Page 18 of Finally Found You

“And your point?”

“You can’t sleep with your child’s cousin,” Gatsby says in a warning tone.

“It was a bad night. I thought… listen, nothing happened, and we wouldn’t act on that attraction after finding out her relationship with Kenzington,” I say with a voice that doesn’t give any room for them to speak. “Thank you for your advice. Call if you have any news.”

“Uh-oh,” Aslan growls. “He’s still interested.”

“I’m not,” I argue. “We will not speak about it ever again.”

“Good,” Gatz says. “Now, focus on getting to know your child—not the cousin. Build trust and show them you’re genuinely interested in Kenzington’s well-being.”

I exhale, steadying myself. “You’re right. I have to show them I can be the father Kenzy needs. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll do whatever it takes to convince them she belongs with me.”

The conversation with my brothers ends. I hang on to their support as if it’s a lifeline in the swirling chaos of my emotions. The sun inches higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the rooftop. I’m filled with a mixture of fear, determination, and love for Kenzington.

* * *

The metallic grind of the key as it turns in the lock is the only sound that breaks the silence, its muted click announcing my arrival. As I step into my apartment, I’m immediately enveloped in the warm, comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal, as if the scent itself is wrapping its arms around me in a welcoming embrace. I take a deep breath, the weight of the day lifting from my shoulders.

I make my way toward the kitchen. My heart skips a beat as my gaze falls upon Camilla, her curvy hips swaying gently in the kitchen like a graceful dancer. She’s wholly absorbed in her task, a delicate hand guiding the wooden spoon as she stirs something on the stove. The simmering sound of the sauce whispers promises of a delicious meal.

I can’t help but admire her beauty, her dark hair cascading down her back in loose waves, a living waterfall of silken strands. Her eyes are focused, a soft crease forming between her brows as she concentrates on her task. A pang of longing courses through me, and I find myself entranced by her.

It’s hard to ignore the pull that draws me to her. She appears fragile and broken, but there’s a hidden strength in her eyes, too. A fierce determination that makes me believe she’s made out of steel, tempered by the trials she’s faced.

Her broken smile and messy soul echo through the blood in my veins, seeping into the very essence of who I am, even when I barely know her. She’s an enigma, a captivating mystery I long to unravel, to understand and cherish the complexities that make her who she is.

But I have to remind myself—she’s too young. Twenty-six to my almost forty. Not only that, but she’s also my child’s cousin. There’s an impassable chasm between us, one that threatens to swallow me whole if I dare to cross it. A tug of desire ignites deep within me, a primal call that resonates in my chest, but I force myself to push it aside, burying it beneath layers of self-imposed restraint.

She’s off-limits.

She. Is. Off. Limits.

But she’s so fucking beautiful, her allure undeniable.

Ignoring the attraction is going to be hard, but not impossible. If I was able to stop loving my soulmate, I can ignore Camilla, too.

I clear my throat, the sound raspy and strained, a feeble attempt to anchor myself back to the present moment while suppressing my attraction for her. “Camilla, we need to talk.”

Her gaze flickers to me as she glances over her shoulder, her expression guarded. “Oh, it’s you.”

The disappointment lacing her words cuts deep. I wasn’t expecting her to welcome me warmly, but the way she looks at me as if I’m a monster unsettles me. I force a polite smile, my emotions roiling within. “We need to talk. I have a proposition for you,” I say.

Camilla turns around, crossing her arms in a defensive stance, one eyebrow arched as her curiosity is piqued. “What’s on your mind?”

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I allow the words to spill forth, the passion behind them evident. “I understand your reservations about me. But I can’t bear the thought of her being caught up in a custody battle, not after losing fifteen years with her.”

Her frown deepens, suspicion clouding her eyes. “So what do you propose?”

“You let me get to know her,” I say, my voice wavering with the weight of my plea.

Camilla shakes her head, her expression fierce. “If you think I’m going to leave her with a stranger, you’re—”

“That’s not what I said,” I interrupt her, the urgency in my tone impossible to miss. “I know I haven’t been there for her. How could I when no one ever told me about her existence? But I want to make it right, Camilla. I want to be a father to her.”

Her arms remain crossed—skepticism etched into every line of her face. “You can’t just make up for lost time. You can’t fix the past.”

“I know that,” I reply, my voice cracking with emotion, the rawness of my feelings laid bare. It’s obvious she doesn’t know me and can’t yet comprehend how important family is to me.

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