Page 45 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

Liz’s expression softens, and she turns slightly toward me, resting her chin on her knee. “She still bothering you?”

“She’s persistent,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “Keeps suggesting we ‘talk’ or meet up, like that’s going to fix anything.”

Liz frowns. “And do you want to?”

“No,” I say firmly, the conviction surprising even me. “Not even a little. But... sometimes it feels like she knows exactly where to hit to make me doubt myself. Like maybe she’s right, and I’m not enough for Max on my own.”

“Nate,” Liz says, her voice sharper than I’ve ever heard it. “Don’t do that. Don’t let her make you question yourself. You’re an amazing dad. Max doesn’t need anyone else. He has you.”

Her words hit harder than they should, and I swallow against the lump forming in my throat. “It’s not that simple.”

“It is,” she insists, her eyes fierce. “Whatever Becky says, it’s her loss. She’s the one who gave up on you, not the other way around.”

I stare at her, the intensity of her conviction washing over me. Her belief in me feels like a lifeline, something I didn’t know I needed until now.

“Why do you care so much?” I ask, my voice barely audible.

She blinks, taken aback, and for a moment, I think she won’t answer. But then she smiles softly, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her expression.

“Because you deserve someone to care for you,” she says simply.

My chest tightens, and I can’t look away from her. The way her hair catches the moonlight, the way her lips curve in that slight, knowing smile—it’s too much. Too overwhelming.

I hesitate, my mind racing. But the truth is undeniable, even if I can’t say it out loud. Liz is threatening to tear down every wall I’ve built, and it scares the hell out of me.

Instead of answering, I meet her gaze again, the air between us charged and electric.

And then, before I can think better of it, I lean in.

Her breath hitches, her lips parting slightly as our faces draw closer. My heart pounds in my chest, a wild rhythm I can’t control.

When our lips meet, it’s soft at first, tentative, like testing the waters. But the emotion behind it is anything but tentative. It’s raw and real and everything I’ve been trying to suppress.

Liz freezes for a moment, and I think she might pull away. But then she leans into me, her hand brushing against my arm, and it’s like the world tilts on its axis.

The kiss is brief, but it feels like an eternity. When we pull apart, the air between us feels heavy, charged with something neither of us can name.

“I...” she starts, her voice shaky.

“Liz,” I say, cutting her off. My own voice is unsteady, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.

Then she stood, her eyes darting frantically around. I tried to stand but she shakes her head.

"I have to go. Goodnight,"

With that I watch as she rushes inside. Leaving me alone to stare into the night with my racing heart while still feeling the taste of her lips. Wanting more, yearning for more.

***

The sunlight streaming through my bedroom window feels intrusive, cutting through the remnants of sleep like a blade. I blink, staring up at the ceiling, my heart thundering in my chest as the memory of last night crashes over me.

The kiss.

Her lips were soft, warm, and everything I shouldn’t want. But I did. I still do. The thought twists my insides, sharp and aching, as if my chest is caught in a vice.

I run a hand over my face, groaning. What was I thinking? She’s Liz—Bryan’s sister. Bryan. The name lands like a punch to the gut, and guilt gnaws at the edges of my thoughts. But then there’s the truth, stark and undeniable: I have no regrets. None.

If anything, I want more.

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