Page 246 of Terms of Exposure

---

No hiding.

No fear.

No waiting for things to fall apart.

Rosie stopped her frantic puttering long enough to look at us. Something softened in her face.

"You know," she said quietly, "I prayed for this. For both my boys to find someone who makes them happy."

Sebastian stiffened around me.

"Damien found Emma," Rosie continued, her eyes glistening. "And Sebastian found you."

My throat tightened. "Rosie—"

"I'm just saying." She waved a hand, blinking rapidly. "I'm grateful. That's all."

Sebastian cleared his throat. "Mom, if you cry before we even get there—"

"I'm not crying! It's the perfume. I used too much."

"Fifteen sprays will do that," I muttered.

She pointed at me. "Watch it, or you're uninvited."

"You can't uninvite her," Sebastian said. "She's mine."

Mine.

The word settled over me like a blanket.

Not possessive.

Not controlling.

Certain.

Chapter fifty-four

Damien

The week had been a whirlwind of secrets and lies.

But for once, they were the good kind.

Emma had been circling me like a detective all week.

A raised brow over coffee.

A lingering look when I came home ten minutes late.

That little furrow between her brows when she caught me on the phone with the florist and I'd mumbled something about a client gift.

She didn't buy it for a second.

I love you.

Three words. Eight letters. And I'd failed at every single one.

---