The Last Good Liar (Carolina Kisses #3) - Sylvie Stewart Page 0,49

her mouth.

With dessert finished, I’m guessing talk will turn to business any minute now. I’m praying Maria has managed to talk them around in the time we’ve been apart, but surely she wouldn’t have insisted I come over if she didn’t think things would go my way. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time now.

“Let’s go have a drink.” William stands and tosses his cloth napkin on top of his half-eaten chocolate tart.

I stand and wait for Maria to rise from her chair as well, but she’s still got her wine glass to her lips, and I notice she’s managed to drain the entire thing in the last twenty seconds.

“Miranda.” I’ve been careful to follow the Fontaines’ example and call her by her nickname, reinforcing the level of our closeness. It’s a strange nickname, though. Somehow too formal for the woman I’m getting to know. Most people have nicknames that are short and snappy, ones that capture their personality. But I suppose these people know her way better than I ever will.

She swallows the last sip and brings the glass down to the table with a force I’m surprised doesn’t have it shattering into a million pieces. I shoot her a silent message with my eyes to get her shit together, but she still won’t meet mine.

We follow William to the same sitting room as the other night, and he doesn’t ask for my drink this time. He pours two bourbons and another two glasses of wine for Winona and Maria. Thankfully, he doesn’t bring up the bourbon incident from earlier in the week. I notice, to my surprise, that the stain is completely gone and make a mental note to ask Rita how in the hell she managed that miracle. Working in my industry means a lot of stains, and I could use any tips I can get.

Winona is taking her time, so William starts in without her as he settles himself in a leather chair. The hideous painting behind him almost diverts my attention, but I force my eyes to remain on him. “About your shop,” he begins, and I feel the adrenaline start to kick in. This is it. Without thinking, I reach down between Maria and me to grab her hand, but it’s not there. She has them both folded tightly on her lap, and her leg is bouncing up and down like it’s on a caffeine high. It occurs to me that she’s even more nervous than I am, and the very idea of it has a kind of liquid warmth spreading in my chest. She may deny it, but she cares about me and my shop. We’ve only known one another for a matter of days and here I am thinking about her all the time and here she is so invested in my dreams—despite all her big talk and denials. It’s crazy. I’m so distracted by the thought, that William’s next words almost don’t register.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but I think it’s for the best.”

My eyes flick to Maria’s, only to find them closed and her jaw drawn tight.

In that moment I realize she already knew.

I try to swallow but my throat is too dry. Maria knew it was dead in the water before I even got here—before she messed with me with the chess thing, before I went on and on with all that flattery bullshit at dinner, before I bought this fucking tie and these uncomfortable shoes this afternoon. Before I rode the three hours on a high—not thinking about Ashley or my family’s interference or any of that shit, but instead thinking that maybe Ari had a point and I should keep an open mind. Hell, I was even planning on taking Maria out to a nice place to say thank you once I signed on the dotted line. And she let me hope that whole time.

But I can’t waste any more time thinking about Maria right now. Business always comes first. I force a calm to my voice and turn to William. “I don’t understand, sir. I—”

Maria cuts me off and all eyes swing to her as she bolts up to standing, grasping my sleeve on her way. “Forget it, Ponch. We’ll figure out something else.”

I stand, mostly because her grip is so tight my shirt will likely rip in two if I don’t. But I need to stay and talk it out with William. Once he sees my business plan, he won’t be able to