Boris was quiet and somewhat reserved but not in an ‘I don’t want to be here’ kind of way. More so, he was the type to let his wife do the talking while he was comfortable sitting back and observing. I could relate to that. Mia, her sister, and their mother were the extroverts of the group. But I enjoyed watching them interact with one another.
They were so in sync, even when a minor disagreement would break out. It was quickly settled, or one would declare the other was wrong, and they’d roll their eyes and move on with the conversation.
Mr. Raymond didn’t speak much, only interjecting a “yeah” or something of the sort every so often. But I could feel his eyes on me when he thought I wasn’t looking.
He quietly assessed me while I did the same. I aimed to figure out how to approach the conversation I intended to have with him before the night was over.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t the one who got to broach the subject first. Mrs. Raymond suggested that we all move to the living room to have our dessert. I caught a brief look between Mr. and Mrs. Raymond after she said it. That was when he approached me and asked to speak with me privately.
I started to follow Mia’s father in the opposite direction of the rest of the group, but Mia caught my hand. I kissed her forehead.
“We’ll be right back,” I promised.
She nodded and then went to help her mother in the kitchen. I followed Mr. Raymond until we came to a door that led to a back porch.
“Take a seat with me, Brutus,” he said.
I eyed the wicker furniture on the patio before sitting in a chair directly across from him. Between us was one of those small, glass patio tables. The kind a strong gust of wind could blow over.
Mr. Raymond sat forward in his chair and tapped the table with his forefinger. He gave me one of those appraising looks again before he asked, “What do you do for a living?”
“Head of security for a well-established family and their business, based here in Williamsport.”
His expression didn’t change. “The Townsends?”
“Sir,” I started, also moving forward in my chair, “the family I work for entrusts me with their livelihoods, their lives, and the safety of their children. I do not give the name of my employer willingly. I’m sure you already know by now, but out of respect for my—” I stopped short of calling the Townsends my family.
That thought hadn’t ever occurred to me, but I came a hair’s breadth away from making that declaration out loud. I tucked that knowledge away to unpack at a different time and place.
“Out of respect, I don’t talk about who I work for.” It was also out of necessity.
“I understand that,” he noted. “What are your intentions with my daughter?” he asked bluntly. I wondered how many other guys Mia had introduced to her parents over the years. Mr. Raymond was asking questions like he would of a high school boy. Was hethatout of practice with intimidating his daughter’s men? Honestly, I should be happy about that.
It meant Mia hadn’t introduced him to a lot of men in the past.Good. I’d also be the last new man to meet her parents.
“To marry her.”
His eyes bulged and he expelled a huff of air. “Excuse me?”
I was sure he heard me well enough the first time, but I repeated myself. “Mia is who I want … will spend the rest of my life with. Of that I’m sure. She’s brought a light to my life I didn’t know was missing. I’ll spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to do the same for her.”
“Are you asking for my permission to marry my daughter?”
I just barely bit back the laugh that threatened to escape my throat. Mr. Raymond was Mia’s father, and I would grant him the respect he deserved, but ask for permission?
I supposed it would’ve been the correct thing to do. But how does one ask for permission for what already belongs to you?
With a shake of my head, I said, “Sir, your daughter has become my world. I have every intention of making her my wife. I’m asking you to accept that your daughter has found a man who will cherish her in every way she deserves for the rest of her life. Who will protect her with everything in him. Because I’m that man. I knew it from the very moment I met her.”
His lips twitched, but he held on to the blank expression he wore. I appreciated his stubbornness.
“Do you have a ring?”
Shit.
I cursed myself for my failure. In the weeks since Mia’s shop opened and a few trips for work, I hadn’t had time to even look at engagement rings. Then I had to decide whether or not to surprise Mia or let her pick out one she loved. Though I liked my suits tailored and my shoes shined, I wasn’t much of a jewelry man. And this was something that she would wear for the rest of her life.
I hated to admit it, but I needed help making that one decision.
