix, that’s an 18-year-old Macallan. You can’t open
that. Not for me. It’s too much.”
    Dixie raises an eyebrow at me. “So… your man is a scotch
drinker, hey?”
    I feel my cheeks flush. “Why do you say that?”
    She grins at me. “I notice that’s not a denial. Honey, when
you first got here, you didn’t know your single malts from your blended. Hell,
you didn’t know your rums from your whiskies. Now you’re familiar with high-end
scotch brands?” She raises an eyebrow at me.
    Rats. Under all that hair is one hell of a brain. Nothing
gets past her.
    I sigh. “Okay, so maybe he drinks whiskey. Macallan is one
of his favorites.”
    Dixie points the lid of the scotch bottle at me in triumph.
“I knew you had a man. Didn’t I say she had a man, Robbie?” she nudges the big
guy.
    “Yes, ya did, Dixie. Yes, ya did.” Robert speaks in his low
rolling tone.
    “And he drinks Macallan, Robbie. That’s my kinda man.” She
turns to me. “So when we gonna meet him?”
    I cringe. This is exactly why I didn’t want anyone to know
about Cade.
    “I don’t know when. He’s away a lot. On business.”
    “I think you’re making excuses,” she sings.
    I keep my mouth shut. But thankfully Dixie becomes focused
when she starts pouring. The lady’s smart as hell, but for some reason, Dix
simply can’t concentrate on two things at once.
    “Now I know you don’t really drink,” she says. “But you
absolutely cannot refuse a birthday shot. Your birthday shot.”
    I sigh. It’s pointless to argue with her. I take the glass
from her fingers and she squeals with glee.
    “Here’s to you, honey. Happy birthday, however old you may
be. May your days be filled with happiness and love, and your nights filled
with lots and lots of hot sex!”
    I laugh and we clink and we drink.
    I taste a flare of dried fruit and a hint of cinnamon before
the soft burning takes over on the way down. I make a face.
    Dixie starts pouring another round, but I put my hand over
my glass. No. Not more than one. Dixie and I stare at each other for a second.
But she seems to understand. She nods and moves the bottle over the next glass.
    I stare at the bottle and the glasses and at us sitting
around this table performing a well-worm social ritual of friendship. My
stomach tightens. Don’t get too attached to these people. Don’t do it. It’ll
only make it harder when you have to leave.
    “I should go home,” I say.
    “Stay, honey. You don’t have to drink, but just stay and
chat. You can just have water. Jeff, get her a glass of water.”
    Jeff jumps to his feet and runs behind the bar.
    “Thank you, Dixie, but I should go.”
    “But it’s your birthday celebration. Stay. Eat. Drink.”
    I fight the urge to remind her that it isn’t my birthday.
    Jeff returns with my water and places it in front of me with
a flourish. He slings his arm around my shoulders. “Please stay?” he croons.
“It won’t be the same without you.”
    “But it’s getting late,” I say lamely.
    Robert catches my eye. “I’ll walk you home when you’re ready
to go. Don’t you worry about that. I’ll get you home safe no matter the hour.”
    I stare back at the three pairs of pleading eyes staring at
me. I know I shouldn’t say yes. I know I shouldn’t let my guard down and get
close to them.
    I’m usually comforted by feeling anonymous and cut off from
the life that goes on around me. But tonight something tugs inside me. The
warmth that these three people have bathed me in has reignited a long-forgotten
want. I want friends. I want to feel like I matter. The only way I have this is
when I am with Caden, but he isn’t here. And the bastard won’t even give me a
way to contact him.
    I am selfish. So I give in and say yes, eliciting a round of
cheers. And hope I won’t end up regretting it.
     
    When I get home later I kick off my shoes and dump my bag on
the bed. Carefully, I take out