“She could stay with Beau and Jane. She loves staying with them.”

“I already feel like a terrible mother.” A piece of my heart will always be bruised by the things I had to do to protect myself. It’s true that she loves her nights with Beau and Jane, but there’s absolutely no way I’m taking a vacation without her. “I can’t abandon her again. I won’t.”

Mateo shakes his head. “If you could only see yourself the way I see you. You’re a great mother, Emily. The best. You sacrificed so much for her. Not only after Rhys died. I know you protected her before then.”

I know. He wasn’t there, but he knows. I did protect her. I wished, desperately, that I had a mom to do the same thing for me when I was a kid. I wished, desperately, that I didn’t have to become the mom I never had because of Rhys. But I did, and I would do it again. I would do it all over again for Paige.

“Let’s take Paige to Paris, then.”

I pull back so I can see his eyes. He’s serious. “She’s not even your child.”

“Listen, I love Paige. And I think she’d have a great time. More importantly, so would you.” No one has a more charming grin than Mateo. It’s full force now, overwhelming for how handsome it is. His eyes sparkle. “Actually, the most important thing is that I’d have a good time.”

“She’s seven,” I argue, though my heart has already accepted the invitation. Hope rises like champagne bubbles. “What is she supposed to do in Paris?”

“Emily.” A serious expression, this one so playful I almost laugh out loud. “You must know about Disneyland Paris.”

“Just—to be completely clear.” Mateo still has his arms around me, big hands on my back. It’s the steadiest I’ve felt since the courthouse, except for the few occasions when we hugged. When we kissed. “You want to fly to Paris on a private jet, with no notice, to take my child to Disney World.”

“Disneyland Paris,” he corrects. “And I told you. I want to take myself.”

“What do you like to do at Disneyland Paris?”

“Obviously, ride Big Thunder Mountain over and over again. It’s far superior to the one in Orlando.” Mateo stands up from the couch and offers me his hand. “Come on. It’s summer. Paige doesn’t have school. The paparazzi are going to continue to be insane. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Mateo Garza