But that was a fair assumption to make.
His arm circled my waist, and he pulled me close, his lips near mine. “It’s hard for me to let you go…when I just got you back.”
My hands gently rested against his chest, my eyes on his mouth. “It’s not for long.”
“It’s an eternity to me.” He pressed his lips to my forehead, letting his warm mouth linger as he embraced me. “I’ll be back to normal soon. I’ll be the man you fell in love with. I’ll be the man who protects you, the man who can lift you with a single arm and throw you over my shoulder.”
I pulled back so I could look him in the eye. “Babe, I don’t think less of you.” My attraction to him hadn’t changed. He was still the most desirable man on the planet, even with his scars.
He sighed quietly, as if he thought less of himself.
“I know that’s your entire identity, but there’s more to you than that. And all those things are still there.”
“Yeah?” he whispered.
“Yeah. Like your arrogance, your sarcasm…”
He smiled slightly, immediately feeling better when I teased him.
“The way you look at me…the way you kiss me…”
His arm tightened on my back.
“And I’ll never forget the way you looked in that cage. You’ve come so far, survived when anyone else would have died. Look at you now, and it’s only been a few weeks. I don’t think less of you… I think more of you.”
I worked over the weekend, back to the stage after telling everyone I was sick with the flu—again. But no one seemed annoyed by my absence, especially not my understudy, who finally got to take the stage for a few nights.
When the performances were over, I went home to my apartment—alone.
I wanted some time away from Heath because I’d been at his side since I’d seen him in the cage. We’d been inseparable, and I’d barely had the opportunity to process what had happened.
Damien texted me. Want to come over for dinner?
Maybe Anna had told him how miserable I was, and he felt bad for me. Or maybe the invitation was completely unrelated. Or maybe he was proving how my life would be if I stayed with Heath—that the man I loved would never be included. Just the three of us?
Hades and Sofia are coming too. Hades is also bringing his brother Ash. And Dad.
I didn’t know Hades had a brother. That’s quite the dinner party. It made me feel worse that I couldn’t bring Heath, because if I’d wanted to bring anyone else, the answer would have been yes.
Well, it’s a special occasion…
I read his text a couple times, growing suspicious of his meaning. Is that supposed to mean what I think it means…? I didn’t want to spell it out in case Anna got a glimpse of his screen or his messages popped up on his iPad.
Yes.
I cupped my mouth with my hand as I understood exactly what was about to happen. I’ll be there in 15 mins.
We gathered in the dining room, our loud voices bouncing off the vaulted ceiling and becoming even louder when they echoed back at us. The empty bottles of wine were quickly replaced, and Hades had Andrew in his arm, while Sofia took care of Demetri, who managed to sleep through most of the dinner.
“Your babies are so cute,” I said. “Are you guys going to have more?”
“No,” Hades answered. “Two is enough.” He moved Andrew to the other arm when he started to get fussy.
His brother Ash was beside him, similar in appearance and just as quiet. He seemed to be older than Hades, but not by much. My father clearly took a liking to him because he kept talking to him.
Ash was nice enough to pretend to be interested.
Damien clinked his spoon against his wineglass to get our attention. “Hey, shut up for a second.” He rose to his feet.
“Yeah, that’s a great way to get us to be quiet,” I said sarcastically.
Anna smiled up at him, clearly having no idea what was about to happen next.
I knew Anna didn’t have a family and she’d adopted us as her own—so it was the perfect way to ask.
“Everyone here is like family to me,” Damien said, turning his gaze on Anna. “But there’s someone here who shouldn’t be like family. She should be family…”
When Anna started to understand what was happening, her expression completely changed, a mixture of shock, joy, and love.
“She should have my last name. She should be the mother of my children. And she should be the person I grow old with.” He set the glass down and fell to one knee, pulling out a ring from his pocket. He held it between his fingertips as he looked her in the eye. “Will you be my wife, Annabella?”
She covered her mouth and gasped when she saw the enormous rock he presented to her, the ring I’d convinced Damien to get instead of the modest one he’d originally picked out, and her reaction was purely genuine.
You’re welcome, Damien.
“Oh my god…yes.”
He smiled before he slipped the ring onto her finger.
We all clapped and shouted, getting even louder as we celebrated.
Dad seemed to be the happiest, staring at his son with joy in his eyes, like he’d wanted this moment longer than anyone else…and he was thinking of my mother at the same time.
I wanted my father to look at me the same way when it was my turn, and if I married Heath…that would never happen.
“Girl, that ring.” Sofia grabbed Anna’s wrist and turned her hand. “Jesus, that is the size of a boulder.”
“I know,” Anna said. “My hand is already sore.”
“It’s stunning,” I said, so happy she liked it. “You love it?”
“It’s gorgeous,” Anna said, examining her own hand like she couldn’t stop staring at it.
I wanted to tell her I’d helped my brother pick it out, but I didn’t want to make it about me, so I kept my mouth shut.
Dad came over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now, I have two girls, equally beautiful.”
“I disagree with that,” Damien said from the other side of the room.
“If my wife were here, she would love you,” he said. “Absolutely love you.”
“Thank you, Richard,” Anna said quietly.
“Dad, she is here,” I said. “She’s always here.”
He gave me an affectionate look before he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Come with me for a second…”
“I already had a piece of cake, Dad,” I said, assuming he was directing me to the dessert table.
“No.” He guided me right to Ash. “I was getting to know this nice young man, and he’s a delight to talk to.”
Ash turned to me, his eyes serious but the corner of his lip slightly raised, like he knew exactly what my father was trying to do and found it amusing.
I found it a bit horrifying.
“He plays the guitar,” Dad said. “Why don’t you two…?” He pointed at us both before he ditched me—then grabbed another slice of cake from the table.
I watched him go with a sigh before I turned back to Ash. “He’s already had one piece of cake, which was too much. Now he’s going for a second, and he knows better.”