“I want your blessing to ask her to marry me.”
There.
I said it.
Why the hell am I so nervous? I’ve known Spike for years. It’s not like I don’t know the man… or what kind of answer he’ll give.
Spike crosses his arms and looks straight into my eyes.
He doesn’t speak.
Doesn’t move.
He just stares.
So I stop trying to hide anything, and I let him see it all.
Every ounce of love I feel for his sister. Every bit of determination. Every drop of fear that I might somehow screw this up again.
“She’s a strong woman,” he finally says.
I nod…The strongest I know.
“But she’s soft too,” he adds.
Again, I nod. She has the softest heart…aside from Sunny…that I’ve ever met.
“She needs protection,” Spike continues, “but not to be shielded from the world.”
Iwantto shield her from the world, but I wouldn’t do that to her.
I say none of this.
I just stand there and wait.
“She needs stability,” he goes on. “Comfort. Support for her business.”
Her talent flashes through my mind. Those small hands creating things that leave people speechless. So much talent in such tiny fingers.
“She needs love.”
I couldn’t love her more if I tried.
Still… I say nothing.
“You don’t deserve her,” Spike says.
“I know,” I answer honestly.
“No one does,” he continues. “But I’ve known since the moment I saw that interest spark in your eyes that she’d be your downfall.”
He steps closer.
“And after her kidnapping… the first time… I saw how you helped her through the nightmares. I saw how you kept your distance so she could heal.”
His eyes narrow slightly.
“And I saw how you kept that distance even after she was ready… because you’re a fucking idiot.”
