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Paul indicated the card that represented her. The Fool. A free spirit. Impulsive. Naive. Trusting that a leap of faith will bring joy and happiness.
“It’s why I need someone like you in my life. We’ve known each other two weeks and I’ve changed so much in that short period of time. If you leave, I’ll just go back to being lonely and isolated, only now that state will make me miserable.” He then pointed to the Eight of Cups in her potential outcome position. “Don’t leave behind what promises to be a wonderful life with me here.”
“But your family,” she protested. “I lied to all of them about being Ava’s daughter. How can I ever look them in the eye again?”
“Actually, several of them already knew,” Paul said. “Ethan told Dad and we suspect he told Mom.”
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“Dallas confronted me last night and she was really upset that Grady wrote me into his will,” Lia admitted, hope fading even as she noted the gentleness that softened the strong lines of Paul’s handsome face. “I think she hates me.”
“She doesn’t. She texted me this morning after she realized you left and knows she handled things badly. My whole family loves you. And I love you. The only question that remains is whether you love us enough to become a permanent member of the Watts clan.”
Her breath stopped. “What do you mean by permanent?”
“I mean...” He grinned at her as he slid out of the dinette. Dropping to one knee beside her, Paul popped open the ring box Grady had given him. “Ophelia Marsh, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
The formal words filled her with joy. “I adore you, Paul Watts,” she murmured around the thick lump in her throat. “But...” Panic rose; she wanted so badly to belong that she could barely keep it together. “Your family has to approve.”
“This is my grandmother’s ring,” he told her, pulling the circle of white gold and glittering diamonds free of the velvet padding. “Grady gave it to me to give to you. He wants you to be a part of our family. We all do.”
Lia stared at the ring, the legacy of an earlier generation’s love and fidelity, and something shifted inside her, settling into place, making her whole for the first time in her life. She held out her left hand and let Paul slide the ring onto her finger.
She framed his face with her hands and smiled. “Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
As Paul leaned forward to kiss her, he reached out and turned over the outcome card. Lia caught a glimpse of the image an instant before his lips met hers.
The Sun.
Joy. Happiness. Optimism. Energy. Wonder. The card promised all these and more.
Brilliant light exploded behind her closed eyelids as she gloried in the perfection of his kiss and reveled in all the boundless possibilities the future held. As opposites they’d been attracted to each other. Through their differences they’d learned, struggled and eventually changed. Like yin and yang they belonged together, two halves that made up a whole. Their journey had been a blend of destiny and deliberate choices. And as many challenges as they might encounter in the years ahead, Lia trusted they would overcome them together.
Epilogue
In the midst of the party to celebrate their engagement, Paul took Lia’s hand and drew her away from the well-wishers. Since arriving at his grandfather’s estate, they’d been swarmed by family and friends all eager to congratulate them. It was their first major social event as a couple and he’d been worried how she’d handle all the attention, but her dazzling smile demonstrated that she was gaining confidence by the hour.
Much had happened in the weeks since he’d proposed. Grateful for all she’d done for him, Grady had left Lia in his will, but since she wasn’t Ava’s daughter, he’d changed the amount intended for her. On the matter of Lia’s background, they’d chosen to reveal her family connection to the infamous Peter Thompson. By controlling the way the story came out, they’d gotten ahead of the gossip. Still, when faced with so much unwanted media attention, Paul half expected Lia to bolt for the open road. Instead, supported by the entire Watts family, she’d weathered the news event with grace.
Craving a few minutes alone with Lia, Paul guided her onto the back terrace and into a dark corner away from prying eyes. He didn’t expect they’d have more than a few minutes alone before they were discovered. He desperately needed to kiss her. As if her own desires matched his, Lia melted into his embrace, sliding her fingers into his hair and applying pressure to coax his lips to hers.
The scent of her perfume reminded him of the first time they’d met. He realized now that he’d started falling for her in that moment. His tactics for scaring her off would’ve worked if Ethan hadn’t concocted his scheme to pass her off as Grady’s granddaughter. Realizing just how close he’d come to losing her made Paul tighten his arms around Lia’s slim waist.
“I thought we were done sneaking around,” she teased with a breathless laugh when they finally came up for air.
“With a family as large as mine, if we want privacy we’re going to have to get creative.”
She hummed with pleasure as his lips traveled down her neck. “I like getting creative with you.”
The sound of a door opening a short distance away made Paul groan. A second later he heard Ethan’s voice.
“Here’s where you two disappeared off to.”
“Go away,” Paul growled, not ready for his interlude with Lia to end. “We’re busy.”
Ethan ignored his brother’s attempts to send him packing and stepped closer. “I thought you both might be interested in learning that we’ve received a hit from the testing service.”
Paul’s breath caught as the momentous news hit him like a sharp jab to his gut. Lia clutched his arm as she, too, reacted. Their eyes met and in that moment of connection the rest of the world fell away. Paul reveled in the deep bond developing between them. No matter what happened in the future, Paul knew Lia would be beside him, offering support and performing the occasional tarot card reading.
