Dax stepped out of his car. The door of the house opened, and Sophie waved to him. It was impossible not to return her smile. That’s one on my side.
Dale stood just behind her and nodded his welcome. That’s two.
He gave Sophie a kiss to her cheek for a greeting and shook Dale’s hand.
“Everyone is inside. You definitely piqued their curiosity with your call.” Dale gave Dax a fatherly pat on the arm. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do, sir.”
“Dax, call me Dale.”
Dax nodded and followed Sophie and Dale into their living room where their sons and Emily were gathered. Asher impressed him by crossing the room to shake his hand. That act released some of the tension, and each of the other brothers greeted him in much the same way. Emily gave him a quick hug and a covert thumbs-up that brought a smile to his face.
Dale said, “You asked us all to be here so you could say something. What is it, son?”
Dax hesitated. In all his years in business, he’d spoken before many different groups of people from all walks of life. He’d never let any of them intimidate him, but to speak to this group he had to gather his courage. It wasn’t that he was afraid of what they’d say to him, but rather he didn’t want to disappoint Kenzi by not saying the right things to them. “I’m here to ask your permission to marry Kenzi.”
Sophie gasped and brought a hand to her mouth.
Emily hugged Asher’s arm to her.
Dale clarified with the question, “Mine?”
Dax shook his head and waved a hand in a gesture that meant all of them. “Yours. All of you. I know how important Kenzi is to you and how important you are to her. What you don’t know is how important she is to me. I love her more than I ever thought I could love anyone. I intend to ask her to marry me, and if she says yes, I will spend the rest of my life showing her how grateful I am to have found her. I haven’t lived a perfect life. I can’t go back in time and change what I’ve done. All I can do is tell you that I am a better man because Kenzi is in my life. Before I propose, I want to make sure you’ll all be happy for us. Kenzi would be devastated if you weren’t. So, give me your blessing or tell me what I need to do to make it so you can support this, because I will be joining this family.”
There was a long pause when Dax finished. He expected Dale to be the one to speak, but to his surprise it was Sophie. She looked at each of her sons in turn then said, “Dax is brutally honest, but our family could use a dose of that. If you have a problem with him say it now. Because I, for one, would love to be planning two weddings this year.”
Dale put his arm around Sophie’s waist. “Me, too. It took courage to come here and say what Dax did. If you can’t put aside your issues with him, be brave enough to say it now, and we’ll work through it. I won’t have a repeat of his last visit. That’s not who we are.”
Dax braced himself for what either Ian or Asher would say. He didn’t expect that it would be easy to win them over, but this was something he wanted to do for Kenzi. Something he would do, no matter how difficult they made it at first.
Emily gave Asher a long look, then she let go of his arm and nudged him toward Dax. Asher nodded to Ian.
Ian rubbed his jaw thoughtfully and said, “We have all done things we regret. Asher more than most.”
Asher narrowed his eyes at him. “See what happens when you let a politician speak for you. What he means is that we can put the past behind us if you can.”
Grant added dryly, “Which is as close to an apology as you’ll get from Asher. I’d take it, Dax.”
Lance cocked his head to one side. “Really? See, I’d totally take advantage of the situation. Dax, Emily is right there watching him. What could he do?”
Sophie chimed in, “Boys, be serious. Barringtons marry for life. I don’t want to be breaking up brawls between you in front of my grandchildren. Are we good?”
Asher shook Dax’s hand again. “We’re good, as long as you’re good to Kenzi.”
Dax said, “Understood.”
Ian shook his hand, followed by Lance and Grant. Dale gave him a brief hug, as did Emily. Sophie hugged him longer, but he wasn’t about to complain. There was a time when Sophie’s affection would have made him uncomfortable; now it was comforting. The meeting had worked out better than any scenario he’d imagined.
He thought he was in the clear until Emily asked, “So, have you planned your proposal? Asher asked me in front of everyone at an auction.” Her eyes shone with emotion, and Asher kissed her on the top of her head. “He donated half a town in the name of my museum as a place where all kinds of artists could learn their craft.”
The look Asher shot him was an amused, Beat that.
Shit.
Then an idea came to him, one that built off what Lance had said earlier about taking advantage of the opportunities at hand. He’d never been one to pass one up. He turned his most charming smile on Sophie. “Would you help me plan the perfect proposal? Imagine how happy Kenzi would be if she knew you were part of it somehow.” Dax shot a smug smile at Asher. “All of you.”
Sophie was beaming. “We would love that. You could do it here. And you’re right, if she knew we all helped to plan it, she’d know we accept you. That would mean more to her than anything else.”
Asher narrowed his eyes at Dax, but in a similar fashion to how he’d looked at Ian. Dax took it as a sign that he could indeed become one of them. Until then Dax would have said he had no desire to be part of a family, outside of the one he would build with Kenzi. As he tossed around ideas with Kenzi’s parents and brothers, he couldn’t deny that he wanted to belong there with them. He respected Dale, and Sophie was loving in a way he’d once yearned for his own mother to be. Kenzi’s brothers were—well, he was far from perfect himself.
Chapter Twenty
Kenzi hated leaving Dax behind, but she told herself there was no other option. When her mother had called and told her they were gathering for a game night, something that had been unofficially suspended since Dax had returned, Kenzi hadn’t wanted to say no. She had spent every night with Dax, so although she’d seen her parents, she hadn’t seen some of her brothers in over a month.
Kenzi felt even worse because Dax had asked about hosting a game night together, and she had refused him. Now here I am heading off to one without him.
She didn’t want Dax to feel excluded, but she also remembered the first time she’d taken him home all too well. She loved her family, and she loved Dax. She wasn’t willing to cut either out of her life, nor was she ready to risk losing Dax again.
Dax wants to try again with my family. Doesn’t he deserve the chance to?
Kenzi pulled into her parents’ driveway and sat in her car thinking. This is wrong. Dax wouldn’t do this to me. She took out her phone and called Dax.
“Kenzi?”
“Dax, I feel like an ass. I should have brought you with me tonight. I’m so sorry I didn’t. I—”
“Kenzi, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. You would never leave me home. I can’t do that to you. We’ll come on another night together. We’ll figure this out together, Dax.”
Dax was quiet for a moment, and Kenzi almost burst into tears. “Go see your family, Kenzi. I want you to. I’m working on something I’ve already put off too long. Go. Enjoy tonight. I’ll see you later.”
He didn’t sound upset. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Kenzi, I know you’ve missed them. I’m happy you’re there tonight.”
Kenzi felt better and worse all at the same time. She would have said she loved him just then, but she held it back because he already knew how she felt. He never pressured her; she vowed to never pressure him. “I won’t be late.”
“I may be.”
“Okay. Bye, Dax.”
After they hung up Kenzi squared her shoulders and headed into her parents’ home. She kissed her father in greeting. When he asked her how she was, she answered hon
estly, “Miserable.”
Dale looked concerned. “What happened?”
Sophie came up beside her husband. “Kenzi? Are you upset?”
Kenzi wiped away a tear. “I told myself I could come here without Dax and enjoy myself. He told me he was okay with it, but now that I’m here I realize that I can’t be. I love him so much. Mom, you would never go anywhere Dad wasn’t welcome, would you?”
Sophie shook her head. “I wouldn’t.”
Kenzi wiped away another tear. “Dad, I know Dax isn’t perfect, but he’s perfect for me.”
Dale looked at Sophie; she shook her head. He put his arm around Kenzi and guided her inside. “It’ll all work out. Have a little faith, Kenzi.”
Sophie flanked her other side as they walked into the house. “Your father is right. You’re already here. Don’t leave. You might be surprised how much you enjoy yourself.”
Kenzi wanted to agree, but she’d vowed not to lie to her parents again. When she walked into the living room and saw her brothers there, laughing and joking, she wanted to smack every one of them.
Emily came over and hugged her. She searched her face then asked, “Are you okay, Kenzi?”
Kenzi took a deep breath and then turned to her brothers. “No, I am not. I left Dax behind because, although I have just had the best month of my life with him, I’m so scared that if I bring him here one of you will go after him again. I know you think you’re protecting me, but you’ll end up driving me away. I love you, and I’ve even really started to enjoy these game nights, but I won’t come to another without Dax. If you want me in your life, you’ll have to make room for him, too, because he’s part of mine.” When she finished she took several gulps of air and waited for her brothers’ responses.
Lance made a face at Grant. “Well, that answers the question of if she knows.”
Kenzi pounced on his comment. “Knows what?”
Grant gave Lance a hearty smack to the back and spoke for him. “We talked and decided Dax isn’t as bad as we thought.”
Kenzi looked at Asher. “Is that true?”
“Are you really happy with him, Kenzi?” Asher asked.
“I really am.”
“Then he’s welcomed here.”
Kenzi turned to Ian. “Do you feel the same way?”
Ian crossed over and gave Kenzi a hug. “We want you to be happy, Kenzi. That’s all we ever wanted.”
It felt too easy. Kenzi studied each of her brothers’ expressions. They looked like they were hiding something. “When did you have this talk?”
Sophie came over and took Kenzi’s arm. “Emily had a fabulous idea for a scavenger hunt we could do right here. She put strings to four things in the house. We follow the string, find the clue, come back, report it to our group, and try to solve the puzzle. It sounds fun. She put a lot of planning into to this, Kenzi. We have to at least try it.”
“I don’t really understand,” Kenzi said. “What’s the game?”
Emily pointed to a string on the floor. “Let’s just play it, and you’ll figure it out. Follow the string to a clue. Come back and tell us what it is.”
Shaking her head, Kenzi gave in and followed a string out of the room, down the hall, and to the kitchen. There on the counter was a stuffed animal, a white sheep with a small baby lamb attached. She brought it back to the living room. “Sheep? I don’t get it.”
Lance rolled his eyes. “I’ll get the second clue.” He came back a moment later with a paper and put it beside the stuffed animal. “It’s a will.”
Dale said, “Ian, why don’t you find the next?”
Ian headed off into another room then returned with a mirror. He placed it beside the other two items.
Emily took Asher by the hand. “The last one is ours. Come on.” They followed a string into the hall then came back with a painting of the Virgin Mary. They placed it on the table beside the three other items.
Grant rubbed his chin. “What could these items mean?”
Lance said, “What do you think, Kenzi? Can you solve it?”
The way her family was watching her made Kenzi wonder if they were losing their minds. Had too many game nights driven them to this? She was tempted to tell them that she’d said what she had to say and really wasn’t in the mood for a game, but there was something different about this game. It felt important, but Kenzi couldn’t figure out why. She looked at the items on the table and said, “Sheep. Mirror. Painting. Document.” She shrugged. Sophie urged her to try again using different words. Kenzi took a second look at the items. “Mary. Lamb. Will. Reflection. I’ve got nothing.”
Dax stepped into the room, and Kenzi gasped in surprised. She rushed to his side. “Dax, you came.” She turned to her brothers to gauge their reaction.
Dax kissed her gently on the cheek and said, “I told you I had something I had to do tonight. Something I’ve put off too long. This was it.”
“This?”
Dax led her to the table, and he rearranged the items. “Will. Ewe. Mary. Me.” Then he dropped to one knee, took out a small box, and held it out to her. “I love you, Kenzi. I’ve loved you since the night you threw up on my shoe, but I tried to deny it. You scared me that night, and I’ve been a wreck since then. Say yes, Kenzi.”
Kenzi looked from Dax to the faces of her family. “You planned this? All of you?”
Sophie said, “It was Dax’s idea, but your brothers helped him plan it.”
In a voice thick with emotion, Asher said, “No one should have to choose between the person they love and their family. I know I couldn’t.” He wrapped his arms around Emily, who was beaming.
Dax waved the ring. “You can say yes anytime, Kenzi.”
Kenzi burst into laughter. “Yes. Yes. Of course, yes, Dax.”
Dax slipped the ring on her finger then stood and pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss. Nothing in Kenzi’s life had prepared her for how happy she was in that moment.
She hugged Dax, walked around and hugged each member of her family, then went back to hugging Dax. As her head cleared she remembered how she’d felt when she first arrived, and she gave Dax a playful swat. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I almost did.”
She looked at her brothers. “And you. You let me go on and on about Dax when you knew he was here.” She glanced up at Dax. “Did you hear all that?”
“Every word,” Dax said and his expression turned serious. “No one has ever defended me the way you did. I don’t have a lot of experience with love, but something tells me I’ve chosen the best teacher.”
Kenzi went on her tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth. “Oh, I’ll teach you.” Ideas of how were already bringing an excited flush to her face.
There was a general groan and Dale suggested they save that conversation for later.
“How about some coffee and cake?” Sophie asked.
A short time later, Dax sat with his untouched coffee and watched Kenzi on the phone with her friends. A huge smile spread across his face as he imagined their lives together. There was always a moment after every business deal when the final signature hit the paperwork and it became real—when there was no turning back or walking away. Dax had always found power in that moment. When he chose a path he stuck to it regardless of the obstacles he encountered. He’d never been a man who gave up once he set his course.
It was that sense of commitment Dax felt the moment Kenzi said yes to him. He was in this for the long haul.
I am not my father.
He wasn’t with Kenzi because he wanted to show her off to his friends. Her value wasn’t one that would decline as they aged. He was with her because he never wanted to go back to the man he’d been before her.
Before Kenzi, he’d thought he had everything because his life was full of what many people considered signs of success, but he couldn’t remember ever feeling as good as he felt whenever he was with her.
Even being with her family felt—
right.
He looked around the room. Sophie was smiling at something her sons were joking about. Dale was looking on with a look of love on his face that once would have confused Dax. He understood now. Suddenly Dale’s decision to give up his career made sense. Everything that mattered was right there in that room.
Asher leaned over and asked, “Do you still have a security detail following Kenzi?”
Dax nodded.
“She won’t be happy when she finds that out,” he said even though he looked as though he approved.
Dax shrugged. “I’m willing to deal with that conversation as long as she’s safe.”
Asher folded his arms across his chest. “When you have a little sister, you want to protect her. No one could be good enough, but you’re not as bad as I thought.”
Dax’s smile widened. “You live up to your reputation as an arrogant bastard and your brothers are just as bad, but that’s how I know I belong here. Can you imagine me with the perfect family? I’d scare the shit out of them.”
Asher threw his head back and laughed. “That you would.”
Pausing as she walked behind them, Emily dipped her head down next to Asher’s. “I like seeing you two getting along.”
Asher kissed Emily’s cheek. “He’s growing on me.”
Kenzi wrapped her arms around Dax’s neck from behind and flashed her diamond before all four of them. “You’d better hurry up and get married so we can see if a family wedding is survivable, or if there is an elopement in our future.”
Dax said, “I’ll marry you any day you choose, anywhere. I don’t care what it looks like as long as it ends with you coming home with me.”
Kenzi and Emily sighed audibly.
Emily said, “Asher, isn’t that romantic?”
Asher grudgingly agreed, and the women laughed.
Kenzi hugged him so tightly it almost choked him, but Dax didn’t complain. He loved seeing her like this. Happy. Free. She said, “I’d love a beach wedding on an island. Maybe the one where we met?”
Asher’s face suddenly turned serious. “Mom won’t go to the Bahamas.”
Dax glanced back at Kenzi, and she said softly, “My parents were on an island when Kent and I were born. She hasn’t gone to one since.”