Page 13 of Sinful Like Us

No.

Because I’m apparently really damn good at moving out of order. I grind down on my teeth. “Respectfully, sir, I’m not going to apologize for following my heart. And Jane was just following hers.”

His unreadable expression puts me on edge. He stands straighter and grabs his coffee. “You remind me of someone.”

Before I can ask who, Rose slips into the kitchen. Black dress. Black nail polish. Diamond earrings and the coldest, piercing glare in her yellow-green eyes. Rose Calloway’s reputation of being an Ice Queen runs throughout the world, but among the security team, bodyguards know the warmest thing about Rose is the love she has for her family.

That extends, most especially, to her oldest daughter.

Jane squeezes into the archway with wide-eyes. No room in the kitchen.

I’d like to believe I’m handling myself fine.

Rose gives me a long once-over. “You’re still alive, so I take it Richard didn’t do a good job annihilating you. Did he tell you that you’re moving too fast?”

Jane’s mouth drops. “Mom.”

I nod. “Yes—” I stop myself from saying “ma’am” because Rose has always requested security not to call her that. “Connor did tell me we’re moving fast.”

Rose eyes me. “Did he tell you that your cock will be on the end of a skewer, if you so much as hurt a hair on her head?”

Jane mutters, “Oh my God.” She mouths to me,I’m so sorry.

I shake my head, telling her it’s okay. I’d be more upset if her parents didn’t love her. To Rose, I say, “We didn’t get to that yet.”That, as in cock-skewering.

“And we never will,” Connor says. “Hyperboles are your affliction, darling.”

Rose purses her lips. “Affliction? I think you meangift. Talent.”

He grins. “I meant what I said, but if you need more synonyms for talent, I can also provide those.”

She lets out a frustrated growl and her yellow-green eyes land back on me. “Look at these, please.” She passes me the photo album.

“Don’t do it,” Jane tells me. “It’s a terrible, awful trick.”

Rose rolls her eyes. “Gremlin, I’m not tricking your boyfriend.” She waves me on, and Connor extends his coffee to his wife.

Jane puts her hands to her eyes, scissoring her fingers to see me.

Can’t be that bad if she’s not stealing the thing out of my grip.

The title on the photo album reads:The Evolution of Jane Eleanor Cobalt’s Style.I flip open the hefty album and realize it’s a scrapbook. Neatly organized with patterned paper and cursive handwriting.

Each photo is of Jane.

Most when she’s just a toddler. I almost smile. Her style is still as Pepto-Bismol pink, mint-green and mind-boggling eccentric in the past as it is today. Bold. Colorful. But I can’t miss the blatant photos of tear-streaked Jane. Sobbing in the bathroom.Actually…

I keep flipping.

A lot of them are of her crying.

I narrow a look on Jane in the kitchen. Her hands have dropped to her side, and she smiles. “I was a fussy toddler.”

Rose sips her coffee. “You had the loudest cry. It was earsplitting. Look at those photos and remember that all babies cry. They will wake you up at odd hours of the night. They are not cute little squishy things. They are menaces.” Her fiery glare drills into me. “So when you’re thinking about having unprotected sex with my daughter, remember these photos.”

“Oh…God,Mom.” Jane’s eyes are full orbs. “He’s not going to think about me as afour-year-oldright before we’re about to have sex!” Not that I need to mention the fucking obvious, but I agree with Jane.

“We don’t need to bring God into this conversation,” Connor says calmly.