Free Deceiving The Groom by Lisa Shadow

she must have wanted something.” He bent down and picked up his card. “Just transfer some funds from my account to clear it all up.”
    “Certainly, Mr. Channing.”
    Liam slid the card back into the wallet. “And thank you for calling, Linda.”
    “No problem, Mr. Channing. You’ll be pleased to know we take the security of all our customers very seriously.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.”
    They hung up and Liam tossed the wallet and phone on the bed. He tugged the towel off from around his waist and wiped his chest and arm where his shaving cream had smeared. It looks like he’d be finishing his shave in the shower.
    He walked back into the bathroom.
    What he had purchased Claire in the middle of the night from a bridal store? Probably something for her work, but maybe it was something pretty and impulsive that he hadn’t been able to deny her. He liked that idea better. He turned on the shower and waited for the stream to heat. For one tiny yet vivid moment, an image of Claire cloaked in a startling white dress blared through his mind.
     
    Claire worried her nail with her teeth. Her stomach rolled. She’d thrown up three times this morning, but it wasn’t the drinking the night before that’d done it. It was the guilt sickening her like poison. How could she have actually gone through with such a cold hearted plan?
    “I think it’s best if I cancel, Geoff.”
    Geoff raised his brow and placed a receipt into the manila folder on the table. “Claire, staying here wearing a hole in my hotel room carpet is not going to help the situation any.”
    “I know, but he’s going to call. Any minute he is going to remember and call, and out us.”
    “If he was going to remember you would’ve heard by now.” Geoff picked her handbag up from the table and held it out to her. “Remember the other reason your here. All your things are set up and ready, all you need to do is go wow them.”
    Claire took the bag and slung the strap over her shoulder. Her brain buzzed. “I have such a bad feeling about this whole thing…” She had no idea what part she was more afraid of, getting found out or having Liam know the truth about her.
    “We have everything we need in here.” Geoff closed the folder and held it up. “Photos of the beautiful wedding, receipts with purchase from his account, but most important, we have the email I sent from his mailbox, and that, my dear cousin, proves intent, and eliminates the chance for an annulment.” He tossed the folder casually into the briefcase.
    Her eyes expanded. “You hacked his account?”
    Geoff looked up from his briefcase, an eyebrow skewed. “I did what I had to do.”
    “This just keeps getting worse.” Claire rubbed her temples with one hand.” He’s not going to take it well, you know. He’ll do everything he can to fight it.”
    Geoff closed the lid and clicked the locks into place. “He wouldn’t be the first man to make accusations of his bride when things go sour. We have all the evidence we need. No one will believe him.”
    His words didn’t have the effect intended. The churning in her belly became a spasm. She felt like being sick again. “At least I don’t have to keep this up anymore. My part is done.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Claire glanced back at Geoff. He had his I’m-about-to-have-a-tantrum scowl on. “I got him to the church, now the rest is your part. You get the divorce or whatever.”
    Geoff stormed back to her. “No, Claire. Your part is far from done. Liam not remembering works in our favor. It gives us more time to build a case. You have to keep seeing him.”
    “That’s not going to happen.” She got the words out, said them and all—too bad she couldn’t believe them.
     
    Three days after the Vegas trip she still felt ill. Claire perched on the edge of her bed, cell phone in hand. She needed to speak to Penny, needed to make sure she was okay. She needed to hear her sweet voice and remember why she’d done this.
    She