“Maddox.” I nod.

“Nate.” He doesn’t move.

“Mind if I have a word?”

His nostrils flare; the only tell he gives me before nodding. I step back and watch him wrap his arms around Ember before giving both her and Emmy a kiss on their foreheads. Ember looks up at me, worried, but I just smile. Then enjoy the fuck out of the growl that I hear from her dad when I pull her into my arms and give her a deep kiss.

“Be right back, baby.”

WE WALK TO THE SIDE of my parents’ house, out of view and earshot, and I turn to stand tall in front of her frowning father.

“I love her,” I blurt without any lead-up.

I wait for him to speak, but he doesn’t.

“You gave me your blessing once, but I need you to understand just what you were giving me when you did. I love your daughter with every fiber in my body. Her happiness is the only thing that matters to me. Her smile will never die again if I have anything to do with it. I promised myself that I would prove to her that I was worthy of her love, and even though her opinion is really the only one that matters, I’m asking you again to respect the love we share and let me have her.”

“What exactly are you trying to say, Nate?”

I take a deep breath. “I don’t want to spend another day without her by my side. The same goes for her. I will be her supporter in every aspect of her life personally and professionally. No cheerleader in her corner will yell louder. I will make sure she never doubts the love we share and her choice to give me a chance. I would give my life for her, Maddox. One day soon, I pray to God that I’m lucky enough to have you walking her down the aisle. But most importantly, I want all of that to happen with you not only giving me your blessing to make sure it does but with you being happy that you did.”

“If I told you I would cut your arm from your body if you caused her a second of pain, what would you say?”

I stand a little straighter and keep my face as impassive as his. “I would hand you the knife.”

“If I told you that you didn’t deserve her?”

“I would agree. She deserves the world, but she’s just getting me, and with me, she’s going to get a man who works his ass off to hand the world to her.”

He continues his stare down when I finish speaking, and then he gives me something that not once in my damn life have I been on the receiving end of.

His smile.

“I always knew this day would come. Out of my two girls, Ember was the one I always knew would use her head and find a good man. Still, I thought I would hate the bastard. You’re a good kid, Nate. You always have been. I can’t say I’m happy that you’re asking to take my girl from me, but I am happy that she’s found a man who will always make sure she comes first daily and goes to sleep knowing that she’s got a blessed life. The only thing I’ve ever wanted for her.”

My shoulders drop some when I let out the breath I had been holding.

“I’m going to marry her,” I declare and raise my hand to stop him when he opens his mouth, smile gone. “Don’t tell me I couldn’t possibly know that after only having her love for just under two months. I just want you to know that this is where it’s heading, and it’s heading there real fast.”

“I wasn’t going to say that.” I raise a brow and he gruffs out a chuckle. “Time is a fickle motherfucker, Nate. I had my own experience with it before I made Emmy mine, so if anyone gets you, it’s me. I realized not too long ago that this—you and Ember—has been a long time coming. You had your reasons for pushing her away the first time, and I can respect the hell out of them, but now, you know what you’ve spent years missing out and you would be an idiot to waste a second more now. That being said, if you think I’m happy about my girl being under your roof without you taking the steps to make her yours completely, you might actually be a dumb shit.”