Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Charlie perks up. “Tiramisu? Now I wish I had saved a little room.”
“It was one of the few things she didn't insist on making from scratch,” I murmur once she's in the house. “I managed to convince her to pick some up at a bakery. It meant a lot to her for everything to go well tonight.”
“After all the shit I put you through, I'm amazed you let me through your front door.”
“Let's be fair,” I offer as we follow in Bianca's footsteps, returning to the kitchen. “I'm no angel. We both know that. Although, I am willing to put all that behind us for her sake and our family's sake.” His jaw ticks at the word family, yet he's gotten better at keeping his thoughts to himself. Maybe there's hope of all of this working out, after all. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure.
“I have to say, if there's one thing I never expected, it was one day being part of the same family.”
“That makes two of us.” As I reach into the refrigerator to pull the pink cardboard box from its shelf, another box that the velvet box in my pocket reminds me of a conversation I want us to have. With Bianca occupied in the powder room, this might be the perfect time.
Right away, my pulse picks up speed and a cold sweat covers the back of my neck. I've brokered deals with men who tortured people for fun, and I can't find the words to ask a man for his daughter's hand.
“Charlie, I—” It's the ringing of the doorbell that cuts me off, and I grunt under my breath at the interruption. “Who the hell would show up at this time of night?”
He follows on my heels, chuckling. “I would expect you to have somebody answering the door for you.”
I'll choose to take that comment at face value and not read into it. “I gave almost everyone the night off. I wanted it to be just the three of us tonight.”
“I appreciate you trusting me that much.”
“As we said, we're putting all that in the past.” Still, I can't help but scowl at him when he falls in step beside me. “And I know you wouldn't do anything to upset Bianca.”
“Good point.” To my surprise, he grabs my arm as I reach for the doorknob. “You're sure it's safe?”
“I still have men down at the gate. They wouldn't let anyone up who couldn't be trusted.” Still, I'm slow to open the door, scanning the area before looking down to find a plain cardboard box on the doormat. I glimpse up to find a brown truck rolling down the driveway, its taillights disappearing before I bend to pick up the package.
“Probably something Tatum ordered,” I murmur, checking the label and finding her name. “Sure enough. I'm starting to think she's collecting mailing labels at this point.”
“How is she, by the way?” he asks as I close and lock the door.
“She seems to be getting better. She's been going out more, which is a big step up from locking herself in her room day and night.” I toss the box onto the table beside the door, where she can pick it up once she gets home.
“I'm pleased to hear that.”
And here we are, awkwardly staring at each other for lack of anything else to say. “Were you going to ask me something before we were interrupted?” he prompts, sliding his hands into his pockets, lifting his brows.
“Yes.”
From where I stand, I can see the powder room door. It's still closed, and the faint sound of running water tells me she's busy washing her face. If I'm going to do this, I need to do it now. Here I am, a man some have called heartless, brutal, and countless other names on top of that. Nevertheless, I can't find the words to express what's in my heart. Especially not to this man, who already thinks so poorly of me no matter how hard he tries to hide it.
“I'm going to say it all at once, since it's not easy for me to talk about these things. I love your daughter very much. She is the most important thing in my world besides my own daughter—and the baby, of course. I would stop at nothing to make her happy. While she's with me, she will never know anything but love. You can be sure of that.”
“I believe you.”
“Thank you. I know we haven't done things the traditional way, but I want to make things official with the baby coming and with me already sure of my commitment to her.”
He looks like he regrets he ever stopped drinking, his eyes widening as he gulps. “I see.”
The ring box is heavier than ever. I've looked at the ring so many times since picking it up from the jeweler that I see it clearly in my mind's eye. The pair of delicate platinum bands wound together into something more substantial, symbolizing the way our lives have intertwined. The brilliant cut, four-carat diamond that I would swear holds fire in its center—I've never seen a stone throw off the sort of light it does.