“I’m a cold lady.” She grinned. “But the sex is a plus.”
“Correction, the sex is fucking great.” I, too, had been thinking about how I could keep her in my bed as often as possible. “You get a couple nights off a week, yeah?”
Please say yes.
“Two, but I’m already thinking you could sneak over a couple of nights. The girls rarely come to my room after ten unless there’s an emergency. My bed is much smaller than yours, but we could make it work.”
“Hell yeah, we can. If it means I get to sleep next to you, I’m in.”
“And to think I once thought you were difficult to please,” she joked. “As long as our sleeping together doesn’t cause any issues in the house with the girls, we’re doing it.”
While I didn’t love her answer, I respected it. “Fair enough. Now, give me the details on this party. I want to be prepared if I have to make small talk with strangers.”
We arrived at the event right on time, and Becca immediately waved at a middle-aged couple. Her parents. She looked like them with their wide smiles, overexaggerated gestures, and same blond hair.
Her mom threw her arms around Becca, studying me over her shoulder. “Honey, who is this?”
“Harrison Cooper,” she said with a hint of pride in her voice. That tiny amount of pride was like food for my soul, and I held out my hand.
“Pleased to meet you.” Her mom and dad shook it, but their gazes remained tense. “Becca and I are neighbors and survived the blizzard together.”
“Hmm, yes.” Her mom pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side. “The football coach, yes? The one who never called for a second date after my daughter was smitten?”
“Mom. Gah!” Becca swatted her mom’s arm and turned beet red. “He saved me, okay? Be nice.”
“No, it’s okay.” My skin felt too tight. “You’re right, Mrs. Fairfield. I was a bit of an idiot two years ago. Things have changed.”
“Let’s get you a drink, Harrison.” Her dad motioned with his chin toward a bar while Becca’s mom hooked her arm around Becca. “We’ll meet you beautiful ladies at the table.”
“Don’t do this Dad, please,” Becca begged.
Her father ignored her. His face was set with determination, and I took a deep breath. He clearly cared for his daughter, and my gut said he was going to try and intimidate me or have some awkward talk.
“I’m going to ask Harrison about what the season will look like next year,” her dad said. “You know I love college football.”
“Right. I’d believe you sprouted wings before you had anything to do with sports. The man can barely catch. One time I tossed keys at him, and he missed, tripped over his own feet, and knocked over a vase.” Becca shook her head. “Football, my butt.”
“Come, Becca. Much to discuss.” Her mom dragged her away while her father pulled me toward the bar.
“What’ll you have? I do whiskey.”
“Good taste, but I’ll stick with a beer. I’m driving us back later.”
He gave me an appreciative nod and handed over a Coors Light. “Becca is my pride and joy, and I don’t think there’s a person on this earth who deserves her.”
“I don’t disagree with you.” I smiled at her as she watched us with a worry line between her eyebrows. “But I need to ask, why do you and your wife continue setting her up with men who don’t deserve her?”
He closed his eyes and pinched his nose. “My wife tries, but I happen to agree with your opinion. Becca hates it, and the men are weasels.”
“I’m not one of those guys.” I met his steady gaze, my voice firm and confident. “I love your daughter. It’s soon and she doesn’t know, but I plan to ask her to marry me next year.”
Her father paled and he downed his drink before ordering another. “Damn.”
“She’s different. She never matches her clothes, can’t handle alcohol at all, loves everyone around her, and changes the lives of everyone she meets. She knows more random facts than should be legal, and rambles when she’s nervous. It’s rare for me to admire someone so strongly, but I admire her, Mr. Fairfield. She’s bold and full of life. She’s like sunshine.”
He blinked fast and cracked his knuckles. “I’ve always called her My Sunshine.”
“It’s a true statement.” I took a sip of beer and met her father’s eyes. “You don’t know me, but I can assure you I’ll treat her right. I would never come between her family or her job at the sorority house, and I’ll take whatever part of her life she gives me. I’m not going anywhere unless she tells me to.”
