Page 42 of Bad Business

I glance at Dallas to find him watching me with interest.

“Well?” He cocks a brow, a small smile playing on his lips as he stands from his spot on the sofa and lays Juniper down.

“Um, well, what?”

“Are you going to say yes?”

Sofia snorts. “You seriously didn’t just ask her to marry you like that, did you?” Her thick Italian accent is filled with sarcasm.

“Brother,” Lorenzo steps into the room, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. “I’ve seen some stupid things, but I hope you didn’t just fuck up.”

Sofia throws her hands into the air. “Stupido idiota del cazzo. Taglierò le palle a un uomo se me lo chiede… me ne vado prima di pugnalarlo.” She storms off, her frustration palpable.

I glance at Lorenzo and ask, “What did she just say?”

Lorenzo shakes his head, a chuckle escaping him. “Let’s just say my sister feels strongly about that poor excuse of a proposal.”

Dallas stands, his demeanor shifting to one of determination. “Come. Let’s take Juniper upstairs, then we can talk privately.”

“Wait.” I tug on his hand to stop him. “I don’t need a fancy proposal, Dallas.”

“What are you saying?” He glances at me, then at his brothers briefly.

Standing up on my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his cheek. “Yes… I’m saying yes.”

As the words leave my lips, a chorus of shouts erupts around us. Ryker whoops, Drake claps his hands, and even Roland cracks a rare smile. The room fills with a jubilant energy that sweeps away the lingering tension.

Dallas's eyes widen in surprise, then soften with overwhelming emotion. Before I can say anything else, he pulls me into a kiss, his lips capturing mine with a passion that steals my breath away. The cheers around us fade into the background, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us, lost in each other.

When we finally break apart, Dallas rests his forehead against mine, his smile radiant. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive, Willow.”

Ryker claps Dallas on the back. “Alright, lovebirds, let’s get you upstairs so you can celebrate properly.”

Dallas chuckles and sweeps Juniper off the couch and up into his arms. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you to bed.” He guides me up the stairs, the sounds of celebration trailing behind us.

We enter a cozy bedroom, the soft light creating a peaceful ambiance. Dallas gently lays Juniper down on the bed, and I tuck her in, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. She stirs slightly, her little hand reaching for Dallas’s.

“Dawwas,” she murmurs sleepily, and he leans down to kiss her forehead.

“Sleep, Little Bit. We’ll be right here,” he whispers.

Once she’s settled, Dallas takes my hand and leads me to the other side of the room. He pulls me close, his expression serious but filled with love. “Willow, I don’t want to wait to get married. I know it’s fast, but I don’t care. Almost losing you and her—makes me realize what I want. And I want us to be a family—completely. I want to adopt Juniper as our daughter once we’re married.”

My heart swells at his words, tears of joy pooling in my eyes. “You really mean that?”

“More than anything,” he says, his voice unwavering. “She’s already mine in my heart, and I want to make it official. I want us to be a family in every way possible.”

I throw my arms around him, holding him tight. “Yes, Dallas. I want that, too.”

He kisses the top of my head, his arms wrapping around me protectively. “Thank you, Willow. You’ve given me more than I ever dreamed possible.”

We stand there, holding each other, the weight of the day lifting as we look forward to the future. At this moment, surrounded by love and hope, I know we can face anything together.

18

DALLAS

Nearly a month has passed since I came close to losing everything. Money, power—none of it matters if I can’t have the woman sitting across from me. The sun filters through the tall windows of Griffyn’s house, casting a warm, golden light over the sprawling living room. I glance around at my brothers and their wives, feeling a strange sense of contentment mixed with a bit of disbelief. Who would have thought that we, with our pasts and our rough edges, would end up here, living the family life?

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