Page 75 of The Bright Omega

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the flush on her cheeks and the way her thighs press together. She’s into it. “You are such a pervert.”

I grin. “Your pervert.”

While she’s fussing about what a pervert I am, I catch Finn, Piers, and even Leith quietly adding more lingerie to the basket. Finn’s cheeks are pink. Piers looks smug. Leith adds a particularly scandalous black lace set without expression.

We finally make it to the checkout. Cammie looks at the enormous pile and shakes her head.

As we walk out onto the sidewalk, she declares, “Shopping is thirsty work.”

I laugh and pull her against my side, kissing her temple. “Good thing I know exactly how to quench that thirst when we get home.”

Cammie looks at the outrageous pile of bags and then up at all of us with that bright, mischievous smile I’m already addicted to.

“Oh, not home,” she says. “I want to go out. I know a great place.”

Leith looks absolutely appalled. He actually growls such a low, unhappy sound that the rest of us turn to look at him. Beck, Finn, and I exchange a quick look. I grin and clap Leith on the shoulder.

“We can keep her safe, right?”

Leith stares at Cammie for a long second. He’d have to be blind to miss the way she’s practically vibrating with excitement to get out of the house for the first time in weeks. His jaw works. Then he gives one sharp, reluctant nod.

“Yeah,” he mutters. “We can keep her safe.”

Cammie’s whole face lights up. She bounces on her toes and grabs my hand, then Piers’, then reaches for Finn’s. “Perfect. Let’s go.”

Leith falls in behind us like a very unhappy, very protective shadow as we head toward the exit, but I can’t stop smiling.

We end up at Tinto’s. Cammie lit up when she suggested it, and none of us had the heart to say no. But the second Leith realizes where we are, he goes rigid beside me. His shoulders lock up, jaw tight, eyes scanning the entrance like he’s expecting an ambush.

“Cammie.” He rubs a hand over his face. “Why would you come here after—”

Piers frowns. “After what?”

Leith doesn’t look away from the sidewalk. “This is where it happened.”

Cammie’s hand tightens in mine. I squeeze her hand back and lean in, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You sure about this, sugar?”

She nods, chin lifted in that stubborn, beautiful way of hers. “I’m sure. I like this place. And I’m not letting one bad night ruin it for me.”

Leith still looks like he wants to throw her over his shoulder and carry her somewhere safer, but he doesn’t argue. He falls in closer on her other side, a silent, bristling wall of protection.

I grin and tug her toward the door. “Then let’s go make some better memories.”

We manage to snag the round booth in the back corner. Cammie slides in first, and I immediately claim the spot right next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders. Piers takes the other side. Finn and Leith sit on each of our sides. Finn is leaning into me, trying to get closer to our girl. Leith is still scanning the room like he’s expecting trouble.

Cammie’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “This is the Doug booth.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What the fuck is a Doug booth?”

She wets her lips and launches into a story about how she showed up for a date with a pack where every single guy was named Doug. She tells it with perfect comedic timing, describing all five alphas from Tall Doug to Old AF Doug.

“Old AF Doug was even older than you’re imagining,” Cammie says, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Like, liver spots older than my grandma.”

I can’t help it. “No daddy kink, then?”

She looks straight at Piers with a wicked little smile. “I have a bit of a thing for gray hair, but no. Old AF Doug would be granddaddy kink.”

The table loses it again. Even Leith’s mouth twitches.