This one took a while. It's a bit heavier, but I think it's necessary to address some things. Thanks so much for all your feedback, and please let me know how you like this chapter. I appreciate hearing your thoughts. :)

When Liza caught sight of the metal batting cages, she stopped in her tracks.

Eyebrows raised, she turned to Charles, shaking her head.

"No way."

"What's the matter?" he teased. "Afraid I'll show you up?"

"Well for starters, I haven't picked up a bat since middle school."

He chuckled. "Well, that wasn't really THAT long ago, was it?"

"Right," she replied, sounding completely unconvincing, even to herself.

"Secondly" she continued, gesturing down at her outfit, "I'm wearing this."

She watched as his eyes raked up and down her form, lingering a while where the hemline of her dress hit her thighs. He met her gaze with a look that could only be described as predatory.

Charles took a step closer to her, invading her personal space in a way that made her pulse quicken and her skin feel feverish. He leaned into her, his rough five o'clock shadow grazing her cheek as his lips made their way toward her ear. His voice came out a rough whisper, his warm breath faintly tickling her skin. "Actually, I've been fantasizing all night about you holding a bat in that dress."

Her breath hitched, heat pooling in her belly.

She was shocked. Charles was usually much more reserved. That look he gave her could melt any sane woman's panties right off. And the dirty talk? Hot. How could she possibly say no?

Sensing her surrender, Charles beamed at Liza triumphantly. He offered to start, but she wanted to hurry up and get her turn over with. He pulled the hard, navy blue hat onto her head, tugging on the sides to get the fit just right. The corners of his eyes crinkled at the sight of her.

"You are so beautiful, Liza. Always."

He handed her a wooden bat and placed a soft kiss right beside her mouth that left her in a daze.

"Now, show me what you've got," he challenged, slipping behind the fence to watch. She didn't notice that as he left, he hit the button to release the pitch. She screamed at the top of her lungs as a baseball catapulted straight toward her. She jumped back, flinging the bat from her grasp. It landed with a thud by the opposite wall and rolled across the cement floor, coming to a stop a few feet in front of her.

When she caught her breath, Liza turned to look at Charles, unable to miss the giant grin he was attempting to stifle. He returned to her side, bat in hand, smirking. "This time… try to hold on to it," he teased.

She poked him playfully in the stomach with the end of the bat. "Sure, if this time you don't try to get me killed!"

"Are you ready?"

Attempting her best batter stance, she nodded, and he pressed the button again. The ball came fast, but this time she was ready. She took a big swing, but her aim was a bit low and she missed the ball.

"Monkey sticks!" she shouted, angrily. Then another ball came flying, and at this one she overcompensated and swung too high. "Macaroons!" she bit out, and seconds later both she and Charles were in stitches. They laughed so hard she was afraid she might bruise her ribs, but it felt so good- so light and carefree.

"You have quite an interesting 'swear vocabulary,'" he observed, still grinning.

"Yeah, I cursed like a sailor after college. When Caitlin was little, I had to change the words to something harmless after I'd already started. It eventually became a game to see which words were silliest, and I guess it kind of stuck with me…"

The words were out before she realized what she had said. Damnit! She had gotten too comfortable and let her guard down. She had to act fast to address the puzzled expression on his face.

"Caitlin was the girl I used to nanny for…" She tried to play it off as best she could.

"Right." He nodded, but the pronounced wrinkle between his eyebrows and the way he studied her with increased curiosity fueled her anxiety. She needed to be much more careful from now on or her promise to Kelsey would be broken and neither she nor Charles would probably ever speak to Liza again.

Charles came up behind Liza and wrapped his arms around her, putting a temporary halt to her troubled thoughts. He helped her with hitting, showing her how to follow through with her swing while keeping her eyes on the ball. Although she had difficulty focusing with him pressed up against her backside, Liza was still able to improve her technique. Because of his hands-on assistance, she was able to make contact with several pitches on her own. After each success, she would jump up and down and squeal in celebration, once, even running over to high-five and then kiss Charles.

He was up next, making home run-worthy hits one after another. Clearly in his element, he made each swing appear completely effortless.

As she looked on at the strong, confident, and sexy man before her, Liza couldn't ignore the feelings she had bubbling up from below the surface. She had cared about Charles for quite a while now, but it was starting to feel like so much more than that. The more time they spent together, the closer she felt to him. It was more than just sharing common interests and life experiences now- she could envision a real future with this man. But how would that future even be possible? There was so much standing in their way.

After the ballpark, Charles took Liza for drinks at a rooftop bar with a stunning view of the city. He said it was one of his favorite places to go, and she could see why. It was fairly private with comfortable seating and a quiet, romantic vibe.

They'd stayed over two hours, completely absorbed in conversation and each other's company. The flickering candlelight, gorgeous skyline, and the handsome man before her- Liza couldn't remember the last time she'd been on a date so breathtaking. If it weren't for last call, who knows how long they would've stayed. Neither of them seemed anxious to leave, and she wondered if he had the same sense that she did- that as long as their amazing night didn't end, neither of them would have to face reality or the overwhelming uncertainty ahead.

They rode in silence back to her apartment, and she started to feel as if she was nearing the end of this surreal dream. This wasn't real life-a perfect evening with a perfect, handsome, intelligent, and caring man close to her in age. She certainly didn't deserve him. This man had done nothing but show her kindness- he gave her a job, a promotion, and a voice. He'd taken her on the date of a lifetime where she'd laughed more in one night than in the last few months combined. He'd confided in her, sharing personal details of his life that he hadn't shared with others.

And what had she done? She'd lied to him about who she was and what she had gone through every single day since the very first day they'd met. She'd hidden the truth about her age, her failed marriage, and her college-aged daughter. She was the worst kind of human being- the very kind she, herself, detested- the kind of person you couldn't trust.

It wouldn't matter how much of what she said was true or that her feelings for him were so very real. All that would matter would be that she had lied to his face for as long as they had known each other. And just like that, the trust would be gone.

Charles already suffered a broken heart when his wife left him and his girls. How could Liza hurt him all over again?

She had to find a way to end this, and she had to do it soon, before it got any more serious. Her stomach turned at the very thought of having that conversation, and she wasn't sure she could bring herself to go through with it.

The jarring sound of Charles opening the car door startled Liza. He took her hand, helping her out of the black SUV. As she stopped outside the cement steps of her apartment building, the wind picked up, blowing a few loose strands of hair across her face. She closed her eyes and looked down, tucking the stray locks back behind her ear.

Charles placed his hand under her chin, gently tilting it upward until she met his gaze. His piercing blue eyes stared at her intently, and she felt like they were peering straight into her soul.

"Liza, this was one of the best nights I've had in as long as I can remember. Thank you so much for agreeing to come. It was just perfect. You are perfect."

It was all too much- this night, his words, him… How could she keep on going like this?

She squeezed her eyes shut again, willing the tears not to fall.

Her reaction wasn't lost on him.

"Liza, what's wrong? Did I say something to upset you?"

She shook her head. "I just can't… I can't do this," she whispered, averting her gaze. Her lower lip began to tremble.

He brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the single tear that had fallen. Then he took her hands in his.

"Please, Liza," he begged, "talk to me."

The hands she had coveted all evening were now causing her to feel suffocated. She pulled away from him and took a step back, unable to think straight with his stifling proximity to her. She tried to think of what to say, but her mind was a jumbled mess.

When she still didn't explain what was going on, he spoke again.

"I thought we had a great time tonight. I have strong feelings for you, Liza, but if you don't feel the same way, I understand. I know I'm much older, and things are… complicated…" The unmistakeable look of rejection painted over his features, his eyes unable to mask the hurt. She couldn't bear it.

"It's not that at all," she argued, increasingly frustrated that she couldn't tell him what was really going on. "I had a wonderful time, and I don't care about those things…"

She moved toward him, resting her palm on his chest and staring directly into his eyes. She needed him to see she was being honest about this.

"I have feelings for you, too. You are one of the very best men I've ever met." Her voice caught on the last word as she warred with her emotions.

He sighed, looking down. "Here comes the but…"

She closed her eyes, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "But," she continued, "you deserve someone so much better than me. You deserve someone that's truly worthy of you and all you have to offer."

When he discovered she was doubting her worthiness and not his, it strengthened his resolve to fight for her.

"What are you talking about? You're perfect for me. I want you, Liza. You don't get to decide what I do and don't deserve. That's my choice, and I choose you."

She shook her head. "You don't really even know me! You don't know what you're saying."

His voice grew louder as his frustration escalated. "Then let me get to know you!"

It was so late, and she was running out of energy and willpower. Why was he making this so difficult for her? Most men would've walked away by this point.

He picked up her hands once again and squeezed them, pulling her body flush against his. She couldn't breathe or form a coherent thought anymore.

"Liza, I don't know what your secret is, but I know you have one. We all have baggage. You don't get to be my age and not realize that everyone has a past. I don't care. I can tell you right now that whatever it is, I don't care. Just please, stop letting fear make your decisions for you.

"Please, trust me, Liza. As long as you feel some fraction of what I do, just give it a chance. If you say no right now, I'll get in that car, and we'll never speak of this again. If you say nothing, I'm going to kiss you."

He paused a moment, eagerly awaiting her response.

She knew she should say no- that letting him believe she felt nothing for him would be the only way he would willingly give up- but she couldn't force herself to make a sound.

He slowly closed his eyes and he leaned in, capturing her mouth in his. All the confusion, frustration, and indecision melted away as he kissed her. It was less passionate than the others they had shared that night, but this kiss was comforting, reassuring. Somehow, it made her feel like she could eventually tell him everything- that somehow they did have a future. She'd never felt a man pour so much emotion into his touch. When their lips finally parted, he rested his forehead against hers, rubbing her hands with his thumbs.

"It's late, and I really should go. But please, Liza, promise me you won't overthink it. Give me a chance to really get to know you- all of you, and trust that I will accept all of you."

Her mouth went dry. She could single-handedly end hunger and bring about world peace, and she still wouldn't deserve this man. She didn't know why fate had brought them together, but she decided not to fight it any longer.

"Okay," she promised him. "I trust you."

He gave her a gentle goodnight kiss and one last look over his shoulder before climbing back into the waiting SUV.

As she stepped into her building, she turned to see his car disappear down the dark street. She shut the door behind her and closed her eyes, silently praying that she hadn't made a terrible mistake that would end in heartbreak for both of them.