Page 75 of Hard Corps (Selected Sinners MC 7)

I was clearly beating around the bush.

He narrowed his eyes and stared, revealing the wrinkles beside his eyes that generally remained hidden. “Well, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what it is, Son. Say what you’ve come to say, and we’ll go from there,” he said.

Katie’s mother carried out two glasses of tea, handed them to us, and turned toward the house without speaking a word. As the door slid open, she spoke over her shoulder.

“Good afternoon, Alec,” she said. “It’s sure nice to see you.”

“Good afternoon, Ma’am. And likewise.” I responded as I raised the glass of tea to my lips.

I lowered the glass to the table, shifted my eyes to the cigarette, and then to Mr. Ripton.

Just say it, Jacob. Say it quickly

I locked my eyes on his. “I’d like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.”

His eyes widened slowly as his mouth curled into grin. “Well, I’ll be go to hell. That’s what’s eatin’ you?”

I nodded my head. “It’s not something I want to do right away, and I’ll know for sure when the time is right, but I don’t want to plan on doing it without your getting approval first.”

At some point in time, the application of traditional values escaped the minds and lives of the residents of the nation, and although I firmly believed in old-fashioned traditions, there were not many people who shared my opinion.

Perform every task to the best of your ability.

Respect your elders by addressing them as Ma’am and Sir.

Open the door for anyone who’s within eyeshot.

Don’t lie, steal, or cheat.

If you have anything to say to someone, say it to their face or don’t say it at all.

Ask a man’s permission to marry his daughter.

Save sex for marriage.

Always remain true to the one you love.

“Damn it, Son. This heat’s drying out my eyes,” he said as he reached up and rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers.

After a few seconds, he stood from his seat, lowered his head, and coughed. As he looked up, he lowered his hands and nodded his head.

“It’d be an honor to have you as a son-in-law. It surely would,” he said as he extended his hand.

I tossed my cigarette to the side and reached for his hand. “Thank you, Sir. I won’t disappoint you. Or her for that matter.”

“Now, you’re not thinking of one of those runnin’ off deals, are ya? You know, when the time comes, that is,” he asked. “We’d sure like to attend.”

“No, Sir.” I chuckled. “I’d like for it to be something we could all enjoy.”

He grinned a prideful grin, wiped his swollen eyes, and nodded his head. “That’d sure tickle the wife and me.”

I reached down, snuffed the smoldering cigarette, and pushed the butt into the pocket of my jeans.

“Well, that’s all I had,” I said with a laugh as I patted him on the shoulder.

“Well, I don’t know if I could handle any more in one day, so I suppose that’s a good thing,” he said. “You mind if I tell the wife?”

“Not at all,” I said.

“That’s good, I hate the thought of keeping secrets from that woman,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders. “Call me old-fashioned.”

“You and me both,” I said with a laugh.

“Wouldn’t want you any other way,” he said as he draped his arms over my shoulder.

And, I couldn’t have agreed with him more.