Page 124 of Broken Destiny

“Umm... okay,” I replied softly.

He stepped into the room and walked toward me. When his hands closed gently around my arms, a shiver ran through me, starting at my shoulders and travelling down my spine, making it hard to breathe. He guided me to sit on the bed.

My breath caught as I looked up at him.

His face was close enough that I could see every detail—the stubble along his jaw, the intensity in his blue-green eyes, the quiet concentration in the way he focused on me.

The closeness made my pulse race in a way that felt both terrifying and irresistible.

He carefully peeled away the loosened bandage from my head. Taking an alcohol swab, he cleaned the cut with patient, steady hands.

The sharp sting made me inhale softly, but the discomfort faded quickly beneath his gentle touch.

Kneeling in front of me, he lifted his eyes to meet mine.

Neither of us moved.

The air between us grew unbearably heavy. My heartbeat thudded wildly in my chest as the faint scent of his cologne wrapped around me.

For one weak and foolish second, nothing else seemed to matter.

Then the sound of small footsteps racing up the stairs shattered the spell.

“Mama, you ready?” Emma called out.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

My children always did have the most perfect timing.

Emma burst into the room with Mia clutched tightly in her hands. “Hurry, Mama!”

I opened my eyes and blinked quickly.

Caleb secured the clean bandage and helped me to my feet. The warmth of his touch lingered even after he stepped back, making my heartbeat spiral wildly all over again.

We walked out of the bedroom together, and he scooped Emma into his arms.

Moments later, we gathered our things and headed outside, climbing into his car.

Even then, I could not calm the frantic beating of my heart or bring myself to fully meet his eyes.

Jack greetedthe children and me when we stepped inside.

“Hi, guys! Are you ready for dinner?”

“Yes, Pappy!” Lucas and Emma shrieked in unison.

Jack raised his eyebrows and smiled when he saw Caleb standing behind us. He stepped forward and shook his hand warmly. “Nice to see you again.”

Leading us to the table, I focused on the children and the familiar surroundings, doing everything I could to avoid Caleb’s eyes.

Our almost kiss upstairs replayed itself in my mind, making my pulse quicken.

Thank God Emma had interrupted us.

The thought of what could have happened if she had not come running into the room made my scalp prickle.

Cheating on his fiancée weeks before his wedding and being responsible for it was something I could never carry on my conscience. He needed to be clear about what he wanted in his life, and I needed to be strong enough to set boundaries. He could not have both. The cake and the cherry were not an option.