Page 75 of Stolen Moments

I say nothing, sipping my drink instead. This is just another dig at me my mother can’t help herself from taking.

“You’ll see,” she snips. “This is the only way. The right way. You will fulfill your duty any way you can since you decided not to run Rhodes Publishing.” Cybil fluffs her hair before disappearing into the crowd. Her pungent flowery perfume lingers behind her like a cloud of toxic fumes, choking me.

Her comment plays on repeat, not quite sitting right with me. Why does it feel like everyone else knows what’s going on? My head won’t wrap around everything that’s been said and done tonight, but I suspect I’m not going to like what’s been happening here without me. I need to talk to Lex about it.

For the rest of the night, I search for my friend in the crowd of the famously wealthy people who live here, but I come up empty.A sense of dread lingers within me as I give up my search and return to the main house.

When I’m in my room, I strip off the silk and sequined dress—that probably costs more than my monthly mortgage payment—and leave it on the floor before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Once I’m clean and rid of every particle of cloying perfume and cologne that clung to me, I lie down and pick up my phone.

My earlier unease is forgotten as I see Mason’s name on the home screen, notifying me of two missed text messages. I slide open my phone to read them.

Mason: I can’t stop thinking about you and how you taste. I get hard just smelling vanilla. And pears. You’ve ruined me.

Mason: When I see you, I’m going to ruin you like you’ve ruined me, baby doll.

My breath hitches, and my eyes fall closed as I think about Mason’s hands roaming every inch of my body before he buries his face between my legs. My body heats, and my core gets wet.

He doesn’t need to try to ruin me; I’m already ruined. I have been since I met him.

Chapter twenty-six

Mason

June

My pulse races andmy palms sweat as Jace walks toward me, holding a tiny bundle wrapped in a pink muslin blanket. I’m scared I’m going to drop her. I’ve never held a baby this small.

My brother places his daughter in my waiting arms. “Meet your niece, Sariah.”

Exhaling a breath, I hold the sweetest girl in the world, staring at her chubby face. She has cute bow-shaped lips, dark brown eyes, and comically long lashes that coat her lids.

“I didn’t know newborn babies had so much hair.”

Rylann chuckles, drawing my attention. “Not all babies, but mine come out with full heads of hair.”

Jace leans down and kisses her temple, whispering, “Our babies,” in her ear.

Ignoring the painfully sweet moment between my brother and his wife, I return my attention to Sariah as she coos and roots.

I picture holding a different little girl—one with honey-brown hair and wide doe eyes the color of warm topaz.The same color as the woman I dream about at night.

Would our kids look like her?Fuck, I hope so.

“Mase, I have to head down to grab Rhys from Rylann’s parents. Are you coming or staying?” Jace interrupts my daydreaming.

“I’m good right here with this precious girl in my arms.” I glance at Rylann as she sits back in the hospital bed with a sigh, no doubttired from giving birth in the middle of the night. “Is that okay with you?”

“Of course, Mills.” She uses my Rhys-given nickname, making me chuckle.

I won’t admit it to anyone, but I like the nickname; it’s grown on me.

“I’ll be right back with our boy.” Jace gives Ryann another kiss before leaving.

“How are you feeling, Ry?”

She smiles widely, her eyes shining bright, and sighs. I can’t imagine how exhausted she must be, but here she is, looking like a million bucks. She is one of the strongest women I know.

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