“When you know, you know,” I said softly.
He sighed. “Can’t fault you for that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“You should’ve asked me for the money for the bookstore. I would’ve given it to you. You know that.”
“That’s your retirement,” I said. “I’m not taking your retirement.”
He arched a brow. “Sweet pea, I’ve been investing since I got out of the navy. Money, I’ve got.”
“I don’t need it.”
“I don’t like the idea of you taking money from someone else.” He paused. “Brooks didn’t offer you the money? Does he evenhavethe money?”
“He has the money,” I assured him. “And of course he offered.”
“Why didn’t you take it from him? You’re marrying him, aren’t you?”
“It felt wrong to take it from him,” I explained. “I didn’t want him to think . . .”
“What?”
“That I was with him for the money.”
Grampy let out a booming laugh.
“What? Why’s that so funny?”
“There are plenty of men with money who aren’t ex-cons.”
“How did you know he’s an ex?—”
“I did some recon on him after I got off the phone with him.”
I flinched. “Is your past spotless?”
“It’s not the same. I never went to prison.”
“You’ve been to war,” I pointed out. “That’s kind of a gray area, don’t you think?”
“You think I want my granddaughter with a hardened criminal?” he demanded, bypassing what I’d said about his past.
“You don’t even knowwhyhe went to prison,” I said.
“And you do? Okay then, tell me.”
“No. He’ll tell you,” I insisted. “It’s his story. But there’s so much more to Brooks than him being an ex-con. I hate that term, anyway. Because when I look at him, I don’t see that.”
“What do you see?” he asked.
“I see a man who loves me. A man who takes care of me. A man who loves me the way I need to be loved.”
He grunted.
I smiled.
“How did you meet this guy anyway?” He took another drink.
