Page 42 of Lorenzo & Lily

“You’re welcome,” he whispered back. He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead, then on each cheek. “Will Liliana be disturbed if I gave her a kiss before I go?”

“She’s usually a fairly heavy sleeper, but if she’s moving around a lot, she could wake up.”

“I’ll be careful.”

He slowly entered Liliana’s room, cringing a little when the door squeaked. When she remained still, he let out a breath and continued inside.

She was lying on her back, her pink pajamas twisted, one hand and leg dangling over the side of the bed, her bedcovers tangled around her small body. A few cloth dolls were scattered around her and her hair was a messy tangle of dark against her pink pillows.

She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life.

Something heavy and warm settled inside him, followed by a coating of creeping fear.

Fear that he wouldn’t be a good father, or a good enough man for his daughter.

Fear that he wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Fear of the inevitability that she’d grow up, and learn that the world could be hurtful and painful, and there was little he could do about it.

He clutched his chest as his breaths came short and shallow.

Deep breath. If you start feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath first.His therapist’s advice rang through him, and he bent over, put his hands on his knees, and breathed deep. He could do this. Hewoulddo this.

Emotions under control, he leaned over her, brushed her hair back, and dropped a soft kiss to her temple. She shifted a little, and he stilled. When she remained sleeping, he gently put her hand and leg in the bed, and readjusted the covers. After a last look, he left, closing the door gently behind him.

He was walking to the living room when he saw Lily washing dishes. So, he diverted to the kitchen, walked up behind her, and pinned her in by placing his arms on either side of her.

Lily jumped, then placed a soapy hand against her chest. “Oh, you startled me.”

“Lost in thought?”

She nodded as she washed the soap from her hands. “She still asleep?”

“Mmm-hmm.” He nuzzled her neck. “Why are you washing dishes? You’re moving to a castle tomorrow, where you’ll never have to do dishes again if you don’t want to.”

She tensed. “I don’t want to raise Lily like that, where she’s dependent on other people doing everything for her, like we both were growing up. I want her to be independent and–”

He shifted his hands to her hips and squeezed. “You don’t want her to be blindsided like you were, when your parents cut you out of their life.”

She sagged a little. “Yes. God, I was so lost. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know how to do much. All the little details of daily life – bills, insurance, rent, cleaning – someone had always taken care of that for me. I thought I was independent until all this happened.” She turned quickly, her damp hands clutching his shirt. “Not that I regret a minute of it. I don’t. I don’t regret a single second of my life with Lily.”

He curled a hand around her nape. “I know that. You don’t need to say it.”

Her hands relaxed. “Well, I just had to be sure you knew.”

He gave her nape a reassuring squeeze. “I’m going to head out, but before I go, there’s one more thing we need to discuss.”

She frowned slightly. “What?”

“This.” He pulled her in for a kiss. At the first brush of his lips against hers, memories assaulted him. He had never forgotten the taste of her, the feel of her. Now, that taste was even richer, even sweeter than he’d remembered.

He restrained himself from plundering and taking what he wanted, choosing instead to go slow and easy. He thought, perhaps, they both needed slow and easy.

Her breath was uneven when they pulled apart. “What was that?”

He grinned. “A kiss, if memory serves.” He cradled her face and brushed her lips with his thumb. “You were always so fucking good at that. The best. I’ve never forgotten.”

She blinked. “The best? Me?”

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