Page 114 of Hate To Be Mine

“Maybe. Probably. Or I quit. Does it matter?” I tucked my phone away. “Either way, I’m done with that life. I just torched the bridge, doused it in gasoline, and lit it on fire. No going back.”

“Well, that’s funny. I was just going to beg you to come work for Blackwell as our safety coordinator. Turns out we’ve needed one this whole time. Who knew?”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. You’re incredible at it. The whole team loves you—well, they do now that you’re not being mean to me.” He pulled me closer. “Plus, it means I get to see you every day. And I have it on good authority that the boss is very friendly.”

“Adrian looks terrifying.”

He kissed my forehead. “Very funny.”

“Oh, you want to be my boss?” I teased.

“Say yes, Bernadette. Come work with us. With me. Be part of the family.”

I looked around at the scene surrounding us. Elizabeth and Annika were crying happy tears. Adrian, Dash, and Briggs were all standing together looking proud and united. Mimi had tears in her eyes as well.

“I’d love to,” I said.

“Welcome to the family.” Sebastian spun me around.

“I love you,” I said again, just because I could.

“I love you too.” He kissed me once more, sweet and perfect.

39

SEBASTIAN

I’d been to a thousand Sunday dinners at my mother’s house, but pulling up to the familiar brownstone with Bernadette beside me felt different. Significant. Like I was about to introduce her to my family for the first time, even though technically they’d all met her on Miratoa.

But this was different. This was Sunday dinner.

“You’re nervous,” Bernadette observed as I parallel parked my SUV. She was wearing a blue dress that made her copper hair look like fire. I’d barely been able to keep my hands off her during the drive.

“I’m not nervous.”

“Your jaw is doing that twitchy thing.”

“I don’t have a twitchy thing.”

She reached over and pressed her fingers against my jaw, which was indeed clenched tight enough to crack walnuts. “Relax. I’ve met your family before. Adrian didn’t fire me, Briggs didn’t sue me, and Dash only hit on me once.”

“He what?”

“Kidding.” She grinned. “See? Now you’re not thinking about being nervous anymore.”

I caught her hand and kissed her palm. “You’re evil.”

“You love it.”

“I really do.” I kissed her properly then, taking my time, until someone knocked on the car window and we sprang apart like guilty teenagers.

Dash stood outside, smirking. “You two planning to come inside, or should I tell Mom you’re working on grandchild number two?”

“Fuck off, Dash,” I said, but I was grinning as I climbed out and helped Bernadette from the passenger seat.

“Language,” my mother’s voice carried from the front door. “And Sebastian, you’re late.”