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A tiny chuckle flies out of me.

His face snaps toward me. "Something funny?"

"No, sir."

"You laughed."

Before I think, I blurt out, "You look like you want to kick my ass, then Charlie makes one noise, and you turn into a teddy bear."

His eyes narrow. "I can do both, son." There's the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

I grin. "Good to know."

He studies me another minute.

I stand taller, and the grin falls off my face.

He finally says, "Well, come inside. I don't need my granddaughter catching a cold."

I follow him toward the house. "Want me to take Charlie?"

"No." We get inside. He walks straight into the living room and sits in a recliner with Charlie tucked against his chest. He points at the chair across from him. "Sit."

I obey.

Charlie stares up at him.

He smiles at her and coos, "Look at those eyes."

"They're mine."

His narrow gaze shoots toward me.

I grin. "Just saying."

"She looks like Lainey to me."

"Hair and freckles are definitely hers."

"Thank God."

I laugh.

Dean doesn't crack a smile.

I clear my throat and sit straighter.

Charlie makes another soft coo, and his attention goes right back to her. He runs a finger over her tiny fist, then finally looks up. "You said you're serious about my daughter."

"Yes, sir."

"How serious?"

"As serious as it gets."

"You planning on marrying her?"

That one catches me. Not because I haven't thought about it. Because I have. A lot. More than I'm ready to admit to Lainey. She'd freak out. So I tell him honestly, "I'd like to."