Page 46 of His Perfect Gift

And no one was going to tell me whether I could or couldn’t touch the woman I loved. Not even her father.

Ignoring him, I gazed at my love. “Can you stand?” She nodded, and I took her hand, pulling her gently to her feet.

“I can walk. I told you before I wasn’t a damsel in distress.”

I chuckled. “Now, that, I know.” I cupped her cheek gently. “You’re a strong woman, Princess.”

“You disgust me,” Bill spat behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder at him as he stood eying me like I was the scum on the bottom of his dress shoes. “I’m sorry you feel that way. But I love her, and I’m going to marry her.”

“Then our friendship is over.”

I nodded solemnly, already knowing irreparable damage had been done before Bill made his anticlimactic proclamation.

“Amber.” He snapped his finger in impatience, as if she were a golden retriever. “Let’s go.”

“No.” She held her head high, looking down her nose at him like she was a queen.

“Amber,” he said again in an ugly voice, “if you do this, your apartment, your tuition, your car, your future position at my company… everything that I made happen for you.” He closed his eyes and flattened his mouth. “Everything that I paid for, you can kiss it all goodbye. Think very carefully about your decision.”

She laced her fingers through mine, staring at him defiantly. “I’ve made my decision.”

Bill clenched his teeth, and his cheeks flared crimson. “Do you understand what I’m saying? I won’t come around on this. Once you side with him, I will cut all ties.”

She clasped my hand tighter. “I understand.” Her words were raspy. Anger seeped through my veins at hearing him give his own daughter an ultimatum.

I squeezed her hand back in reassurance. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of you.”

Bill scoffed in disgust. “That’s rich. My daughter found her a fucking sugar daddy in my former best friend.”

My jaw ticked. “No. Amber will be successful on her own. I just want to give her my unconditional support, no matter what.”

He shook his head and pivoted on his heel but gave Amber one last condescending glance. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in you.”

She met his glare, unblinking. “What’s new? You only expect perfection. I guess I realized I’d never meet your ridiculous standards. And guess what? I’m okay with that now.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off, pointing at the door. “It’s time you left, Bill.”

“I’m sorry that our plans got waylaid.” Waylaid was a bland word to use after what happened tonight. It’d been a shit show, and I was trying to salvage the night. However, Amber was a trooper and rolled with the punches.

“It’s okay.” She took a sip from her champagne flute and leaned against the edge of the couch. “I actually love staying in with you.” We were both sitting on the living room floor around the coffee table—her in one of my T-shirts and me in gray sweats. Empty plates and wineglasses sat in front of us, along with the remnants of our delicious Italian dinner from the exclusive restaurant where we’d missed our reservation earlier. Like I said, I was fortunate to have connections, and this restaurant did not do takeout, but they made an exception for me. They even sent me their award-winning tiramisu for dessert.

“You know I love staying in.” I smirked and clinked my glass against hers. “Especially with you.”

Her smile faded, and she glanced down at her glass. “Are you upset about tonight? I know you and my dad have been best friends for a long time. Orhadbeen best friends.”

“Yeah. But I knew he would probably react the way he did to me. I was hoping it didn’t come to that.” I didn’t believe he’d cut all ties with his daughter over this. Maybe I never really knew my best friend.

“Oh,” she said in a small voice. “Are you having regrets about this?”

“About us?” I shook my head firmly. “Never. Are you?”

She bit her lip, gazing at me intently. “Never.”

“The only thing I regret is how Bill spoke to you tonight. No matter how angry he was, you didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry you had to deal with his anger.” I eyed her seriously. “So, if you are having regrets or second thoughts about this, I want you to know I understand.”

She set her glass down on the table, reached over, and plucked mine out of my hand, as well, then climbed into my lap, pushing me back against the sofa. “Aaron Thomas, if you think I’m so shallow that I would change my mind on a whim, then you don’t know me at all.”

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