Page 66 of Embrace Me Forever

I appraise myself, feeling unchanged, but knowing Anne always sees me differently. “I can’t believe you’re actually here,” I say, still too excited to say much more.

“And Ibelieveyou’re here,” she replies. “Whether it was luck or fate, you sure did something right to land here. You fought the right battle.”

“Maybe I just knew where to dig,” I shrug.

“Yeah, or maybe your compass still points true north.” She nudges my heart with a soft jab. “You’ve found some good ones here, Gi.”

I look over to see the Hartley ladies waving at her, and Anne waves back like they’re old friends.

“And your man, he’s a saint,” she adds. “You have my permission to tell him that.”

Blake watches us, unmoved from the spot with the kids, and he looks far too involved in this surprise to plead innocence.

I squeeze my sister’s hands, which have lingered in mine, and notice her self-satisfied grin. “So, I take it you flew Hartley Marine style?”

“Absolutely!” Anne boasts with a wide grin. “Private jet, flying with legroom that never ends. It was like I could’ve done yoga at thirty thousand feet!”

We both laugh at the image. “And where’s your beau?” I ask, shifting gears.

“Hey! Diego and I are just friends. Really, we’re rebound buddies,” she asserts defensively. It’s amusing how two exes can label themselves that. “He’s working hard in Santa Fe. Everything’s cool,” she assures me. “And no, we don’t have any of Bertram’s stragglers on our trail.”

Just then, Coco’s squeals fill the air, her voice calling to her aunt in her own special way.

“There’s my sweetie pie!” Anne exclaims, her face lighting up as she runs toward my little girl.

This surprise is already more than I bargained for, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach twists a little tighter when Anne starts shooing me away. She and the Hartley ladies definitely know something I don’t.

Blake offers only a smile, giving nothing away. Amber and Isabelle beam with sincerity, while Anne discreetly mouths ‘Go’as she watches Coco, who gleefully laughs while Matty teaches her to play with a toy car.

Longing rises in me. The need for a moment of peace, a moment where it’s just Blake and me, away from everything that’s been weighing us down.

“Do you trust me?” Blake extends his hand.

I take it, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine. “Just a moment to say goodbye to Coco,” I tell him, and he follows me, keeping our hands intertwined.

Coco is thoroughly engrossed with Anne, eager to return to the fun with Matty and Raffi.

“Bye, Coco!” I call, nervous that she might cry or protest as I leave. But my girl simply waves back, her attention already absorbed in play. With easy confidence, Blake leads me away.

“Where are we going?” I look up to appraise his expression.

“Is this how long your trust lasts?” Blake complains.

A giggle threatens to escape as his fingers brush against my ticklish side, but I clamp down on it, determined not to embarrass myself in front of the Hartley ladies. “You did that on purpose!” I accuse, shifting subtly out of his ticklish grasp.

He smirks, gaze darting as he tugs me away to the side of the house.

“Hey, the car is over there!” I blurt, pointing out the obvious. He just winks, ushering me into a garage where the rolling door hums like a purring cat, unveiling an eye-popping lineup of luxury cars from Porsche to Maserati to Rolls Royce. It feels like I’ve wandered into a billionaire’s toy box. Scratch that. I actually have.

“We’re borrowing Rob’s car?” I ask.

“Come on, I’ve got better tricks up my sleeve than grand theft auto!” He chuckles, flipping a key fob like a seasoned magician. He presses a button, and a blue Lamborghini flirts with us, itsheadlights blinking. “Hello, baby. Long time, no see.” Brimming with pride, he makes his possession clear.

“Great taste!” I cross my arms in admiration.

“I usually zip around in a Ford to stay incognito. Call it my undercover charm. But Rob’s been babysitting this little blue rocket while I play the mysterious PI. As for treating a lady…” He tips an imaginary hat. “I always upgrade from undercover to unforgettable.”

“Now, a snapshot of you as my savior is complete. Just missing a cape and a mask to match those swanky wheels!” I slide inside as soon as he opens the door, my hand in his. Taking a back seat has been a foreign concept lately, but today, it’s the only thing I plan on mastering.

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