Liars and Tigers by Breanna Hayse Read Free Book Online Page B

question when they drove anywhere
together. She hated being stuck in the car for any amount of time, and let him
know it.
    Twenty
minutes later, they pulled into a large, open field holding an enormous hot air
balloon. Alex leaned forward in his seat, his eyes widening with excitement.
    "No
way! I thought you were terrified of heights," Alex said in astonishment.
    Misha
shrugged. "I am, but the daughter of an old client of mine owns this
company and sent us tickets. I couldn't allow her generosity go to waste,
right?"
    "Did
you know I've always wanted to do this?" Alex asked, opening her car door
and helping her out.
    "I
remembered you making a comment about wanting to try this one day when we were
watching something on TV."
    Alex
kissed the back of her hand. "Thank you."
    "For
what? I'm conquering my fears and wanted someone I could get airsick on."
Misha shrugged, starting to walk toward the balloon area where the table of
cheese, fruit and champagne was set.
    "I'm
thanking you for remembering something so incidental and making it happen. No
one has ever taken the initiative to do that for me before. I also feel honored
that you trust me enough to see you through something that you are so afraid
of."
    "Don't
fool yourself. I'm scared shitless, even with you here. Oh, yeah," she
lifted a flute of mimosa to her lips, "by the time we are done, I'm gonna
be shitfaced. You get to drive home. Just pour me into the back seat."
    "Don't
drink too much. People below the balloon won't appreciate you puking over the
side."
    They
joined six other people in the large gondola, and all grew quiet except for the
sound of the torch heating the air within the large, hot-pink and yellow
striped balloon. Misha held Alex's hand in a death grip as they slowly rose
from the ground.
    "Hold
me," she whispered fearfully.
    Alex
gladly complied, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He pulled her
snugly to his body. "Better? Nothing is going to happen, baby. Try to relax."
    "Don't
let go," she begged.
    Alex
could feel her heart pounding. "Look at how beautiful it is. There is a
layer of clouds over that valley that makes it look like a giant lake."
    "I
can't open my eyes."
    "Yes,
you can." His voice was soothing, matching the gentle swaying of the
gondola. "What do you feel?"
    "Your
arms. They feel good," Misha whispered. "If I don't think about it, I
can almost imagine that this is what it is to ride on a pair of angel's
wings."
    "You're
a little intoxicated, baby," Alex observed.
    A
few minutes later, Misha opened her eyes and gripped Alex's forearm, which was
wrapped across her collarbones. "Look at that view. Wow…"
    "Things
seem so insignificant when you look at things from up here, don't they?"
Alex whispered into her hair, his desire to kiss her growing by the moment.
"How are you holding up?"
    "I'm
good." Misha tightened her hold on his hand. "I'm glad you're here. I
couldn't have done this without you."
    Alex
felt a surge of protectiveness at her admission. It was rare that Misha allowed
herself to be vulnerable, and it thrilled him to no end that she had called
upon him to help her. He took the chance and rested his lips on her temple. She
did not pull away.
    "Easy
on the nails. You're gonna take off my skin, baby," Alex said, patting the
back of her arm. She loosened her hold. "Mmm, you smell like jasmine. It's
one of my favorite scents."
      "I know. I noticed you had the
bushes surrounding your office. Jack said you planted them there to hide the
smell of the elephant pen," Misha giggled. "I figured I would take
the chance and get some essential oil to try. I hoped you would like it."
    "You
got this for me?" Alex said with surprise. Her openness also confirmed her
degree of intoxication. A sober Misha would not have been so honest.
    "It's
subtle, though, right? Not too much?" Misha asked worriedly. "I've
never worn a fragrance before."
    "I'm,
well, stunned. You are full of surprises today, Miss Miller," Alex said.
"It smells lovely