Page 80 of Eight Steps to Alpha

The little girl nodded, peered up at Fe’s father once more, then ran back to the dance floor where she began spinning.

Fe rose to her feet, the heaviness of the situation making it almost impossible to stand. Here she was, twenty-three years old, and feeling like she was five again.

“You’re here one hour, and now you say hello to me?”

Fe took a deep breath, already shaking her head. “It hasn’t been an hour, Papa. It’s been—” But then Elliot’s hand snaked around her waist and all the air expelled from her lungs. “A half hour,” she breathed out.

Elliot set his wineglass down on the table, then reached out to shake her father’s hand. “Mr. Porto, it’s good to see you again.”

Her father rose to his feet, pulling Elliot forward. “I hear you’re dating my daughter?”

His voice was firm, without even a pinch of warmth, but Elliot didn’t flinch. “Yes sir, that’s right.”

“Bah!” he exclaimed, letting go of Elliot’s hand, and taking an aggravated puff from his cigar. “You’re living with my daughter in sin, that’s what you’re doing.”

Elliot straightened his shoulders, but didn’t blink. He looked over at Fe, as though asking her what to do, but she was speechless. She knew her father would be upset, but she never expected this reaction.

“Mr. Porto,” Elliot began again, his voice strained. “You’re right,” He nodded. “I should’ve come to you first. But I never knew I’d feel this way.”

Mr. Porto turned to Elliot, an edge of curiosity making his eyes soften. “And what way is this?”

Elliot glanced over at Fe. “I love her.”

Fe choked on air, grabbed Elliot’s wine, and downed it again. What the hell was he doing? Part of her though he may even get down on one knee and propose. She placed her hand on top of his, squeezed his fingers in a silent message to dial things back. But it was too late. Her father was right there, curiosity in his eyes, and there was no way she could raise the white flag now.

Elliot turned back to her father, his shoulders square. “She’s stubborn, there’s no doubt about that. She’s opinionated, lord she has an opinion about everything. But I love coming home to her every day.”

The way he said it, with the conviction in his voice, without even a hint of hesitation, made her swallow. She knew he was playing the part, but there was a hint of truth to his words that almost made her believe him.

“I love hearing her awful voice when she sings in the shower.” He continued. “I love the look on her face when she eats something sweet.” He straightened his shoulders again. “And I love how she makes me feel about myself. How she makes me forget my head sometimes.”

Her father laughed, adjusted his stance, and set down his cigar.

“She makes me happy, and I hope that even though I’m late in asking…” He dropped his hands to his sides, and stared straight at Mr. Porto. “Sir, with all due respect, would it be alright if I dated your daughter?”

Fe was speechless. Even though she knew it was for her father’s benefit, she’d never had someone do that on her behalf before. And she’d never seen her father so speechless.

Her father set both hands to the top of Elliot’s shoulders and searched his eyes. “She’s stubborn, yes. She’s opinionated, but she has one of the softest hearts you’ll ever know in your life.”

“I know that, sir.”

Mr. Porto closed his eyes, nodded, like he was suddenly quite emotional, and took a step back. “You found a good man, Fe,” he said to her.

She nodded, her mouth suddenly dry as she looked over to Elliot. “I know.”

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