When Love Changes Everything (Linder Family #6)

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Mateo

"What happened to us being just friends?" she snaps. "Or have you completely forgotten the hard line you drew in the sand just the other day? And I quote, 'You and I... we’re just friends, remember?'"

"I want to continue being friends," I begin. "But not just friends . I can't be near you and pretend that I don't feel more. That I don't want more."

Her eyes narrow, and her tone is razor-sharp. "What exactly do you want from me, Mateo?" she demands. "Another friend with benefits? Is that it? Don’t you already have plenty of those to choose from? Zoe, Marian, Mandy, Meredith—God only knows how many others I haven’t caught wind of."

Her words sting, but I catch the edge of something deeper beneath her anger. "You sound jealous," I say softly, with the faintest hint of a smile.

She glares at me, her cheeks flushing. "You’re unbelievable!" she exclaims then spins on her heel, ready to walk away, and without thinking, I reach out, my hand finding her arm.

"Wait," I plead, gently turning her to face me.

Her eyes are fuming, and her lips are pressed in a tight line.

" Hermosa , I've asked you to marry me," I say. "I’ve never proposed to anyone before. Not once."

Her brow furrows, confusion flickering across her face. "What about Sophia?" she asks, doubt threading through her tone.

"I was twenty when I met her. We were young. We got pregnant. We got married. Sophia left Mérida before we ever had the chance to be a real family." I hold her gaze, willing her to see the truth. "I loved Sophia with all my heart, but it was a love born of inexperience, held together by duty and obligation. We were just young parents trying to do our best for Lily. What I feel for you—it’s different. And I know you can feel it too."

I watch as her eyes fill with realization, the flicker of understanding passing like a ripple over her delicate features. My heart pounds, bracing for rejection—a scoff, or the sight of her retreating again. But she doesn’t move. Her composure falters for just a moment, and in that fragile silence, I watch as the truth begins to sink in.

"I know you're not into older men," I say, "but I can't be the only one feeling this. What I feel for you… it didn’t happen overnight, and you know that. We’ve been dancing around this, around each other, for years. I tried to find something real with other women, tried to force this feeling… but everything led me back to you. The thought of you—I cultivated the idea in my mind for years until it took root in my heart. I can't deny it anymore. I can't fight how strongly I feel for you. I can’t picture my life without you in it.”

"Mateo," she whispers, her gaze never leaving mine.

"You're it for me, hermosa ," I say, letting my heart do all the talking. "There's no one else."

Her gaze drops to the ring, and when her eyes meet mine again, they’re searching, raw and vulnerable. "Why?" she breathes. "Why me?"

"Because I could spend the rest of my life gazing into your eyes, losing myself in them every single day. I could spend every day listening to that laugh of yours, the one that makes everything else fade away, as if nothing else matters but you. I could spend each day trying—probably failing—to keep up with your quick wit. And I could spend every night holding you close, whispering your real name until you learn to love it again. Holding you so close that our hearts would beat as one."

"Mateo, I—"

I close the distance between us, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close until our lips almost touch. “Marry me, Annalisa,” I say, my voice raw, thick with all the years of longing I can no longer hide. Four years—four endless years—of knowing it could only ever be her.

“Mateo…” she whispers, her gaze soft and penetrating.

"Let me love you, hermosa ," I whisper in a hushed tone.

Her breath hitches, and for a moment, everything stills. “I want to trust you, Mateo,” she says, her words touching the deepest, most guarded part of me—my heart. "But if you hurt me, I'll never forgive you."

I look into her eyes until her blue gaze pierces through me, "I will never hurt you," I whisper.

"I believe you," she smiles, and with those three words, she gives me permission to love her.

“Can I take you out to dinner tonight?” I ask, my voice calm, though my chest feels anything but.

Her gaze meets mine, and in that moment, every ounce of hope I’ve dared to carry hangs on her reply.

She raises an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to make me dinner here?" she teases. That familiar sparkle in her eye is back—warm, playful, and so distinctly her. It eases the tension knotting in my chest, quietly reassuring me that things between us are back on track.

"If we don’t leave this house, we might end up having dinner with your dad," I laugh. "But if I'm being completely honest, I just want you to myself."

"Speaking of," she says, crossing her arms, "if Dad is staying in the guesthouse... where am I staying?"

"With me, of course!" I tease, enjoying the way her eyes go wide in disbelief. Before she can launch into a protest, I hold up a hand and add, "Relax. You can have the room downstairs."

"And what about you?" she asks, narrowing her eyes, her suspicion evident.

"I’ll be upstairs," I reply, my voice dipping low. "In case you ever need anything, or you feel the need to throttle me, you’ll know exactly where to find me."

Her lips twitch, but she fights the smile threatening to break through. "Do you realize how wildly inappropriate that is?" she quips, tilting her head in mock disapproval.

"We’re engaged, remember?" I counter smoothly, leaning in just enough to watch her cheeks flush. "I promise you'll enjoy me talking dirty to you."

The blush deepens, and for a moment, she looks torn between laughing and scolding me. But then she breaks into a laugh, shaking her head. "You’re absolutely incorrigible."

"But lovable?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

She rolls her eyes, but her smile is genuine. "Yeah," she admits, her voice softening. "But lovable."

***

The restaurant we choose is alive with the energy of the evening crowd, laughter, and the clinking of glasses filling the air. Yet somehow, we’re lucky enough to get a cozy table by the expansive windows that look out over the park and the river shimmering in the twilight.

After we’re handed our menus, Lisa glances around with a mischievous smile. “So… should I be worried about any of your old girlfriends working here?” she asks, her tone filled with curiosity.

I chuckle, leaning forward in my chair. “Unless we’re counting the chef,” I say with a grin, “I think we’re safe. Most of the staff here are men.”

Her laugh rings out, warm and contagious, but then her gaze shifts toward the front of the restaurant, and her smile fades just a touch. “Don’t look now,” she says, lowering her voice, “but Meredith just walked in. Maybe she won’t spot us—oh, never mind.” Her eyes narrow, and she glances back at me. “She just saw us and… yep, she’s making a beeline over here.”

"Mateo?" Her unmistakable, swoony voice reaches us before she does, and I feel Lisa’s curious gaze flick over to me. Meredith appears a second later. "I didn’t know you were in town!"

“Hi, Meredith,” I reply, standing to greet her with a quick hug, feeling Lisa’s eyes on us. "Just here for a short trip."

I release Meredith and sit back down, catching Lisa’s faintly raised eyebrow and a hint of amusement in her expression.

"I wish you’d told me you were coming," Meredith says, her voice softening as she tilts her head, giving me that familiar, flirtatious look. "We could’ve made plans to get together. It’s always so good to see you."

But this time, her gaze doesn’t spark anything in me. I offer a polite smile, aware of Lisa’s steady presence beside me, pulling me in a way Meredith never could.

“Your daughter got married, right?” Meredith says, slipping into the chair across from us without invitation, her curiosity unmistakable. “We heard all about it at the office—marrying Jon Linder’s brother, no less."

"Yes, it was a beautiful ceremony." My gaze shifts to Lisa, catching her warm smile as she listens quietly.

But Meredith’s gaze remains steady on me, a playful spark lighting up her eyes. “You know, if you’d called,” she says, leaning in just slightly, “I would’ve been more than happy to be your plus one.”

I chuckle, giving her a polite smile as I shake my head. “Guess I’ll just have to remember to send you an invite for the next one I attend,” I reply smoothly. Beneath the table, my fingers find Lisa’s, interlacing with hers in a gesture that feels both natural and grounding.

“Oh, yeah?” Meredith leans in, curious. “Is there another wedding coming up that I don't know about?” Her gaze darts between us, eager for details.

I smile and watch as Lisa lifts her glass, taking a slow sip of water.

Meredith’s eyes narrow, zeroing in on the brilliant sparkle on Lisa’s finger. “Lisa?!” she exclaims, her voice pitching higher with every word. “Is that… an engagement ring? Oh my goodness, of course it is! Look at that rock! I didn’t even know you were dating anyone!”

The silence that follows is almost deafening. Lisa and I exchange a soft, knowing glance, but neither of us says a word. Meredith’s expression falters, the gears visibly turning in her mind. Then, like a light switch, realization dawns. Her eyes widen, flicking between us as the truth sinks in.

“Oh,” she murmurs, blinking in stunned disbelief. “It’s you two. Wow.” Her gaze shifts to me, her brow arching. “Mateo, what happened to ‘I’m not one to settle down,’ or ‘I’m not looking for a long-term commitment,’ or—oh, and my favorite—‘I’m not a man for just one woman’?”

She turns sharply to Lisa, her shock morphing into curiosity. “And you, Lisa… wow. When did this happen? Wait—never mind. I guess it doesn’t matter.” She pauses, then shakes her head with a bewildered laugh. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order. Do you two have a date picked out yet?”

Lisa smiles, her cheeks flushing faintly. “Not yet,” she replies. “Mateo just proposed today, so you’re one of the very first to know. But…” Her tone almost pleading. “Can you keep it quiet for now? We’d like to tell our families and close friends ourselves.”

Meredith’s expression softens, and she grins. “Of course. Your secret’s safe with me,” she adds with a wink, her playful tone returning.

She gives us both a lingering look, then rises from her chair with a smile that’s almost too bright, leaving us in a slightly awkward but satisfying silence.

***

After dinner, we wander down Main Street, the crisp evening air carrying a hint of winter as it brushes past us. A quiet stillness blankets the town, broken only by the soft hum of traffic and the occasional chatter of late-night stragglers. Most of the shops are dark now, their windows shadowed, while a few linger in the warm, golden glow of the streetlights.

Lisa gazes at the shops we pass, her eyes catching the light in a way that makes them seem almost luminous, lost in some quiet thought. There’s something mesmerizing about the way she moves through the world—graceful, independent, and so effortlessly captivating that it takes all my willpower not to reach for her. To feel the comforting warmth of her skin against mine, but her hands are buried deep in her coat pockets. Shielded from the cold—and, it feels, from me. The distance is subtle yet sharp, like a door quietly closing between us.

"You got quiet on me, hermosa ," I say, my voice breaking the stillness between us. The way her gaze drifts, the way she presses her lips together—it’s written all over her face. She’s holding back, but I know her well enough to know I won’t be left guessing for long.

She stops walking, turning to face me, her back resting lightly against the cool stone of the building. Her eyes meet mine. "Mateo," she says. "Why haven’t you ever kissed me?"

The question catches me off guard, and for a moment, all I can do is drink her in—the way the streetlights frame her face, the vulnerability in her eyes.

"I want to kiss you so badly it aches," I murmur, almost to myself, the words slipping out like a confession.

She pauses, her eyes widening just slightly. “Then why haven’t you?” she whispers.

“There are… several reasons I've kept my distance,” I say, my voice low as I step closer. “You’re my daughter’s best friend, and she doesn't think I have it in me to be with just one woman.”

"Do you?" She asks, her eyes searching for reassurance. “Have it in you?”

“You’re the only woman who hasn't only captured my attention," I say, my voice rough with honesty, "you've captured my heart. I'm not just attracted to you, hermosa . I love you.”

Her lips curl into a smile. “You said there were several reasons.”

I take a deep breath, the words tumbling out. "You’re young," I murmur. "I’m not. When Lily fell in love with Noah, I couldn’t stop harping on their age difference. It was a real issue for me. And now? Here I am, eating my own words, because I’ve realized age doesn’t matter. I don’t care that you’re younger or that I’m older. All I know is that I love you."

Her smile softens, a spark of mischief lighting her eyes. "I’m not into older men," she says, her tone playful, but the sincerity is unmistakable. "But you— you, Mateo Cruz. You’ve made a home in my heart. I simply don’t care about our age. All I know is that I love you." She tilts her head slightly, her gaze holding mine. "What else?"

“You’re like a daughter to Noah’s family. If I ever hurt you, there would be hell to pay. The men in that family don't play.”

“You have a good point," she laughs. "Aaron for sure would kill you. What else?”

I swallow, my voice turning softer. “I wonder if a kiss would ever be enough for me. Restraint… isn’t my strong suit, hermosa .”

“I’m a big girl, Mateo," she says, her eyes bright with resolve. "I’ve been warned to keep my distance too, but… here I am, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Is there anything else?”

“I don’t need to taste your lips to know I've fallen deeply in love with you," I say. "My heart aches for you, every second of every day.”

She holds her breath, her own voice just a whisper. “That ache… I feel it too. You're my most favorite person in the whole wide world, and I miss you so much when you’re gone.”

Her words crash over me like a tidal wave, stealing the breath from my lungs. I close the distance between us, bracing one hand against the wall just above her head, leaning in until our lips almost touch.

"Do any of these reasons give you pause?" I ask, wanting her to understand. "Because this won't be just a kiss, it’ll be everything."

"Lily will come to accept it because she loves us both," she whispers. "I love the fact that you're older. You're the most attractive man I've ever met. I know you’ll never hurt me, which means Aaron will never have to kill you." Her eyes lock on mine. "I don’t think a kiss will ever be enough for me either, and I can’t wait to taste your lips, Mateo."

With one hand still braced above her, I let the other drift to her neck, my fingers lingering on the softness of her skin. Her pulse thrums beneath my touch, drawing me closer. I lose myself in her gaze, tracing every turquoise and gold fleck in her eyes, as if memorizing a constellation made just for me.

I sweep my thumb over her lips, the sensation sending a shiver through me. When her lashes flutter closed, the world narrows to this fragile, perfect moment. I brush my lips on hers ever so lightly. A chaste kiss really. Innocent and brief. When she opens her eyes and looks at me, I’m momentarily lost in the endless blue sky I find there. Her gaze locks onto mine, unguarded and intense, and I swear it’s silently begging me for more—for everything. I kiss her again, savoring the sweetness of her lips. I taste them softly, gently at first, letting the intensity build between us until I can no longer hold back, finally being able to express everything I've kept hidden just for her. This one kiss speaks of all the things I've never said. Let me love you. Let me be the man you need. Let me be the one you can count on. I kiss her like it’s the beginning of everything. Because, to me, it is.