Page 61 of Crashing the Altar
“You’re telling me.” The words were said under my breath.
“It brought us comfort knowing that no matter what mess she found herself in, you’d always be there to shield her, protect her. Glad to see that hasn’t changed.”
I looked between the pair of them. “So, you’re not upset?” Of the two sets of parents, I’d expected the bigger reaction from hers.
Caroline reached across the table to grasp my hand. “Only thing we’re upset about is that you two didn’t figure this out years ago.“
“Bring our girl over for dinner once in a while, and we’ll call it even,” Wade added.
Surprised laughter flew past my lips, and the heaviness from earlier vanished. “I think we can manage that.”
He extended a hand to me, and we shook. Wade’s smile reached his eyes as he said, “Welcome to the family, son.”
Penny sat on the edge of the bed inside the cabin when I pushed through the door. Her head snapped up at my arrival, but the wringing of her hands didn’t stop.
Cautiously, she asked, “How did it go?”
I chuckled under my breath. “Went great for me.”
She stood, eyes searching mine. “What does that mean?”
“Means it didn’t matter what story I told them. They know you’re the bad influence, and I’m just along for the ride.”
Her plush lips parted, and a stunned exhale escaped. “Theysaidthat?”
Lifting a shoulder, I smirked. “More or less.”
“So, you’re what? Just completely off the hook?”
I cocked my head to the side before taunting, “Aw, did you want to see me squirm, darlin’?””No,” she spat the word in a petulant tone. “But after your dad’s reaction, I thought . . .” Penny shook her head. “Honestly, I’ve been sitting here for the past hour worried my dad pulled out his shotgun.”
“Little late for that, Lucky, seein’ as I already married ya.”
She rolled those pretty green eyes and huffed. “You know what I mean.”
“Your mama misses you. Hell, your daddy does too.”
Her breathing hitched, and vulnerability leaked into her voice. “Really?”
“‘Course they do. You’re their girl. They love you.”
She burrowed her face into my chest, and I held her close, letting her silent tears soak through the fabric of my shirt. I knew a thing or two about the desperation to have your parents’ approval. I was glad at least one of us had that.
Hooking a finger beneath her chin, I tilted her face up. “How about this? We go over for dinner tomorrow night, and you can see for yourself that they’re not mad.”
Tears clung to her black lashes, and when she blinked, a few of them broke free, carving a path down her cheeks. “I’d really like that.”
“Consider it done. You want to eat over there every night, we can.”
That got a small smile out of her. “Okay, let’s not get carried away.”
I gestured to the kitchenette taking up one wall of the cabin. “Beats whatever we can rustle up in here.”
Penny hummed, eyeing the set-up that featured a fridge, a microwave, and a two-burner stovetop without an oven. “We’ll make do. It’s only for a few weeks, right?”
It had already been a rollercoaster of a day. I didn’t have the heart to point out to her that Mac and Aspen had spent years in these meager accommodations, as had my parents. If we wanted to stay on the ranch, this would be our living arrangement until we figured out a plan for more permanent lodging.
We’d cross that bridge when we got to it. Worrying about it now wouldn’t do us any good.
