We were in my car driving when I reached over and took her hand, bringing it to my lips. "I want to take you to my father's house, and tell him we’re getting married."
She smiled at me but this time I could see nervousness in them.
"He's going to love you. He's going to be very pleased that you've taught me to love again."
"I need to tell Kellie too." She turned and looked out the window, making me grow concerned.
"She's not going to like this news, is she?" I asked.
She turned back to me and smiled, but it wasn't her usual full wattage one. "She wants me to be happy and to paint again, and now I'm both. So of course, she will be okay with it."
I drove for a bit as I tried to gather my thoughts. "She threatened me, if I hurt you again."
Natalie’s rounded in shock. "What, when?"
“When I went into work yesterday, we had a Strong family meeting." I took another breath because I figured I should probably tell her the rest. "Before that Ryan was at my place telling me that I needed to fix this issue with your career, and then I was to stay the hell away from you."
Her blue eyes narrowed and turned fiery. I could see the anger in her building, and weirdly enough, I was pleased to see it.
"They have no right to tell me what to do or you what to do."
I shrugged. "Based on my history, and how I treated you, I think they have a right to be worried about you."
"They can be worried all they want, they better stay out of my life."
I was heartened to hear her confidence in me, but worried how Kellie and Ryan's reaction might impact her. Would they be able to change her mind?
"You need to stop the car,” she demanded all of a sudden.
"What?" My head snapped to look at her briefly.
“You need to stop the car. Anywhere. Just pull over."
There was a little strip mall up on the right, so I turned on my blinker and pulled into it, finding a parking spot. I put the car in gear and then turned to look at her.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She reached up with both hands taking my face in between them. "I know you Hunter Strong. I understand you. I can see into your heart," she said, one of her hands drifting down and pressing over my chest. "The world, and even your brothers, see one man, but I see you. And the reason I know you so well, because you let me in." She gave me that beautiful smile of hers. "And I'm so happy that you did."
"You don't worry that our way of communicating may mess things up for us?"
She shook her head with confidence. “No. Our kind of banter is fun, don’t you think? It’s sort of like foreplay."
I slid my hand around her neck and pulled her the final inches so I could kiss her sweet lips. If I wasn't sitting in the middle of a strip mall parking lot, I might've put the seat back and let her know just how thrilled I was at her words. It was terrifying to know that she could see right through to my soul, and at the same time extremely calming. When I pulled back, she still had that sweet smile.
"So, let's go see your dad."
I sent the text to everyone saying I wanted to meet them at dad's house, but didn't give them any indication as to why. I was still pretty sure that Ryan and Kellie weren’t going to be too thrilled about my marrying Natalie, but with Natalie by my side, I’d get through it.
I took Natalie to run a few errands so that we could show up last to my dad's house. I wanted to make sure I told them all at the same time and didn't want to be sitting around waiting and having my dad or my brothers harping on me about why I had brought them there.
When we arrived, my dad’s housekeeper answered the door and invited us in.
"Everyone's out on the back terrace. There's some lemonade and cookies that your grandmother bought,” she said.
I took Natalie's hand and led her through the sunken living room toward the back of the house.
"Oh my God. This place is humongous. And look at the windows…the ocean. This place is amazing,” Natalie gushed.