Josh’s face relaxed and he smiled as he sat behind his desk. I sat and pulled deep down inside for my courage.
“I’m not really sure where to start with this, so I’ll just come right out with it.” Josh leaned back in his chair. Bastard looked intimating as hell.
“I love, Libby, sir. I love her with all of my heart and I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember. She’s my best friend. I want to give her the world, Josh.” I stopped talking and took a deep breath. “I’d like to ask for your permission to marry, Libby.”
Josh sat there for a few moments and just stared at me. “Do you know how much I love that girl?”
I nodded my head. “I can only imagine, sir.”
Josh closed his eyes and smiled, as if remembering something. “I’ll never forget the first time I held Libby in my arms. I thought her mother stole my heart.” He shook his head and opened his eyes. Tears filled them and my heart dropped to my stomach. “Libby stole my heart the instant she looked into my eyes. I made a vow that day, Luke. I vowed to protect her forever. Oh, I knew someday a guy would come along and she would steal his heart like she did mine.”
I smiled and nodded my head.
“I dreaded that day to be honest. She was my girl. My little girl and she deserved so much. No guy in my eyes would ever live up to what I thought she deserved.” He smiled at me as I moved about in my seat. “Then I saw the way you looked at her one day. The way you look at her, follow her as she moves about the room. I see how much you love her. You both grew up together. The two of you got in more trouble together than I think all the kids combined.”
I laughed as I shook my head. “She is a good partner when it comes to pranks.”
Josh tossed he head back and laughed. “You don’t have to plead your case with me, Luke. I already think of you as a son. I’d be honored to have you as my son-in-law.” I was pretty sure the smile on my face was a big goofy-ass grin. I stood and reached my hand out to Josh. He stood up and shook my hand. “I just have one request.”
I nodded my head and held my breath as I waited to hear his request. “Yes, anything.”
“Don’t ever have sex on my roof again with my daughter. If I ever catch you in my daughter’s room again, I’ll hang you from a rafter in the barn. By your balls.”
I fell back into the chair. My breathing picked up and I felt like I couldn’t get in enough air. Swallowing hard, I looked at Josh. “You knew?”
Josh tilted his head and looked at me. “Someday son, when you become a father, you’ll understand. You become acutely aware of things. I knew the moment you both crawled through that window. All it took was the look on your faces to know what the two of you were up to.”
Nodding my head I stood up and turned to leave. “Oh, and Luke?”
Turning back around I asked, “Yes, sir?”
“I’m not sure where the two of you were planning on going, but I think it’s pretty late for a drive. Don’t you?”
I wanted desperately to say no, but I did what I was raised to do. “Yes, sir. It’s pretty late. I’ll go say goodnight to Libby and head on home.”
Josh grinned.
Heading down the hallway, I smiled. I had asked Josh for permission to marry Libby. I asked Libby and she said yes. Now I just needed to get the ring and make it official.
Tapping on Libby’s door lightly, I pushed the door open. She was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. She glanced up from a book she was reading and smiled. Biting her lip, she jumped up and walked to me. “I take it we’re not going on our drive,” she said as she jetted her lower lip out in a pout. “Was it bad?” She looked my body up and down, as if making sure I wasn’t hurt in any way.
I shook my head slowly and kissed the tip of her nose. “It could have been worse. Will could have been in there as well.” Libby let out a chuckle. “I did however ask for your hand in marriage.”
Her smile grew into a beautiful grin. “What did he say?”
“He said he would be honored to have me as his son-in-law.” Libby jumped into my arms and smashed her lips to mine as she repeated over and over, “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
Josh walked by and cleared his throat. I slowly set Libby back down and kissed her softly on the lips. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Luke. Will I see you before we head over to Alex and Colt’s house?”
“Yes. I have something for you,” I said.
Libby wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “I have something for you too, we have to be alone though for you to open it.”
“Hmm, I’m intrigued.”
Libby whispered, “You should be.”
Groaning, I closed my eyes then opened them. “Goodnight, baby. Sleep good. Love you.”
“I will, you too. Be careful driving. Love you back.”
I started to walk through her room. Climbing through the window, I walked out onto the roof.
“Luke! You could have gone through the house,” Libby said in a hushed voice. Looking around, I shrugged. I climbed off the roof and began walking down the drive to my truck. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, even if I wanted to.
Libby’s going to be my wife.
LOOKING THROUGH THE clear glass, I was no closer to picking out a ring than I was an hour ago. Glancing to the entrance, I saw Grace walking in. I couldn’t help but smile. She commanded attention the moment she set foot through the doors. The salesman was all over Grace like a fly on shit. She was in her element. Anything to do with shopping and she was all over it. I called her twenty minutes ago in a panicked state.
Grace smiled and pointed to me as she turned to the guy who looked to have been about our age. The salesman nodded and began walking with Grace toward me. “Hey there, big brother. So wedding ring shopping are we? When were you going to tell me?”
“I thought Libby would have said something to y’all.”
Grace’s smile faded and her mouth hung open. I reached across and closed it with my index finger. “That bitch.”
“Hey don’t call my fiancé that!” I said as I turned back and looked at the engagement rings. Grace grabbed my arm and turned me toward her.
“You asked Libby to marry you? When? Oh my gosh, Luke. This is so exciting.”
I chuckled. “Christmas Eve, while making love to her.”
Grace scrunched up her nose. “Ew, but also sweet and romantic. Do Mom and Dad know?”