The Truth She Knew Read Online Free PDF Page A

face said he was telling me the truth, or maybe I just wanted so badly to believe that there really was an amazing guy sitting across from me. And, even more than that, that I could do this; that I could keep things under control and work really hard to get better. There was only one way to find out.
    “ I’d like that too, but I need to get your full name. I’ve already been on one date with you, and I don’t even know your name. I certainly can’t make a case with Mama if I don’t present all the information.”
    His warm laugh filled the car. “It’s Walker Tate Farren. What’s yours?”
    “ Lacey Anne Beaumont.”
    “ Well, Lacey Anne Beaumont, do you have plans tomorrow?”
    “ No, it’s my day off.”
    “ You do now,” he said and squeezed my hand.

Chapter 7
    The morning sun peered through my bedroom window as I kicked and untangled myself from my blankets. I’d agreed to a second date with Walker before he drove me back to my car. That’s what I wanted, but I also didn’t want Mama to find out.
    The constantly looming question in the back of my mind was, what if Walker found out how messed up I was? My decision was selfish. However, I was eighteen and what was the harm in going out with him again to find out if he might be a good guy?
    I’m not sure I struggled with that as much as with telling Mama. Maybe if I prepared a case to present to her after a few dates, she’d realize I was capable of making good decisions.
    I tossed the blankets off and glanced at the clock: it glowed 8:30 a.m . Late enough to call Joss and fill her in.
    “ This better be important for you to call me this early in the morning,” Joss muttered.
    “ I woke you—I’m sorry.”
    “ Don’t be because I bet you’re gonna tell me something juicy,” she said, not bothering to hide her yawn.
    “ Well, I can always call back if it’s too early.”
    “ Oh hell no, spit it out. I’m awake now, so fess up.”
    Joss didn’t care what time I called her, but if I did, I made sure I had a good reason.
    “ I have a second date with Walker later today,” I blurted.
    “ Oh my God, Lacey, that’s great! But you said second date.”
    “ It wasn’t any big deal, just dinner after work.”
    “ Wait, you need to fill me in on the first date. You can’t leave me hangin’ like that, Lacey. Did you call him?”
    “ I didn’t call him, he showed up at work.”
    “ What? How did he find out where you worked?”
    “ Tammy and I were in the kitchen when the group of guys came in and then Patsy called. My guess is that she saw Walker and me talking and when I left she thought she’d speak to him herself. Walker said she started flirting with him. He was polite, but he shut her down and asked for my phone number. She assured him it was okay to call my house after nine last night.”
    “ Oh, shit.”
    “ Oh, shit is right. She knew not to give my number to anyone, and Mama doesn’t allow calls after nine unless someone’s dying. Anyway, Mama gave me hell this morning and demanded to know why I would give a strange guy our unlisted phone number. That took forever to explain. And, right after I’d won the tug-of-war inside me and decided I should not date him, he showed up at work. I turned around and there he was. I about hit the flippin’ floor.”
    “ Wait, back up a minute. How did he find out where you worked?”
    “ Tammy! Joss, he was so sweet trying to make sure I was okay last night, and then he realized, after speaking to Mama on the phone, that it wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had. He apologized for calling too late, but it was Tammy who told him it was okay and where I worked. She frustrates the crap out of me.”
    “ Yeah, me too,” Joss sighed. “She does some stupid stuff, but when it comes down to it, she will back you up in a heartbeat. Between us, she thinks she’s the third wheel in the group.”
    “ Okay, okay. I’ll let it go and not slap the shit out of her, but she has no idea what trouble