"Can I ask you something?"

Sam studied the woman before him. The strong afternoon sun made Sarah's blue eyes sparkle like the rows of coloured glass bottles on the shelves behind her. It had been over a year since they had worked together, tending bar here at the Diamond Club. He had instantly liked the perky blonde who was a hard worker, outgoing and had an honesty about her he had found a rare commodity when he first moved to L. A. "Sure."

Sarah put down the pristine white bar towel she was holding and placed her hands on her hips. "When you first came here, you lied about your name. Why?"

Another thing he liked about Sarah was how she got directly to the point. He wasn't expecting this question. Back then he had used his middle name, Freemont as his last name to hide his identity. "Well, the Harrington name came with... certain expectations. I... I wanted people to know me, the real me. Without all the baggage of my past. A fresh start."

"Did you feel bad lying to your friends?" she pressed.

"Still do." Sam caught Sarah's eye. "I wanted to tell some people but it got harder and harder. I didn't want to ... disappoint them."

Sarah held his gaze for a moment, before breaking it as she started wiping down the dark wood of the bar. He wasn't sure what he had seen in her eyes ... pain ... distress. Whatever it was, it left him with an uncomfortable feeling and he wanted to take away the suffering.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," Sam found himself saying. A long-overdue apology.

A gruff voice cut through the air. "Hurt her how?" it demanded. Turning to the source, Sam found himself peering up at a tall, lanky guy glaring down at him.

Before he could answer, Sarah cut in. "What are you doing here?" The towel halted in her hand for an instant as she gaped at the intruder. Then her eyes narrowed before she dropped them to the bar top and resumed her actions, a little more viciously.

"How did he hurt you?" he repeated.

"He didn't." The 'you did' hung un the air around them.  "I can't serve you," she bit out without looking up.

"I... I know." The man before Sam rubbed his chin before letting his hand drop. "Can...I ... Give me a chance to explain."

"Everything okay Sarah?" Sam interjected, feeling protective of his friend.

"Yup. Sam this is Shawn. Or is it Nick today? I get confused." Bitterness dripped from Sarah's words.

Sam turned to Shawn/Nick and held out a hand, "I'm Sam, I used to work with Sarah." Sam wasn't sure why but he felt the need to clarify his relationship with her.

Looking at the offered gesture for a moment, the other man hesitated, glancing at Sarah and then back at Sam. Finally, he shook Sam's hand. "I'm Nick."

"Today..." mumbled Sarah.

Nick plopped into a barstool, looking defeated, shoulders slumped, arms loose on the bar, his honey-brown hair flopping over his eyes. "Sarah please..."

"I'm sensing there's a story here..." Sam tried to play peacemaker.

"Nope. Just another L.A. liar." Sarah turned her back on the two men, starting to sort bottles back into their designated spots. A little too forcefully.

"I'm sorry. But not about that. It's the reason I met you. And I'll never be sorry for that," the brunette pleaded.

A tinge of remorse on the other man's behalf rippled through Sam. It was obvious Nick was the source of Sarah's earlier question. She wasn't hurt about the past. The present was the problem.

Sam understood the man's plight, recalling the horrible moment Ali had found out he had lied to her about who he was. Like Sarah, she had been upset. Actually, Ali had been livid, accusing him of playing her. She had stormed away and cut Sam out of her life. It was one of the worst moments he'd had to endure.

The scent of lilac preceded the love of his life, alerting Sam to Ali's presence. As she slid up to the bar beside him, he reached out and wrapping his hand around her waist, pulled her close. The memories of that horrible day receded with her warmth.

"Well, hello to you too," she purred, running a hand through his hair before kissing him on the forehead.

"I missed you," Sam whispered in her ear. Then pulling back, he studied her face for some indication of how the morning had gone. "Everything okay?"

A frown marred her beautiful face. "Long story." Sam squeezed her hand. Ali painted on a smile and regarded his companions. "Hello, Sarah."

"Ms. Stinson. Nice to see you again. Can I get you anything?"

"Thanks, but I'll pass. I'm going to steal Sam away if that's all right with you."

"He's all yours."

"We'll catch up later Sarah." Turning to Nick, Sam nodded towards Sarah's back and offered, "Don't give up, she's worth it."

"I know," assured Nick.

Following Ali around the tables of the bar, Sam worried about what she had to tell him. But never in a million years would he have guessed the facts.

"Your son? Not your children, or firstborn. He explicitly stated your son?"

Ali plopped down on the couch beside Sam, kicking her stiletto heels in the air for a moment before they landed parallel to his loafers. She had been pacing the floor in front of him since returning to their room as she doled out the details of the morning's events, the astonishing particulars in her father's will.

"Yup," she popped the p at the end of the reply.

"Who did your dad think he was? The King of California?" Sam regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Linking her arm with his, Ali rested her head on Sam's shoulder. "It's okay. I get it."

"Well, it won't matter. We'll simply move the wedding up six months. Then your father's male chauvinistic codicil kicks in. You'll have a husband. The second the papers are signed or whatever it takes to turn the company over to me, I'll give it to you."

Sam didn't like the way Ali stiffened beside him. "My love?"

"You know I can't wait to marry you." Sam could sense the but coming in Ali's tone. "It's just... oh Sam, please try to understand. If we... if you ...," Ali traced the line of his arm, running her fingers down and across his hand where she entwined them with his.

"You'll never know if you earned the position or not," Sam finished for her.

Ali sighed. "Exactly. Everyone will think you are giving the company to me out of... pity or something."

"Not once they see the amazing things you are going to do. How you turn the company around." And it gets rid of Jack Sam wanted to add.

"But they will always be thinking it. Spoilt rich girl playing at CEO." Ali squeezed his hand. "I want to earn it."

It was Sam's turn to sigh. Nothing was ever simple for them. Part of him wanted to push for the marriage option. But he could tell Ali needed this. Needed to prove she could do it. And he knew his parents would be disappointed if they didn't get to see their only son get married in a grand affair. It was practically all his mother talked about lately.

Pressing his lips against Ali's raven locks, Sam tried to joke, "So no trip to Vegas then."

"Well, we can still go. But not visit any chapels." Ali pulled back and sapphire irises studied him. "Are you okay with this?"

"I am. I'll support you however you want me to."

Ali's smile pushed any doubt out of his mind.

"Well." Ali bit her lip for a moment. "I could use some help getting out of this dress."

Hi there. D. L. Croisette here. So it seems Sarah has a story to tell.  And I've written it with  @galarussauthor  If you are reading her story "Love Words" you will be familiar with Nick already.

Together we write as Willa Drew. Our romances have every flavor. Angst? Check. Secrets? Of course. Risk taking? You bet. Expect slow burns, heart flutters, soul mates, first loves, and swoon-worthy kisses.

Hang out with us over on all the socials @willadrewauthor or sign up for our newsletter at willadrew.com and be the first in the know of new books.

Told in dual POV, the Falling for the Liar Series spans a year of the lives of Sarah, an aspiring screenwriter and Nick, a wannabe film director as they overcome personal obstacles, deal with emotional past wounds and fall in love. Each book centers on one holiday and the series ends with a guaranteed HEA.

The first book, Kisses, Lies, & Us takes place on Christmas Eve. Here's a link to the first few chapters for free ----->