The Billionaire's Lie Page 12

  “Honey, dinner’s ready,” Matteo called from the kitchen. On the days I had court, he came home from work early to take care of Zoey and cook dinner. Surprisingly, he was an amazing cook and even better father.

  His business has been booming so much so, he hired someone else to run the company so he wouldn’t have to work as much anymore. Once Zoey was born, he found out he would much rather be at home with her than at work. He didn’t want to miss all her firsts.

  To think this all began with a lie, but my struggles would end with this same lie. My college was paid, acquired the perfect husband and a beautiful little girl out of it. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Never have I ever been so thankful for someone lying in my life.

  Christmas in London Preview

  I hope you enjoyed The Billionaire’s Lie. My next book Christmas in London comes out in November. I wanted to include a preview for my readers. I hope you enjoy.

  Christmas in London

  Ashley Goss

  Chapter One

  “Stop right there!” Charity screeched as she raced full speed towards a wide-eyed man at the end of the street. He started to bolt in the opposite direction, but he was no match for Charity Parker. She was swift, sharp, and one of the best detectives the New York Police Force had ever had.

  “You’re under arrest for the armed robbery at Jensen’s Hardware,” she breathed heavily as she finally reached the man. She roughly smacked handcuffs on his wrists and started to pull him back towards the cop car.

  “Whew, look at you! My dream woman!” Anthony cheered as he leaned against the run-down cop car. Charity rolled her eyes as she tucked a flyaway hair behind her ear.

  “Yeah, and you? Completely useless,” She huffed as she opened the door, shoving the suspect in.

  “You literally just stood here and let me do all the work!”

  Anthony grinned and took his grey aviators off, flashing a handsome smile at Charity. “Oh, but it’s my pleasure to see you do what you do best, beautiful,” He gushed, reaching a calloused hand out to brush against Charity’s cheek. But his attempt was to no avail. She slapped his hand away as a scowl plastered across her face.

  “One, my name is Charity. Two, the whole idea of being partners means you help me when we’re going after suspects!” Charity spat through gritted teeth. She ripped her own aviators off, holding them against her hip.

  Anthony sucked in his breath as he looked deeply into her sea blue eyes. He had no idea how a woman could be so beautiful yet rough around the edges. That was probably what attracted him to her in the first place.

  Charity was passionate about being a detective and didn’t let anything or anyone get in the way. Especially not romance.

  Moving in closer, Anthony leaned his face down, slowly breathing against her ear. Despite Anthony being a total ass, Charity couldn’t help but be taken aback. Anthony was, after all, one of the hottest guys in the force.

  “Anthony, w-what are you-”

  “Shh, I wanna tell you something, and promise to keep it between the two of us,” Anthony whispered seductively in her ear.

  Inhaling sharply, Charity nodded her head, clenching her frostbitten fists. “Okay.”

  Anthony snickered in a low, gruff voice and brought his large hands around Charity’s waist, slowly tightening his grip. “You’re driving back to the quarters, miss independent,” He finally said, letting an unattractive snort out as the last syllable fell off his tongue.

  “You jerk!” she cried, pushing Anthony away. She shuffled over to the driver’s side of the car with a frown frozen on her face.

  “Oh, don’t be sourpuss! I had a little something to drink on the way and I can’t drive in that state!” Anthony protested as he swung open the door of the car and slid in.

  Charity ignored him. She felt slightly embarrassed because she was positive he saw the blush creeping on her face. It was painfully noticeable since it was the middle of winter and she was paler than ever.

  “I have no idea how you were even put in the force!” Charity grumbled as she stuffed the keys into the ignition.

  “Hey, I do alright,” Anthony shrugged. “Oh, by the way, I have a question.”

  “What?” She answered flatly. Anthony hesitated, turning his body to face Charity. His hazel green eyes seemed even brighter today thanks to the blaze of the snowy, New York streets, which much to Charity’s dismay, made him undeniably gorgeous.

  “God, I hope he didn’t see me blushing,” Charity prayed to herself silently.

  “Did I make you blush?”

  “Fuck.”

  Charity turned away and started to drive out of the parking space. “Oh, shut up Anthony! You think every woman gets weak in the knees over you just because you’re slightly attractive!”

  “No, women get weak in the knees when I tell them how much I make,” Anthony winked.

  “But you’re in debt and barely make enough to fix the leak in your ceiling,” Charity grumbled in confusion.

  Anthony shifted uncomfortably. “Okay, yes, which is exactly why the art of lying comes in handy.”

  Charity whipped the car down the street, trying hard to forget how big of an ass Anthony was.

  “You men are a waste of time! That’s why I refuse to date New York men,” She announced proudly.

  “No, you refuse to date men period, hence why you’ve been single for the past three years,” Anthony shrugged.

  Charity scoffed, stopping the car in front of the New York City Police Department. “That is so not true! I’ve been extremely busy with my career, and the few times I do get somewhat of a decent date, they all turn out to be jerks. Kind of like you,” Charity complained as she whipped open the car door.

  “Hey, we’ve got a suspect, can we have someone take him in?” Anthony called in on his walkie talkie. Licking his lips, he opened the backseat door, pulled the suspect out, and handed him over to an approaching officer.

  “You know what your real problem is, Charity?” Anthony asked as he patted the officer on the shoulder.

  Charity stood with her arms folded across her chest. “Fine. What is my problem?”

  Sighing, Anthony also folded his arms across his chest, slightly mocking Charity’s stiff demeanor. “You’re scared.”

  Charity busted out a loud, obnoxious laugh, holding her stomach as Anthony stared blankly. “Scared, Anthony? Really? Is that what you tell every girl you want to sleep with?”

  Anthony scoffed. “If I even remotely thought I could sleep with you, don’t you think I would have attempted already?”

  The pair started to walk into the police headquarters, shoulder to shoulder. As soon as they opened the front doors they were met by a bustle of ringing phones, anxious, chattering voices, and shrouds of various coffee aromas from the morning shift.

  “Does your countless flirting not count?” Charity finally answered as she approached her desk, throwing her coat down.

  Anthony leaned against her cubicle and sighed. “No, don’t get me wrong, the flirting is fun. But only because it’s nice to get you all pissed off. You’re kinda hot when you’re mad.”

  Taking a long sip of the coffee that was waiting on her desk, Charity rolled her eyes, peering up at Anthony with contempt. “Oh, yes, because that’s what every woman in the police force wants to hear.”

  Anthony giggled, kneeling down so that he was face to face with Charity. “See, that’s what I’m talking about right there,” He explained softly. “You’re so uptight. Your way too gorgeous to be that way.”

  Charity smacked her lips as she savored the sweet taste of her Vanilla coffee. “Yeah, I was also told I was too gorgeous not to smile the other day, but that guy got kicked in the nuts. So, tell me, how are you any different?”

  Anthony exhaled in annoyance and sat at the edge of her desk. “All I’m saying is let your hair down sometime. Wear something other than a black turtleneck and jeans. You’re twenty-six, but you act like you’re forty.”

  She chuckled
as she took another long sip of her coffee. The last thing needed was to listen to advice from Anthony. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that he was unfortunately right. “I’ll consider your advice when I start caring,” she replied instead to mask her growing insecurity. Anthony shrugged and started to walk to his cubicle, stopping briefly by Angela, the busty blonde intern, to admire her perfectly round “eyes”.

  Anthony was just the typical guy, and much to her disappointment, so was every other man she had ever met. The ideal romance was practically extinct. As she tried to push Anthony’s words out of her head though, she felt a pang in her stomach.

  Maybe she really did need to loosen up. Dating was totally out of the question though, especially after her last love affair.

  Growing up in Idaho, Charity never had much experience with guys. She was shy, quiet, and invisible. Guys usually went for the hot cheerleader type like her sister, Sarah. Although she’d dream of having a boyfriend, Charity knew it was no use. Blending in was her only power back then, and she was good at it. Besides, she had always wanted to be in law enforcement since she was a little girl. So, she poured all her time and energy into becoming the best in the force.

  After college, Charity moved to New York to make a name for herself in the academy and was top of her class. She solved case after case, working long, hard nights to prove herself. When her peers were out partying, she was mulling over impossible cases. She didn’t mind it though. Being out in the open with tons of eyes on her made Charity feel helpless. She preferred being cooped up in a dim lit room, with only work on her mind. That of course is what made her the best. At least in her career that is. Dating was a completely different ball game.

  Her first boyfriend was Tim O’Connell, and to be fair, he wasn’t really her boyfriend. They barely dated for three months, and his only focus was inheriting his father’s firm. Not Charity. They’d go out to a movie here and there, and apart from his one-minute phone calls, he might as well have been a ghost. He was the dream guy type though. Tall, athletic, tan skin, green eyes and perfectly quaffed hair. A man to die for. But he only ended up being a disappointment. After he inherited his father’s firm, he disappeared from Charity’s life. At the time she was positive that he would be her first and only.

  That of course was all before she met Hayden Gregory. Hayden Gregory was the top detective for the New York Police force, and partially the reason Charity went into detective work. She didn’t think she had what it took, especially with her being so shy. But Hayden saw something in her.

  “Be more aggressive, Charity!” He’d tell her with passion dripping in his voice. He hated when she didn’t speak up or not make direct eye contact.

  As annoying as it was at first, Charity soon grew to like his reprimanding. She felt that for the first time, someone actually cared enough. He didn’t think of her as a quiet nobody. He saw potential and recognized how talented Charity was. Hayden was not exactly her type either. He was slightly older, but also very smart and charming. With his killer smile and icy blue eyes, Charity was sure she’d faint every time he’d speak to her. Never in a million years did Charity think she’d start to like him romantically. However, things all changed so quickly.

  She was just a trainee at the time, so she assumed there could never be anything between them. That didn’t stop the gnawing crush she had on him though, and she’d do anything just to be around him. So, she’d get him a fresh cup of coffee every day, just how he liked it. Not too much cream, not too much sugar. She even would fetch a fresh scone from the bakery up the street. No one ever bothered to go the bakery since it was always packed with people in a rush. But Charity knew how much Hayden loved cheesecake scones. One day everything changed. He stopped her after she brought him his coffee and scone. His gentle hand reached out and touched Charity by the small of her back, stopping her in her tracks.

  “Charity, how come you get me a coffee and scone every day? You really don’t have to, especially since you’re here to train as a detective, not maid.”

  Charity blushed a deep shade of red, lowering her head. She didn’t want to say what she truly felt, but it was burning deep inside of her, too much for her not to let it spill out. “I know I don’t have to, but I admire you so much, and I like to do things for you,” Charity managed to stammer out as nerves raced throughout her entire body.

  Hayden nodded his head in thought and stayed in silence for a while before looking up at Charity. He lifted a perfectly sculpted arm and motioned for her to sit.

  Charity nodded in compliance, anxiously sitting down and folding her hands together in her lap.

  “Forgive me if this is inappropriate, but I’d be lying if I said seeing you doesn’t make me the happiest I’ve ever been in a really long time.”

  The air left Charity’s chest as her mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe her ears. Was this really happening, or was she daydreaming again? “I-I don’t know what to say,” She whispered.

  Hayden stood up slowly and walked around the desk. He kneeled just enough so that their faces were eye level, and then leaned in and kissed Charity softly on the lips. With one hand he cupped her chin and with the other he held the back of her head. The kiss was so gentle and perfect that Charity was positive she’d faint. As he pulled away he smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind Charity’s ear.

  “You’re absolutely perfect, Charity. Don’t change for anyone,” Hayden ordered softly.

  Still stunned, Charity nodded gleefully and stood up. “I’ll remember that,” Charity shyly replied. Hayden smiled and nodded as Charity turned and walked towards the door. The perfect kiss from the perfect man. She wanted nothing more than to be with Hayden. To be his everything. But just like a good kiss, everything comes to an end. The world goes from being scarlet, right back to being grey.

  She sighed and squeezed the empty coffee mug in her hand. She hated that Anthony was right, but most of all, she hated that she couldn’t forget that kiss.

  Chapter Two

  The day seemed to lug on with not even caffeine being strong enough to pull her out of her funk. On top of Anthony’s declaration of Charity’s boring appearance, the constant flashbacks of Hayden sent chills down Charity’s spine. Why couldn’t she just forget about him? It had been three years after all. Much to her horror though, the quest to forget about Hayden Gregory was just about to get ten times harder.

  “Guess who’s coming all the way from Staten Island, just to discuss a potential case with us?” Margaret chirped as she suddenly popped out of nowhere. Margaret was Charity’s only friend, as well as the only woman in New York City who wore pink snakeskin cowgirl boots.

  When Charity first started her training as a detective, she was positive she’d be a loner just like in high school. All until she met the very gracious, and southern, Margaret Johnson. They both shared a common background of being from small towns, as well as not being very great in the dating department. While Charity was too timid, Margaret was too loud and abrasive, a trait that most likely came from her deep Texan roots. Fortunately for Margaret, she met her match last Spring with a guy who loved her large personality just as much as her boobs. He was a law student with a sweet, witty side, which came to be Margaret’s kryptonite.

  Charity sighed heavily as she typed up a report on her computer. “Please, for the love of god, let it not be that awful detective Susan Lopez,” she groaned. “Last time she was here I was up to my ears in work.”

  Margaret slid around Charity’s cubicle, sliding onto her desk. She had an apologetic look on her face, and her brown eyes were full of sympathy. “Honestly, I think Susan Lopez would be a hell of a lot better than who’s actually coming in,” Margaret whispered, twiddling her thumbs.

  Charity’s heart dropped. She swallowed hard and leaned in close to Margaret. “Are you meaning to tell me, he is coming?”

  Margaret's eyes ventured behind Charity and she stood up abruptly, peeking down at her with anxiety. “More like he’s al
ready here,” She winced as she looked directly behind Charity. “Good Morning, sir. Is there anything I can get you?”

  Heat festered on Charity’s cheeks as she smelt that familiar sea breeze cologne with a hint of fresh detergent doused in the air.

  Hayden.

  “A coffee would be terrific, Margaret, thank you,” Hayden’s voice boomed. Charity felt like melting, but she didn’t want to look as if she wasn’t over Hayden. It’d been three years after all. Surely looking at him wasn’t too hard.

  “Hayden,” she called as she whirled her chair around to face him. She was immediately hit with a wave of weakness as she looked up at the gorgeous man standing before her.

  Not much had changed about him. His dark, curly hair was still tousled handsomely with specks of grey to match his full beard. Those icy blue eyes pierced her the exact same way they had the last time she saw him. Only this time they’re less sympathetic. Charity hoped to god her gaze mirrored his coldness.

  “Charity,” Hayden replied, dragging each syllable out deliciously, as if he were tasting her name for the first time. “Has it really been three years already?”

  Nodding, Charity stood and smoothed her turtleneck. “Indeed. Time flies in this industry,” She retorted with a smug smile.

  “It sure does,” Hayden muttered as he looked her up and down. That was the one thing he did that Charity loved and hated. It made her feel naked as his eyes slowly fell over her entire body, starting at her shoes, then slowly up her thighs, lingering slightly. Then when they finally made it to her chest, his gaze would slow down even more, just enough so that when their eyes met, it was the perfect pace.

  “You haven’t changed a bit I see,” Charity murmured as she fought to hide the creeping blush on her cheeks.