Page 67 of Ruthless Temptation

“Funny girl. Lily, please, I want you to stay and enjoy yourself,” he whispered.

When her eyes lifted, she knew they were full of emotion. Aidan was staring at her with such intensity, it freaked her out.

She swallowed and looked away.

“Call you tomorrow, Dad. Promise to ring if anything changes?”

“Promise, Lilypop,” he said. “Love you.”

“Love you, Dad.”

She lowered the phone onto her lap and chewed her lip. Aidan stared at her for a long minute, neither of them saying anything.

“He’s dying,” he said.

“Yes,”

“That’s why you aren’t going to college to get your Bachelor of Education?”

Lily nodded.

“Colon cancer. He’s been in remission.”

Aidan shook his head.

“Aidan, he knew,” she said, tears starting to fall. “He knew he was starting to have symptoms again and he let me fly all the way over here.”

Aidan got up, walked over, and scooped her up in his arms. Then carried her back to the sofa and sat with her on his knee.

“I wish I could fix this for you,” he said as she rested her head on his chest.

She lay there for a long moment while his hand ran over her back, and her tears flowed. It was different than her mom hugging her or friends consoling her. His muscular arms felt like protection against the world and all her pain.

Almost.

“You care about people,” Lily said. “Your cousins, your sister. Your brother.”

He reared his head back and when she glanced up at him, he was half frowning and half smiling. “Did you think I was a monster?”

“I don’t know what to think. You’re different from the people I normally meet,” Lily admitted.

“Because I’m rich?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Let me ask you this. If I gave you ten million dollars right now, what would you do?” Aidan asked.

Her mouth dropped open.

“Think about it carefully.”

Lily ran through a list of expenses in her head. Paying off her parent’s mortgage. Making repairs. Buying herself a house.

Vacations for them...

Oh.

It wouldn’t change what really mattered.

---