Writing this book was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It was really special to me and I really had one thing I wanted to show before I ended this story, but it couldn’t fit. So, it’s here! I love this scene and can’t wait to write the next book in the series!
Asher
“Dear God, Phoebe, you’re going to be late,” I tell my fiancée as I hold Sienna in my arms.
“I can’t leave her.”
I swear, she has complained more the last two weeks than she did through childbirth.
“You have class.”
She rolls her eyes. “I have a daughter, and I can’t just leave her to go off to school.”
“You are aware that I’m her father, right?”
Phoebe grins. “Yes, but I’m her mother, and that’s totally different. I have the food source.”
“You pumped for the last month to ensure we were good. The deep freeze is filled with milk, so I think she’ll be okay for two hours.”
She stomps her feet. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m sick. Cough. Cough.”
This is her first day back for the spring semester. She was able to work out her schedule so that she only has to go to one class this semester, and that’s only two days a week. We rented an apartment that’s about an hour between Sugarloaf and Penn State so the commute is easy for both of us. If I’m off work those days, I’ll stay here and watch Sienna. If I have to work, her father or my sister will keep her until I get off shift and drive Sienna here, stay the night, and bring her back to Sugarloaf in the morning. It was the best arrangement we could come up with so Phoebe doesn’t have to be away from her.
“You’re not sick.”
She lifts her finger, running it down Sienna’s face. “She’s so beautiful.”
“She is.”
The last two months have been so special, so amazing, and it’s all because of these two girls. At my birthday dinner, Phoebe went into labor, and four hours later, Sienna was here. I don’t believe much in signs, but having her on my birthday felt like the world telling me she was meant to be mine. Not that I didn’t feel that already. She owns me, heart and soul, just like her mother does.
Phoebe looks up at me through her lashes. “I have an idea.”
Jesus. This isn’t going to be good. “That you’re going to leave for school, go to class, come home, have mad, passionate sex with me, and then finally set a date for the wedding?”
“No,” she says with a smile. “But I will do the sex part. I’m in for that.”
When she was cleared at her six-week appointment, I nearly did a jig. I missed her. So damn much.
“I think we should go back home, pick up Liv, take her and Sienna shopping, and . . . I’ll go back to school in the fall semester.”
I have had to walk away from Olivia when I dropped her off or whatever, so I completely empathize with Phoebe. However, I’m not going to enable her in this.
“Phoebe . . . I took off two days so you could be completely comfortable about leaving. You have an hour drive, and you need to find parking. I promise, Sienna is safe and well cared for.”
She lets out a breath through her nose. “I know. I just . . . I haven’t left her in two months. She’s just a baby. What if she does something amazing, and I miss it?”
I lift my free hand, running my thumb across her cheek. “I promise, she’s not doing anything cool yet. If she does, I will lie and tell you it was the first time.”
She laughs. “I appreciate that. Okay, I’ll go.”
“You know why this matters.”
When Phoebe had to postpone her dream, I vowed she would never give it up. I would do whatever was necessary to support her. Finishing school and becoming a doctor who helps members of the Deaf community are things she’s worked so hard for. There’s no way I want to watch her sacrifice that for me or because I wasn’t able to do whatever she needed with Sienna.
“I do, and I know that this is one step closer to becoming your wife.”
I growl softly. “Yes, it is.”
Which is the selfish part of why I want her to do this. She promised that, after she went back to school, we’d set a date and get married. As patient as I am, I’m also anxious to watch her walk to me in a white dress, exchange vows, and dance with her in front of everyone as husband and wife. I want the rest of our lives together to officially begin.
She wants the same, but she also enjoys torturing me.
Phoebe grabs her hat, coat, and crosses her bag over her chest. “Here I go. First day of school—terrified and yet excited.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you more.”
“Good. Kiss me,” I tell her.
She does and pinches my ass as she pulls back before moving to Sienna. “Be good, blossom.”
I grin at the name sign Olivia gave her. She said she will blossom and grow so fast, so that’s the sign she gave her, and it sort of stuck as her verbal nickname.
“She will be good, she’s with her daddy.”
“Who spoils her rotten.”
I shrug. “I can’t help it. I love all my girls.”
Phoebe sighs and then walks to the door. “Ash?”
“Yes, love?”
“Let’s get married in June. I’m thinking I want to be an early summer bride.”
I stare at her, blinking. “You just set a date now? As you’re walking out? In four freaking months?”
She grins, her eyes full of mischief. “I set it a few months ago, I just forgot to tell you. Emmeline already reserved Cloverleigh, Millie is working on the dress, Daddy took off, and Brynn is a bridesmaid.”
“You just . . . forgot to tell me you planned a wedding?”
“Do you want to get married?”
“You know I do.”
Phoebe lifts one shoulder with a smile. “Then marry me on June fifth.”
I walk to the bassinet, place Sienna down, and then go to the door. Phoebe stares at me, probably knowing what I’m about to do.
“You are the most beautiful, frustrating, wonderful woman in the world.”
“So, that’s a yes?” she asks as she loops her arms around my neck.
“I’d marry you tomorrow.”
“Not today?”
I kiss her nose. “No.”
She leans back. “What?”
“Today, you have to go to class. Tomorrow, though, I’d let you skip.”
Phoebe laughs and then gives me a long, sweet kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
She heads out the door, and I watch her go. When she gets to the car, she blows me a kiss before driving off. I head back to Sienna, lifting her into my arms and kissing the top of her head as I thank God the nanny agency canceled and destiny gave me this life.
Thank you again for reading Forbidden Hearts! I hope you’re ready for Grady and Addison! It’s a fake-dating romance that I am so in love with.
While you’re waiting, be sure to dive into the Arrowood Brothers who also reside in Sugarloaf – Free in Kindle Unlimited! These brothers are so amazing and I know you’ll love them!
