Instead of excitement, sadness darkens his expression. “When I get back from the next tour. It’ll give you some time to plan everything the way you want it.”
“I don’t care about anything except you.” I pause to reconsider. “Barefoot on the beach?”
“I like that idea.” His mouth flattens into a serious line. “Before we return to L.A., we need to tell your father we’re engaged.”
The rebellious woman inside me who ran off to Hollywood shakes her fists in the air. “Why? So he can give us his blessing? I don’t need or want it, Chaser.”
“I’m not asking him anything. No one’s stopping us from getting married,” he declares in a defiant tone that actually puts me at ease. “But he’s going to be my father-in-law for the rest of my life. I want to do my part to start off on the right foot. That means I need to show him some respect.” Chaser pauses and seems to reconsider his declaration. “Even if it’s not the kind of respect he demands.”
As much as he jokes about being a biker-rock star-bum, Chaser has more honor and courage than any of the men who work for my father. If he can set aside his prejudice long enough to see who Chaser is, he’ll be proud to have him for a son-in-law.
“He’s not exactly in a position to make demands,” I point out.
“No.” His mouth quirks. “He’s not. Lucky for me.”
I snort and rest my forehead against his chest. “He should be delighted.”
“The only delight I’m concerned about is yours.”
“Did you tell your father?”
“Hell, yeah I did.”
“And he was okay with it?”
Chaser takes a long, deep breath before answering. “He took it better than I expected. He was worried that we’re too young for marriage.” He shrugs. “I told him we want to be one of those couples on the news celebrating their seventy-fifth anniversary one day.”
His voice is light and teasing but the sentiment is anything but. “I’d like that,” I whisper.
Chapter Eighteen
Chaser
Everything about our future seems possible as we leave Canada and head home. Our love is unshakable. We’ll survive tours, television shows, and ornery fathers. Anything the world throws at us, we can handle.
It’s late early afternoon when we pull into the clubhouse parking lot. Not a lot of action going on, which is fine. I want to enjoy our engagement without sharing the news with anyone else yet.
Except for my father. We stop by his office first.
He stands and walks around his desk to pull me in for a long, tight hug.
“Glad you’re back, son.”
“We have news.”
He pushes me back but keeps his hands on my shoulders. The corners of his mouth twitch. “Yeah, what’s that?”
I reach over and take Mallory’s hand, lifting to show him her ring. “I asked her to be my wife and—”
“I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Mallory finishes for me.
Dad studies the ring for a few seconds before saying anything. Almost long enough for awkwardness to settle over us. “Congratulations.”
“You getting emotional, old man?” I ask.
He waves me off. “Excuse me for being happy for my son.” He drags Mallory in and gives her a fatherly hug and pat on the back. “If he ever gives you trouble, you come to me and I’ll set him straight, sweetheart.”
Mallory chuckles and puts her arms around him. “Done.”
“And you can call me Dad or Pop now.”
She stares up at him with wide eyes for a few seconds. “Okay, Dad.” The endearment rolls off her tongue slowly as if she’s testing it out.
He kisses her cheek. “Welcome to the family, princess.”
“All right, that’s enough.” I slice my arm between them. “Get your hands off my fiancée.”
Mallory chuckles and steps away and threads her arm through mine.
Dad gestures to the two chairs in front of his desk. “The three of us need to have a chat.”
I know what’s coming but Mallory’s brow wrinkles in confusion. “Are we in trouble?” she whispers as we take our seats.
“No.”
Dad settles in behind his desk, leans forward on his elbows, and focuses on Mallory. “Your last visit to your father went well. Things have calmed. I want to continue our respectful relationship—”
“We already talked about this, Dad.”
He continues as if I hadn’t interrupted him. “I need you to visit your father and tell him you two are engaged before you go back to California.”
Mallory stares at me with wide eyes before answering my father. “Of course we will.”
“Good girl.”
He glances at the clock. “First thing tomorrow morning. Before the