“No one can feel like that.”
Maddox shrugged. “It’s the way of the Dentons, honey. We see the woman who is supposed to be ours, and the rest is history. We don’t have a choice, and we fall in love.”
She looked at Jacob. “You knew?”
“The moment I saw you at the after party of the fight with Landon and Riley.”
“On the stairs?”
“No, before that. You had your back to me, and I just needed to talk to you, to be around you.”
“You’ve got no choice?” she asked. “That is horrible. You can’t love me.”
He grabbed her face with both hands, resting his head against hers. “Don’t, Lou. I love you, and it has only gotten stronger.”
“We women don’t feel it straight away,” Charlotte said. “They have to work to make us fall for them, Lou.”
She didn’t pull away from him. “This is what you’ve been doing,” she said. “Making me fall for you.”
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He took hold of her hand and placed it over his heart. “I wish you could feel what’s in here every time I look at you.”
“But you’re not given a choice.”
“It’s not like that. We want you, but it’s not like we’ll rape you to get what we want, Lou. I saw you, and I just knew you were supposed to be mine. I wanted to make you happy, to give you everything you need.” Jacob kissed her lips. “Trust me. This is what I want. I love spending time with you. You’re in here, Lou, and there’s no getting away.”
“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t walk away, Jacob. How could I not fall in love with the guy who tried to sweet talk my landlord so he could get me a puppy?”
Jacob’s cheeks heated. “I’ve got a surprise for you when we get home,” he said.
“What?”
“You’ll see it when we get there. You’re not angry at me?” he asked.
Lou chuckled. “Jacob Denton, you’re a tough guy who can hold his own in a fight, and yet you’re asking me if I’m angry at you.”
“I don’t love any of those men, Lou. I only love you. I’d die protecting you.”
She shook her head.
“We’re going to make ourselves scarce,” Maddox said.
They both turned in time to see his parents walking out of the room.
“I know I’m not the best guy—”
“Shut up. I’ve lived my whole life with my parents telling me I should and shouldn’t do. That’s is not what this is about. I love you, Jacob, and even though I’m a little shocked by your revelation, I can handle it.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’m still going to be working for Frank.”
“No.”
She silenced him once again with a finger to his lips. “You don’t get a say, mister. I’m not going to be sitting at home waiting for you. I’ve got to do something, and even though being a waitress isn’t supposed to be all that thrilling, I like it. I like Frank. He’s a sweet man.”
Jacob shook his head this time. “I don’t have a say right now?”
“Nope, you don’t. I don’t want there to be secrets between us.”
“There won’t be.”
“I also believe in being faithful.”