Page 4 of When Love Changes Everything

When he hands me the key, I grab my bags and head to the guesthouse, eager for a moment alone to gather my thoughts. The space is welcoming, decorated beautifully in a way that reflects Lily's warm personality. She really turned this place into a home.

After a quick shower, I slip into baggy sweats and an oversized sweater, letting the comfort of the soft fabric ease the weight of my current situation. As I towel my hair dry, I glance toward the main house. The light in the kitchen is still on. He poured a cup of coffee for me, and now it’s probably sitting there cold.

Should I go back? Is he expecting me to?

I bite my lip, replaying the way he looked tonight. Tuxedo or casual sweatshirt, it doesn’t matter—Mateo is irresistibly handsome, and it’s completely disarming. But that’s not what tonight is about. I need to focus on what comes next. For the next few weeks, maybe longer, I’m basically homeless.

The question remains though—do I want to see him again tonight? Or stay here, alone with my thoughts?

I knock on the back door, instantly second-guessing myself for returning.You're playing with fire, Lisa.

Before I can talk myself out of it, Mateo opens the door, holding a steaming cup of coffee. He offers it to me without a word, and I take it, wrapping my fingers around it, hoping the warmth will somehow steady my nerves.

"Are you cold?" he asks, his eyes sweeping over me, lingering for just a second too long.

I shake my head and slide into a seat at the table. I blow gently into the cup before returning my gaze to him.

His smile—easy, natural, and devastating—sends my heart into a full somersault. I take a slow breath, trying to keep my cool, reminding myself that I must be careful.

I take a long swig of the hot coffee, almost burning my mouth in the process. "Thanks for the coffee," I say, setting the cup down. "It's been a long night. I should probably go. I’ve got an evenlonger day ahead of me tomorrow. I need to head back to my house and see if anything can be salvaged."

"I can come with you," he offers without hesitation. "I'd be happy to help."

I smile, appreciating his kindness. "Thank you, but I think I can handle it on my own. Really, I appreciate it."

I stand, and so does he, our bodies coming incredibly close. We’re face to face, only inches apart. This is it. The moment we’ve been dancing around, avoiding since the day we met. Has it been three, four years? I lock eyes with him, his presence overwhelming. The sophisticated scent of his cologne fills the air, intoxicating and divine.

I realize I’m not moving. I’m standing still, as if waiting for something…waiting for him.

"Goodnight, Lisa," he murmurs, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. The warmth of his lips burns more than the steaming coffee did, lingering on my skin and sending a ripple through me that I was so unprepared for.

"Goodnight," I manage to reply. As I turn and walk away, I wonder if my legs will hold steady until I reach the door. Every step feels heavy, like I’m leaving behind more than just a room—like I’m leaving behind a moment that I wish could've been more.

Chapter 2

Mateo

She's so beautiful. So young. So off-limits. I watch her walk away, her steps uncertain, as if she’s weighing whether she should go or stay. When she reaches for the doorknob, I feel my heart drop with disappointment. She's leaving, and I have to let her go.

Her blue gaze was openly inviting me to kiss her. Why didn’t I? Was it out of respect for Lily's wishes? Was it the nagging thought of my age against her youth? Or maybe it was the lingering regret of my past with Marian, a reminder that I could easily fall into old patterns. I’ve never shied away from the chance to get close to a woman, regardless of her age. So why did I hold back this time? Have I suddenly grown a conscience? It’s a strange feeling, one that tugs at my subconscious and makes me question everything I thought I knew about myself. I’ve always been driven by instincts, knowing that I can have whatever I want, but with her, it feels different. There’s a quality to this moment, a sense of responsibility that feels foreign and heavy.Maybe it’s the fear of crossing a line I shouldn’t. But what line, and since when? Perhaps I’m just afraid of the consequences that might follow. Consequences that have cost me plenty in the past. I think of my marriage destroyed and of the child that was never born.

Whatever it is, it leaves me standing here, yearning for something I can’t have.

***

I count down the seconds until my watch reads eight o'clock, then make my way across the lawn to the guesthouse. With each step, a surge of anticipation builds at the thought of seeing her this morning. Six hours—it’s only been six hours!What is wrong with you, Mateo?I scold myself. I knock gently on the door. Silence. I knock again, a little harder this time, as if I could will her to be there. Nothing. With a sinking feeling, I make my way around to the front of the house, only to see the empty driveway. Her car's gone. My mind rushes to explain it—she's busy, she has so much on her plate today. But no matter how logical it sounds, my heart doesn’t care. It twists at the thought that maybe—just maybe—she's avoiding me.

This feeling of rejection—it’s unfamiliar, unsettling, like a new bruise I can’t resist pressing, even though it aches. My thoughts drift back to her: the way her hair tumbles over her shoulders, the bright spark in her blue eyes when she looks at me, the softness of her pink lips when they smile. I know attraction when I feel it, and with her, it’s undeniable. From the moment we met,there’s been something unspoken, magnetic, magical, pulling us together even as the timing has always been off.

When my ex-wife’s health began to decline, Lily put her college plans on hold to care for Sophia. She was working part-time as a nanny then, and through that job, she met Lisa.

I started spending more time in Boston, to make sure Sophia and Lily had everything they needed. It was during one of those visits that I first crossed paths with Lisa.

“Dad, this is my friend, Lisa,” Lily said softly as I followed her into the kitchen. Lisa sat at the table, cradling a cup of coffee in both hands. The early light filtered gently through the window, casting a soft glow in the room. Lisa looked effortlessly beautiful. With the lingering grogginess of sleep still on her, she was cozy in a thick robe over her pajamas, her red hair swept up into a high ponytail. The effect she had on me was immediate. I couldn’t tear my gaze away. I wanted to memorize every detail of her face.

“Hi, Lisa," I said, extending my hand. "I’m Mateo.”

She met my gaze with a sweet smile, slipping her hand into mine. “Hi, Mr. Cruz. It’s nice to meet you.” Her voice was as captivating as her beauty, each word drawing me in. The morning light spilled across her face, illuminating her porcelain-pale skin, the natural blush on her cheeks, and her full, pink lips. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, yet she seemed to radiate. When I glanced away, I caught Lily watching me, anunmistakable look in her eyes—she knew exactly what I was thinking.

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