Caden's POV
Gods, I hope this is real. I hope it lasts, that it's permanently real. Lily had shown me a side of herself tonight I never expected-she'd opened up, let herself be vulnerable. It was more than I ever imagined, and honestly, it was more than I deserved.
I'd never been one to chase women. I never had to. They came to me, offering themselves, and I decided whether they were worth my time. But Lily-this woman-I wanted nothing more than to claim her, to hold her forever. When we first met, I thought the days of chasing were behind me. But she made me work for it, and damn if I didn't feel like I'd finally caught her.
But then there was Caleb. f*****g Caleb.
I tried to push thoughts of him out of my head, not while we were running through the surf, playfully flicking water at
