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“I arrived in Fairbanks late yesterday afternoon and went straight to your father’s house.”
“And he told you where I lived? He actually gave you my address?” she asked as if surprised.
“Yes. Just so you know, Bart came to see me last week.”
“He did?”
“Yes. He apologized for what he did to us.”
“And you accepted his apology?”
“Not at the time. I was still filled with anger and had a lot to think about. And I admit your father gave me a lot to think about. When I thought through everything, I knew that although what Bart did was on the extreme side, you and I aren’t blameless either. We outright defied him.”
She lifted her chin. “He demanded that we not see each other. He was being unreasonable.”
“At the time hewasan unreasonable man, but he was still your father.”
She frowned. “Are you taking his side?”
“No. I’d like to think that now as adults we can look back and see how perhaps we could have handled things differently with him.”
“Trust me, there’s no way we could have. He was a tyrant back then.”
“Maybe. Possibly. However, that was back then. I definitely see some changes in him now. He seems to be less demanding and domineering. He still likes to get his point across on things, but at least he listens and appears respectful of others’ opinions.” He paused. “All I’m saying is that we had a part in what happened, too. We can’t forget that. But it’s all water under the bridge and we have to move beyond it.”
“Not sure that I can. We lost ten years because of him, Dylan.”
“Ten years we’ll recapture and this time no one will come between us. But it’s important to me that you forgive him and move on. You love him and he loves you.”
Charm didn’t say anything as she thought about what Dylan had said. If he could forgive her father and move on then why couldn’t she? She’d thought what he’d done to Cash and Brianna a few years ago had been unforgivable, yet they’d forgiven him and moved on because they felt he had learned his lesson.
“I know Dad has had to deal with a lot lately. Namely, about his family history. He’s seeing a therapist. However, I think the most positive influence on him is my mother. He loves her deeply.”
“Yes, he told me that.”
Her eyes widened. “He told you?” She knew how closed-mouthed her father was about expressing his emotions to anyone.
“Yes, when he came to see me at the ranch. I met her yesterday when I arrived at his home. She’s beautiful and looks more like an older sister than your mother.”
Charm smiled. “She had me at twenty-one and yes, Mom is beautiful. She understands Dad more than any of us—that’s for sure. Mom loves him and has been his biggest supporter. But she won’t put up with his foolishness and he knows it.”
Dylan nodded. “And just so you know, we’ve been invited to dinner. I think we should go. I’ve already told your parents my intentions toward you and—”
“What are your intentions?” she interrupted to ask.
“The same as they’ve always been. You are the woman I want to marry and love for the rest of my life, Charm. You told me at sixteen you would marry me and now I want to ask you again. Besides, I heard that second time’s the charm.”
Placing her off his lap on the sofa, he eased down on his knee in front of her. “Will you marry me, Charm Outlaw? And just so you know, I got your father’s blessing this time. And I got your mom’s blessing, too.”
“Yes! I will marry you, Dylan.”
He then slid the most gorgeous diamond ring on her finger. Her breath caught looking at it. “It’s beautiful, Dylan.”
“Thanks. It was my grandmother’s ring and I believe she would have wanted you to wear it.”
Tears filled her eyes and she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered close to his ear, “Take me upstairs and make love to me, Dylan. And just so you know, that night we made love at your ranch was the first time for me since you.”
Dylan blinked. “Are you saying you haven’t made love to anyone in ten years?”
