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"Dad," I say, holding out a hand to Jonas. He crosses to me immediately, taking my hand in his much larger one. "This is my husband, Jonas."
Jonas clears his throat and gives my father a stiff smile. "Hello sir. I guess it is a pleasure to meet you. I was not prepared to have to be friendly."
My dad raises his brows. "You weren't, huh? What were you plannin' to do?"
Jonas furrows his brow, and stares out the window for a moment, before meeting my dad's eyes. "Anything I needed to, in order to protect Janey. I hoped that would involve punching your son's face again.”
I choke a little at Jonas's honesty, but I don't make excuses or give any explanations. Jonas is who he is, and he doesn't need anyone to speak for him. My father stares at him for a minute, then a small grin creeps over his face. "Sorry to disappoint." Jonas shrugs, and shifts his gaze to me, searching my face for something. He seems to find it, and nods to himself.
"How did you two meet? Have you been married long?" my dad asks, glancing between us.
I shake my head. "We work together. We've known each other for a while. But we got married at Christmas, so not that long."
My dad smiles, but his eyes are shadowed. He turns to Jonas. "I know why you'd want to marry her. But what does she see in you?" His voice is challenging.
Jonas seems unbothered and tucks his hands in his pockets, but I see lines of tension in his shoulders. I get the feeling that if we weren't here, in front of my father, he'd be spinning his palms instead of hiding them in his pockets.
"I'm rich," he finally says.
My dad frowns and steps back, but my eyes stay locked on Jonas as I speak. "That's true. He's rich. But that's the least interesting thing about him." Jonas's eyes come up as I continue. "He's also the kindest man I've ever met. He opens doors for me, Dad. And he worries if I'm warm enough. He treats me like I'm a princess." I smile, waiting for Jonas to look at me fully. "He's the best husband in the world."
Jonas lets me see the effect my words have on him. He seems to grow taller, shoulders rolling back and neck lengthening, but the biggest change is in his face. His eyes soften, and a tiny smile paints his lips. I mentally slap myself, regretting not claiming him publicly all those times I wanted to. He clearly doesn't mind one bit.
Jonas tucks in, bringing his arm around my waist, and the room disappears. He gazes down at me with a love and devotion that's starting to feel like I deserve it. Finally.
"This is not going the way I expected it to," he murmurs. My dad can hear the words, but Jonas doesn't care.
"No, it's not going the way I thought it would either. But this is better." I give my dad a shaky smile. "So much better."
"This could be a trick,” he says, barely above a whisper.
My smile falls, and I meet Jonas's gaze. My dad takes a step toward us, but a look from Jonas has him stopping.
"It might be," I say quietly. "But I don't feel like it is."
Jonas nods and says the most Jonas thing I've ever heard. "I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to punch your brother. I was quite looking forward to it."
Snorting with laughter, I drop my forehead to his chest. "I'm sorry you're disappointed."
He wraps both arms around me. I feel him shrug. "I'm sure I'll get my chance. In the meantime, we are going to take what your father says at face value?"
I tilt my head back, seeing the worry, and the resolve on his face. This is my decision, and he's going to support it, whatever I choose.
"Yes, we're going to believe him."
Jonas nods. "If my dad were alive, I'd want him around too."
His words are devastating, and I wish that I could go back and change everything for him. I wish I could give him back his family. But that's never going to happen. But maybe, just maybe, I can give him a new one.
Jonas turns to my dad, and studies him with narrowed eyes. I brace myself for whatever he's going to say next, but what he does say startles another laugh out of me.
"What kind of car do you drive?"
40
JONAS
The best husband in the world.
