“Believe me,” I mutter, breathing through the tightness in my chest. “I know. I’m living it.”

“How does Rosie play into all of this?”

This is my moment, my chance to fess up to the truth about our marriage. He’d probably even understand. But the words won’t come. I don’t want to admit to any part of our relationship being fake. Not when my feelings are turning very fucking real.

“Like we told you, we reconnected, and it felt right. We didn’t want to waste any time.”

He narrows his eyes as he scrutinizes me, like he doesn’t believe me. Even Roman looks skeptical.

“This is a lot to take in.”

“Believe me, Dad, I know.”

He lets out a long breath, his expression softening a fraction. “You have a baby.”

“Yep.”

“A son.”

My heart constricts at that word.Son. “Mhm.”

“Dad,” Roman says, “you’re finally a grandad. You can lay off Veda and Asher. Pretty sure they’re going to get divorced anyway.”

“Roman,” he snaps, shifting on the couch so he can glare at the idiot, “stop speculating about your brother’s marriage.”

“Hey.” He raises his hands innocently. “Don’t shoot the messenger. If you watch them, it’s pretty obvious that they’re struggling.”

“Lots of couples have rough patches. It doesn’t mean they’re getting a divorce.”

Clearing my throat, I step away from the wall. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to go check on Rosie and Sammy.”

Before either can say a word, I make a mad dash for the stairs.

The second I step into the room, I’m hard. Fuck. What does it say about me that the sight of this woman holding my child is such a turn-on?

Rosie cradles Sammy in her arms, rocking him gently in the glider we purchased. Her voice is soft, melodic, as she sings a lullaby I’ve never heard. Not only does seeing her with my son turn me on, but it makes my heart tap out a strange rhythm. She’s been scared about all this, and yet she’s already handling it like a pro.

“You look good, Rosie.”

She startles, and Sammy’s eyes pop open. “Don’t sneak up on me like that,” she scolds in a whisper.

“Sorry.” I grin, easing into the room. I shut the door quietly behind me. “He likes you.”

She lets out a quiet, humorless chuckle. “He’s just sleepy. He’d like anyone who’d rock him like this.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

Sammy’s eyes grow heavy once more.

“This is crazy, Daire.” She looks up at me, her eyes full of both wonder and terror. “We’re in charge of keeping this tiny human alive.”

“I know.”

“And your dad is downstairs.”

I chuckle softly and rub at the back of my neck.

“How does it feel now that he knows?”