Page 43 of When Love And Destiny Collide

"Let me walk you home, Sweetheart. It's getting late."

"Yeah," she says, "I’m meeting Dad at ten in the morning to give him a tour of the daycare, and then we’re going to lunch. Can I take Davey with me?"

"Well, now that the book is finished, I have more time. I can watch Davey. You go ahead and spend time with your dad. Have fun."

"Okay," she says. "Um...when do you want to meet him?"

"Your dad? Whenever you’re ready to introduce us."

"Okay," she smiles. "We can talk about it tomorrow."

I take her hand and walk with her across the lawn to her front door.

"Good night," I say, lifting her hand to my lips and kissing it gently. "I love you, Lily."

"I love you too," she says, her voice filled with emotion.

"Can I kiss you?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I thought you'd never ask," she says with a smile, closing her eyes. I'm captivated by her breathtaking beauty. Each day, I uncover something new about her that pulls me in deeper.

Lily opens her eyes, studying me with a curious gaze. "What is it?" she asks softly.

"Nothing," I say, though I can feel the emotion welling up behind my eyes. "I’m falling deeper in love with you, Sweetheart."

"You love me more today than yesterday?" she asks, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I do," I confess, meeting her gaze.

"Was it the sandwich?" she teases, her smile growing wider.

I laugh, the unexpected question catching me off guard. "Maybe," I say, still grinning. "Or maybe it’s just everything about you."

"Everything?" she asks, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Like what?"

I pull her closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I whisper, "Let me show you." Her hands slip around my neck, her fingers lazily raking through my hair.

I gaze at her, watching as her eyes flutter closed as she waits for the kiss she knows is coming. Slowly, I bring my hand to her neck, my fingers tracing the delicate curve of her nape, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch. I kiss her eyelids, then her forehead, lingering on each cheek, her chin, and the tip of her nose. My lips brush against her earlobe—a whisper of a touch that seems to make her breath hitch, before I finally let my lips graze hers, a tantalizing tease that leaves her breathless. I kiss her smiling lips softly, coaxing her mouth to respond, deepening the kiss gradually, savoring the way she melts into me. A tiny moan escapes her, and her hand moves down my chest, settling over my heart, where she can feel it pounding steadily, calling out to her with every beat.

As she steps inside and closes the door, I turn and make my way back to the house. I can’t stop the anticipation that builds inside me, knowing that tomorrow will bring me one step closer to her, to us.

Jon’s words echo in my mind again, “Noah, Lily is family.” I know he meant it as a brother's warning, urging me to keep my distance as a man and protect her like I would one of his daughters. But neither of us could have imagined just how true his words would become—because I intend to make her my wife.

***

When I finally go to bed after midnight, I lie awake, my body weary but my mind restless. Thoughts spin relentlessly, keeping sleep at bay. I can’t stop thinking about Lily’s accident—how her voice trembled as she recounted that night, so anxious abouttelling me she might not be able to conceive a child. I would've loved to have a baby with her one day, but what matters most is having her in my life. I'm committed to spending the rest of my days making her happy. Together, we’ll raise Davey. Though she’s not his mother, she means the world to him, and he means the world to her. We can form a family together.

Restless, I get up and walk to the window, staring out at the guesthouse across the lawn. My sweetheart is there, sleeping peacefully, when all I want is for her to be here with me. Overcome with longing, I grab a notepad from the small desk in my room and begin to pour my heart out, writing to the beautiful woman who has forever changed my life.

Sweetheart,

What am I going to do with you, Lily? These past few weeks have been the most incredible time of my life. Getting to know you, seeing you with my son, and feeling your love and devotion—it’s more than I ever dreamed possible. I am completely and utterly in love with you.

Love,

Noah

PS: Yes, I love you more today than I did yesterday.

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