Lie to Me: A Bad Boy Mountain Romance (Clarke Brothers Book 1) Read online

  The Clarke Brothers Series: Book I

  Lie to Me

  A bad boy mountain romance

  Lilian Monroe

  www.lilianmonroe.com

  Twitter: @Lily_Author

  Facebook: @MonroeRomance

  Instagram: @lilianmonroe.author

  Copyright © 2018 All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author except for short quotations used for the purpose of reviews.

  Chapter 1 – Madeline

  “Madeline! My office, now!”

  I glance up from my desk and sigh. Barry isn’t in a good mood. We’re mobilizing to the new construction site next month, and there are a million things to do. I click ‘save’ on my computer and stand up. My environmental report will have to wait. I turn towards Barry’s office and try to keep my face neutral.

  Our project director, Barry Atkins, is a middle-aged, gruff-looking man with a big pot-belly. He’s hunched over at his desk, squinting at his computer when I walk into his office. His eyebrows are knitted together and he’s stroking his thick moustache with one hand as he scrolls down the screen with the other.

  “Read this,” he barks without looking up. I take a few steps to walk around his desk and look at his screen with him. It’s an email forwarded on from our community liaison manager at the project site.

  Town Hall Meeting

  All residents of Lang Creek County are invited to the Town Hall Meeting at Lang Creek Community Centre, this Friday at 7:00pm. The construction of the Williamson Luxury Hotel on Lang Creek Mountain will be discussed. Please attend for any and all questions and comments.

  Lang Creek Town Council

  Barry glances at me and I take a deep breath. He shakes his head.

  “The pushback we’ve been getting from the community is getting worse. They don’t want this hotel to be built. I need you to go to Lang Creek and be the company representative for this town hall meeting.”

  I make a choking, gurgling sound before taking a deep breath.

  “Barry, with all due respect, I have three applications to make to state and federal environmental agencies that need to be in by the end of next week. I don’t have time to go down there, not now. If I don’t get these submitted, we won’t be able to start on time. Wouldn’t it be better for one of the project engineers to go?”

  “Who, Patrick? Glen? They’ll make things worse! They’d go in there like they were ordering some workers around on site. No, we need someone with finesse.” He looks at me and softens his voice. “We need you. You’re the environmental engineer on this project and you’re in the best position to put the community’s mind at ease. We need to win their hearts and minds. Put a presentation together, and make sure you mention all our sustainability initiatives. Talk about that other project you worked on – the rehabilitation of the old mine site you worked on.”

  He waves his hand and I take a deep breath to try to calm myself down. I know how important this is, but as the only environmental engineer on this project, my plate is already too full.

  “Barry, I need help. We’re building this hotel on a Class 1 Nature reserve, and I have seventeen applications that need to be approved. The three going in next week are going to determine whether we can start on time. I can’t -”

  Barry swings his eyes up towards me and furrows his brow. I know that look. It’s a look that doesn’t invite discussion. I gulp and then nod, taking a deep breath to steady my voice.

  “I’ll get it done,” I say.

  Barry nods. “Good. I knew I could count on you.”

  He turns back to his computer and I head back towards my desk. I flop down on my chair and look at my computer screen, dejected. I have a half-finished Noise and Vibration Report, plus a to-do list that’s overwhelming to look at. I look around at everyone tapping away on their keyboards and I wonder if they’re as overwhelmed as I am. Now he wants me to put together a presentation and head into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains? I somehow have to win over the Lang Creek County population by Friday? What is our community liaison officer even doing down there!

  I’ve worked with Barry for almost five years now, and I know that he’s right. We need to handle the community correctly to save ourselves trouble down the line. But still, sometimes I feel like he relies on me too much. I pull out my Tupperware box from my bag and open it up. Looks like it’ll be another lunch eaten alone at my desk as I rush to finish yet another task.

  I haven’t even stuck my fork into the salad leaves when my phone rings. I check the screen and sigh. It’s Cecilia, our community relations manager.

  “Hi Cecilia,” I say as I put my fork down and stare blankly at my screen.

  “Maddy! Barry told me you’d be leading this town meeting.”

  “Not sure about leading it, but I’ll be there.”

  “Have you prepared the presentation yet?”

  “Cecilia, I just got told I’m going to Lang Creek ten minutes ago. I haven’t even opened up PowerPoint yet.” I can hear the tension in my voice and I try to take a quiet breath.

  “Right, right. I’ve been having some issues getting people on board,” she starts. “They’re worried about the hotel construction site to begin with. Then they think it’ll bring in too many tourists and the area will be destroyed.”

  I can tell. “I’ll let you know when my presentation is done,” I answer curtly. I hang up the phone and rub my hands over my temples. My lunch looks unappetizing, but I stab it with my fork anyway. I munch on a lettuce leaf before looking at my screen. I open up a blank presentation and take a deep breath. I might as well get started working on this.

  Chapter 2 – Aiden

  I take a step back and run my eyes over the big pile of neatly stacked firewood. The sweat is beading on my forehead and I can feel it dripping down the center of my back. I unzip the front of my jacket and let the cool air come close to my body. I take a deep breath and nod to myself. This should keep me going for a month at least.

  As I’m turning towards the cabin, I hear the crunch of car wheels on the gravel road leading up to my property. My eyebrows knit together and I walk towards the sound, ready to intercept whoever made the long, winding drive up to talk to me. They’re either lost, or something is wrong. I don’t get many visitors that come up just for a chat.

  The familiar Lang Creek County Police emblem comes into view on the side of a white pickup truck. I stand at the top of my drive and wait for Sheriff Whittaker to stop the car and get out. He raises his arm towards me as he slams the pickup door closed.

  “Aiden! How are you!”

  “I’m fine, Bill. What brings you all the way up here?”

  “Can’t a man come and see his friend and make sure everything is all right? I haven’t stopped by the garage in a while.”

  I nod with pursed lips. I don’t like being reminded of work, and I spend as little time there as possible.

  Bill walks towards me and extends his hand. I grasp it and we pump our arms up and down before he claps me on the back with his other hand.

  “Good to see you’re still alive, friend.”

  I nod towards the cabin. “Drink?”

  Bill hesitates and points his thumb at his truck. “I haven’t got much time today, Aiden. I’m on duty in town. There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”

  I nod slowly. I can feel that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach when I know there is bad news coming. My mind races to my broth
ers – did anything happen to them? Surely Bill wouldn’t be in such a good mood if it did? I stare at him until he nods and opens his mouth to speak.

  “There’s a town hall meeting this Friday,” he starts.

  I shake my head. “Not interested.” I turn towards the cabin and start walking away from Bill. His footsteps crunch as he jogs towards me.

  “Aiden, wait! You’ve heard of the new hotel, haven’t you? They’re sending a representative to tell the town about it. We’re going to vote on the construction. Your property runs alongside the hotel grounds for at least four acres. If anyone should have a say, it’s you.”

  I stop and turn towards him. “You already know what I think about that hotel, Bill,” I growl. Bill nods and takes another step closer to me. He spreads his palms up towards the sky and pleads with his eyes.

  “Aiden, the town is divided. I agree with you, I don’t think the hotel should be there, but what can I do? I’m the Sheriff, for Christ’s sake. I need to be at least somewhat neutral. We need you to speak your mind.”

  I stare at his eyes and feel myself harden. My body becomes stiff and my gaze gets hard and cold. Bill stands his ground, staring into my face as I feel that familiar current of anger and resentment fill me up. I shake my head and turn back towards the cabin.

  “Get one of my brothers to go,” I call back. “I’m not interested.”

  “I can’t!” Bill says. “Ethan is gone for Park Ranger training and Dominic… well, you know how Dominic is.”

  “So all that’s left is me, is that it? Last resort?” I ask as I glance over my shoulder. Bill grins and shrugs his shoulders.

  “Something like that.”

  I hesitate. If my brothers can’t make it to town, no one will have the courage to speak up against the construction of the hotel. It’s endorsed by the McCoy family, and they own half the town. Every time I pull on my coveralls to go to work with ‘McCoy Trucking’ branded across the chest, I almost shudder with disgust.

  If this hotel gets constructed, the whole county will change. The virgin forest that surrounds us will be destroyed by droves of tourists and the quiet, sleepy town that I’ve always known will be overrun. My family’s property will be the first to be impacted. I can hear my father’s voice in my head telling me to go to the meeting. It’s my duty to protect these forests.

  But then I think about driving into town. I think about seeing Mara McCoy’s mother at the town hall meeting and the way she’ll look me up and down and lift her lip in a disgusted snarl. I shake my head.

  “I’m busy, Bill. Get someone else.”

  I see Bill’s shoulders slump before I turn back towards the cabin. I listen as his footsteps walk away from me towards his truck and hear the truck’s motor start. I open the door to the cabin and walk inside without looking back. With a deep breath, I bring my hands up to my face and blow out all the air from my lungs.

  I peel my jacket off and toss it towards a chair before kicking my work boots off. It only takes a couple steps before I’m in the kitchen. I rip the refrigerator door open and crack a beer. The cold liquid runs down my throat and by the time I put it back down, half of it is gone. I set the beer on the counter and wipe my lips on the back of my hand. My eyes drift up through the kitchen window. The corner of the big house is just visible through the trees. A pang goes through my heart and I shake my head.

  I was supposed to be there, with a wife and kids, living the way my father taught us. I wanted to fill every one of the four bedrooms with children and teach them everything I knew. I wanted to smell warm cooking coming from the luxurious kitchen and know that I had a good woman beside me.

  That never happened though.

  Mara and her family betrayed us, and now I’m here. I’m living in a tiny cabin working for the family that took everything from my brothers and I.

  The small cabin at the back of the property is all I need. I don’t need a big house, or a woman, or children. I don’t need to be involved in the town’s problems. It doesn’t matter if they build a hotel or not. It doesn’t concern me. I finish my beer in one more gulp and toss the empty bottle into the trash. My eyes drift up towards the big house and I feel a shiver curl up my spine.

  What will happen to it when the hotel is built? Will anyone come snooping through these woods? I shake my head. I know they will, and the little slice of peace that I’ve found up here will be gone forever.

  Chapter 3 – Madeline

  I collapse onto my sofa when I get to my apartment. I try to turn my brain off, but it’s still buzzing with all the things I have to do. I empty my purse and put my work phone and personal phone on the coffee table before slowly getting up to get myself a glass of water. I don’t have the energy to make dinner tonight.

  I only have three days before I need to leave for Lang Creek, and all three days will be completely packed with work. It seems to be the only thing I ever do anymore.

  From the kitchen I hear my phone ring. I know it’s my personal phone from the ringtone, and my heart sinks. The only person that would be calling me at this hour is my mother. I amble back to the living room and pick up my phone, sighing one last time before picking up.

  “Hi, Mom,” I breathe.

  “Madeline! I have been trying to get through to you all day!”

  “I was at work,” I answer, my voice more terse than I mean it to be.

  “Are you still doing that? Why don’t you come and work for your father, dear? The hours will be much more manageable.”

  I bristle. We’ve been through this a million times, and a million times I’ve told her that I don’t want to work for my father. The main reason I went into environmental engineering was to get away from the complete destruction of the oil and gas industry.

  “Did you need anything, mom?” I ask.

  “Yes! Pack your bag, you need to stay with us this weekend. Your father’s doctor ordered him to go down to warmer weather, and with Bianca’s new baby I thought it would be a great excuse to have a family vacation. I’ve booked a floor at the Ritz in Miami.”

  I try not to sigh audibly. “I have to work, mom, remember? My job? I’m going out to site this week. I can’t cancel it.”

  My mother’s exaggerated sigh comes through the phone. “This JOB! It’s taking over your life. If you were just sensible, and…”

  “I don’t want any handouts – job or money or otherwise. I already live in this ridiculous luxury apartment in the middle of Manhattan that’s way too big for me. I don’t want to work in an industry that destroys the earth.”

  My mother is silent, and I can imagine the expression on her face. It’s probably that perfect mix of outrage and disdain that she carries so well.

  “Fine. Your father will be heartbroken,” she answers.

  “He’ll live,” I shoot back. I immediately regret my words when I hear a strangled sound come from my mother. With my dad’s health declining, it’s not the type of phrase that I should be throwing around.

  “Sorry,” I finally say. “I wish I could come, I really do. I just need to be on site this week.”

  “Well alright. Be careful.”

  The phone clicks and I lean back in the sofa. I let out all the air from my lungs and close my eyes. My hands come up to massage my temples as I try not to let the frustration bubble up inside me.

  She’s right.

  I hate the voice in my head but I can’t deny it. She’s right. I’m working too much, and Dad is sick. I shouldn’t be spending my time in Lang fucking Creek, I should be taking all the time I have to spend with him. I don’t know how much longer we’ll have together.

  Maybe I should have just worked with him all these years. Maybe my pride and independence was misplaced, and I should have been grateful. After all, there are certain opportunities that only come with having a last name like Croft.

  I remember being a kid and hating the way other kids at school looked at me. We all came from wealthy families – pr
ivate school kids usually do – but my father made a name for himself with his extreme wealth. They looked at me with that unmistakable mix of respect and jealousy. I could see it from the time I was old enough to understand what jealousy was, and I vowed to myself that I wouldn’t live my life riding on my parent’s coattails.

  And I haven’t. Well, I’ve gotten myself an education with their help, of course. And my mother insisted on buying this apartment, but apart from that I’ve kept my father’s identity a secret from my coworkers and bosses. To them I’m just Madeline Croft, the environmental engineer. I’m not Madeline Croft, the daughter of the oil and gas mogul.

  I open my eyes and glance over at the shelf. I get up slowly and walk over towards the old picture frame. The four of us – me, my sister Bianca, my father and mother. We’re all smiling from ear to ear. The scintillating blue waters and bright white buildings of Santorini, Greece splay out behind us.

  I grab the frame and stare at my father’s face, brushing it gently with my finger. I was only eleven when we went on that trip, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Dad brought me out on a boat and taught me how to fish and I caught a massive red snapper. I still remember the pride in his eyes when we brought it back to shore. He told me I had a gift, and I’d be successful in whatever I chose to do.

  The picture frame goes back on the shelf and I blink back the tears in my eyes. I wonder if he still thinks I’m successful? I wonder if when he said that, he was expecting me to take over the family company. I wonder if now, when he sees me, he still sees that girl with a world of possibilities ahead of her.

  Maybe he just sees another engineer working for a big company moving up the ladder all too slowly.

  I should be with him. I should be going to Miami, but instead I’m heading off into the wilderness. I sigh and turn away from the photo, shaking my head.

  I can’t think like this. He still has a long time ahead of him, and I have a long time to be with him. It’s just one family trip, and I’m at an important point in my career.

  I’m making the right choice by going to Lang Creek. I know I am. Maybe if I keep telling myself that I’ll start to believe it.