"Coffee would be great. Thank you."
She disappears into the kitchen, and Lila follows her, leaving me alone with Riley and her father. The tension in the room thickens, and I see Riley's father shift his weight. He steps forward with a tight jaw and glowers at me as he says, "Riley, why don't you go help your mother?"
Riley hesitates, glancing between us. "Dad?—"
"Go on. I want to talk to Rafe for a minute." His eyes narrow on me as his chin lifts, and I have to stifle the urge to chuckle. It's a bit endearing that he wants to be the macho father, but he isn't intimidating to me. A little nerve-racking, maybe, because I have to handle this with care when normally, I'd just pull my gun and be done with it. But if I intend to keep Riley in my life, I have to handle this correctly.
She squeezes my knee and stands as I slide the wine bottle into her arms with a look I hope she finds reassuring. Her response is a nod and a grimace and she heads in the direction her mother and sister went while I look up at Mr. Maddox as he gestures to the door.
"Let's step outside," he says.
I follow him out onto the porch, where I'm sure I'll get a tongue lashing even Sal would be proud of. He closes the door behind us and turns to face me, his arms crossed again. This time, the glowering expression is more resolved, more stern.
"I'm going to be direct with you," he says. "I don't know anything about you, and that's fine. But my daughter shows up after being missing for weeks with some story about a cabin in the mountains and falling in love. So I'm not really comfortable with your being in my home." His voice is thick and heavy, full of grief, and I want to put him at ease. "You need to tell me what you think you're doing with my daughter."
I meet his gaze and hold it. "I love her, and I'm going to marry her."
He blinks, clearly not expecting that response. "You're going to marry her." He says it like a statement, not a question, and the deadpan look he gives me is comical.
"Yes."
"You've known her for a few months, and you're already talking about marriage?"
"Yes." I nod as I say it and keep my expression absolutely firm because I have thought of this moment a dozen times since that conversation with Sal. I knew Riley would want to see her family. I knew she would insist on my meeting them, and in my gut, I know I want to be with her. She's it for me. No other woman will ever live up to the standard she's set.
He stares at me for a long moment, shaking his head. "You hurt her, and I don't care who you are or what kind of business you run. I will make your life hell. Do you understand me?" The resolve in his voice makes me actually believe he'll try to, so I crack.
I can't help it. I laugh.
His expression darkens. "You think that's funny?"
"No. I think you underestimate your daughter." I lean against the porch railing and cross my arms. "Riley can handle herself. She's one of the strongest people I've ever met. She doesn't need you to threaten me on her behalf."
"She's my daughter. It's my job to protect her." His chest puffs out again, chin tipping up slightly.
"I know. And I respect that. But I'm telling you right now, she's not some fragile thing that needs protecting. She's capable and smart and resilient. And if I ever do hurt her, she'll make my life hell long before you get the chance to." I leave the smile on my face so he can see how serious I am about this. I'd never in a million years even think about hurting Riley, but I know even if I messed up and did, she'd make me pay.
He's quiet for a moment, and his anger softens and his chest relaxes. He takes a few deep breaths and stares out over the snowy front lawn. "You really believe that?" he asks.
"I know it, Mr. Maddox," I tell him, turning with him to stand shoulder to shoulder, watching snow falling. "You raised her right. And I'm a lucky man to be able to benefit from that."
He grunts and his whole belly shakes, and strangely, I picture him dressed up in a Santa suit with grandchildren on his knee at Christmas. It's a heartwarming thought. "She's always been that way," he says, "even when she was a kid. Strong-willed and independent. She used to drive her mother crazy because she never wanted help with anything. She always had to figure it out on her own."
"That sounds like her." I chuckle.
He turns back to me, and I see the vulnerability in his eyes now. "You really love her?"
"More than I thought I was capable of loving anyone."
"And you're going to marry her."
"Yes. Soon… With your blessing."
He studies my face, and I can see him trying to decide whether to believe me. "You'd better treat her right. Because if you don't, you'll answer to me. And to her mother. And to her sister. And trust me, her mother is the one you really need to worry about."
I smile. "Noted."
He extends his hand with a firm grip and an expression of approval as I accept his handshake.
