It was a great shot of Mia, but in Derrick's opinion it revealed too much, far more than the skin bared by her tiny costume. Would everyone recognize what he saw? Mia glowed like a flame, beaming her brilliant smile at the camera, her eyes sparkling. Her body in the skimpy velvet and fur rivaled any he'd ever seen. But it was the expression on his face that gave the game away, even beneath the concealing mass of the wig and beard. His smile was barely visible, aimed at Mia rather than the camera, and in his eyes shone absolute adoration. No wonder Jeff and Greg had been so unsurprised by his declaration of love for her. It was a miracle she hadn't recognized it herself. He'd never realized he wore his heart so on his sleeve, but there it was for all to see. Reading such naked vulnerability in his own face made him uneasy. He'd given his heart so completely into her hands. Carelessly. Irrevocably. What if she didn't want it? Beside him, Mia and Allison chattered at high speed—the party, the people, the photos, who hadn't showed and why—oblivious to his silence.
