Page 55 of When Love And Destiny Collide

He releases my hands and pulls me into his arms, his embrace warm but heavy with unspoken tension. "And she asked me to pick her up from the airport," he continues, his voice low.

"Okay," I say softly, trying to stay composed. "I understand."

"I’m not going," he replies, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "What are you going to do?" I ask, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I made several attempts to reach her after she hung up on me," he says, calmly. "But she refuses to take my calls, so let her figure it out. Trust me, she can be pretty resourceful.”

"Noah," I say softly, a hint of guilt tugging at me, "how about we reserve a rental car for her at the airport, and you leave the confirmation number on her voicemail?"

"You are too kind, Sweetheart," he replies, his voice warm as he leans in and kisses me. His lips taste faintly of coffee, soft and lingering, teasing me with slow, deliberate pressure. The spark between us ignites with each touch, growing into a blazing inferno. His kisses are like a language only we understand—each brush of his lips, each caress of his hands making me melt deeper into him, convincing me that we were destined to be in love.

***

"I know you're going for a hike with your dad this morning," Noah says, reaching over to cut Davey's cantaloupe into bite-sized pieces. "But tonight, I'd like to spend the evening with my fiancée."

I glance up at him, warmth blooming in my chest, and then at Davey, half-expecting him to say something. But he's completely oblivious, his wide-eyed attention fixed on the happy face pancakes in front of him. A small smile tugs at my lips as I watch him, feeling the quiet joy of these simple moments—a family forming before my eyes. Our family.

"Patrick and Cara are taking their grandkids out for pizza and to the movies tonight," Noah says, his eyes sparkling as he adds, "and they’ve invited Davey to join them."

"We're going to seeKung Fu Panda!" Davey shouts, leaping out of his chair and throwing an enthusiastic karate chop into the air, his excitement filling the room.

That sounds great, Davey!" I say, laughing as he throws another karate chop. "You'll have a blast."

I glance at Noah, a playful smile on my lips, knowing we'll have the whole evening to ourselves.

When Dad arrives to pick me up an hour later, I quickly grab two water bottles from the fridge and lean down to kiss Davey on the forehead. "See you later, Buddy," I say, my heart warming at the sight of his focused little face.

"Bye, Lily!" Davey calls out, barely looking up from his word puzzle, already absorbed in his game.

Noah gently takes my hand and walks me out to the porch, his strong presence warm and comforting beside me. "See you later," he whispers softly in my ear before pressing a gentle kiss on my cheek.

"I love you," I murmur, my eyes locking with his.

"I love you too," he replies, his voice low, filled with an unspoken quality that tells me he's going to miss me.

I make my way down the steps and slide into the car beside Dad. "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hi, Mija," he says, waving at Noah, who’s still standing on the porch, watching us drive away.

During the drive to the trail entrance, I tie my hair back into a ponytail and balance the water bottles on my lap. When I put my hands down, Dad’s gaze flickers to them.

"What’s that?" he asks, motioning toward my left hand, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Daddy," I begin, my voice trembling slightly, "Noah asked me to marry him last night, and I said yes."

I glance over at him, seeing his hands tighten on the steering wheel until his knuckles turn white. For a long moment, he remains silent, the only signs of his turmoil is the pulsing vein at his temple and the rigid clenching of his jaw as he struggles to maintain his composure.

"And that’s the ring he gave you?" Dad asks, his eyes flicking from the road to the glinting gem on my finger.

"Yes," I reply, lifting my hand to admire it. "Isn’t it beautiful, Daddy? I absolutely love it!"

He takes a deep breath before speaking. "He asked me for my blessing. I was so taken aback by the idea of you marrying a man nearly twice your age that I couldn’t give him an answer."

"I know, Daddy," I say softly. "He told me. He said he would earn your blessing."

"Noah’s been married before, right?" Dad asks, his voice carrying a hint of skepticism.

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