Page 72 of Wild Tides
Abead of sweat formed at my hairline. Too bad my hand was trapped. I drew my foot back under my chair, ankle still stiff from weeks in the boot. The small tug in the joint reminded me to keep still. Gary Fenwick had me caught, hand literally in the cookie jar, and there wasn’t a bloody thing I could do about it. Not even wipe the sweat away. I was going to go out like one of those memes, the boyfriend sweating under pressure, face dripping like a water faucet.
“Dad, Rae’s feelings are going to be hurt if you don’t ask her first,” Zach broke in, grinning at his girlfriend.
Gary turned, giving me a precious second to yank my hand from between his daughter’s thighs and sit innocently, hands folded on top of the table.
“Dawkins, do you have something to share with the group?”
Rae smiled coyly. Slowly, she slid her hand from beneath the table, holding out her ring finger. A sparkly diamond graced her delicate hand. “Zach proposed, and I said yes.”
Vanessa squealed, pushing back her chair to embrace Rae before moving on to hug her son, reaching up to kiss him on both cheeks. “I’m delighted for you both.” Her eyes sparkled.
Zach’s smile was smug, but he beamed with happiness.
“Congratulations.” I got up to slap Zach on the back before taking Rae in a gentle hug. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Their joy lit the room, and for a moment, I let myself imagine Violet’s hand in mine, her eyes shining with the same glow Rae carried now.
They’d timed their announcement perfectly.
While I hoped to grab a quiet moment with Gary to talk strategy for Proposal 2.0, I wasn’t planning on asking his permission. And my words weren’t for the whole family. Vi deserved romance and surprise.
Gran and Vanessa got up from the table, returning with another round of champagne, and we toasted the happy couple.
Vanessa rubbed her hands together. “Two weddings! I hit the jackpot this year.” She smiled at Anya and Rae. “Two new daughters. I’m so lucky.”
Gary swung his gaze back to me and opened his mouth, likely to return to his interrogation, but one quelling look from Vanessa had him subsiding.
We carried our dishes into the kitchen, the last of the champagne warming my stomach. Drew looked up from scraping his plate, pinning me with his gaze. “Murphy, I’ll see you at my place at eight next Saturday to start on our deck overhaul.”
He said it as if it were a foregone conclusion. To be fair, he’d pitched in on my last home improvement project, but I couldn’t resist pushing back. “What, no please? No asking politely? I thought marrying Anya was supposed to improve your manners.”
Drew snorted, casting me a dark look. “Call this the tax for sleeping with my sister.”
Vi smacked him on the chest before handing him her plate. She winked at me. “Drew, how do you know I shouldn’t be payinghim?”
Drew stared at the ceiling, his expression long-suffering. He shook his head at the sky before dropping his chin to glare at me. “Eight. Saturday.”
I saluted. After all, we were family. He could call it a tax, but wasn’t it just what brothers did?
Proving my point, he swiveled to Zach. “You too.”
Gary, Vanessa, and Gran were watching TV in the living room when we finished cleaning up. I cast around for an excuse to get Gary on his own, coming up empty. He looked entirely too comfortable in his recliner. It was beyond old-fashioned to ask for Gary’s permission to propose to his daughter. This wasn’t that. But he and Vanessa raised me just as much as my own parents did. I wanted to let him know I was serious.
At a commercial break, Gary pushed out of his chair. I turned to Vi. “I’m going to grab some water. Want anything, babe?”
She shook her head, and I stalked Gary, veering off for the kitchen when he went to the bathroom. I lurked in the hall, trying to look casual with my glass of water when he emerged.
He arched one gray brow. “Do you have something to tell me, Lee?”
I grinned sheepishly. “Not in front of everyone, but yes.”
He extended an arm toward the kitchen. “Step into my office.” He leaned against the counter, and I mirrored him, crossing my feet at the ankles and leaning back.
“I’m in love with your daughter.” It felt good to admit it. Freeing.
“I know.” He shrugged. “It’s what I do. I’m Gary Fenwick: I observe. I know things.” His mouth quirked up on one side,the twinkle in his dark eyes reminiscent of his daughter’s deep brown gaze. “She loves you too, in case that wasn’t clear.”
“I’m going to propose.”
