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She gasps. “You knew Todd was gay. Did you know about the trust fund clause? That he was planning to divorce me?”
When the older man sighs, I want to drag him along the pavement and up the side of the building. What the hell was he thinking?
But given he’s the father of the woman I love, I remain silent, but my patience has limits.
“Todd’s father and I have had this arrangement since... Well, we made an agreement when I borrowed from him to take the company public. Frank and Sally want grandchildren. When they learned Todd had alternative interests—”
“Gay, Dad. He’s gay. Don’t call it that.” Isabelle snaps.
Peter glances away.
“I was wrong. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I never meant to hurt you. I thought you liked him. As a kid, you followed him around, and then... that kiss. I thought the Witherspoons were just nudging the agreement toward what was occurring naturally.”
I watch him carefully to see if he’s lying.
The glistening in his eyes tells me he loves his daughter. I don’t doubt that. But was he putting money and business first?
I glance at Connor, who holds my eyes and nods almost imperceptibly. If he arranged for Peter to be here tonight, then Connor knows something I didn’t.
I look down at Isabelle. Fuck, of course. It was her father keeping her from me. Not Todd.
It was never him.
“We were friends, Dad. You pushed us together. Now I know why. How could you do that to me? I—.” Isabelle cries. “I only went through with it to make you proud.”
Fuck.
It’s taking every ounce of control I have to not strangle the man.
“Let’s go home and talk about it privately,” Peter says, then as my body steps an inch in front of Isabelle, he faces me. “I take it you are Decker? The man who saved my daughter.”
Yes, but I’m also the one who put her in danger, but we don’t need to go into that right now. Or ever.
I nod, placing an arm around Isabelle. “Yes, sir. And that conversation will also include me because I’m the man who will marry your daughter.”
Isabelle gasps, her head whipping around.
“Smooth, dude,” Mack drawls and I force back my smile.
“Are you proposing?” Isabelle asks.
“Not while you have that ghastly ring on your finger,” I say. “But I’m staking my clai—”
Isabelle rips the ring off and her father starts with thejust wait a minute.
Wow.
I really have underestimated this woman.
But if she thinks I’m not serious, she’s underestimated me. I meant it when I said she’s the only one for me. I’d marry her right now if she asked.
“I called it,” Nate says behind me.
“No, you didn’t,” Mack replies. “You said she’d choose the other guy.”
I shoot them both a dirty look, and Nate grins.
“What is happening?” Mia says as all the girls file out of the restaurant. “Oh, hi, Mr. Walton.”
