Page 119 of Forbidden Flame

“I’m grateful that we have Izzy,” Teddy said. “She’s the best of all of us.”

Izzy grinned, then moved to his side so he could hug her.

“Hear, hear,” Dad said, and everyone lifted their glasses.

When we lowered them, Jameson stood at the end of the table with Cole.

I rose, my heart thumping wildly. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to apologize to your family. Please sit.”

I sat down, looking around the table at everyone whose attention was on Cole. Jameson stepped away, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. I knew he’d remove Cole if he felt like it was necessary.

Everyone at the table was tense.

“I’m in love with Daphne and Izzy. I didn’t plan on it. We knew it wasn’t the best idea because of the way our families interact.” I could tell Cole was being careful with his words since Izzy was in the room. “We kept our relationship a secret.”

Izzy shook her head. “I knew you were dating.”

Cole’s anguished gaze met hers. “You knew, but we didn’t tell our families, and that was wrong. I shouldn’t have kept it from them. I shouldn’t have worried about what everyone else would think of our relationship. Not when I knew from the beginning that there was something special between me and Daphne. And with Izzy too. I want them in my life. I want us to be a family. And I realize that it will be difficult with me living on the Monroe farm and with Daphne living here.” He took a deep breath. Then his gaze met mine. “That’s why I bought a house.”

“You did?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

Cole nodded. “I’m sorry I ran, that I asked for space. But I needed to do a few things before I could come here to say what I needed to say. I talked to my parents. I told them they can’t have a role in my life until Dad goes to rehab, and most importantly, I realized I want a new beginning with you.”

During his speech, Izzy had moved from Teddy’s side to Cole’s. When he looked down at her, she lifted her arms, and he picked her up. “I missed you, sweet girl.”

Izzy dropped her forehead to his. “You were supposed to go skiing with me.”

Teddy’s face softened as he watched Cole interact with Izzy.

“Remember how I said we kept our relationship a secret?”

Izzy nodded.

“My cousin Emmett found out, and he wasn’t happy that I lied to him. I needed to take care of some things before I could ask you and your mother to be part of my life.”

I stood and made my way toward him. I couldn’t believe he’d come here to have this conversation in front of my entire family.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal.” Then Cole noticed I was standing off to the side. He held his hand out to me, and I went to him, wrapping my arms around him while he held Izzy. His arm banded around my waist.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I hope you don’t mind that I crashed your meal.”

I pulled back to see his face. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“If that’s okay with your family.”

There was a tense moment when I thought someone would say he needed to leave, but Teddy stood and held out his hand. Cole let go of me and stepped forward to shake it. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“I know I didn’t go about this the right way, but I’d like to make it up to Daphne and to all of you.”

“I always thought the feud between our families was unnecessary,” Dad said. “I’m not saying everything will be smooth. But I want my daughter to be happy. And I can already see that Izzy adores you.”

I think that was the thing that won my brothers over. That Cole looked like he was a father figure in Izzy’s life. They wanted someone like that in my life more than anything.

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