Page 69 of Under His Embrace

I nodded and leaned in. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Ooh. You’re really rocking it in the keeping-the-pregnant-lady-distracted department. Yes, I want to hear a secret.”

“I asked if you could keep one?”

“For how long?” She arched a brow.

“Not long.” I glanced again at the doors, wondering what was said so far. I wondered if Franco had a ring already.

She gestured for me to spill.

“Franco wants to ask Caleb for permission to marry me.”

She slapped her hand over her mouth but a loud gasp came out loudly before she covered it.

“What?” Dante rushed out of his office, where he must have kept the door open. “What? What is it?”

“Girl talk,” she sassed, waving at him to shoo him away.

Facing me, she exaggerated a grin. “He does? Is that what he’s doing right now?”

“I think so.” I nodded. “He wants to be a father to Caleb.”

“Ooh, this is so—fuck!” She winced and laid her hand on her stomach.

Dante ran back out. “Nina?”

But her wince was gone. “False alarm.”

Romeo slowed after his father, sighing.

Once they left again, she smiled at me. “This is so exciting. I’m so thrilled for you. This is wonderful news! When I first met Franco, I thought he was so subdued. Quiet. I always wondered what his story was, assuming he had been heartbroken before. Getting to see him around you solves it all. He’s your soulmate.It’s just so obvious. And I’m so happy for you both that you’ve found your way back to each other.”

I leaned my head on her shoulder. “Thanks, Nina.”

“I can’t wait to see our family grow. More to enjoy.”

I couldn’t wait either. The idea of finally having my dreams come true felt so surreal. “But… maybe tell his little girl or boy to sit tight for a couple more weeks.”

“It is too early,” she worried.

“Nottooearly, but the longer they stay in, the better.”

“Was Caleb on time?”

I laughed. “He was five days past my due date.”

“Oh, wow. I’m so impatient to meet our little one now.”

“Hang in there,” I advised. Looking out the sliding glass doors again, I tried to coach myself to do the same.

I was nervous but excited. Everything was changing so fast, but I respected that Franco would go at Caleb’s pace. If he was ready for us to marry, great. If he needed a little more time to get used to the idea of it, then we’d wait. Franco’s consideration of Caleb’s opinions and reactions was so sweet, so touching that I had more than enough proof that he was going to be an excellent father to our son.

Hang in there. Be patient. Just a little longer and I’ll have my answer about whether I’ll finally be able to become Mrs. Franco Constella.

29

FRANCO

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