Truth or Dare (Liar Liar #2) Read online

  Truth or Dare

  Part Two in the Liar Liar Series

  C.A. Mason

  Copyright © by C.A. Mason

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, including photocopying, graphic, electronic, mechanical, taping, recording, sharing, or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the author and / or publisher. Exceptions include brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Persons, places and other entities represented in this book are deemed to be fictitious. They are not intended to represent actual places or entities currently or previously in existence or any person living or dead. This work is the product of the author’s imagination.

  Any and all inquiries to the author of this book should be directed to:

  [email protected]

  Truth or Dare © 2014 C.A. Mason

  Chapter One

  Maura looked from me to the phone in my hand, her beautiful face registering shock and disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m dead serious.” I scrolled through my contacts before flashing her the screen. “That’s his cell number, right?” I came prepared to follow through on my threat, in case she decided to call my bluff.

  “You can’t…” She blew out a breath when she saw my face was unyielding. “I mean, you can, but why would you want to?”

  “Your fiancé needs to know about us.”

  “Why?” She wrapped her hand around her neck, covering the faint scar. “Why are you doing this to me? I thought we got along well, liked each other, so why are you trying to ruin my life?” When I remained silent, she became desperate. “Did a woman cheat on you and now you’re on a crusade to punish every woman who’s unfaithful to her man? Is that it? Did I fail your test when I—”

  I raised my hand to silence her ramblings. “Enough with the psycho-babble, angel. I’m doing this for your own good.”

  “My own good?” she shrieked, the hand around her neck clenching tighter. “You’re turning my whole world upside down for my own good?” She lowered her voice when she heard voices outside her door. “Look, I know I did a really shitty thing cheating on my fiancé. I’ve never done anything like that before, and I never will again.”

  “Prove it.”

  She paused, as though waiting for me to up the ante. “How?”

  “Go out with me tonight.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll push you to the limit of your control. If you snap, we tell him. If you’re able to resist, this game is over, and I declare you the winner.”

  “You’re insane,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands.

  I raised one shoulder. “Maybe. Or maybe I just want to prove to you this connection between us is too intense for either of us to ignore.”

  “I don’t know what you want from me. What do you hope to gain from this?”

  “I want you to be mine,” I said, looking in her eyes, daring her to look away. “That won’t happen as long as he’s in the picture, so whatever it takes to get rid of him, I’m willing to do it.”

  “Why are you so obsessed with—”

  “Not obsessed, angel,” I said, raising a finger to halt her words. “Determined. There’s a big difference.”

  “What happens if you win, if you break me?” She looked at the ground. “I tell Jeff, lose any hope of a future with him, and you get tired of me inside a week and cast me aside?”

  “Not gonna happen.” If I was still intrigued with her after so many years and all that had gone down between us, then that flame would never burn out. She was under my skin, and nothing would change that.

  “How do you know?”

  I reached for her hand. I could offer words to reassure her, but they would only make me sound more unbalanced. I wanted to marry you long before you agreed to marry him. You promised you would be mine forever. “There are some things I just know instinctively. The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew you were different.”

  Of course she thought I was talking about the moment our eyes locked at the hotel, but I was thinking of a summer a lifetime ago when she was lying on a lounger by her parents’ pool, wearing a black string bikini and oversized shades. She’d raised her glasses, winked at me, and I was hooked.

  She tried to pull her hand away, but I tightened my grasp. “Things like that don’t happen in real life, Blaise. Men like you don’t have a one-night stand with some random woman only to realize you can’t live without her.”

  “How can you be so sure?” I kissed her hand, drawing her in with my eyes. “How can you be sure I haven’t been thinking about you since you left? How do you know I haven’t been losing sleep because you keep sneaking into my dreams?” I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “How do you know I’m not losing my fucking mind over you?”

  Maura jumped when someone knocked on the door. She crossed the room and opened it. “Daddy, what are you doing here?”

  He laughed. “I work here. Remember, princess?”

  So we meet again, Mr. Lancaster. I hadn’t seen him since my trial. The years had been good to him. He still had a trim physique and a thick head of silver hair, his eyes and skin tone the exact same shade as his daughter’s. I wondered if he would see something in me Maura hadn’t. Would he notice a mannerism I hadn’t been able to quash? Would there be a spark of familiarity?

  Coming back to New Hampshire was risky, I knew that, but it was also necessary. Whoever had abducted and raped Maura could still be there, living in her town, perhaps within walking distance of her home. I couldn’t rest until I’d looked into his eyes, made him beg for his life, and watched while he was tried and convicted the way I had been.

  Eric Lancaster walked into his daughter’s office without waiting for an invitation, but he stopped abruptly when he spotted me on the sofa. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know Maura was with a client.” He frowned, pointing at me. “Hey, you’re Blaise Walsh, the owner of that fighting—”

  “I am,” I said, cutting him off. I’d learned a long time ago how to assert my authority with men like Eric. A part of me had been looking forward to our meeting so I could cut the man who’d always treated me like a second-class citizen down to size.

  I stood, offering my hand, mainly because I towered over him and enjoyed looking down on him for once. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Well, the pleasure is all mine.” His eyes twinkled with enthusiasm as his hand pumped mine. “Maura mentioned she was planning an event for your organization, but I thought a man as prominent as you would be far too busy to come here to meet her. I just assumed she would have to go to you.”

  It irked me that he thought his daughter’s time was less valuable than mine. I also sensed he wasn’t thrilled Maura had wasted her Ivy League education on a career as trivial as event and wedding planning.

  “Tell me something,” he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks as he rocked back on his heels. “Why Maura?”

  I quirked an eyebrow at him before glancing at Maura. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, and I could tell she was embarrassed by her father’s question. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your question.” I did, but I wanted to see if he had the audacity to spell it out.

  “There must be hundreds of qualified event planners in New York,” he said. “Why come all the way here?”

  Okay, so he hadn’t been as condescending as I’d expected him to be, but that didn’t mean he’d scored any points. I still hated him. That may be unreasonable, but I viewed him as the reason Maura had kept our relationship a secret. Not to mention her refusal of my impromptu marriage proposal.

  Smirking, I glanced at Maura. “My business contacts are spr
ead all over the world, Mr. Lancaster. I look for talent, not geographic proximity, when compiling my team. I realized a long time ago most people would travel to the ends of the earth if the price was right.”

  “Hmmm.” He looked over his shoulder at his daughter, who was still hovering by the door as though she was plotting a quick getaway. “So does that mean my daughter is part of your team now?”

  “I’d like her to be.” I smiled at Maura. I’d like her to be my partner. “That’s what I’m here to discuss with her. I had other business in town, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to follow up with her about the proposition I made her the other night.” I saw relief wash over Maura’s face when she realized I was going to keep our little secret, at least for now. “I was just telling your daughter what a nice building you have here, Mr. Lancaster.”

  Eric looked around the office, taking in the large windows, high ceilings, and original hardwood floors. “Thanks. We just renovated last year. My father bought this building back in ’72. He used to have his offices on the main floor.”

  “I’d like to add something like this to my portfolio,” I said, ignoring the exasperated look Maura shot over her father’s shoulder. “Would you be offended if I made you an offer?”

  He chuckled. “I guess that depends on the offer.”

  Maura moved away from the door, her wide eyes frantic as she gripped her father’s arm. “Daddy, you can’t seriously be considering selling this building.”

  “Why not?” he asked, shrugging. “You know I’m thinking of retiring soon. Even with a good property management team, owning too many units is a headache. Maybe it’s time I think about unloading some of them.”

  “Tell me about some of your other holdings,” I said, walking around the desk and planting myself in Maura’s swivel chair while I pointed at the guest chair, indicating Eric should sit while we talked business. I was really only interested in this building because owning it meant I would be Maura’s landlord and she couldn’t avoid dealing with me even if she wanted to. Becoming entrenched in her life hadn’t been part of my original plan, but I hadn’t expected the rush of feelings I’d experienced when I finally got her back in my bed. It was time to revise the plan.

  Maura glared at me, but said nothing about my audacity.

  “Well, let’s see,” he said, sitting across from me. “There’s the loft building where Maura lives—”

  “Don’t you mean Maura and her fiancé?”

  “Well, yes, but Maura and Jeff maintain separate suites in the building. His apartment will be for rent again soon though.” He chuckled. “I can’t deny I was pleased when Maura decided to live separately during their engagement. I’m a bit old-fashioned, and I don’t like the idea of my daughter shacking up with someone without the benefit of matrimony.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” I said, folding my hands on the desktop and ignoring Maura’s huff of indignation. “She should definitely wait until after the wedding to move in with him.” I pulled a notepad across the desk and reached for a gold pen that had her name engraved on it. “Tell me the address of this building. I’d like to check it out.”

  “I can do one better,” Eric said. “Why don’t I take you there myself?”

  “Excellent idea,” I said, standing.

  One quick glance at Maura told me she was uncomfortable with me being alone with her father. She had good reason to be uneasy. I subscribed to the theory that keeping my enemies close was the best approach, and whether Eric Lancaster realized it or not, he was about to become my ally in the campaign to end his daughter’s farce of an engagement.

  “First I’ll take you on a tour of this building, then we can have lunch and pass by the loft building,” Eric suggested.

  “Sounds like a plan.” I quickly scanned my phone. I was waiting for my private investigator to send me a report about the guys who’d worked with me on the construction crew at Maura’s family estate. I needed addresses. I intended to pay each and every one of them a personal visit.

  “Daddy,” Maura said, reaching for her father’s hand, “this seems kind of sudden. Don’t you think you should talk to Mom before you start selling off your holdings?”

  He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “We’ve talked about the possibility, princess. Your mother has been after me to retire for years, you know that. She wants to travel more. The fewer potential problems back here, the more we’ll be able to enjoy it.”

  “Makes perfect sense,” I interjected. “It seems to me your father’s worked hard all his life, Maura. Isn’t it time for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor?” I smiled at Eric. I was saying all the right things to ingratiate myself to the man, but I could tell his daughter wasn’t buying it.

  She knew the real deal. I was using my money to get to her, and she hated it. If she weren’t being so obstinate, I wouldn’t have to go those lengths. Until she was willing to admit to me and herself that I was the one she wanted, I’d do whatever I had to to manipulate the situation so I had the upper hand. Some called me ruthless, but I preferred to think of myself as savvy.

  “I guess this means we’ll have to continue our conversation over dinner tonight, Maura,” I said, reaching for my overcoat. Of course dinner tonight was a fait accompli, even though she’d never officially agreed. “I’ll pick you up at your place around seven. Semi-formal attire.”

  She closed her eyes as though she was seeking the patience to deal with me. I thought her reaction was cute. She was trying so hard to fight it, and that would just make the victory that much sweeter.

  “I look forward to it, Blaise,” she said, forcing a smile.

  I’d won this round, and we both knew it. Of course, she wouldn’t stop fighting. She was tough, determined, especially when it came to her convictions, and I admired that about her. But her will was no match for mine. Once I’d decided I wanted something, it was as good as mine.

  “As do I.” I mouthed “Angel” as I walked by her, winking when she narrowed her eyes at me.

  “Enjoy your lunch,” she said to her father. “I suppose you’ll be at the country club in the morning to discuss the wedding?”

  “I’ll try,” he said, “but I have a developer in from out of town. He’s trying to buy the vacant lot by the old Morrison place, and the city is giving us a hard time about zoning.”

  “But you were the one who was so insistent about us getting married at the club,” she said, obviously trying to maintain her patience. “I assumed you would want to be there to weigh in.”

  Eric waved dismissively. “Your mother told me I should stay out of it, let you kids decide where and when you want to get married.”

  Looking stunned, Maura said, “You’ve been pressuring me to set a date for the past year. Now you finally decide to stay out of it?” She crossed her arms. “Why? What happened to change your mind?”

  “Nothing,” he said, his cheeks reddening under his tan. “I’m just, uh, busy. Besides, planning a wedding is your deal, not mine.”

  He was hiding something, and I intended to find out what it was.

  “Now’s a fine time to tell me that,” she said, throwing up her hands. “I’ll never understand you. I’ve been telling you to back off and let me deal with my own life ever since Jeff and I got together. Now that I’ve finally decided to do what you want, it seems you couldn’t care less.”

  So her father had convinced her Jeff was the right man for her? I couldn’t say I was surprised. He’d always tried to run her life.

  “I’m sorry,” Maura said, looking at me as though just remembering I was there. “This is a private family matter. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  I laughed. She had to know I was eating this up. “Think nothing of it.” I brought her hand to my lips. I didn’t care if her father considered it an inappropriate gesture for business associates. “Until tonight.”

  Looking flustered, she said, “Yes.”

  Eric led me down the hall to the elevators and
looked distracted as he punched the button repeatedly.

  “Is there a problem, Mr. Lancaster?”

  “Uh, no.” He forced a smile. “And please, call me Eric.”

  “Only if you’ll call me Blaise.”

  “Certainly.” He slapped my back as we stepped on to the elevator. He suddenly looked weary, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “You don’t have any kids, do you, Blaise?”

  “No, why?”

  “Sometimes I think it’s the hardest job in the world.” He sighed. “You try so hard to protect them, to lead them down the right path, only to realize they’ve done what you wanted them to do and you’ve led them astray without meaning to.”

  I frowned. The man was talking in riddles, but there was a story in there somewhere. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

  “My son, Jason, is a surfer.” He barked out a laugh. “A surfer. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his education, and he woke up one day and decided he wanted to chase the waves.” Waving, he said, “Whatever the hell that means.”

  I smiled. I had no idea Jason Lancaster had it in him to be rebellious. Good for him, charting his own course. “Where is he living?”

  “Maui.” He tipped his head. “I guess if you’re going to be a beach bum, there’s no better place to do it.”

  I laughed, surprised to find that I didn’t hate Eric Lancaster as much as I thought I would. “Personally, I think Maui is a little piece of heaven on earth. Have you ever been?”

  “Many times. The first time Jason went there was on a family vacation. That’s when he fell in love with it. I just never thought he would drop everything to buy a surf shop and move there. He gives people surfing lessons,” Eric said, frowning. “He competes too. From what I hear, he’s good. He’s even set a few records.”

  “So maybe you should just be pleased that he’s living his dream.”

  Eric regarded me carefully. “I’m surprised to hear that from a man like you. I thought you of all people would be relentless in your pursuit of success.”