Maya’s face flamed.
“Harper—” she hissed under her breath, mortified.
Damien didn’t turn. He stood where he was, facing the window, gaze fixed on the horizon as if nothing in the room could pull him away. Silent. Unshaken. But then—just barely—the corner of his mouth curved. A faint smile, quiet and fleeting, before he cleared his throat.
“Jamie said that, hm?” His voice was low, deliberate. “Interesting.”
Maya’s heart skipped, warmth flooding her cheeks all over again.
Harper slapped her thighs and leaned back with a dramatic sigh before rubbing her stomach like she hadn’t eaten in days.
“So… you owe me lunch. Come on, pay up! I’m starving! Didn’t even get to enjoy breakfast this morning… because of, well, you know. Let’s continue this over food, okay?”
Her eyes flicked playfully b
