Bed of Lies

Chapter 1 She was standing in the foyer of the most elegant restaurant in town, Steve's arm resting lightly at her back, her future in-laws by her side, her new life firmly in place, when she saw him. Customers were heading in and out of the front doors, clustering at the hostess stand, heading off to their tables, everyone going every which way at once, while she stood frozen in place. There he was, Zach McRae in the flesh. For a moment it was as if Julie Morrison's life were a movie playing out on the big screen and someone had just hit the pause button. No . . . as if they'd sent the tape in reverse, and in an instant she was seven years old again, scared, lost, and trying to hide in a quiet corner of his parents' house, wishing she never had to go home. Zach turned, saw Julie, and walked right up to her, shoulders wide and squared, a too-familiar smile on his face-as if he's last seen her yesterday, not more than eight years ago-and said, "Hello, Julie." "Zach," she managed to say. "What are you doing here?" What she really wanted to say was, Please don't say another word. Please don't ruin anything. "Business." He was still smiling. "And you? Is this where you disappeared to? Memphis?" She laughed. What else was there to do? A part of her was surprised, maybe even hurt, that he'd recognized her so easily. She thought she'd come so far from that girl she used to be. Especially standing in the lobby of one of the finest restaurants in Memphis, a discreet-and yet she hoped stylish-designer dress wrapped around her body. Steve's ring-a tasteful family heirloom passed down through the generations-on the third finger of her left hand. And yet, at the same time, she realized there was a part of her that was immeasurably pleased that Zach had known her right away, even after all this time. "You disappeared?" Steve asked as his arm tightened around her, bringing her back to the present. She realized they were all looking at her, Zach and Steve, as well as Steve's parents. Both in their sixties, tastefully gray and discreetly looking of old Southern money, they'd never been happy at the prospect of welcoming her into their family. Calm down, Julie told herself. All she had to do was stay calm. And get rid of him. Stay right here in this carefully constructed world. It was hers now. No one could take it away. No one could make her go back to what she used to be. Steve's mother cleared her throat and gave Julie a pointed look. "I'm so sorry," Julie said. "I was just surprised. . . . Steve, this is Zach McRae, an old friend of mine. Zach this is my fiance, Steve Land, and his parents Barbara and Joe Land." As they all shook hands, Julie couldn't help but notice that Zach, all grown up, was just as straight and tall and solid as she'd ever imagined he'd be. He had dark hair, thick and clipped short and neat, even darker eyes, a strong, determined jaw, a beautiful smile. And a decidedly kind heart. She remembered that well. "Old friends, you say?" Steve asked him. "Yes," Zach said, not taking his eyes off her. "And neighbors." "Oh?" Steve's mother sounded interested all of a sudden. "You're from St. Louis, too?" "St. Louis?" Zach asked, blank faced. And just like that, Julie felt the treacherous ground she was standing on shift this way and that. Julie jumped in, begging him with her eyes to just let it be. "He used to be. It's been ages since we've seen each other." She smiled up at Steve in the end. He wasn't going anywhere. He wanted to marry her, after all. Then she turned to Zach and uttered a bold-faced lie. "And your family moved to . . . Where was it, Zach? Ohio?" He took a breath, his jaw tightening. She could just imagine what was running through his head: Just like old times, huh Julie? Years ago, he wouldn't have hesitated to call her on a lie. She held her breath, waitinHill, Teresa is the author of 'Bed of Lies' with ISBN 9780451410870 and ISBN 0451410874.