Page 93 of Crave Me
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Mr. Reynolds.”
“For the love of God, Simon, you’re an adult. Call me Mark.”
“Okay, Mark. I’m not sure I get what you’re trying to say.”
“How about we drop the bullshit, and you explain to me why after you’d hurt one of my daughter’s so much, you’d spend time with another.”
His lips twisted at the end like it made him sick to his stomach. I needed to know what happened at Thanksgiving. The diamond ring in my pocket burned a hole and for a moment, I debated whether or not to continue. But I had to. If tonight went the way I needed it to, I needed this meeting to be fully honest.
“I never meant to hurt Cassie. And to this day, I regret it, but unfortunately, what happened between Cassie and I has nothing to do with Chloe. Did she tell you that she came to me? That Chloe found me and approached me?”
He wiped his hand across his brow and shook his head. “Trust me,” he muttered, “I heard more than enough about your relationship with Chloe last night to ever want to discuss that aspect of it again.”
Fucking hell. I could only imagine. I had to keep things on track.
“I love your daughter, Mark.”
“Which one?”
I flinched at his angry tone. “I loved Cassie,” I said, dropping my voice. “I could have loved Cassie for a very long time and in an effort not to say too much, there came a time in our relationship when I needed more than she could give me.” He regarded me with the intensity of a man who spent his life putting his on the line for others. His searing expression delved straight to my soul. “I mean you no disrespect, sir, and I won’t get into what it is I do need, but I never intended Cassie harm, and like I explained back then, I certainly didn’t abuse her. But Chloe, she’s different, and besides being compatible in an area you don’t want to know about, I love your daughter with every fiber of my being. I love her intelligence, her independence, the way she tucks her hair behind her ear when she’s nervous. I love her smile and her kindness and her determination. I want her to be mine, forever.”
His eyes widened as I spoke, realization settling on him to the purpose of why I’d called him. He might have thought I came to talk about what happened yesterday, smooth things over for Chloe, but considering I could only imagine what had happened, he hadn’t expected this.
“I’m asking for permission to marry your daughter, Mark. And I might not need it. Frankly, I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t know it would be important to Chloe. And you’re right, I don’t know what happened at dinner, yet. But I do know I want to spend the rest of my life giving Chloe everything she desires and I know what she needs. Your approval would go a long way in giving that to her.”
He turned from me and gestured to the bartender for another beer. I gave him time, setting my beer on the bar. I only had half left, but it was enough.
“I always liked you, you know. Thought you were a stand up, good guy for Cassie. I love my daughter, don’t get me wrong, but even before you ended I saw it coming. Like watching a building burn but it’s too hot to get in and you can’t do anything to stop it. She’s always had dreams, dreams and goals and plans larger than anything that could have kept you two together. I don’t think you’re the man she still claims you are, and I gotta be honest, admitting that makes my gut churn. Bugs the shit out of me I can’t fully support one daughter in her belief.” He paused and shook his head. “You’re not the kind of man to turn into the monster she claims, and I know it. Doesn’t mean you sitting at our family table like you used to do will happen anytime soon.”
Fuck. “Mark—”
He held a hand up again. Rarely did I submit to another man and it took everything inside of me, despite my desire for Chloe, to keep my mouth shut as he continued.
“Chloe explained some things last night after Cassie took off. And like I said, I don’t need specifics. But I know she cares about you, too. You want to marry her. I’m not sure it’s my right to stop you. Chloe’s just as stubborn as my wife and Cassie. She knows what she wants, and if she chooses you, I’m asking you to give the time and effort to make it right for the rest of my family. You give me that, son, and I have no problems with you as long as you swear to me right now I’ll never have another girl in tears because of you.”
Holy shit. Had he just okayed an engagement? The man was giving me whiplash.
“Never.” At least not the bad kind. “Never, sir. Thank you.”
He stood, dropped some cash on the bar and clasped me on the shoulder. “Be good to have you around to have you help me talk some sense into Chloe during the next election.”
I turned to him and grinned. “Not sure Chloe’s the kind of woman to change her opinions regardless of what I say.”
“Nah. You’re probably right.” He squeezed my shoulder and let go. “Good to see you, son. We’ll talk again soon.”
He walked away and I turned back to the bar, still stunned how the conversation had unfolded.
It changed things for tonight, cemented them in others.
I threw more cash down on the bar and left. I was blocks from Chloe’s Closet and for a moment, I hesitated and turned toward her store.
Instead of disrupting her on her busiest day, I turned back around and got in my car.
She would come to me or walk away, but I wouldn’t pressure her. And if she came to me, I wouldn’t let her go again.
* * *
“You’re playing with fire, you know this, right?” Lounging on my couch, legs spread wide, Bennett swirled his glass of scotch.
