“Chloe, my love,” Damien murmured, taking her hand gently and pressing his lips to it. “How greedy of you.”
“Greedy?” Chloe’s eyes widened in incredulity. She had always lived a life devoted to others, far removed from selfish desires.
“It appears you are not content with being the paragon of motherhood. You now wish to add the title of a loutish—no, a mischievous aunt to your collection of honors.” Chloe’s lips parted to object, but she found herself silenced as Damien bestowed a succession of tender kisses on her hand. He continued, “Declan and Anna have blossomed into beautiful young children thanks to your parenting. Now, they are simply fascinated by that rascal, who is so unlike their mother.”
“She is not a rascal. Her name is Alice.”
“In my eyes, they are one and the same,” Damien countered. As Chloe feigned a smile, Damien chuckled softly and continued, “I am about to repeat the words my father once imparted to my mother, words I never imagined I would utter.”
