Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Your dad called a little while ago. I saw you drive up and watched you out the window. I imagine it’s a bit scary huh. I appreciate that in this day and age you thought to come to me, that you had this much respect for my little girl.”
“I’m still not sure about marriage at this age, but I had a talk with her and since I trust her, I’m gonna have to believe that the words she’s telling me are true. Is it true you told her sex is off the table for now?”
I had a lump the size of a golf ball in my chest. I could only nod my head since I’d lost the ability to speak. “That’s good, I like that. I’ll tell you what else I like. For the past few weeks that little girl has been floating on air around the house.”
“My wife knew before I did, that it had to do with you and your sister moving here. I know before you came my Belle was fit to be tied, she thought you were just going to be another jock, one of those ones like the ones who already picks on her and her little friend.”
“Now they’re part of the popular crowd and I can only say she’s changed for the better. Not that I expected any different, that Saunders kid runs a tight ship.” He had this secret smirk on his face like he knew insider secrets.
It didn’t matter, all that mattered was that he was having the conversation without the need of too much input from me. “Where’s the ring, you get her a ring yet?”
I fumbled around in my pocket for the ring box and passed it to him. He didn’t say anything for the longest while, just stared down at the diamond. “This is for my little girl?”
I nodded my head, not sure if he liked it or not. It wasn’t as grand as Sian’s I don’t have Jace’s deep pockets, ninety-nine point nine percent of the world’s population don’t have Jace’s pockets, but it wasn’t too shabby.
I’d used most of what I had saved, which was plenty. Unlike Sian who likes thirty thousand dollar bags and expensive cars for her birthdays I like cash.
“She’s going to love this. You got to know her pretty well huh.”
“Yes sir I did.” Just then I saw movement in one of the windows and was just in time to see Red and her mom pulling the curtains quickly back in place.
For some reason, that, even more than him coming out to meet me, eased the knots in my stomach. “The women are waiting, you can come in now, you have my blessing. I don’t know about the wife, she hasn’t said anything to me.”
He opened the door and stepped down after leaving me with that mess. I got out slowly and walked in behind him. Red was looking nervous and cute as hell. Her eyes were bright when she looked at me so I knew she was okay.
“Ma’am, I’m uh….”
“I know who you are, get in here and give me a hug.” She wrapped her warm motherly arms around me and for some reason my eyes filled up with tears.
“Oh hon, what’s the matter? Was my husband mean to you?”
“No ma’am, I’m just…I’m just happy that she has parents like you.” Aw damn, when did I become such a sap?
Her parents looked at each other and smiled and now they were the ones with tears in their eyes. Her mom insisted on seeing the ring next and I didn’t know how to go about it, because I didn’t want Red to see it before I proposed and did it right and I had a million ideas on how to do it right.
“Come, we can go into the next room she won’t see it.”
“Mom, that’s not fair, first dad now you.”
“It’s a beauty baby, you’re going to love it.” He walked over and kissed her head. “I’m happy for you baby, congratulations.”
She made a sound like a tire releasing air and I realized that she was just as nervous as I was. Seeing that helped me get rid of my fear somehow and by the time her mom was screaming and jumping up and down while strangling the life out of me, I was feeling no pain.
* * *
“Well, aren’t you going to show me this infamous ring?” We were in the truck on the way to school having just left her parents and she was being a bit salty.
“I told you, it has to be right.” She’s been hanging around Sian too long, I don’t remember her being this persistent. Of course the first time we met she was reaming me for being a jock.
It’s only after I showed her my interest in her that she’d become my soft sweet Red. Can’t forget she can switch on a dime. I took her hand and kissed her fingers and concentrated on the road, ignoring her grumbles.