Innocent Lies by JW Phillips Page A

kiss you goodbye, even if you were
asleep. I left you a key. Come home to me tonight. Yours,
E
     
    I had laid awake in his arms long
after he was fast asleep; avoiding the dreams. I went over the
words he said. How he had looked for me and now that he found me,
he was going to do right by me. I had never felt connected in my
life to anyone, except maybe my dad, until Ethan walked into my
life. I glanced at his note one more time. I wanted to stay
forever. The snooze on the alarm blared again. I spotted the key
leaning against the glass of orange juice. Taking a swig of the
juice, I snatched up the key, knowing I would be back.
     
    I was relieved that Sarah and
Deacon were already gone for the day when I got home. I only had
time for a quick shower and change, not a hundred and one
questions. The whole day actually passed rather quickly, and would
had been humdrum if not for the never-ending stream of texts from
Ethan. I read and reread the texts a hundred times that day and
smiled knowing that night I would be with the man.
     
    My phone vibrated.
The chorus to Justin
Timberlake’s Mirrors filled
the room and Ethan’s name flashed across the screen. I giggled and
I’m not a giggler, but the idea that Ethan assigned himself a
ringtone in my phone made me giddy.
     
    “Hello,” I said,
and even I heard the excitement in my voice.
     
    “Hey, Privy,” he said. “Hope you
like the ringtone?”
     
    “Of course, every girl loves to
have her phone reprogramed.” I said, sarcastically. “When did you
do it?”
     
    “While you were
snoring this morning.” He chuckled. “You want to know
something?”
     
    “Sure, I guess.”
     
    “Even your snoring
is cute. Are you coming home?” he asked.
     
    The way he said ‘home’ as if it
was a foregone conclusion gave me hope. Maybe that time he would
not fall off the face of the earth.
     
    “Do you really want a snorer to
come over?”
     
    “I want you here more than
anything. I’m cooking.”
     
    He’s cooking? Ethan cooks and he’s
cooking for me.
     
    “Sure, I get off
work in an hour. Let me run by the apartment and grab a few things
then I’ll be there.”
     
    I walked into his
house and was greeted by the smell of fried chicken. I locked the
door behind me and was impressed when I caught a glimpse of Ethan
standing over the stove. The kitchen island was lined with a
smorgasbord of vegetables. His back was to me as he pulled the
rolls out of the oven. I leaned against the counter and whistled.
He acknowledged by presence with an over-exaggerated shake of his
butt. What a riveting sight? A ripped man at home in the kitchen.
He was seriously arousing. A glass of sweet tea minus the ice was
already poured. How did he
know that is my favorite? The whole meal is my favorite.
     
    “Hey, beautiful.”
Ethan glanced back and winked. “I talked to Sarah. She was more
than willing to share all your secrets.” He wiped his hands on the
tea towel by the stove and handed me the glass of tea.
     
    “ Thanks, remind me to ask her what all she shared. That is
after I kill her.” I took a swig of the tea. “It smells delicious.”
     
    “It is,” he
replied, and came around the island and kissed my forehead.
     
    “I’m impressed. The amazing Ethan
Asher can cook.”
     
    “It is only one of
my vast array of tricks. Being gorgeous is what I’m really known
for.”
     
    I took another sip of tea, more
out of nerves than thirst. He was most definitely known for his
incredible good looks, but something told me it was not his most
talked about trait.
     
    He balanced a platter
of chicken with one hand and picked up a bottle of soda off the counter with the other. He
motioned with his only free finger to follow him. I did as I was
instructed and rushed through the already opened patio door on to a
rather large deck. It was stationed on the thirteenth hole of a
golf course. Hurricane Lights were scattered around and over an
already set table was a lit candle