I swallow hard and wave. Raven said he acted excited on the phone, but I’m not naïve enough to think that he wouldn’t have things he wanted to say to me. Things I’m sure aren’t going to be pleasant.
“Are you okay?” Raven smiles, squeezing my thigh. I nod, glancing toward her as her father stands wide in front of the truck… just waiting.
“He’s a lot bigger than I remember.”
She laughs. “What are you talking about? You’re just as tall as he is.”
“Yeah… but look at the man. I’m not sure if you know this, but he’s a beast.”
“He’s not going to hurt you if that’s what you’re worried about,” she smiles. “I wouldn’t let that happen. Besides, he’s a teddy bear.”
My throat tightens, as I watch her jump from the truck and wrap into his arms. “Daddy! I missed you!”
He holds her close, but his eyes never leave mine… and they’re intense.
Yeah, real teddy bear.
Fuck. In forty years, I should’ve done the‘meet the parents’thing before, but I’ve never been close enough to anyone. I see why it’s nerve-racking.
I step from the truck and hold out my hand. “Great to see you again, sir. I—”
“Didn’t expect the next time I saw you to be with my daughter. Care to tell me how that happened?”
“Oh, Dad,” Raven says. “I already told you… we met at school.”
“Right… and had you thought through how I could just check his resume? He’s an art professor. You’re an art student.” Henry’s gaze locks with mine and his jaw tightens.
“I was her professor, sir.” I glance toward Raven before meeting Henry’s stare once again. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. She’s electric, talented, beautiful, and I should’ve been stronger.”
Henry folds his arms over his chest and widens his stance as he looks toward Raven. “What were you thinking dating a professor? You’re lucky you didn’t get kicked out of school.”
“I know, Daddy.” She twists her dark hair at her shoulder, and I hope I haven’t overstepped what she was comfortable telling him, but I didn’t want to start the relationship off with lies. “But don’t blame Gage. It’s all me. I was the one that started this thing and—”
A shorter woman with Raven’s eyes steps out from inside the house with open arms. “You must be the shipwreck guy.”
“Shipwreck guy?”
Henry shakes his head and smiles before wrapping the woman in his arms. “Darling, I think you just made a new best friend. You may have just given a man a stay of execution,” Henry says with a sneer. “My wife saw a psychic a few years back. She was told a man with a shipwreck tattoo would be obsessed with our daughter. We’re hoping that’s a good obsessed.” He laughs. “Either way, she’s invited a psychic back, so get ready for a fun night.”
“I’m Cami,” the woman says with a smile. “Everyone picks on me, but I’m just looking out for my girl.” She reaches out for Raven’s hand.
“We’re in love,” Raven says, her voice low. “You guys didn’t have a conventional meeting. We don’t either, but when I’m in his arms… everything feels right.”
Fuck, I love this woman.I grip her hip and pull her into my orbit, then look toward her parents with heartfelt authenticity. “I promise you, I’m going to take care of your daughter. I’m going to love her with everything I have. I’m going to build her a cabin just like this, and we’re going to live out our days here on this mountain. I plan to marry her, make babies with her, shelter her, guide her, hold her, and never stop loving her.” I look toward Raven and thumb away a tear on her cheek, then turn back toward her parents. I now notice the Raven tattoo peeking out behind her dad’s shirt. The black beaked bird sits on his shoulder. I wonder if it came before or after Raven.
“Tattoos mean a lot to me too,” I say, looking toward Cami. “I got this one eight years ago in memory of my parents. At the time I felt wrecked, like a ship lost at sea.” My gaze twists back to my love. “But now… I guess your psychic was right.I’m obsessed.I’m obsessed with your daughter and I’m never letting her go.”
Henry and Cami look toward each other and smile before looking back at me.
“I like your honesty,” Henry says, hugging me. “But if you ever hurt her, I’ll be the oneobsessed…with dragging you behind my truck.”
“Dad!” Raven shouts.
“What?” Henry smiles. “He’s a big boy. He’s come here telling us he wants to be with you forever and become a member of our family. So, these are my terms.”
“I accept,” I say, squeezing Raven’s shoulder. “No one will ever harm Raven ever again.”
“So, this is the man everyone’s talking about,” a young, curvy girl says stepping out of the house. “He’s hot! Are you guys coming in or is the party moving out here? Everyone is inside dying to meet your date!” She leans toward me and holds out her hand. “I’m Addie by the way. Raven’s cousin and very best friend… so you might want to get used to me.”