I look down at my broken leg. “Losing Emily would be punishment enough,” I say. I need to tell him something. I take a deep breath. “I feel like I need to come clean on something.”

His arches his eyebrows and sits forward. “Please do.”

“I didn’t try to push you out of the way that night. Emily was coming up behind you, and I wanted to get to her. So, I shoved you, hoping you would fall into her like dominoes.” I shrug. “It worked.”

He laughs, his chest filling with chuckles. “I know.”

“You did?” How the hell did he know that?

“Yes, I saw the look on your face. No one is that scared over a man who has treated him like a piece of shit.” He sits back and regards me, his eyes narrowing. “When you saw that car coming, you had this look that told me that you were completely in love with my daughter and that you would sacrifice yourself for her.” He nods toward the ring. “That’s why I gave you my blessing. Not because you saved my life.”

“Oh.” I probably sound like an idiot, but I don’t know what to say.

“Two more things before Emily gets back.” He looks anxiously toward the door. “One—when you’re ready, there’s an internship waiting for you at Madison Avenue in the advertising department. You’re a talented artist, Logan, and I could use someone like you.” He holds up a hand to stay me when my mouth falls open. “Trip admitted to me that you designed that advertising campaign. And you’re very talented.” He smiles, and it actually reaches his eyes. Maybe I’ve had too many pain meds. “You won’t start at the top just because you’re marrying my daughter.”

I peer at him, wondering who this man is who is sitting here giving me praise. “I wouldn’t expect any special treatment.” Or accept any for that matter.

He looks toward the door again. “The second thing,” he says. He licks his lips and then his eyes meet mine. “Do you think you could design a tattoo for me? I want something that represents my life. A tattoo that means something to me.”

He wants a tat? “Did you have something in mind?” I ask.

He shakes his head and claps me on my good knee. “I know you’ll come up with something perfect.”

The door opens, and Emily walks into the room. I stuff the ring box down in the couch cushions.

“Give it some thought, and let me know when you’re ready to do it,” he says. He holds a finger in front of his mouth like he’s imparting a secret.

I nod.

He kisses Emily on the cheek and walks out the door. She rushes over to my side. “What did he say to you?”

I still can’t believe it. “He told me he loves me.” I grin at her.

She rolls her eyes and slaps my shoulder. “Be serious.”

“I am,” I complain. “I’m injured. Don’t beat on me.” I catch her hands and pull her toward me.

She sits down next to me. “What did he say, really?” she asks.

“He said I can ask you to marry me,” I say to her, pressing my forehead to hers. I kiss her quickly.

She lays a hand on her chest and inhales and exhales heavily. “What?”

I shrug. “I asked him before the accident if I could have his permission to ask you to marry me. He refused.” I look toward the door he just went through. “He changed his mind.” I reach into the couch cushions and pull out the box. I was going to wait for a special occasion, but I don’t want to wait. I want to put a ring on her as soon as possible. I want her to be mine. All mine.

Her eyes go wide when I show her the box.

“I can’t quite go down onto one knee,” I say in apology.

Her eyes fill with tears, and I stuff the box back down in the cushions.

“We can do this another time,” I say.

“Are you kidding?” she asks. She takes my shirt in her fists and jerks me toward her. “Ask me. Ask me. Please ask me.” She’s in my face, and I’ve never been more in love with her than I am right now. But she sits back, looks at me sheepishly, and says, “If you want to ask me, that is. You don’t have to ask me if you don’t want to.”

I wrap my arm around her head and give her a noogie. “I don’t just want to. I have to.”

She looks up at me, her thoughts in as much turmoil as her hair.

“I can’t live without you, dummy,” I try to explain.

She grins at the term of endearment. There was a time that a word like that would have shredded her; now it’s just a word. A funny one, too, because she’s the opposite of dumb.

“I love you,” she says. She kisses me, her tongue sweeping into my mouth, the gentle touch of it against mine making me go rock hard immediately.

“Get the box back out,” she says. I can feel her grin against my lips when she goes back to kissing me.

“What box?” I ask.

“The ring. Ask me. I promise I’ll say yes.”

“You’re so easy,” I tease.

She wasn’t always easy. It was damn hard loving her in the beginning, but I couldn’t avoid it. She’s like a piece of me that was missing all my life. I can’t imagine a day without her. I reach into the cushions and pick up the box. My heart is thumping in my chest like a roofer’s hammer, even though she just told me she was going to accept. I open the box, and it creaks on its hinges.

“Will you marry me?” I ask.