Page 46 of Straight, No Chaser
“Eli, do you like watermelon?”
He nods and slides down Molly’s tanned leg, hopping into the chair closest to where Belinda has her cutting board sitting on the huge oak table. Slicing through the thick rind with a serrated knife almost as shiny as Eli’s dancing eyes. “Can I have a big piece?”
“Eli.”
Little shoulders rise to his chin from my reprimand. I hate to be an ass, but both of us have got to impress these people. Molly can’t have any reason to change her mind. About him or me. Especially from her family’s disapproval.
“I mean, please?”
“Of course you can honey.”
Belinda wrestles a huge triangle onto a plate and sets the dish in front of him. As much as he knows better, he can’t resist and leans forward to bite off the tip. Of course they all laugh which encourages him even more, shoving his face farther into the dark pink fruit. I let it slide since they’re all enjoying themselves. Which is my perfect chance to escape. I respectfully nod to her mother. “My housekeeper always worries Eli and I are going to somehow starve without her supervision, so she sent some food along. I’ll go out to the car and get it.”
A little white lie to help avoid the added cost of three more mouths to feed. Molly’s sister stops picking tiny white seeds out of her slice and whips her head toward me. “You have a housekeeper? Wow! You must be really ri?”
Junior’s hand slides over her mouth, a severe shake of his head chastising her. “It’s rude to talk about money.”
Scarlet flames Caroline’s cheeks, and her gaze returns to her snack. Molly tugs her ponytail and gives her a Cheshire grin. A sweet gesture to soften some of her little sister’s embarrassment. God, I fucking love this woman.
“Excuse me.”
I stride through the empty foyer and onto the porch, pausing at the sound of footsteps on the stairs behind me. Her Dad nods toward my vehicle.
“Thought maybe you could use some help.”
Or a lecture. Or an argument. “Sure. Thanks.”
Pulling out the remote, I tap the key for the lift gate. While we wait, his lips curl and uncurl, as if preparing to speak the words running through his head. Probably been practicing his speech since he found out we were coming to visit. That’s fine. I’ll let him say his peace before I convince him of my sincerity.
“Molly says you’re engaged.”
Irritation tightens my muscles from his antagonizing tone. Not ‘says’. Are. I work very fucking hard to keep my voice level. “Yes.”
“How does that work exactly? Because at first she was your nanny and now all of a sudden you’re getting married? It seems to me like you’re moving awfully fast.”
Here we go. I roll the coins in my pocket between my fingers to keep them from balling into fists. "I love your daughter, Mr. Bennett. I don’t see any reason to wait to have the wedding, hopefully with your blessing of course."
His eyes narrow, not buying my concession to his place in her life. "Kind of too late now to be asking my permission, isn't it Mr. Ellison?"
Touché. Although I don’t give a damn if he gives his consent or not. She’s mine. "Please, call me Luc. I realize this is awkward. For both of us. But, Molly is a beautiful, compassionate, intelligent woman. I would expect you to support her in the decisions she makes for her life."
He nods, his focus glued to the boxes we’re sliding out of the back end. “It sounds like you know her well. How stubborn she can be?”
I can’t help but smile. My girl’s tough. “She never backs down from a challenge.”
“Then I guess she told you what she went through before with Hunter…”
The grin slides off my face in a heartbeat at the mention of that motherfucker’s name. This time I can’t control the fury spiking my tone. “Yeah, I know what that bastard did.”
“Then, you can see why I’m over-protective. I have three daughters, and when something like that happens to one of them, you…” His hands jerk, lining up the corners of the containers on the tail gate with unnecessary force, attempting to restrain his own anger. “Going to church every Sunday and praying for forgiveness for wanting to kill another man doesn’t ever get any easier or make me feel any better.”
“No, I wouldn’t think so.”
A deep sigh that I totally understand blows out of his mouth as he nods. Gaining back his composure. While I still rage over her attack. Not as good of a man as he is to let it go. He finally meets my gaze.
"I don't know if I like you or not, as I've just met you. Which is disappointing since my daughter says she loves you. But I do know if I fight her on this, it will only push her away. So I'm going to do as you ask and trust her judgment." He hoists the packages higher, ready to carry them inside. "Don't make me regret it, Luc."
Not overwhelming approval but at least he won’t make our relationship any more difficult for her. I have to respect him. A good person like Molly, I can tell he will keep his word. Just as I will mine. "I won’t. I will always take care of her and protect her. I’ll do everything I can to make sure she’s always happy.”
