“So you’re taking full responsibility for her?”
Rush nods. “For the rest of my life.”
Suddenly, a big smile breaks out across Daddy’s face. “It’s about damn time.”
“What?” Rush explodes in a surge of breath.
Daddy’s smile becomes a laugh. “After that prom, I knew Vanessa was in love with you. She talked about you all the time—for years. She kept tabs on you through friends and social media, just like a good spy.” He winks. “When you were first promoted up to my team, I put you through hell to see what you were made of. To see if you were good enough for my daughter. Then I put you in charge of protecting her and I watched you. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d last a single day without putting your hands on her.”
If there’s a word to describe being more than mortified, I’m that right now. “Daddy!”
“Seven months, sir,” Rush growls. “Seven long, agonizing months. And you’re telling me all this time you not only approved but you wanted me to be with Vanessa?”
He shrugs. “I’m not going to live forever. Hell, I’m probably already too old for spy games now, but the idea of teaching recruits gives me hives and I don’t want to quit doing what I love. I figure someone younger and stronger will eventually get the jump on me. I’ll go out in a blaze of glory, in service to my country and all that good stuff. But I wanted to make sure Vanessa was in good hands before that day.”
“Don’t say that.” I rush to Daddy’s side and hug him. He’s never been a physically affectionate person, but I know he loves me. And I don’t want to think of life without him.
He kisses the top of my head, then I turn to see my father and my boyfriend share a glance. They understand each other.
“You have my consent and my blessing,” Daddy says. “But if she could be pregnant, make it fast.”
Rush approaches and pulls me into his embrace before he escorts me into the living room, where Kitty Pie pokes her head out from under the sofa with wide, startled eyes and a hiss before disappearing again.
Poor baby. I’ll soothe her with milk and treats later.
Then I’m only thinking about Rush. He sits me on the sofa and kneels in front of me, taking my hands. I sense Daddy hovering at the edge of the room. I can’t see him exactly, but I know he’s there.
Isn’t that a metaphor for most of my life?
Rush swallows. “This isn’t how I wanted to ask you, little girl. I wanted to feed you an amazing dinner and take you someplace romantic, maybe the beach, and find the right words to—”
“Yes.” Tears fill my eyes. “If you’re asking me to marry you, the answer is yes.”
“Really?”
I nod. “I’d love nothing more. How soon can we get married?”
My father is already on his phone. “There’s a flight to Vegas this evening. I’ve got a clean-up crew coming. They’ll haul Dunne’s body away and put Russell in custody. Then you can pack a quick bag and be married by tonight.”
I don’t have a dress or a venue. I haven’t selected flowers, music, or cake. I haven’t told any of my friends. I don’t even have a ring. But does any of that matter more than having my father walk me down the aisle to marry the love of my life? “I like it.”
“I love it.” Rush lifts my hands to his mouth, kissing my fingers before he brushes his lips across mine. “I have to call my family, but I’m sure they’ll come.”
I feel the restraint in his touch. He wants to devour me, but he’s aware of my father standing and watchful nearby.
Daddy taps his screen a few more times, then smiles. “Booked. We need to be at the airport in six hours.”
“I’ll pack your things for you so you don’t have to go into your bedroom. We’ll move you out when we get back and—” Rush sighs. “I’m not thinking straight. You need a ring. Now. I want to put one on your finger this morning.”
The look on his face tells me he wants to make love to me, too. I tingle in anticipation just thinking about it. But my father is mere feet away…
When I look up to offer some feeble excuse about why Rush and I need to be alone before the wedding, Daddy is already gone. And my fiancé is already pressing his lips to mine hungrily, as if he’ll never get enough. I sigh into his kiss, feeling so glad because I never will, either.