“What the hell, Pops? What are you doing with a gun?”
His cheeks twitch as if he’s holding back laughter. “Just what are your intentions with my granddaughter, young man?”
Young man? He didn’t call me boy, or Braxton. It hits me then. He’s playing a part—he’s giving us both something we never had, and a wall of gratitude wells up inside me, even if I wish he’d put the fucking gun away.
“Her last beau never picked her up, never held the door. That jackass even made her pay. That no-good son of a trucker’s hat with no cap?—”
“Ah, Pops.”
He peers over his shoulder at Madison.
“You’re getting a little off-topic,” she reminds him.
“Whoa. What the hell’s this?” Grey asks from the stairs, attempting and failing to keep Sage behind him.
Pops points to me with the end of the shotgun. “I’m finding out what his intentions are with my granddaughter.” He finishes his sentence with a sharp nod of his head, as though that’s the end of the discussion.
“Oh, this is going to be good.” Sage plants his ass on the stairs to watch.
“This is something I’d like to see too.” Grey plops down on a stair just in front of Sage.
“Pops. Don’t be ridiculous.” Madi reaches for the door, but I take her hand in mine and turn toward her grandfather with her behind me.
He shrugs, pulls the trigger and a little flag shoots out that saysPop!!!
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Grey chuckles. Sage sits just behind him with his chin in both hands, howling in laughter.
“Jesus, Pops.” I rub my chest as though he shot me while everyone else laughs at my expense.
Whatever. Pops wants this, and I’m willing to play along.
“My intentions, sir, are to treat Madison with respect, get to know her when she isn’t everyone’s right hand, and then bring her home safely because I am a perfect gentleman.”
Grey chokes and makes a rolling motion with his hand as if to continue, but his shoulders shake with laughter.
So what if perfect gentleman isn’t exactly what I’d call my encounters with other women? Madison isn’t other women.
She’s mine.
As soon as I think it, I know it’s true. I also know that I’ll do whatever necessary to make it my reality.
“Fine. Fine,” Pops says, tossing the toy gun onto the sofa. Then he makes anI’m watching yougesture with his fingers. “I’ve got eyes everywhere. Remember that.”
Then he literally doubles over laughing. With one hand on his thigh, he slaps the other on his knee. “Go, have fun,” he says in between fits of laughter.
Madison tugs on my arm and leads me back to the front door. I’m not even sure when I started moving closer to the slightly unhinged man with a toy gun.
“Bye,” she calls over her shoulder. Once I’m on the porch, she pulls the door shut with a loud snap. “Sorry.
“He does enjoy keeping things interesting.” I laugh, and her shoulders relax. “Ready?”
“You didn’t tell me where we’re going.”
Placing my palm on the small of her back, I guide her down the stairs and to my truck. “It’s a surprise.”
“Then you should know, I don’t handle surprises very well.”
“If you hate it, then we’ll leave. Tonight is all about you.”
