#Chapter 272 – New Plan

Jackson and I look up at Tony at the same instant, realizing that we’ve made a mistake. Cora and Jesse grin, picking up on things instantly as they sit down next to each other on the armchairs. “I thought Ariel Sinclair was mated to Luca Grant,” Tony says, grinning at me and nodding to the door where he just left. “Um,” I say, my voice high and prim. “Was that just tabloid gossip?” Tony presses, leaning forward a bit and I think enjoying himself. “Or was that kiss at the boxing match subterfuge, meant to distract the public? Or is this…” he says, tarting a finger between us, “somehow illicit?” Jackson just growls a little, his eyes on Tony as his arm tightens around me, I think a mostly unintentional reaction to the suggestion that our connection is illegitimate. “Oh, she’s mated to Jackson too,” my mom breaks in as Rafe sits up and the two of them gather around the table as well. Rafe spins to mom with his mouth open, appalled that she’d drop the secret like that, but mom