Julie doesn’t answer. She doesn’t have to.
I already know.
Chapter Three
JULIE
I knew this would happen.
From the moment I showed up at Willow’s apartment two weeks ago and saw who I thought was Blake, I knew our paths would cross again.
It was a shock to see his face on not one but two other men. I nearly had a heart attack on the spot. It wasn’t until later that I learned they were Blake’s triplet brothers.
Since that day, I’ve been preparing myself for this inevitable confrontation with Blake. I thought I was ready. I thought I had steeled my heart against the impact of seeing him again.
But nothing could have prepared me for the reality of having him here in the flesh. He’s just as striking and handsome as I remembered, maybe even more so.
I snap out of my trance just as my fifteen-year-old sister Josie rushes into the room.
She stops short when she sees Blake, her eyes wide with surprise. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting. Josie, this is Blake. Maddie’s dad,” I say quickly. “Blake, this is my sister Josie.”
Josie’s gaze darts between us, taking in the tension. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says to Blake. Then she turns to me. “I can take Maddie in the other room if you two need to talk privately...”
I glance over at Blake. His expression is one of pure awe and wonder as he gazes at our daughter. I make a split-second decision.
“No, that’s okay. Maddie can stay here with us.”
Josie gives me a subtle thumbs up before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind her.
“I met your brothers a few weeks ago,” I blurt out. “When I went to Willow’s apartment to check on a leak. I didn’t realize the connection at first. Not until I saw them and thought I was looking at a ghost.”
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. “I’ve been trying to work up the courage to reach out to you ever since. To introduce you to Maddie. I even made an appointment with your secretary for tomorrow so you could meet her. But then you showed up here and I just?—”
“It’s alright, sweetheart,” Blake interrupts gently. He takes a step closer to me. “I understand.”
“Blake, I swear I tried to contact you after Vegas,” I tell him, my words coming out in a rush. “But we never exchanged full names, and I had no idea how to reach you. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Julie, it’s okay. I know.” His deep voice washes over me. “I should have tried harder to find you too after you left. That’s on me.”
Relief crashes over me like a wave, so intense it nearly buckles my knees. He doesn’t hate me. He doesn’t blame me.
His gaze drops to Maddie again, and he drinks her in. “What’s her name?”
“Madison,” I tell him softly. “Madison Blakely Murphy. We call her Maddie for short.”
“Blakely?” He swallows hard. “You gave her my name?”
I nod, biting my lip. Even when I thought I’d never see him again, I wanted our baby to carry a piece of him with her always.
“Can I... Can I hold her?” Blake’s voice is rough with emotion.
My heart squeezes. “Of course.”
Slowly and carefully, I pass Maddie into his strong arms. She goes to him easily, intuitively sensing he’s someone safe, someone important.
“Hey there, baby girl.” Blake cradles her against his broad chest, his eyes suspiciously misty. “I’m your daddy.”
