Page 57 of The Complete Truth Duet
“Dante’s good at what he does.” I shifted back to the original topic. “He gets into their heads and pulls all the right strings that will make them believe that this is the best life they can ever have.”
“Tell me you don’t believe that, Cora.”
I allowed the truth to blaze from my eyes. “No. I don’t.”
He looked visibly relieved. It would have been sweet had it not been insulting.
“I’m not stupid, Penn. I’m not brainwashed. I’m not…whatever you think about me.”
He lifted his hands in surrender. “Whoa, slow down. I don’t think anything about you.” He paused, breathed a curse, and then continued. “That was a lie. I actually think a lot of things about you. But none of them are bad. Okay?”
I cut my eyes to the door to avoid his scrutinizing gaze. “I don’t want anyone’s pity.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him rise to his full height. Then his boots thumped on the concrete as he walked over, the mattress dipping when he sat on the edge. I tried to roll away, but he didn’t let me go far. Using one hand, he guided my head into his lap and then used the other to hook my legs so I was curled like a kitten around him with my thighs flush with his back.
His face was soft, his posture relaxed, and his voice raw as he leaned in close and pointedly stated, “Then you’ll get none from me.”
I focused on his stomach. “It didn’t seem that way—”
“I’m here too, Cora. You were right. We do all have our reasons. I’m just trying to understand yours.” He brushed the hair out of my face, the tips of his callused fingers trailing across my cheek and down my neck. As if he knew what it meant, he stopped before he reached my star necklace. “And that means getting to know you. So if you have secrets you’re not ready to share yet? Fine. Play your game of lies. But don’t ever mistake my asking questions or wanting to know everything about you as some kind of judgment or pity.”
Damn. That was sweet.
And it made me feel like crap.
My cheeks heated. “Sorry. I haven’t done the talking thing with anyone in a long time. I mean…I talk a lot. But not usually about myself.”
“It’s okay. I’ll fuck this up, too. I’m not exactly the most open man in the world.”
“No, you definitely aren’t.” I hazarded a peek up at him.
He was smirking. “You got something you want to ask me?”
“Oh, about a million things.”
“What do you say we play a little Truth or Lie tit-for-tat? I think I’m done working for the night.”
I smiled wide. Partially because I was beyond eager to learn more about the mysterious Penn Walker, but also because being done working meant he’d probably lie in bed with me, talking and holding me close until I fell asleep.
“I see you like this idea.”
I nodded several times.
He slanted his head toward the top of the mattress. “Come on. Get under the covers.”
I watched with rapt attention as Penn unlaced his boots, set them at the foot of the bed, hit all the locks on my bedroom door, and then slid into bed beside me. I giggled as he wrestled me into a comfortable position on his chest.
Once his arm was crooked behind his head, he kissed the top of my head and mumbled, “Shoot.”
I decided to start out small. “Favorite color.”
“Truth. Blue.”
“Light or dark?” I tilted my head to peer up at him and he put his chin to his chest to look down at me.
“Nope. Tit-for-tat. My turn. Favorite food.”
“Lie. Veggies.” I winked.
He chuckled. “You forgot I saw you maim that cupcake a while back.”
Grinning, I bulged my eyes at him. “I said lie.”
He glared at me, but he did it with twitching lips.
“How old were you when you lost your virginity?” I asked, teasing my fingers under the hem of his T-shirt.
His eyebrows shot up, and he caught my hand, stilling my ascent up his chest. “Who says I’ve lost it?”
It was my turn to glare.
And his turn to laugh.
When he sobered, he answered and then continued with the rapid-fire questions. “I was sixteen. Danielle Rogers in my bed while my parents were at work. Favorite flavor ice cream?”
“Chocolate.”
“Shocking,” he deadpanned.
“Did you graduate high school?” I asked.
“I did. Top of my class.”
My mouth fell open. “No shit?”
“Your surprise isn’t doing good things for my ego. What about you?”
“I got my GED a few years ago,” I replied, suddenly feeling super inadequate.
He gave me a reassuring squeeze on my hip. “Don’t say it like that. Hard work is hard work. Be proud of that, Cora.”
My cheeks heated under his praise. “Did you go to college?”
“Um…” He swayed his head from side to side. “Lie. Florida State.”
