Thief (Love Me With Lies #3)(51)

“She has a father.”

It’s then that I hear the sirens.





“Hey, handsome, what are you doing here?”

I lifted my sunglasses and smiled.

“Cammie.”

She smirked and stood on her tiptoes to give me a hug. My eyes darted past her and searched the crowd walking into the mall.

“Is she-?”

She shook her head. “Not here.”

I felt myself relax. I didn’t know if I could handle seeing her. Out of sight, partially out of mind was what was working for me at the moment.

“So, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home with the pregnant wifey witch?”

We fell into step and I grinned at her. “I’m here for a pretzel actually. She had a craving.”

“God, that’s embarrassing — once the big man on campus, now the bitch’s errand boy.”

I laughed. Cammie was always good for a laugh. I held the door open for her, and the air conditioning blasted me in the face.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know me,” she sang, stopping at a rack of skirts. “I like to spend money.”

I nodded and stuck my hands in my pockets, feeling awkward.

“Actually,” she said, turning to me, “I’m looking for a dress to wear to a wedding. Help me?”

I shrugged. “Since when do you need help shopping?”

“Oh, that’s right.” She tucked her lips in and shook her head. “You have to get back to your pregnant wife. Don’t let me hold you up.” She dismissed me with a wave of her hand and pulled a slinky white dress off the rack.

I scratched the back of my head. “White makes you look matronly.”

She narrowed her eyes and put the dress back, while still looking at me. “Who asked you?”

She held up a blue silk dress for me to see and I nodded. She shoved it at me and I took it.

“So, do you know what you’re having … boy … girl … seed of Chucky?”

“We’re not finding out.”

She tossed another dress my way. I re-shelved it when she turned away.

“I own a nanny agency, you know. So, when the little bundle comes along, I’m sure I can find it a new mother.”

She held up a Gucci dress and I nodded. “She’ll be fine. You know I’m traditional about those things.”

Cammie snorted. “You might be, but I highly doubt your lovely wife will be offering up the breast any time soon.”

I ground my teeth together, which she noticed right away.

“Sore subject much? Don’t worry C-Dizzle, I’ve seen this before. Tell her you’ll buy her a new set when it’s all over. That should bring her around.”

I cocked my head. That wasn’t a bad idea.

I followed her to the changing room.

“So,” I said, leaning against the wall outside. “How-”

“She’s fine.”

I nodded, looking at the floor.

“Is she-”

She burst out wearing the blue dress and spun in a circle.

“Don’t even bother trying the others on,” I said.

She made a kissy face at the mirror and nodded. “You’re right.”

The door slammed closed. A minute later, she came out dressed and carrying the garment on her arm.

“Well, that was easy.”

I walked with her to the register and watched as she plucked out her credit card. “Now a gift and shoes and I’m all set.”

“What’s the dress for again?”

She leveled her eyes on me, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

“Didn’t I tell you?” she said innocently. “This dress is for Olivia’s wedding.”



A tremor of shock passed through me. Suddenly, all of the colors around me were bleeding together, hurting my eyes. I felt sick, my chest constricting with each second that passed. Cammie’s lips were moving; she was saying something. I shook my head to clear it.

“What?”

She smirked at me and tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. Then she patted my arm sympathetically.

“Hurts, doesn’t it, motherf*cker?”

“When?” I breathed.

“Uh-uh. I’m not telling you that.”

I licked my lips. “Cammie … tell me it’s not Turner.”

Her face broke into smile. “Nope.”

I felt the pressure in my chest release a little. A little. I hated Turner. I hadn’t even met the guy. It was by sight alone.

“Noah Stein,” Cammie said, grinning. “Funny story,” she said, making her eyes really big. “She met him on that little impromptu trip she took to Rome. You remember? The one where she came baring her soul, and you turned her away.”

“It didn’t happen like that.”

She cocked the corner of her mouth up and shook her head like she was disappointed in me. “You had your chance, big boy. Fate hates you guys.”

“Leah had just lost the baby and her sister tried to commit suicide. I couldn’t leave her. I was trying to do the right thing for once.”

She jerked to look at me. “Leah was…” her voice trailed off and her eyes glazed over. I cocked my head.