Page 44 of Embrace Me Forever

“Hey, it’s my job as your sister to play ‘Apathetic Anne.’” Her eyes sparkle with humor. “But I must admit, he’s passed the test.”

I shake my head, my amusement tinged with a hint of exasperation. “Since when does turning into a lovestruck teenager fall within the ‘sister job description’?”

“Seriously, Gi, the man is smitten. For heaven’s sake, haven’t you noticed the way he looks at you?”

I have, all the time, and I see a jumble of things, like paint splattered on a canvas. Colorful, erratic, and impossible to interpret.

Anne adds, bridging her earlier remark with a whimsical note, “It’s like you’re the only woman in the world.”

I scoff, feeling a flush of warmth spread across my cheeks. “Well, I am the only woman in his world right now because he knows you’re off limits.”

Anne almost lets out a loud laugh, but she skillfully reins it in. Although she divorced her third husband, they remain on amicable terms, and I’m quite aware that they’re still madly in love with each other.

Not wanting to let her off, I counter, “And what about the way he shuts down any conversation about feelings? That doesn’t exactly scream ‘smitten’ to me.”

“Maybe he’s just scared. You know, big, tough guy with a marshmallow heart?”

Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but let out a reluctant chuckle. “You might be onto something. Or maybe you’ve just watched too many rom-coms.”

Anne winks at me, her tone playful yet earnest. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just right, and you’re too stubborn to see it. Either way, I’m firmly on Team Blake. It’s not every day you see a man look at a woman not just because he wants her in his bed but with a genuine intention to take care of her.”

My gaze drifts to where my daughter lies peacefully sleeping in her crib. “Coco loves him.”

“Well, I don’t have a baby of my own, but I know this. Babies don’t lie.”

“You know, Anne,” I begin. “I want Coco to have a father.” I had never disclosed to Anne the full story of Sebastian. Knowledge can be deadly when it comes to Bertram, and I desperately wanted to shield her from the darkness that had unfolded in England. The risk of her diving headfirst into danger for the sake of my justice was too great, and her instinct to protect me, though endearing, was dangerously uncalibrated. Somehow, I have managed to keep it all a secret, merely telling her that I got pregnant after a wild night at an Irish pub.

“Our dad was great, wasn’t he?” Anne reminisces, a note of nostalgia coloring her voice.

“The one and only,” I reply, feeling a tear trickle down my cheek. Anne’s eyes are glistening, too.

“God, without him, I don’t know how we would’ve survived. Mother was as toxic as mercury in the veins.”

Thoughts of our mother always stir up turmoil, but I quickly shift our focus to our father—the cornerstone of who we have become.

“I want Coco to experience what it’s like to have a man in her life who will protect her, nurture her, laugh with her, cry with her. I’ll always stand by her to provide these things, but a father’s love can never be replaced.”

Anne sobs. “God, I miss Dad! I can’t forget how he stuck by me all night after I bombed my exams. And remember when I was freaking out about getting my appendix out? He was right there, holding my hand through it all, Gi.”

I pat her shoulder, my own memories stirring. Where do I even start? From the countless hours in the playroom, building castles that could withstand any siege, to him helping me change tires in the pouring rain in the middle of nowhere. From the joy of birthdays where he turned the simplest things into magic,to the comfort he gave when the pain felt too immense to bear alone.

“That’s Dad, all right,” I say, breaking a smile. “And I want Coco to feel that. Safe, cherished, and unabashedly loved—not just in fleeting moments, but consistently, deeply.”

Anne pulls me into a hug. “Don’t give up, Gi. Blake might seem like a fortress, but even the most fortified walls have a secret entrance.”

My tears stubbornly cling to the brink. Silence envelops us for a lingering moment, and then our eyes meet. The night, once heavy, now seems infused with a lighter air. If Anne, apathetic as she is, can hold faith in Blake, perhaps the cloud of disappointment hanging over the man I secretly adore—yes, truly adore—might soon lift.

I toss her a side grin. “Blake will drive me and Coco to the hospital tomorrow, so you don’t have to rush back after your morning shift. Hell, have some alone time with your Mr. You-Know-Who,” I say, giving her a wink to let her know that I’m clued in on her little rendezvous.

Anne’s eyes narrow, resignation flashing across her face, but then she brightens with her apparent a-ha moment. “Well, that settles it. I can leave you two the place for yourselves. I’ll stay with Diego as long as you need me to.”

“He’s in Santa Fe!”

“Yeah, just around the corner. You’re not the only one who’s mastered the remote ninja routine. My company lets me work from anywhere too, you know,” she argues. “Honestly, I didn’t want to leave you alone today because I wasn’t sure I could trust Mr. Unkissable.”

I chuckle, arching an eyebrow. “Mr. Unkissable, huh? If you trust him now, should I be worried you’re handing over your approval too easily?”

“Oh, come off it,” Anne retorts. “It’s not about trust on a silver platter. It’s about giving the man a chance to prove he can be more than just…unkissable.”

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