Page 28 of When Love And Destiny Collide

"I have to go, Sweetheart."

"Don't leave," she says, her words both a sweet invitation and relentless torture because I know I can’t stay.

"I'll see you in the morning," I whisper into her ear. "Please try to get some rest and make sure you elevate your foot."

"Okay," she replies, offering a shy smile that tugs at my heart.

Reluctantly, I turn and head toward the door. As I glance back, the intensity of her gaze seems to reach out, pleading for me to stay.

I'm playing with fire, I think, walking out and closing the door behind me. The truth burns inside me, and no matter how risky this path might be, I can't escape the undeniable reality of my feelings. I’m in love with her.

***

After Lily moves into the main bedroom downstairs, we eat breakfast together, and then she and Davey go out to the garden. She relaxes on a bench, watching him play on the slide and explore the treehouse. I stand by the door and watch her with my son. "What am I going to do with you, Lily Cruz?" I ask myself. Her beauty takes my breath away, and the way she treats Davey captivates my heart more and more with each passing day.

I walk back inside and pick up the phone to call Jon. I update him on Lily's injury, and afterward, I ask that he arrange for a crew from his firm to paint the daycare. He immediately senses something is going on and makes it clear that we are tabling a sit-down conversation until his return. I might be forty years old, but Jon is still my big brother, and he has the power to put the fear of God in me if he so chooses. The bottom line is what I feel for Lily is not fleeting. I've fallen deeply in love with a woman young enough to be my child. The lines between right and wrong blur with every passing day, and the stakes grow higher. But no matter how hard I try to convince myself to step back, my heart refuses to let go. Sooner or later, I will have todefend my feelings and my decisions to Jon, Sharon, my son's mother, and Lily's father.

When I join Davey and Lily in the garden, she glances up at me. The sun’s rays illuminate her face, making her blue eyes sparkle like the morning sky. She smiles, and when the dimple on her cheek appears, I’m overcome with the urge to kiss it. God, how I want to kiss her. I smile back and sit beside her, feeling the undeniable connection we share.

"I heard you talking on the phone," she says, her voice curious. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," I reply, my gaze shifting to Davey, who's now engrossed with what looks like another reptilian critter at the edge of the garden. "I was talking to Jon. I filled him in on your accident. He was relieved to hear that you're okay."

"I don’t want them to worry about me," she says, her eyes filled with concern.

I gently reach for her hand. "You're here with me. They know you're safe, and I'll make sure you stay off your feet until you're better."

When she smiles, I add, “Having said that, Miss Cruz, a crew from Linder and Morgan will be at the daycare to paint the walls this afternoon."

"Nooo!" she exclaims, her eyes wide with surprise. "Noah, I can’t afford a painter, let alone a crew!"

"You can’t afford to postpone opening your daycare because of your injury. You can’t stand on that leg, and you can’t climb a ladder. Let me help you."

"I'll pay you back," she says, her tone serious and resolute.

"Jon and Sharon are taking care of it," I assure her gently. "You don’t owe me anything, and I’m certain they won’t take your money either."

Her attention shifts back to Davey, but mine stays fixed on her. "Once the paint is dry, we can move all the furniture and supplies from the guesthouse to the daycare."

"Okay," she whispers, her voice mixed with gratitude and something more profound. "Thank you, Noah. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Lily," I start, my voice thick with hesitation, "about last night..."

"Please," she cuts in, her eyes pleading with mine, "don't say anything that will ruin what we shared."

"What did last night mean to you?" I ask, my heart pounding as I search her eyes, desperate for the truth.

Without a moment’s pause, she whispers, "It meant everything. Noah, you're all I ever think about."

I'm blown away by her sincerity and willingness to be so honest and vulnerable with me. I look away because I can't bear to be this close to her without touching her.

"It's okay," she murmurs, mistaking my silence for rejection. "You don't have to feel the same way."

I turn back to her, my heart pounding. "Lily," I say, my voice full of longing, "would you like to go out with me?"

Now it's her turn to be speechless. She gazes at me, her eyes searching mine for so long that doubt begins to creep in. My heart tightens as I wonder if I've misread everything or if I’ve just made a huge mistake.

Then, her lips curve into a smile, her dimple appearing as she finally answers, "Yes."

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