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Oh Jesus.
“What the fuck are you telling me?” I demanded, trying to catch my breath. “That you’ll give me thebarif I marry your daughter?”
“What?No! That’s not what I’m saying at all.” Pick lifted his hands and waved them in a slashing, negative gesture. “I just figured you would like straight-up honesty here, so I’m telling you howIwould like things to go. And that’s the perfect picture I have in my head of the future. You’re getting the bar no matter what. I’d just rather it be kept in the family, you know.” Then he shrugged and smiled wistfully. “Who knows, maybe one of my grandkids could then take over from you someday.”
My brows rose. “And by that, you mean, one ofmykids…with Chloe?”
Pick lifted his shoulder again. “That’smydream,” he agreed. “But we’ll see how it actually goes.”
“Okay, so…” I waved my hands and winced, trying to clear my head and think through this rationally. “Let me get this straight. You’re going to give me the nightclub someday, no matter what.”
Pick nodded slowly. “Correct.”
“Right,” I answered, still trying to wrap my head aroundthatinformation bomb. “But completely unrelated to that, you wouldalsolike me to woo your daughter, get her to fall in love with me, and marry her so that no other psycho kidnapper can hurt her again.”
“No.” Pick tsked and shook his head, sighing as if extremely disappointed. “You haven’t been listening, have you?”
“I’ve beentrying!” I cried. He just hadn’t been making any damn sense.
“You don’t have to woo her. She’s already in love with you. I’m just asking you to see if there’s any wayyou…could fall in love with…her.”
“You’re asking me tofall in lovewith your daughter?” I repeated blankly.
“Yes!”
My jaw dropped. Then I boomed, “How the fuck am I supposed to do that?”
Pick’s return grin was equal parts amused, equal parts sympathetic. “Well, now…” Sitting forward, he tapped his fingers against the desktop. “That’s the tricky part. Every person’s got to figurethatout for themselves.”
I blew out a breath and then gave a harsh laugh. “This is absolutely insane, you know that, right? What you’re asking of me.”
“I know,” he said softly as if he understood and empathized. “But I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you could do it. Or if I didn’t think maybe you already have. Youdocare for her.”
“Yeah, but—”
He waved his hands, not letting me argue with him.
“And when she needs you, you’re there, willing to help. That foundation is what starts a good relationship. Plus, you have common interests—common friends—and you’re within acceptable age ranges. You share core values and morals and… So many things match.Andyou’re attracted to her in exactly the way a husband is supposed to be attracted to his wife.”
When I sent him a sharp, surprised glance, he rolled his eyes and dryly shot back, “Come on. I’ve seen you look.”
With a moody grunt, I shrugged and gave him that one.
“She’s going to dive back into the dating pool again,” Pick told me, looking pained about that prospect. “Whenever she heals from this, I know she will. Being with her person is her greatest wish in life. And even if you don’t believe me when I say this, shewantsthat person to be you. She’s just going to settle if it’s anyone else. Plus, I know I can trust you with her. Luke… You might be theonlyperson I know I can one hundred percent trust her with. So come on…” He shook his head, and I swear I saw tears in his damn eyes. Then he croaked out the word, “Please.”
“Motherfucker,” I hissed, gaping back at him and feeling trapped…deep down in my soul. Because I knew the rest of my life was going to change from this moment forward. “You motherfucker.”
“Yeah.” He nodded sadly. “I am. I know I’m using every noble quality you possess against you because I know you’re not going to be able to tell me no. And I’m sorry for that. But I’m desperate, and this is my baby girl. I mean, if I didn’t go to you about this, then who?Deacon?”
I straightened and lifted my eyebrows. “I’m sorry;what?” He did not just suggest who I thought he just suggested. “Uh…no.”
Squinting, Pick studied me a moment, tapping his chin in thought. Then, he slowly started to nod. “You know… Maybe Deaconwouldbe a better candidate than you.”
I snorted. “Over my fucking dead body.”
Co-bartender or not, I’d slaughter the son of a bitch before letting him near Chloe. God. Even the thought of her curling her soft curves around him each night as she did me… Nope. I could not allow that to happen.
Pick lifted his brows in surprise, then asked, “What? Were you thinking James, then?”
