by Aly Martinez
“It was, like, one tear!” I shouted.
“Bullshit! I’ve seen rivers that contained less water.”
I cursed under my breath, and Flint decided to chime in.
“Little baby Q always has been good at the waterworks.”
I flipped my brother off before turning my attention back to Leo. “Can you just fucking get on with it?”
“Language!” Sarah yelled with a grin, tossing an empty water bottle at me.
I quickly caught it and then hurled it at Flint. He easily caught it and acted like he was going to retaliate, but I ducked my head behind Liv.
Erica scowled and then confiscated the bottle like we really were the kids we were acting like.
Leo started up again. “You should have seen him. His chin was quivering and everything. I’d heard all the trouble he’d been in since coming home from Till’s fight in Vegas. Hell, I think it’s safe to say we were all having trouble adjusting to life after that.”
A solemn air blanketed the room at the mere mention of that day. We all recognized it, and Liv went stiff in my arms at the memory.
Flint decided to lighten the mood. “Not me,” he said. “I had a blast in Vegas. Came home with a set of new wheels and everything.”
Ash tapped her foot against the bottom of his cane and shuffled under his arm, tossing him a glowing, white smile that visibly eased him.
A warmth washed over me when my kiss on Liv’s temple seemed to have the same effect on her.
“Right. Well, at this point, Quarry had been skipping almost every day at school, and the few days he did attend, he’d somehow managed to get into so many fights that he’d gotten expelled. Oh, and even though he seemed to truly love brawling, he’d decided to quit boxing. He was one step away from being a juvenile delinquent, and there he was, standing in front of me, begging me to let him see my daughter.” He laughed, but the humor fell from his voice as he swung his angry gaze to mine. “The same daughter who was never the same after that day in Vegas, either.”
“Daddy,” Liv warned when Leo’s glare lingered for a few uncomfortable beats.
It sucked, but I deserved far worse, so I squared my shoulders, held Liv on my lap, and took the heat.
Still holding my gaze, Leo puffed his lip out in an exaggerated a pout, “‘But…but, Leo,’” he mimicked in a baby voice. “‘I…I love her. I’m a Page man… We know love.’” His scowl turned into a grin as the room started laughing.
Liv quickly looked at me. Her eyes were wide and downright hopeful. “Did you…” she trailed off.
I didn’t want this story to be told at all, but that look on her face made every second of the embarrassment completely worth it.
I confirmed with a nod. “I wasn’t wrong.” I lifted my chin to Till and Eliza then to Flint and Ash, “We do know love.”
She sighed like it was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.
Leo silenced the room with a hand and pushed further. “You should have seen his face when I wrapped my hand in his shirt, snatched him off the ground, and pinned him against the wall.” He scratched his chin and asked, “How’d it go after that, Q?”
I cleared my throat and lied. “I can’t remember.”
“Luckily for you, I do.” He smirked. “I said, ‘Well, marry her, then.’ You all should have seen his face as it morphed into absolute terror. I swear, right then and there, he developed a stutter.” Again with the baby voice. “‘L-l-like right now, Leo?’”
I dropped my head and laughed right along with everyone else, including Liv. “Yep. Laugh it up! Hi-larious!” I said, tickling her.
“Poor kid looked at me like I was about to force him to the altar.” Leo barely managed to get the words out around his laughter. “After that, ‘The Stone Fist’ was more than willing to listen to anything I had to say. The first thing I told him was that I would never allow him near her again if he didn’t get his shit together. This included, but was not limited to, studying hard, making good grades, being the decent human being I knew he was capable of, treating Till and Eliza with respect, and securing his future by getting back in the ring we all knew he was born for.”
The laughter quieted.
“The second thing I told him was that, if he was man enough to know that he was in love with her, he was man enough to realize that she deserved better than him. I stand by that opinion too. But you see, Quarry caught me on a loophole. My daughter was twelve, so, Sarah, you’ll have to forgive me here.” He looked back at his wife, who was all but glowing. “I told him if and when he accomplished all of that, I would personally walk her down the aisle to him one day.”
The women all swooned.
Liv’s hand found mine and intertwined our fingers.
Oh, but Leo wasn’t done yet. Not even close.
“You know, Liv, I wasn’t around when you were born. I’ve always regretted that. I missed so much of your life in those early years, and your mom can attest to this. But I vowed shortly after you came to live with us that those days were over. So I’m real sorry if I ruin this for you, baby, but you have to realize Quarry has made good on his promises to me.”
My entire body went on alert as Leo’s face softened while looking at his daughter.
“He’s a good man, Liv. He can more than provide for you and whatever family you decide to make in, say…twenty years. While you two haven’t been ‘officially’ together for a long time, I’d have to be blind not to see how much he loves you.”
I pushed to my feet with Liv still in my arms. “Leo,” I said, attempting to cut him off as Liv slid to her feet.
He kept right on talking. “There is not a doubt in my mind that he would lay down his own life to protect you from even a second of harm. And, for those reasons alone, I gave him my blessing to ask for your hand in marriage not even an hour ago.”
Son.
Of.
A.
Bitch!
The room broke into a mixture of gasps and loud laughs. I, however, closed my eyes and cursed under my breath as Liv turned rock solid in my arms.
“Sorry, son. She’ll like this better. I promise. That quiet proposal around the Christmas tree wasn’t going to cut it for me.” Leo chuckled before walking over to grip my shoulder.
“Wow. I was unaware my proposal had to cut it for you at all,” I growled, pinching the bridge of my nose.
It was Liv’s quiet voice that caught my attention.
“Proposal?” she squeaked.
Opening my eyes, I found her staring up at me with tears pooling.
It was not at all how I had planned it.
I had the grand idea of us being alone—together in our new house. Lounging in front of a crackling fire with the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree glowing in the background. Liv’s small body tucked into my side—my strong arms protectively wrapped around her. I’d nuzzle into her hair and remind her that, while we had only been together a few months, we had already spent a lifetime together. She’d smile up at me with those big, brown doe eyes. I’d place a gentle kiss on her lips, and when she opened her eyes, I’d be holding the diamond ring I’d had custom-made for her the day after she’d told me that she loved me.
That had been my plan.
This—in the middle of Till’s living room with both of our families looking on—was definitely Leo’s plan.
However, the yes shining bright in her eyes was more than enough to have me abandoning my plan altogether.
“So…funny story,” I started nervously. “I asked your dad a little while ago if he’d be okay with me proposing.”
“So I’ve heard,” she breathed.
I glanced up to find every eye in the room glued to me. Ash, Eliza, Erica, and Sarah were crying already. Slate was grinning impossibly wide. Flint was wearing a crooked grin I’d long since discovered beamed with pride. And Till and Leo looked every bit of the emotional fathers they were. Every face, no matter the emotion, was covered with a huge smile.
Maybe s
urrounded by family wasn’t the worst way to do this.
I looked back down at Liv, who was staring up at me with rapt attention.
“Hang on. Okay?” I said. Then I released her and jogged from the room.
I could hear the loud chatter of questions as I rushed to my gym bag hidden in my old bedroom and pulled out the ring I’d shown Leo.
Shoving it in my pocket, I made my way back into the living room.
“Sorry,” I said, wiping my suddenly clammy palms on my jeans.
Why was proposing so nerve-racking?
I knew that Liv was going to say yes, but my heart still raced as I took her small hand in mine.
Her bright eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she looked up at me. “You don’t have to do this just because of my dad.”
“You’re right. I don’t. Technically, I don’t ever have to do this.” I smirked, pulled the huge, square diamond solitaire out, and lifted it in her direction.
Her hand flew to her mouth, and she reached toward the ring before pulling her hand away. It was as though she were afraid to touch it for fear it would disappear.
“This. Changes nothing, Rocky. Sliding this on your finger won’t make me love you any more than I already do. A romantic vow won’t change my dedication to you. A marriage license won’t make us any more serious. This ridiculously expensive ring changes absolutely nothing but my bank account.” I paused as she giggled. “With or without this ring, I’m going to spend a lifetime with you. I’m still going to love you until the day I die. Nothing changes, Liv. Nothing.”
I sucked in a deep breath, but I didn’t hold it.
Not now. Not with Liv.
Dropping to a knee, I said, “I will love you forever. But that doesn’t start when I give you this ring. It started the very first time I laid eyes on you—and it will never end. Marry me, Liv.”
She didn’t say a word as she flew into my arms and buried her face in my neck. Her shoulders shook, but I had no idea if she was crying or laughing. I figured, either way, it was a positive sign, so I squeezed her impossibly tight. Glancing up at the warm faces of our family surrounding us, I couldn’t even be pissed at Leo anymore. The smiles were bright as love illuminated each one of them.
Some minutes later, Liv still hadn’t answered.
“I know I said that you don’t have to say yes, but it would go a long way in not making me look like a dumbass right now.” I whispered.
She barked a laugh and leaned away, replying with a megawatt grin, “Yes.”
No sooner had I slid the ring on her finger than she was gone.
Her mother hugged her. Her dad shook my hand, welcoming me into the family. Ash and Eliza squealed over the ring, while Till and Flint each took their turns wrapping me in a painful bear hug.
Eventually, Eliza rushed to the kitchen and made quick work of uncorking the champagne she had on hand for New Years, all the while scolding Till for having bought the cheap stuff. Ash went to work passing glasses to everyone, and Flint made a toast, but I couldn’t concentrate long enough to hear what he was saying.
I was in a state of absolute shock while staring down at Liv James tucked under my arm, admiring her engagement ring—my ring.
I was right. The ring changed nothing.
That one simple syllable in the word yes though?
Changed my entire life.
Chapter Thirty
Liv
“YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT,” Rich, the night guard, said.
“You too.” I smiled warmly and drove out of the parking lot.
At the first stoplight, I dug my phone out of my purse in order to type out a text to Quarry, letting him know I was on my way home. But I realized my phone must have died somewhere over the last three hours, and my charger was connected to the wall in my office.
“Shit.” I breathed, debating the merits of circling back around to get it versus just driving all the way to the new house without a phone.
It had just started snowing, and the roads were bound to be icy. Quarry would probably have a shit-fit if he knew I was even considering driving without a phone. I groaned to myself then pulled a U-turn.
The parking lot was empty, and the building was dark. It scared the crap out of me, but I sucked it up and managed to get through the front door, immediately clicking the Christmas music on over the new intercom.
Less than a minute later, I was once again arming the alarm when a sudden pounding on the glass door made me jump.
“Shit!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
My heart was pounding as I took in the large shadow lurking outside the door. It took me a second, but I smiled when I recognized the bright-blue eyes staring through the glass.
“Sorry,” he mouthed, lifting his hands in apology before shoving them into the pockets of his heavy coat.
I twisted the lock and pushed the door wide. “Jesus, Don. You scared me to death.”
“I knocked quietly at first, but I guess you didn’t hear me.” He looked up at the speakers on the ceiling. “I see the intercom system got fixed.”
I sighed and locked the door behind him. “Yeah. A lot of things have changed around here.” I took a giant step back and dramatically lifted my arms.
The room instantly illuminated with lights.
Don laughed and nodded approvingly. “Motion sensors. Nice.”
“Oh, you have no idea. My dad and Quarry got their hands on this place right after you left. New security system. New lights. New intercoms. Guard at the door.”
He leaned away and frowned. “Is the guard imaginary?”
“Ha! No. Rich just left. I circled back around to grab my charger.” I lifted the cord as evidence when his frowned deepened.
“You shouldn’t be here alone, Liv. It’s dangerous.”
“Well, so is driving in the snow with no cell phone.”
He gave me a you-should-know-better glare that made me roll my eyes then smile.
“Okay, Pops. I’ll be more careful next time. But I’m glad I came back. What are you doing here?”
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rocked onto his toes. “I was on my way home and saw your car. Decided to stop in and see if you’d already replaced me.”
“Replace you? Are you kidding me? No way.” I playfully slapped his arm.
He immediately grabbed my hand. “Holy shit. Look at that rock.”
My cheeks heated. “Quarry proposed last night.”
“Uh, yeah. I noticed.” He lifted my hand to inspect my ring. “Christ. I bet the astronauts on the space station have probably noticed too.”
“Quarry isn’t exactly a simple and understated kind of guy.”
“I’d say not.” He smiled tenderly. “You got a minute? How about you plug in your phone and catch me up on the last month while it charges.”
“Well…” I drawled, glancing down at my watch.
My parents and the Page family would already be waiting for me at our house, but if it meant I got Don back, Quarry would happily keep them entertained.
“Only if you being here means you’re back.”
He patted his stomach. “I don’t know. Are there any Christmas cookies left? I’ve lost five pounds over the last month. I’m borderline emaciated.”
“You happen to be in luck. I brought in a batch tonight.”
Ten minutes of catching up with Don wouldn’t hurt anyone.
It hurt everyone.
Quarry
“We need to talk,” Flint said when I opened the front door.
Leo and Slate were stoking the fire, and Sarah and Erica were cooking in the kitchen.
“Hey, Q.” Ash pushed to her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “Where’s Liv?”
I held Flint’s troubled gaze as I replied, “She should be here any minute. She had a class to teach tonight.”
“Babe, can you go call the babysitter and check on the boys?” Flint asked.
She huffed. “We’ve been gone ten minutes. I’m sure they are f
ine.”
“Humor me,” he ordered dryly.
She rolled her eyes and flittered away.
“What’s going on?” I asked as soon as she was out of earshot.
“This is not public yet, but I just heard from my guy at the boxing administration that Davenport is being stripped of his belt.”
“What?” I gasped.
“Two fighters have suddenly stepped forward about Davenport pulling the same shit he did on Liv with their women. Loman and White. Loman had a surveillance video, but considering his girl was actually his mistress, he wasn’t all that excited about releasing the footage of her being assaulted. Davenport’s manager paid off the chick, and then, after White lost the fight, it all disappeared right along with him. However, Loman’s footage magically landed on the boxing commissioner’s desk last night.”
My jaw ticked, but my smile grew. “Apparently, Leo’s been really fucking busy over the last month. Good to see my dollar’s being well spent.”
Flint narrowed his eyes. “You knew about this?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No. I knew that Davenport was a piece of shit. There is no way that motherfucker hadn’t pulled this shit before. I only funded Leo’s efforts to take him down. Liv would have stroked out if I’d ripped his dick off the way I would have liked to, but no fucking way I was letting him get away with the shit he did to her.”
He blew out a frustrated sigh. “Fucking hell. I guess this is a good thing, seeing as to how it doesn’t end with you in prison, but bad news—fight’s off.”
I shrugged arrogantly. “Shame. I was looking forward to it.”
Flint laughed. “I’ll make sure you’re in the ring to claim his vacant title.”
“Twenty-two percent of sixty million? I bet you will.” I playfully jabbed at his shoulder.
“Hey! Feeding all of Ash’s stray dogs is expensive as fuck.”
I arched an incredulous eyebrow. “Thirteen million dollars’ worth of dog food?”
He threw a hand to his heart in mock surprise. “Dear God. The dumbass can do math! I should probably stop padding my fees now.”
