For A Lifetime by Dallacey E Green

Sapphire has experienced a lot of financial difficulties and she feels as though she will not be able to support her mother or her younger brother Jimmy. When all hope seems lost she is offered a job as a nanny from a rich and successful owner of a photography magazine, Anthony Black. Sapphire should be excited, only she has never really liked Anthony, they have never truly gotten along and she had always been in love with Anthony’s twin brother Andre. So why instead of making her his nanny, has Anthony asked Sapphire for her hand in marriage, a marriage for a lifetime?

SKU: B009PQ9BZK Category: Romance Tag: forced marriage

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About the author:

Dallacey E Green graduated from Andrews University with her BA in Architecture and a minor in Art. She also has her certificate in Interior Design.

What inspired you to write your book?

I was inspired by the quote, “There’s a thin line between love and hate.” I wanted to write about a couple who grew up around each other, thought they couldn’t stand each other, and finally realized that they were in love. I wanted to show in my story how a handsome and intimidating man could be gentled by a little woman, and how that woman could finally feel safe enough to let him inside her heart.

Here is a short sample from the book:

It was a cool evening. The wind swept about her, whipping through her hair, wrapping the skirt of her dress around her legs and yet she sat. Sapphire gracefully placed the tips of her toes into the ice chilly water and watched as a circle pooled around it. Reaching for the pins in her hair she pulled them free and basked at the feeling of her wavy red tresses cascading down her back, like the soft soothing touch of silk.
Sapphire drank in the view of the majestic buildings which almost covered the sky, buildings that appeared to be flooded with millions of dazzling lights. Closing her eyes she could hear the constant flow of the cars below as they hurried about, and the soothing sound of soft classical music which floated up to her from somewhere off in the distance. When she shivered, that is when she felt him behind her, felt his large overpowering presence.
Anthony slipped his arms around his wife’s waist and pulled her back to lean against him. Then very gently he began to run his hands up and down her arms to warm her.
“Votre rhume, you’re cold?” he asked deeply, the warmth of his breath brushed against her cheek.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine,” Sapphire said, as she sat forward, away from him, trying to distance herself. But he only inched closer.
“You’re shivering, Sapphire,” Anthony pointed out as he gently caressed the top of her shoulders.
“I’ll be alright and anyway, no one’s looking.”
Anthony turned her to face him. “What’s that suppose to mean?” He looked agitated, confused.
“It means we don’t have to pretend we care for each other. We can just be ourselves out here.”
A challenging look flashed into his eyes. “And what if I want to behave the same way I did at the party, right now out here with you?” Anthony asked deeply, as the tips of his fingers ran over her cheek. Sapphire shivered.
Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? She turned away from him and began to look toward the city again, as the silence between them stretched.
“Sapphire say something…what are you thinking?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I just don’t know. I guess, there are so many lights out here and I suppose each home, each family represents a light.” Sapphire closed her eyes wishfully. “I was thinking there are millions of people in this city and it would be so…so easy,” She slowly shook her head, then opened her eyes, “to get lost in it all.”
“Get lost?” Anthony laughed dryly. “Is that what you’d really like to do Sapphire? Or do you really want to hide away from me? Hide away from what you’re feeling?”
Anthony had mentioned this before, on the night on their wedding. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?
“And if I did, why would you care Anthony?” Sapphire turned to face him. She felt angry at him now. She was so angry! It was typical really, this response he always evoked from her. One moment she could be calm in his presence and the very next moment it was like World War II all over again. He was pushing her and she didn’t know why.
“You never cared before…Andre always cared about me,” she stressed each word as her eyes misted. “He made me feel special. H-he made me feel loved, a-and I loved him. I’ll always only love him.” The words poured out before she could think how to carefully word them, before she felt her heart sink.
“Andre made you feel special huh?” His eyes were dark and he looked angry. “So special he went off and married another woman! And you pledged loyalty to him when he never showed any loyalty to you!” Anthony stood up and stepped away from her.
Sapphire felt his words as keenly as if he would have slapped her. They stung and tore at her heart. “You don’t know anything about it!” She stood up then with her hands fisted tightly at her sides.
“Don’t I?” Anthony’s gray eyes intensely bore into hers, like a lance tearing through her. “I know you’re running away from the truth. I know you don’t want to deal with the reality of what really happened.”
Sapphire shook her head. “I dealt with it for the entire three years of his marriage. I woke up each and every day with the thought he was lost to me forever. Knowing that no matter how much I loved him, wanted him, Andre was never going to be mine no matter how much I wished it! So don’t tell me I don’t know how to deal with reality! And now he’s gone forever, lost to me…forever! You don’t know anything about loving anyone like that!” Sapphire choked out the last words, shocked she had actually uttered them.
Anthony guessed he deserved that for allowing himself to have her…and yet he took what he had been at first reluctant to have.
“Don’t assume what you don’t know,” he said coolly. “And I won’t stand here and let you use that as an excuse to hold on to him. Let go, Sapphire.” The coolness was still in his voice. “Don’t you see how holding on to Andre has kept you from moving forward with your life?”
She blinked trying to understand. “I don’t know what you mean and I don’t need you to act the part of my psychologist.” Sapphire dashed away the hot angry tears which were now flowing.
“I’ve never tried to be your psychologist, Sapphire. I’m your―”
“My husband,” she said bitterly.
“Yes, exactly. That wasn’t so hard was it?” And when she didn’t respond he continued, “Stop holding onto something that isn’t real, which was never truly really yours to begin with. You’re my wife Sapphire. I married you. This is real. Nous sommes reels, we are real.” Anthony gestured to her and then himself.
Sapphire laughed bitterly. “And you want me to believe this marriage is real? It was never real to begin with.” She shook her head. “It’s all an act, like tonight, isn’t it Anthony? All for the benefit of your friends.”
“Was it?” He stepped toward her and Sapphire stepped back, yet the fear was evident in her eyes.
“You don’t want to face what is real. You want to run away from this like you have always done, but Sapphire…maybe one day you’ll stop running. Maybe one day you’ll give me a chance by just standing still…so I can catch you.”
It was practically two hours later, after he left her standing there watching him walk away from her, when Sapphire finally found the will to go to their bed.
The light was on beside the rocker recliner that stood next to the sliding door, right across from the bed. Her eyes swept about the modern furnishings which were vastly different than what was in Anthony’s Pennsylvania home. Every bit of furniture here was modern, clean-line pieces that felt masculine and rich.
Anthony was lying in bed. Sapphire watched him sleep with the sheets pulled up to his waist, his arms, shoulders, and chest lay bare. He looked so handsome and so much at peace, with his hair falling wildly about his face.
As quietly as she could, she opened the second chest drawer and pulled out the navy blue t-shirt that had once belonged to her father. Nights like these, when she missed him, unbearably ached for him, Sapphire would wear this shirt. Slowly undressing, she slipped it over her head and felt the end of the shirt brush her knees. Laying the evening dress over the gray recliner chair, she made her way up to her side of the bed and slipped in. Turning her head, she briefly glanced at Anthony to see if she woke him, but when he didn’t move she snapped on the lamp atop her glass nightstand.
“Sapphire?” Anthony said her name instantly, deeply, drowsily. She could hear the sheets shift as he turned. Sapphire almost groaned. “Why did you turn on the lights? I can’t sleep with the lights on, and if I don’t get any sleep I won’t be able to function at the business meeting tomorrow morning.” She heard him yawn and felt the bed dip as he stretched.
Sapphire closed her eyes. She had feared this would happen. Anthony hadn’t said anything at first. For the last few weeks Anthony had fallen asleep before she did, and he had never complained before…yet she knew this would happen someday. “Y-you have a meeting in the morning?” She pulled the covers up to her chin and worriedly bit her bottom lip.
“Oui, yes.”
She felt him lean in closer, studying her.
Anthony eased her onto her back. “I didn’t know the lights…bothered you.” Anthony was over her now, but she couldn’t meet his eyes. She didn’t want him to see how upset his request had made her.
“That’s no problem.” Then he stretched, reaching over her to turn her lamp off.
“Don’t!” Sapphire’s right hand shot out and grasped his wrist.
“Sapphire?” She heard the tenderness in his voice, felt it in the intensity of his gaze as it swept over her. “What’s the matter?”
She swallowed, trying not to panic. “Please, let me leave the light on.” Her large blue eyes pleaded.
“Why do you want the light on?” A strand of his dark hair fell over his forehead, grazing the side of his left eye.
Why couldn’t he just let it be? She didn’t want to tell him. Didn’t want him to think she was behaving like a weak female. “I-I can’t sleep…in the dark.” Sapphire held her breath waiting for his response.
“And why exactly is that?” Anthony asked deeply, as he brushed his thumb along the side of her left cheek.
“I…I just can’t,” her voice sounded small and frightened. “There, are you happy now?” she whispered.
Anthony smiled down warmly at her, as he began brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. He looked pleased she had told him. “Are you angry with me for making you tell me?”
Sapphire shook her head. She wasn’t upset with him, just completely humiliated she’d shared something so private and personal. It wouldn’t have been humiliating if she was a small child, but Sapphire was a grown adult.
“Oh Sapphire.” Anthony looked down tenderly at her. She knew he could feel her hand shaking. When he glanced at her hand she released his wrist. “You don’t have to be scared.” He said the words lightly, warmly coaxing her as he would a small child. “You’re safe here with me, alright?” he sounded so reassuring, as he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ears. Then he moved for the light again.
“Please, don’t!” Tears came to her eyes and she felt embarrassed he was witnessing her weakness.
Anthony looked at her for a long moment. Sapphire lowered her eyes. “Alright then. I won’t turn off the lights,” he promised.
She let out a breath, relieved he wasn’t going to force her to sleep in the dark. But when she heard him next say, “Venir ici, come here.” Sapphire tensed up once more.
She slowly shook her head. “I’m fine once the light is on,” she tried to reject his offer, but he would not be swayed.
“I gave into you for one thing Sapphire, but I won’t back down on this.” She saw the look of determination in his eyes, a look she had seen time and time again. Anthony brushed the tears aside that were streaming down her face. Sapphire hadn’t even realized she was crying.
“Come on.” He gently positioned her in his arms, her head on his shoulder, her back against the hard solid surface of his chest, his legs pressed against hers. Anthony was kind to her, despite the fact she’d been so angry with him earlier. Despite the way in which they had parted. He was still trying to comfort her.
Sapphire closed her eyes, trying to relax, and felt his hand drape over her waist, as he pulled her closer against him. She heard him sigh as though he was content, felt the even brush of his warm breath as he drifted off to sleep and fell into a deep peaceful rest minutes later.