Rhys gave me an affectionate smile. “Yeah, what’s that?”

I told him about my confrontation with Fairchild and about the board buying him out of Horus. “Jackson gave me a permanent contract. Fairchild can’t touch my job. And I have leverage on him now. I think … I think we might be out of those particular woods.”

His smile widened and this time he squeezed me. “Baby, that’s not good news, that’s fantastic news.”

My own smile fell. “I blackmailed him.”

Sobering, Rhys nodded. “And I know how you probably feel about that. But I think you’re pretty fucking brave. Thank you. Not just for me and Dean, but for doing it for yourself. Proud of you.”

My breath caught. “Really?”

His hands coasted down my back as he studied me. “Yeah, really.”

Gazing up into his too-handsome face and those beautiful, warm eyes, emotion welled inside me with such force, I couldn’t have stopped it even if I’d wanted to. “I love you,” I blurted.

Rhys’s eyes widened, his nostrils flaring, his lips parting and he—

“Right, time’s up, lovebirds,” Jimmy burst into the room.

My boyfriend’s arms tensed around me as I attempted to retreat. “Jimmy—”

“Nope, nearly time and Parker here needs to take her seat. Go on, darlin’.” He gestured toward the door with his hand.

“It’s okay,” I reassured Rhys, even though I was trembling with the magnitude of what I’d just confessed. “Uh, well … break a leg.” I frowned and shot a worried look at Jimmy. “No, that’s not right. What do you say to a boxer for good luck before a fight?”

The trainer’s lips twitched. “Good luck.” He threw Rhys a teasing look. “I thought you said she was smart?”

Rhys apparently wasn’t in the mood to be teased. His tender gaze fell on me. “She’s the smartest fucking person I know. But thankfully, she’s got a big blind spot when it comes to me.”

Grinning, I shook my head. “Not true. I see you clearer than anyone.”

Something big flickered across Rhys’s expression, and that was when I found myself being gently guided toward the exit and summarily dismissed by Jimmy. “Enough. I need him juiced, not fucking sweet on his girl.”

“Parker,” Rhys called my name.

Jimmy let me go, and I glanced over my shoulder at my boyfriend.

“You’re the first person I want to see after this fight. Yeah?”

Nodding, I let out a nervous sigh. “Yes. Good luck. And Rhys?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I’m proud of you too.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I took off before I could throw myself at him and ruin the words by asking him not to fight. On shaking legs, I hurried down the hall toward the doors that led out into the main room of the second floor.

As soon as I burst into the space, I halted. Laid out before the main ring were rows and rows of folding chairs. Catering staff moved up and down the aisles with canapés and champagne, offering them to the high society guests who had dressed up in their finery.

“Parker, darling.” A soft voice somehow cut through the loud murmur and the music blaring through the PA system. My gaze followed the familiar voice—my mom. She stood by the front-row seats where my father, Easton, and her fiancé Oliver were sitting. She waved me over, and I hurried to take the seat next to her after stopping to kiss everyone’s cheeks.

My mom took my hand in hers. “Are you nervous?”

“Am I that obvious?”

She patted my hand. “A mother always knows.”

“No need to be nervous, Peanut.” Dad’s head popped into sight around my mom’s. “Your guy is some fighter.”

“Yes, that might be true, Charles, but a woman in love doesn’t particularly rejoice in seeing another man smash his fists into her boyfriend’s face.”

My gaze flew to my mom’s at the mention of love. “Am I that obvious?” I repeated.

She smiled, her eyes bright with affection. “Like I said, a mother always knows.”

Relaxing deeper into her side, my fingers tightening around hers, I thought about how easily my family had accepted Rhys in my life. How happy they were to see me moving on. We had our differences, and I’d spent a great deal of my life worried I’d failed them, but I had a great family. “A good mom.”

“What, darling?”

“A good mom always knows.” I took a deep, shuddering sigh, impulsively deciding to be honest. Rhys and I had talked about coming clean to my family regarding how we really met—we knew we should, but we hadn’t discussed when. Needing a distraction from my worry over Rhys, I turned in my seat and said, “You knew there was something between us probably before we did.”

Mom frowned at my shaky tone and Dad leaned closer at her side. “Peanut?”

Just say it.

Get it over with.

And hope they don’t disown you.

“My old boss wasn’t going to give me a permanent contract because he’s horrible and he was only interested in married employees or employees who had shown some kind of commitment in their personal lives. Say, having a long-term relationship, a mortgage, or kids.”