“What are you talking about?”
“‘Bitch, you’re not wearing that fucking dress,’”I repeated his words verbatim.
Shay’s eyes widened in horror. “You were eavesdropping?”
“I was about to knock, Shay. Invite you to have breakfast with us.”
“I’m not that brave, Mia.”
I didn’t laugh at his joke at the expense of my cooking.
“Why didn’t you discuss this with Cole?” he asked.
“I think he’s having second thoughts about me.” My voice wavered.
He looked amused as he glanced toward the restaurant door. “Sometimes you can be quite intuitive, and yet infuriating.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re here. About to face off with the reason those words were spoken—” He grimaced. “Here comes Cruella Deville herself. Act natural. Better yet, play dead.” He winked.
“Mia?” Zie’s perfume hit me first.
I turned to face her and inhaled sharply. The stunning brunette was arrogant enough to wear ripped skinny jeans and a pink Chanel jacket to a restaurant with a strict dress code. This woman oozed the kind of class that put her in the same league as Cameron.
“Such a sweet face.” She reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind my shoulder, her cold fingers caressing my skin. “Such innocence…naïveté, even.”
Shay gave her a convincing smile. “How are you, Zie?”
“Just perfect. Would you like to join us?” She gestured back to The Lambs Club. “I’m lunching with a friend. She won’t mind.”
Shay held his grin. “We were just leaving.”
“How’s Cam?” She purred his name.
Shay sidled up next to me. “Great, thank you.”
“And Chrysalis?” She arched a perfect brow. “I do miss it. Those days were fun, weren’t they, Shay? We were all fucking like rabbits back then. Particularly Cameron. That man’s appetite for debauchery is insatiable.”
“Really?” Shay stared at her with disapproval. “You’re actually going there?”
“Well, Mia knows, right? It’s not like her man’s past is a secret.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” he whispered, “but you can be a cunt sometimes.”
Her lips twitched. “I can see why Cole likes having you around, Gardner. You can’t compete with him.”
“That’s not true,” I said.
She ignored me. “That night where you all swept through the club was legendary. Which I found strange, because you all got up to what I was accused of.”
“He was single by then,” I snapped in Cam’s defense.
I was questioning why I’d thought this meeting was a good idea. Zie’s persuasiveness made me realize this was one hell of a mistake.
She smirked. “But does sheknowCameron’s secret?”
“Come on, Mia.” Shay grasped my arm.