Page 5 of Vows of Deceit
Cassie swallowed, her mind racing. Her heart didn’t even ache. Not yet. Not the way it would. Not the way it used to. Right now, it just… observed.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Delia glanced around. “Want me to tell Harper?”
“No,” Cassie said. “Not yet. I need to think.”
Delia didn’t press.
That night, Damien came home with two glasses of wine and an apologetic smile.
“Got caught up again,” he said, kissing her forehead. “The gift’s still coming.”
Cassie took the glass from him and smiled.
“I can wait.”
And she would but not for the gift. She would wait to see just how far the lie would go and when the moment was right, she would make sure it ended exactly where it started. With her.
Chapter Four
The Clue
Cassie wasn’t looking for the receipt. She had dropped her compact between the cushions of Damien’s car and reached down to retrieve it. Her fingers brushed across leather, coins, a stray keycard, and finally, a glossy slip of paper folded into quarters. Her name wasn’t on it. But the name of the jeweler stopped her cold.
Raffinée.
She unfolded the receipt slowly, eyes scanning the elegant typeface.
One diamond bracelet. $12,800.
Purchased: Three days ago. Customer: Damien Sterling. Pickup: In-store. Signature required:K. King.
Cassie blinked. She sat there, the paper trembling slightly between her fingers. He lied. Not just about forgetting. Not just about what the gift was. He had bought something. He had given it to someone.
And it wasn’t her.
Her mind immediately jumped to Kelly. K. King. There could be other K. King in the city. But none with access to Damien’s life like her sister.
The air inside the car felt stifling, like the leather seats were swallowing her whole. She folded the receipt and tucked it into her clutch.
Cassie didn’t cry. She started the car and drove to Harper’s brownstone.
Harper Linwood opened the door in silk pajama bottoms and a loose crop tee that read “Emotionally Unavailable.”
Cassie didn’t wait for an invitation. She walked straight into the living room and tossed the receipt onto the glass coffee table.
Harper glanced at it, then up at Cassie. “Do I need wine for this?”
“Yes.”
Harper disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two glasses and an open bottle of Pinot Noir. She poured generously and handed one over before picking up the paper.
Reading it took seconds. Processing it took longer.
“Oh hell,” Harper muttered. “That lying son of a—”
“I know.”
