Chapter 24

The nervousness radiating off of Lily as we take the car from the airport to our hotel. My sister is over the moon about meeting her, and even when she found her age, she didn't even hesitate. We have always been close, even though we live in different states, and she knows how long I have been searching for ‘my one'. She knows it's serious since I'm bringing her to meet her.

I take Lily's hand in mine and then bring it to my mouth to kiss her knuckles. "Baby, you don't need to be nervous. I'm telling you. Seeing me happy is all she needs. Don't get yourself worked up."

As the car pulls under the awning of the hotel entrance, her chest falls. "We're here?"

"We'll check into the hotel and then get an UBER over to her house. She's making pasta tonight and then I planned on going over early tomorrow to help her prepare the early dinner. It's a tradition we have."

She gulps, taking my hand and stepping out of the car as the driver grabs our luggage out of his trunk. "Okay, do I look okay? Should I change?"

"You look gorgeous in anything, Lil. I'm serious."

She smiles for the first time since we stepped on the plane and it makes the corner of my mouth tug.

While I check us in, she walks around the lobby looking at the various sculptures and paintings, most likely to keep her mind busy. That's a good thing. I don't want her to syke herself out.

I get the keys and take our luggage up to the room, while she opts to stay down to look some more. After placing the luggage by the window in our room, I close the door behind me and take the elevator back downstairs, ordering an UBER which will be here in less than five minutes.

I walk up behind her, throwing my arms around her waist. "You are the most beautiful woman in the room. How the fuck am I so damn lucky?"

She turns around and puts her arms around my neck. "I ask myself the same question every single day."

Lily places a kiss on my lips and the phone vibrates, alerting me that the car I ordered is outside and waiting for us. "Let's go." I take her hand and let her in the back seat first, and then take the seat next to her. "She's a great cook, too. Her husband is a marketing executive here, so you might have some common ground there."

She breathes heavily again and then squeezes my hand. "Are you sure I'm not walking into a disaster? She isn't going to try to kill me or anything?"

I laugh. "Lily, Anne is going to love you, okay? Seriously, I have no hesitation about it. You are the future Mrs. Maddox."

Her smile gets bigger hearing that, and the driver pulls up in front of my sister's house. Anne comes outside like she has been staring out the window waiting for us the whole time with a huge smile on her face. She walks right past me and takes Lily in a hug.

"I'm so happy he finally found someone worth a damn. I'm Anne and I hope you love pasta."

Lily smiles and takes my hand, letting me lead her inside. My sister can't stop staring at me, and I try to wipe the goofy grin off of my face, but it's no use.

"Adler has told me a bit about you. The look on his face says it all, though. He deserves the very best and I hope that it's you."

I put my arm around her shoulder, trying to reassure her that everything is going great, and that's when Anne looks at me with a smile. She knows, but how? It's like she can read my fucking mind or something? Ugh!

"Let me put the finishing touches on dinner and then we can eat," Anne says, removing herself from the living room and leaving us alone.

Sweat forms above my eyebrow and I muster up the courage to do what I have been waiting my whole life for. "Lily, I'm so happy you came to Boston with me." I lower down onto one knee and take the box out of my jacket pocket. Her hands fly to cover her mouth.

"No fucking way! Adler, what are you doing?" she squeals.

"From the very moment I laid eyes on you, I knew there was something different about you. After searching for the perfect woman to call my wife, be the mother of my children… fate brought me to you. Even when I tried to get away that first morning at the Starbucks, fate intercepted again and again. I'm madly in love with you, Lily Stevens, and I want a future with you and only you."

Her chest heaves and her hand is still covering her face, but now tears are streaming down her face.

"Will you do me the honor and make me the happiest man on Earth by becoming Mrs. Lily Maddox?" I open up the box to the ring, letting her see the five carat diamonds on a rose gold band. She hesitates, and it makes me nervous. Should I have waited? Fuck! I have jumped the gun and now I have freaked her out and she is going to leave. I bite my lip. "Lily?"

She fans herself and wipes away the tears. "Yes! Adler, yes!"