Page 34 of His Forever Princess

Eloise wouldn't be happy. But Gideon was done arguing. If Alessandra was going to fight for them, he was too.

He wasn't dressed for the event. Alessandra and the ambassador wore tailored pantsuits, and he was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Ruining the photo opp. But Alessandra didn't seem to care.

She introduced him to the ambassador, who shook his hand and took his measure with a gaze. Cameras flashed.

Gideon stood back a bit as they signed the document. He was proud of his wife and the work she did. He could feel it oozing from his pores.

In his pocket, his phone buzzed. He resisted the urge to check it. This spectacle wouldn't last much longer. The guards for both the ambassador and Alessandra were antsy. They wanted both high-profile marks out of the public eye after the thwarted attack.

It was only a matter of minutes before he and Alessandra were ushered out through an underground parking garage and into the back of a limo with darkly tinted windows.

To his surprise, she asked for privacy. Slid the divider up that would separate them from the driver.

But she was dialing her phone.

He used the moment to dig his own phone out of his pocket. Tirith had texted him.

You're standing up with Mother!

While he was holding the phone, it buzzed with another text. Bea.I expect to hear details.

He loved his daughters.

Alessandra had the phone pressed to her ear. "I need to speak to her."

She glanced at him with a trembling smile.

His curiosity was piqued.

"Eloise, I'm pulling back on my duties."

His heart went into his throat as he registered her words.

“Valentin can take some of the committee work. My marriage deserves more of me than I've been able to give. I'll have Clara clear some time for us to sit down and talk through what that will look like.”

He was shaking his head as she rang off, disbelief rampant.

"You didn't have to do that," he said.

She tossed the phone on the cushion beside her. "Yes, I did." She motioned to his phone with a curious look on her face. He tilted the phone so she could see Bea’s text.

“Tirith texted too. Sounds like the girls are hoping for reconciliation.”

“That’s what I’m hoping for as well.”

The vulnerable words cost her. He saw it in the downward tilt of her chin, the clench of her hand in her lap.

It was his turn to be vulnerable. “I should’ve run after you a long time ago. Left the ranch behind and moved here permanently. But if I’m not too late, that’s what I plan to do now.”

Beautiful hope was shining from her tear-filled eyes.

He did what felt natural and slid his arm around her shoulders. With his other hand, he brushed some hair out of her eyes. Swallowed hard. “I’ve been so stupid. I should’ve told you every day how much I love you. I never stopped, even though I lost the words. You’ll never know how sorry I am for that.”

One tear slipped free and rolled down her cheek. He brushed it away.

“I’m sorry too,” she whispered. “I love you. I never stopped either.”

Joy and warmth flowed up inside him, filling every crack.

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