Page 46 of The Billionaire's Pawfect Match

“Seeing you now, it’s like watching someone come up for air after being underwater too long.” She tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a small, unconscious gesture. “You smile more. There’s this lightness about you.”

“Hmm,” I murmur, letting myself think about that. My gaze drifts over the valley below. “I didn’t know how much I needed… space. A new approach to life. Not until you showed me.”

“Sometimes,” she says, scooting closer until our shoulders touch, “we don’t see how tangled we are in something until we step back.”

“Like seeing the forest for the trees,” I murmur. It’s true. Away from the relentless demands of work life, I can breathe. I can think. And I can feel — more than I ever allowed myself before.

“Exactly.” She smiles. “This whole ordeal with Baxter, your father… Maybe it was his way of pushing you to find balance.”

It’s a concept so foreign to my previous life that it seems almost laughable. And yet, here I am, perched on a mountaintop, feeling more grounded than ever.

We fall into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when two people understand each other without needing words.Baxter shifts in his sleep, his paws twitching. His presence is a reminder of the journey I’ve embarked on — the journey towards something real and fulfilling.

“Emily,” I say, my voice barely above a murmur. My heart beats a rapid tattoo against my rib cage, nerves suddenly alight with the intensity of the moment. “You’re always on my mind. Every moment, every decision… it’s all different now because of you.”

“Really?” She turns to face me, her expression open and vulnerable.

“Everything that’s happening between us, I love it. I love…” The words hang in the air, a confession laid bare under the vast expanse of the sky. These feelings are still blooming, but even though I’m sure of how I feel, it’s too soon to take that step — to admit to the both of us that I’ve passed the point of no return.

“Me too,” she says softly, her breath warm against my skin. And then she leans in, closing the distance between us until our lips meet.

Our kiss deepens, a mingling of breath and warmth that ignites something fierce within me. This isn’t just physical; it’s a connection that transcends the barriers I’ve built around my heart. Emily is the catalyst, the one who sees beyond the layers of the billionaire façade, to the man who yearns for something more.

Her hands cradle my face, fingers gentle yet insistent, pulling me closer as if she too can’t bear the thought of distance between us. I respond in kind, my own hands finding their way to her waist, drawing her into the circle of my embrace.

In this kiss, there’s healing. In this kiss, there’s understanding. And in this kiss, there’s a silent vow that no matter whatchallenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together. Because for the first time in my life, I’m not alone. I have Emily — and with her, I have everything.

Slowly, reluctantly, we part, our foreheads resting against each other as we catch our breath. Baxter stirs, lifting his head to look at us with sleepy confusion before laying it back down with a quiet huff.

“See?” Emily says with a soft chuckle. “Even Baxter approves.”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from a place of pure joy. “He’s got good taste.”

“Must be why he likesyou,” she teases, and I feel the last remnants of my old self — the guarded, driven businessman — slip away like shadows at dawn.

“Must be,” I agree, and as we sit on this mountaintop, I know that I wouldn’t change a single thing. Not the struggles, not the pain, and certainly not the hoops my father made me jump through.

Because they led me here. To this moment. To her.

CHAPTER 22

EMILY

Icradle the warm mug in my hands, the steam swirling up like morning mist. The scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the kitchen, mixing with the faint smell of rain from the open window. It’s a quiet Sunday, the kind that invites reflection.

“Tell me everything,” Jenn urges, her eyes gleaming with excitement. It’s been a busy week for both of us, and despite living together, we haven’t had time to catch up on what’s happened between Isaac and me these last few days.

I take a sip, enjoying the robustness of the coffee. “Yesterday’s hike was… amazing. Just like the dinner we had.” I let the words hang between us, enjoying the memories. “Isaac, he’s just…” I struggle to find the words, but they seem inadequate, too small for the bigness of what I’m feeling.

Jenn props her chin on her hand, patient and attentive. She witnessed the beginning, Isaac on our doorstep with that effortless charm that doesn’t quite mask the depth behind his eyes. He had looked at me like I was the only one in the room, even with Jenn there.

“And Baxter?” she prompts, a smile teasing her lips. She knows how much I adore the golden retriever, with his boundless energy and slobbering kisses.

“He’s getting better with the training every day,” I say, a laugh escaping me. It feels good to let go of the tension that’s been building since Isaac dropped me off last night. Since then, the apartment has felt too empty, too silent.

“Sounds like you’re really falling for him,” Jenn observes, her voice soft.

Am I?The thought sends a shiver down my spine, not of fear, but of anticipation. I nod, conceding to the truth I’ve been avoiding. “Yeah, I think I am.”

---