Page 89 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

His voice is little more than a whisper. “I was so foolish. I let my past ruin my present and my future. I let fear blind me, and I hurt the one person who never deserved it. But I want it back, Lila—I want you back—and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

Tears blur my vision, but I force myself to meet his eyes. “And how do I know this is real, Cole? How do I know it’s me you care about? That this isn’t just because of our—” I stop abruptly, my words faltering as I glance at the crowd. I can’t bring myself to reveal my pregnancy like this—not here, not now.

Cole steps closer, his grip on my hand firm but gentle. “Lila,” he says, his tone steady but imploring, “if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll see it’s been there all along. It’s always been there, staring you in the face.”

I blink up at him, my breath caught in my throat, as he continues. “I never tried to hide how I felt about you. Not really. Anyone with eyes could see it. I might have buried it beneath snarky comments, but it was always there. You were always there, in my mind, in my heart. Why do you think I agreed to work with you on this event in the first place?”

“Because Sue asked you to,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” Cole replies, shaking his head slowly. “Because Sue asked me to work withyou.”

The breath rushes out of me in shallow, nervous bursts. My chest tightens as I glance around the room. The hall is so quietthat if a pin dropped, you would hear it bounce off the marble floors. Every eye in the room is on us, every face fixed with rapt attention, waiting to see what will happen next.

“I love you, Lila Smith,” Cole says, his voice steady despite the emotion rippling beneath it. “I’ve loved you for a very long time. I’d shout it from the rooftops, say it in front of a thousand people—hell, I’d say it to the entire world—if that’s what it takes for you to believe me. I’ll wait however long it takes for you. Just tell me it’s possible. Please tell me you—”

He never gets to finish that sentence, because right there and then I launch myself into his arms. He catches me effortlessly, lifting my body in the air and wrapping his arms tightly around me. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, the tears streaming down my face, except this time they’re tears of joy.

Cole holds me like he never wants to let go, and for the first time in a long time, I feel...safe.

When he finally sets me back on the ground, his hands remain firmly on my waist, steadying me as I pull back to look at him. His stormy gray eyes shimmer with emotion, and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were glassy with tears.

“That hug doesn’t mean I completely forgive you,” I say, my lips quirking into a teary smile. “You’re going to have to work a little harder for that,” I tease.

He exhales on a laugh, his lips curving into the softest smile I’ve ever seen. “I’ll work harder than any man has ever had to. I’d do anything for you, Lila,” he promises, his voice so sincere it makes my heart flutter.

He stretches his arms out again and without a second thought, I step forward, closing the gap between us. His strong arms wrap around me, and I rest my head against his chest as he holds me like I’m the most precious thing in the world.

For the first time in a long, long time, I feel complete.

I’ve found the love of my life, and we’re about to have a baby together. What more could I possibly ask for?

“I love you, Lila Smith,” he whispers, planting a kiss on the top of my head.

“I love you too, Cole Matthews.”

A thunderous wave of applause suddenly erupts through the hall, startling me. My hands fly to my cheeks, heat rushing to them as I gasp. For a blissful moment, I’d completely forgotten we were still in the middle of the room, surrounded by dozens of people who had just witnessed the entire exchange.

“That’s what I’m talking about! Nothing like the perfect happy ending to a love story to wrap up this year’s Valentine’s!” Sue screams excitedly from the crowd as she and Jo high five each other, whispering.

I narrow my eyes at them. If I didn't know any better…

I forget the suspicious thought and smile as Greg whispers something into Sue’s ear and gently tugs her away.

Now it’s her turn for another happy ending.

My heart swells, thinking about the moment earlier when I confessed to Greg the fears Sue had been carrying, how she’d been convinced he was cheating. Instead of being angry that she doubted him, he was only worried about the pain she’d been in. His reaction had been nothing short of beautiful.

Of course, I didn’t tell him about the baby. That wasn’t my place. Sue would share that news herself, and when she did, I know Greg’s joy would light up the room. They both had incredible surprises waiting for them.

“Wanna get out of here?” Cole asks, smiling at me.

“Yes, please,” I whisper excitedly

As we make our way toward the exit, I glance up at him, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips. “Oh, by the way,” I say sweetly, “there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

He stops, turning to face me fully, his hands clasping mine. “What is it?”

“About the whole baby thing?” I pause, savoring the moment. “It’s actuallybabies.”

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