Aria’s POV – One Week Later
"Absolutely not." I crossed my arms, watching Damien hold up yet another ridiculously expensive necklace. "We’re supposed to be dating like normal people, not like a billionaire trying to buy his way into my pants."
"But you’d look stunning in diamonds." He set the necklace back in the velvet box with exaggerated disappointnt. "And technically, I’ve already been in your."
"Damien." I pressed my hand over his mouth, glancing toward where Noah was building with blocks across the living room. "Little ears."
He grinned against my palm, then kissed it before I pulled away. "Fine. No diamonds. But Aria, you have to let spoil you a little. I have years of making up to do."
"That’s exactly why we’re doing this." I moved to the couch, patting the seat beside . "We skipped all the normal relationship steps the first ti, we went from contract to marriage to disaster without ever actually dating and this ti" I took his hand as he sat. "This ti I want to do it right. Get to know each other without the weight of obligation or contracts or survival hanging over us."
"You want to court you." His eyes lit up with sothing that looked suspiciously like delight. "Properly court you."
"Yes." I felt my cheeks heat. "Is that ridiculous? We’re already engaged. We have a four-year-old son, we have had sex multiple tis"
"Making love," he corrected softly. "We’ve made love multiple tis."
My heart did a little flip. "Making love, then. But Damien, we’ve never gone on a real date. Never had that awkward first kiss on a doorstep. Never had those early relationship monts where you’re nervous and excited and discovering each other."
"You’re right." He brought my hand to his lips. "And Aria, I love this idea. I love that you want to build sothing with a foundation instead of starting from the wreckage."
"Mama! Daddy!" Noah bounded over, clutching a LEGO creation. "Look what I made! It’s you two getting married with dinosaurs as the guests!"
I examined the chaotic structure that looked more like a colorful explosion than a wedding scene. "It’s beautiful, baby."
"Why are dinosaurs the guests?" Damien asked, genuinely curious.
"Because they’re cool and they can scare away bad guys if any co to the wedding." Noah stated this like it was obvious. "Plus, Mr. Peterson says all weddings need sothing special and dinosaurs are the most special."
"Can’t argue with that logic." Damien ruffled Noah’s hair. "Hey buddy, how would you feel if Mama and I went on so dates before the wedding? You know, like Emma’s parents do?"
Noah scrunched up his nose, thinking. "Like going to restaurants and movies and stuff?"
"Exactly like that."
"Will you hold hands and be gross?" He made a face.
"Probably," I admitted. "Is that okay?"
"I guess." Noah shrugged with four-year-old nonchalance. "But can I co sotis? Emma goes on family dates with her parents."
"So dates will be just Mama and ," Damien explained gently. "But we’ll also have lots of family dates with you. Deal?"
"Deal!" Noah stuck out his hand for a shake, which Damien took seriously, making our son giggle. "Can we have pizza on family dates?"
"Pizza, ice cream, dinosaur museums—anything you want." Damien pulled Noah onto his lap. "Because buddy, you’re part of this too. Our family. Always."
I watched them together, my heart so full it ached. This. This was what I’d dread of years ago when I’d first felt Noah move inside . A father who was present, engaged, loving. A family that chose each other.
"So." Damien looked at over Noah’s head. "Aria Monroe, will you go on a date with this Friday night?"
"Hmm." I pretended to consider it. "I don’t know. I’m pretty busy."
"Mama!" Noah giggled. "Say yes!"
"What do you think, Noah?" I asked. "Should I go on a date with your daddy?"
"Yes! Then you can tell if he’s a good kisser like the princes in movies!" He dissolved into giggles at his own joke.
"Where did you learn that?" I demanded, laughing.
"Emma says her daddy is a good kisser and her mama always smiles after." Noah shrugged. "So if Daddy’s a good kisser, you’ll smile lots and be happy."
"I already smile lots around your daddy," I said softly.
"Then he must be a really good kisser." Noah squird off Damien’s lap. "I’m gonna go tell my dinosaurs about the dates. They’ll be excited!"
After he ran off, Damien pulled closer. "Our son is a romantic."
"Wonder where he gets that from." I rested my head on his shoulder. "So, this date Friday. What did you have in mind?"
"It’s a surprise." He kissed the top of my head. "But I promise—no diamonds, no over-the-top gestures, just you and getting to know each other like we should have years ago."
"I’d like that." I looked up at him. "But Damien, full transparency—I’m nervous."
"Why?" His brow furrowed with concern.
"Because what if we’re better at the dramatic, life-or-death stuff than we are at normal dating?" The words tumbled out. "What if without kidnappings and press conferences and corporate takeovers to navigate, we’re just—boring together?"
"Aria." He turned to face fully, his hands cupping my face. "We could never be boring together. You fascinate . The way your mind works, the way you handle business, the way you love Noah, the way you choose rcy over revenge—I could spend a lifeti discovering new things about you and never be bored."
"You say that now"
"I’ll say it in fifty years too." His voice was firm. "Boring would be doing what we did before—avoiding real intimacy, keeping walls up, existing in the sa space without truly connecting. This?" He gestured between us. "Actually learning each other’s favorite movies and embarrassing childhood stories and what makes us laugh? That’s the opposite of boring. That’s the foundation we should have built from the start."
"When did you beco so wise about relationships?" I asked.
"When I almost lost the best thing that ever happened to ." He kissed softly. "I’ve had years to figure out what I should have done differently. And Aria, I’m not wasting this second chance."
Friday Night
I stared at my closet in despair. "Olivia, I have nothing to wear."
"You have an entire closet of designer clothes," she pointed out from her perch on my bed, where she was keeping company while supposedly doing work on her laptop. "Including that red dress Damien loves."
"This is a first date, not a seduction." I pulled out a simple black dress, then put it back. "I want to look nice but not like I’m trying too hard but also not like I didn’t try at all."
"You’re overthinking this." Olivia set aside her laptop. "Aria, you’ve seen this man naked multiple tis. You’ve had his child. You’re engaged to him. Why are you nervous about a date?"
"Because those things happened out of order!" I turned to face her. "We did everything backwards. And now I’m trying to do it right and I don’t know how to do it right because I’ve never actually dated anyone seriously before. Damien was an arranged marriage and Lucas was."
"A rebound who never actually got past first base," Olivia finished. "Okay, fair point. So let’s approach this logically. Where’s he taking you?"
"He won’t tell . Just said to dress comfortably but nice." I groaned. "What does that even an?"
"It ans jeans and a pretty top." Olivia hopped off the bed and started rifling through my closet. "Sothing that says ’I’m effortlessly beautiful’ even though we both know you’ll spend an hour getting ready."
"I hate how well you know ."
"That’s what best friends are for." She pulled out dark jeans and a soft blue cashre sweater. "This. With those heeled boots, simple jewelry, hair down and wavy. Perfection."
I took the outfit, holding it up. "You don’t think it’s too casual?"
"Aria." Olivia gripped my shoulders. "Breathe. This is Damien. The man who looks at you like you hung the moon. You could show up in a garbage bag and he’d think you were stunning. Now go shower, I’ll do your hair, and we’ll get you out of here before you have a complete ltdown."
Forty-five minutes later, I was dressed and considerably calr. Olivia had worked her magic with my hair, leaving it in soft waves that frad my face. The makeup was natural—just enough to enhance without looking overdone.
"You look beautiful, Mama!" Noah announced from the doorway, where Damien was holding him. "Doesn’t she look beautiful, Daddy?"
But Damien wasn’t answering. He was just staring at , sothing soft and vulnerable in his expression. "You’re stunning," he finally said, his voice rough. "Absolutely stunning."
"You clean up pretty nice yourself." And he did—dark jeans, sweater that matched his eyes, leather jacket slung over one arm. Casual but put together. Perfect.
"Okay, little man." Olivia scooped Noah up. "Your parents are going on a date, which ans you and I are having a boys’ night. We’re making pancakes for dinner because rules don’t apply when parents are gone."
"Yes!" Noah pumped his fist. "Can we have chocolate chips?"
"So many chocolate chips." Olivia carried him toward the kitchen. "Have fun, you two. And Damien? Treat her right or I’ll destroy you."
"Noted," he called after her, grinning.
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