The third book in the Games We Play trilogy, Two Truths and a Lie releases next Tuesday. This was such a fun series to write.
This is Brenda's story. Unlike her cousins, Brenda is far from confident of their ability to make a success of their family's hotel, The Wild Geese Inn.
Here's a sneak peek:
A month earlier…
“Is there some reason you keep staring at me, Mr. Murphy?”
It had been approximately fifteen minutes since Brenda had
made Max’s acquaintance—since she’d overheard him checking in, recognized his
name as one she’d been waiting for, and hurried over to introduce herself. It had
been maybe ten minutes since she’d invited him into her office so that they
could discuss their mutual business in private, and so that she could warn him
against accidentally mentioning said business to her cousins.
And for most of
that time Max had been staring at her. Even now his gaze was tracking her every
move, coming to rest, every now and again, in all the most unexpected places:
her neck, her lips, her fingers, her hair, her breasts.
Well, okay, maybe not all those places were unexpected, but enough
of them were to make her feel exposed.
She wouldn’t have characterized herself as being unusually
vain, and she was certainly no stranger to male appreciation—or scrutiny—but
Max’s unwavering attention, coupled with her own intense awareness of it, of
him, was quickly becoming a problem. If for no other reason than it prevented
her from scrutinizing him.
Her cousin Gwyn would probably have bolted by now. Her
cousin Luke might have already thrown a punch. Brenda preferred to clear the
air and set things straight. “Is there something wrong with my appearance?”
“No, not at all.” A flush colored Max’s cheeks. “I
apologize. It’s just that you remind me of someone I used to know.” He looked
her right in the eyes as he said it. And there was a hint of challenge in his
gaze, as though he were daring her to make something of it. Suddenly, Brenda
felt it too, a vague but unmistakable feeling of familiarity. An overwhelming
sense of yes, there you are. At last.
If she were superstitious she might term the sensation déjà vu or concoct some
ridiculous fantasy—that they’d been lovers in a past life, for example, or soul
mates destined, since before either of them were born, to meet and fall in
love. But she wasn’t superstitious, so she called it what it was: meaningless
coincidence.
She cleared her throat. “Anyway, getting back to what I was
saying, my cousins don’t know that I’ve been in contact with Fairfax, and I’d
prefer to keep it that way for now.”
“I understand.” He glanced away, at last, an odd expression
on his face. Brenda couldn’t decide if he looked relieved or disappointed. “And,
to be honest, until there’s an actual offer on the table, I’d rather they not
be involved either. However, I do anticipate being around quite a lot in the
next few weeks, asking questions and whatnot. They might find that curious.
What do you suggest I say if they wonder why I’m here?”
“I’m glad you asked, because, as it happens, I’ve given the
matter a good deal of thought.”
He smiled faintly. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me in the
least.”
Brenda wasn’t exaggerating. Over the past few weeks, she’d
thought of little else. Luke might be enamored with the idea of having his own
bar, and Gwyn was clearly emotionally attached not just to the business but to
the building itself. But Brenda was the realist. The one who’d gone to school
for hotel management. The only one, or so it seemed at times, who realized how
much trouble they were all in.
She’d taken on a variety of tasks since November in an
effort to refamiliarize herself with the hotel. She’d helped out in the
kitchen, taken a shift or two in the bar; she’d made beds, and ordered
supplies, and checked guests in and out, but anyone could have done as much
with equal or—in many cases—superior results. Growing the business, protecting
her and her cousins’ inheritance, making sure the three of them didn’t end up
losing everything—that was her job, her passion, her only real contribution. That was the one thing she could do better than
anyone else.
And she was failing at it.
So, yes, she’d gone looking for solutions—because someone
had to suck it up and be the adult. When she learned that the Fairfax hotel
chain was potentially interested in acquiring the property, she’d done the
sensible thing and followed up with them. And when they’d told her they were
sending an inspector—one Max Murphy—down here to check out the property, she
for damn sure had given thought to the question of what kind of cover story she
could use to explain his being here.
“I thought we’d tell them that you’re an author,” Brenda
explained. “We could say you’re here doing research for a book you’re writing.”
“I’m not sure I follow. What kind of book are we talking
about? Like a travel guide?”
“No. I was thinking more of a novel that you’re planning to
set in a hotel like this one. That way you can ask whatever questions you like
and no one will think twice.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that.” Max hesitated. “It
seems a bit far-fetched. And I’m not sure how convincing I’d be as an author.”
Brenda shrugged. “Obviously, it would be best not to say
anything at all. But I think, if they ask, we should have a story ready.”
“I’ve always felt that, in situations like this, it’s best
to stick as close to the truth as possible.”
“I agree. So what would you suggest?”
Max smiled. “We could tell them we’re dating.”
Oh, like that’s not
far-fetched? Brenda started to laugh, then quickly turned it into a cough
when she realized Max was serious. “Sorry. I don’t think that would be a good
idea.”
“You’re not married, are you? Or otherwise involved?”
“No,” Brenda shot back. “Are you?”
“Do you really think I would have suggested we date if I
were in a relationship with someone else?”
“Sure. Why not? You might be polyamorous, or in an open
relationship, and not see anything wrong with it. Or you could be a liar, or a
cheater—”
“In which case I probably wouldn’t admit it, anyway.”
“Exactly.”
“Were you always this cynical?”
“No. I used to be shockingly naive. But then I grew up.”
“I’m sorry,” Max answered. His voice was unexpectedly
gentle.
“I don’t know why. It’s hardly your fault. Frankly, I’m not
even sure why I asked. It doesn’t matter, does it? Since we’d only be
pretending to date.”
“What if we weren’t pretending? What would you say if I were
to ask you to have dinner with me—for real?”
“I’d say no.”
“Because I’m not your type?” He said it lightly, with his
smile still in place, but there it was again, that hint of something in his
eyes that looked absurdly like pain.
Brenda shook the odd notion away. “No. That has nothing to
do with it.” Sweet Lord, Max was practically the poster boy for her type. She’d
been attracted to large, red-haired, bearded men from a very young age. Since
that one time that her Aunt Glynis decided it would be fun to take Brenda, Luke,
and Gwyneth into New York City to give them a street-side view of the Saint
Patrick’s Day parade. One glimpse of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum
Corps marching up Fifth Avenue, row upon row of kilt-wearing men, tall, broad,
and imposing, was all it had taken. Brenda had been hooked. But physical
attraction wasn’t everything. “If you must know, I don’t date, not in Atlas
Beach.”
Max quirked an eyebrow. “May I ask why not?”
“There are several reasons actually.” None of which were any
of his business. “I don’t have a lot of time right now, for one thing, what
with running the hotel, negotiating with Fairfax—”
“Creating inventive cover stories.”
“Yes, thank you. That too. For another, the dating pool here
is very small, and I’ve known most of the men in it since preschool. You’d be
surprised how off-putting that can be.”
Although, unfortunately, not off-putting enough where some
of the men were concerned.
* * * *
To read more about the series, check out my website: http://www.pgforte.com/GamesWePlay.htm
Brenda's relationship with Max is a sexy sham designed to keep her cousins from learning of her plans to sell their family's inn. Falling in love for real? That was not supposed to happen.
Max has no problem with hiding his true identity from Brenda's cousins. But are they the only ones he's deceiving? When all is finally revealed, will the cousins lose the Wild Geese Inn? Or will they add another member to their growing family?
