“Your mother loved you so much, Kat. More than you will ever realize. Her sacrifices were all for you. And she was happy to make them. That’s all I wanted for her. And you. Happiness. Joy. I thought that was what I could give you here. To have you work by my side. To find a man who could support your dreams and not cast you in shadow. Chaz is a good man. He would have stood by your side and the two of you could have made a legacy for yourselves.” He frowned and his brows pulled down. “But you don’t love him.”
Kat sucked in a sharp breath. “Dad?—”
“Don’t lie to me, sweetheart. I saw the way you looked at Leo—the way he looked at you.” He gave her a sad smile. “Take it from an old man. You are his everything just like your mother was mine. Just like you are mine.” He blew out a slow breath. “But I think it’s time for me to finally let go.”
“Daddy—” Her voice broke and she shook her head.
He leaned forward and reached for her hand. “I want you to be happy. No regrets. No holding back.” He released her and settled back in his chair, his smile a little more at peace. “I think it would be wise to revisit the idea of opening a location in Montana.”
She gasped. “Really?”
“Really.”
Kat jumped up from her seat and darted around the table before throwing her arms around her father’s neck. Sobs wracked her body. She didn’t care if people stared. Right here, right now, she was the happiest she’d ever been. Her father had opened a door to a future she’d thought about more than was probably healthy.
“About your engagement to Chaz.”
She stiffened and pulled back, studying him.
“I’ve already told him plans have changed. You don’t need to worry about speaking to him regarding your arrangement. I’ll be training him to take over the New York offices while you’ll be responsible for the offices in Montana. Do you have a city in mind?”
Kat bit her lower lip to fight her grin. “I have some ideas.”
“I thought you might.” His eyes shifted behind her. “I forgot to tell you, I’ve invited someone to join us. Or rather, to join you.” There was something in his gaze that had the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes remaining locked on her father until the last moment.
“Leo,” she rasped.
“Hey, Princess.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
A few hoursearlier
Water soaked through Leo’s clothes. It didn’t feel like summer. Not with the downpour he was currently standing in the middle of. He eyed several people hustling from building to building with their black or red umbrellas. Water sloshed onto the sidewalks when cars drove in the puddles from the road.
He glanced up at the building again, blinking when a raindrop collided with his lashes. Maybe he’d gotten this whole thing wrong.
It was the first bit of doubt he’d experienced since showing up in New York. He didn’t want to admit that Noah was right. He didn’t want to hear the pity in Jane’s voice when she told him that he needed to come home and let Kat decide what to do next.
Even Reese had told him he needed to know when to cut his losses.
The more time he spent in the city, the less he wanted to settle here. When he’d first shown up, he’d toyed with the idea oftelling Kat that he’d sacrifice his own life to move here if it meant he could be with her.
It had been short-lived. And looking back, he made himself sick just thinking about how weak he’d been in that moment. Or maybe it had been an unrealistic kind of hopeful.
Leo scowled.
He’d never done so much to prove to a woman he wanted her—that he wasn’t going to give up on her no matter the consequences. He’d alienated his own family just to show Kat that she meant the world to him. Sure, they’d accept him with open arms when he returned, but if he didn’t have Kat by his side that seemed like a dismal future.
A groan escaped him. He pulled his cowboy hat from his head and ran a hand through his hair before replacing it. Then the rain wasn’t falling on his shoulders anymore. He looked up to find an oversized umbrella hovering overhead just as a large form took the space beside him.
Tatum Jerris was intimidating not just because of his stature, but because of so much more. The way his face gave nothing away. The utter calm he could use like a weapon. He was controlled until he wanted his prey to know they’d messed up.
Leo didn’t budge. He was exhausted and he wasn’t going to run off just because Kat’s father demanded him to. There was something about the man’s presence that had his stubborn tendencies rearing their heads. “I’m not leaving,” Leo muttered.
The man chuckled.Actuallychuckled. “I respect you, kid.”
Leo stiffened and turned wide eyes to Mr. Jerris before he thought better of it and schooled his expression.
