The girls stopped next to him and looked between the two of them in confusion.
Sam fisted her hand on her hip. “Then what?”
“My SUV is right here. Get in, and I’ll take you to your car.”
“Right.” She let her arm fall.
The girls piled into the back seat, tossing Bella’s shopping bags between them.
Liam climbed in and started the engine. “Which way?”
She pointed in the direction of where they’d parked. “It’s over there.”
He pulled the SUV in front of her car. “Stay in here while I have a look.” He hopped out, not bothering to wait for an answer.
She chewed her nails as he walked around the car. He peered inside, then dropped to his knees to look underneath.
Sam turned to the girls, who were chatting in the back seat as if this was completely normal. What she wouldn’t give to be oblivious to what was going on right now.
He stood up and walked around to the passenger-side door and opened it for her. “We’re good to go. Hop in and I’ll follow you.”
“Since we’re going to the same place, can Bella ride with us?” Sophia asked, suddenly paying attention to what was going on.
“That’s up to Samantha.” He looked at her.
“Call me Sam.” She peered back at the girls. “I don’t care.”
“Thank you,” the girls said simultaneously.
Liam shut the door behind Sam and walked her to her car.
“What are we going to do about this?” She gestured to the outlet mall.
“You aren’t going to do anything. I’m going to come back and take a look at the surveillance footage. Then see if I can light a fire under RPD to get me the info on this Aiden kid.”
She nodded.
“We should get going. I’ve got to take Sophia home before I can come back.”
“Since I’ve got to come over to your house this evening, what if she just stays with us this afternoon? She’ll keep Bella occupied.” Sam didn’t want to play twenty questions with Bella when they got home.
Liam studied her. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have suggested it.”
He nodded. “Will Dean be okay with it?”
She’d forgotten she was going to someone else’s house and would need to ask permission to invite guests over. “I’ll call him on the way and make sure it’s okay.”
“Sounds good.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Lock your doors when you’re inside.”
She nodded and climbed into her car.
Once they were on their way, she dialed Dean’s number. Hopefully, he wasn’t out on a call.
“Hey, Sam.”
“Put out any fires today?”
