"That's great." Robert squeezed his shoulder. "But tell me something...when you and Grace get married and have kids, will they be first or second cousins to Paige and Gabe's children?"
"What?" The mention of having children with Grace set a fire in Damon's chest that took his breath away and intensified thedesperation building in him. He only had a few more days to convince her to take a chance on them.
Damon chuckled as he shoved Robert away, then he turned to see Gabe standing a few feet away, watching him. A small furrow creased Grace's brother's brow. A part of Damon wanted to ask Gabe how to win his sister over, the other part wanted to avoid Gabe entirely.
He liked Gabe—what he'd come to know of him over the last two weeks. He was Grace's hero, so Damon thought of him as something of a father figure to her. Marisol had encouraged his pursuit of Grace, but he felt like he needed Gabe's approval as well. Judging by the frown on his face, Damon wasn't sure he'd give it.
Most of the tables were full by the time Damon got his food, so he sat near Zane and Uncle James. He'd just bitten into his burger when Gabe sat across from him. He locked gazes with Damon for a long moment before digging into his food. Then, he lifted his head.
"Thanks for helping Daniel plan this." Gabe circled his hand in the air.
Damon swallowed the bite in his mouth. "My pleasure. Welcome to the family. If all these yahoos haven't scared you away by now, you'll fit in just fine."
"You mean the way you tried to scare me away the first time we met on that video call with Paige?"
Damon's next bite stuck in his throat.
"I believe you threatened to rearrange my face if I broke Paige's heart." Gabe's gaze bore into his.
Damon washed the food down with a swig of lemonade and forced a smile. "You knew I was kidding though, right?"
"Not at first." Gabe straightened and squared his shoulders. "But I'mnotkidding when I say if you hurt Grace, I will pummel you. I don't care if you are bigger and stronger than me."
Damon gulped. "I may be taller, but I doubt I'm stronger. That was seriously impressive how you pumped out those push-ups." When Gabe's posture and expression didn't falter, Damon squared his own shoulders and met the other man's eyes. "I would never intentionally hurt Grace." Not wanting to draw attention and a boatload of teasing, Damon darted a glance at his brothers and cousins who talked and laughed at nearby tables. Then he leaned toward Gabe and lowered his voice. "I'm in love with her."
Gabe jerked back a little, eyes wide.
"I know it sounds crazy because we haven't known each other that long?—"
Gabe held up a hand, cutting Damon off. "I'm living proof it doesn't take long to fall for the right woman when she comes along." Then his eyes locked on Damon's face again. "But are you sure Grace is therightwoman foryou?"
"Yes." Damon's eye contact didn't waver. "Without a doubt, one hundred percent, yes."
Gabe's fierce expression relaxed, and he gave a slight nod. "I won't stand between you then. Just remember, she's all the family I've got. So you'd better bring her home often."
A surge of relief shot through Damon as though his parachute had just opened, leaving him floating on the breeze.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me." He studied his food for a moment before looking at Gabe again. "I'm uh...I'm thinking about getting out of the Army."
Gabe's eyes widened again. "For Grace's sake?"
"Yes. I know how close you two are, and I don't want to take her away from her family any more than you want me to." Damon scrubbed his fingers through his hair that needed a cut. "But there's one problem."
"What?"
"Grace doesn't feel the way I do."
"Are you sure about that?" Gabe arched a brow and cocked his head.
Damon thought about Marisol's words last week."She wouldn't be spending time with you if she didn't like you."
Did Gabe agree? Is that why he looked surprised?
"Her actions tell me she only wants to be friends. I understand her hesitance to get involved since I'll be leaving soo?—"
"That's not why she's holding back." Gabe shoved a forkful of pasta salad in his mouth.
"It's not?" Damon felt his own brows hike up. "Then why won't she give me a chance?"
