The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(67)

In the heartbeat it took for Bill to respond, I came damn close to dragging his ass off somewhere where I could clarify the point I’d made earlier—this time with my fists. Bill looked at Heather for a long moment before leaning down near Ava and saying, “Grandpa.”

With that, Ava let go of Heather’s hand and took his. “Do you go down slides, Grandpa?”

He shook his head. “Bad back.”

“That’s okay, you can watch me and Mommy.” She started to drag him toward the slide, then stopped and looked back. “Sebastian, are you coming?”

“I sure am,” I said, taking Heather’s hand in mine.

On the short walk to the slide, I asked, “Everything okay with your dad?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I tried to tell him how happy I am with how my life is now, but he kept trying to drag me into old arguments about why he still believed adopting Ava had been the wrong choice. I don’t get it. It’s like being right is more important to him than being part of our lives.” She gave my hand a little squeeze. “I’m not upset, though. I didn’t argue with him. I don’t have to prove Ava’s worth to him. You’re right—either he’ll come around or he won’t. If anything, I feel sorry for him. He doesn’t see that he is the reason he’s alone.”

“You needed to see him again.”

“Yes, I did.” She motioned toward where Ava was happily chatting with her grandfather, completely unaware of his rejection of her. To give him credit, Bill seemed like he’d had at least a partial change of heart. Heather added, “They seem to be getting along. Baby steps, right? He’s here. Ava likes him. This might work out.”

In that moment she reminded me of my family. Strong and proud, but also loving and forgiving. Only a fool would let a woman like that slip away. I pulled her to me for a tight hug and a light kiss. “I love you, Heather. I never thought I could love again; now I can’t picture my life without you in it. You and Ava. If you don’t think it’s too early, I’d like to ask you a hefty question next weekend when we go to see my parents.”

She froze in my arms, and her eyes riveted to mine. “Hefty question? Like the question?”

“Unless you want me to wait.”

She wrapped her arms around me so tightly I could hardly breathe—or maybe that was from the love for her that was welling within me. “I love you, Sebastian. Even more because you understand that I’m not good with surprises. I have to warn you, though, with you the answer will always be yes.”

I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Oh really?”





CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE



* * *



HEATHER

A quick check of the clock confirmed I needed to make a decision soon. I’d told Ava we were going to spend the day with Sebastian’s family because I knew she’d be excited rather than nervous. She’d chosen a dress, matching tights, and a sparkly pair of shoes. Last I looked she was attempting to tie ribbons on the necks of her wolf pack before placing each into the basket she said they’d travel in to Sebastian’s house. Tying included clear tape rather than knots, but it was keeping her entertained, so I went with it.

Erica called to see how I was doing.

“I’m freaking out,” I said.

“I’ll be right over.”

A few minutes later, she was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “Charlotte’s playing with Ava. I left the boys home—looking at Bob’s stitches is their favorite thing lately.”

I laughed. Normally I loved to see them, but my nerves were already on edge. “Thanks. Sebastian is going to be here any minute, and I can’t decide what to wear. I was fine with dinner. Why did I agree to go early? He said it would give me time to get to know his mother. What if that means in the kitchen? He knows I don’t cook.”

“Breathe,” Erica said before sitting down on the edge of my bed. “He’s taking you home to propose to you, not test if his family likes you. Just be yourself.”

My mouth dried, and my hand tightened on the dress I was holding. “Exactly. He’s going to propose. This is the real deal. What if his family hates me? What if—”

“Stop, Heather. Do you love Sebastian?”

“I do.”

“Do you think he’ll be a good father for Ava?”

That one was easy. “Yes. He already adores her, and it’s mutual.”

“Then that’s all that matters. I’m not worried about his family. I’m one hundred percent positive they will love you.”

I went to sit beside her. “Why do you say that?”

She put a hand on my back in support. “I was here the first time you met him, remember? You brought a smile back to that man’s face. What parent wouldn’t love you for that?”

I nodded. “He does seem happier than he did in the beginning.”

“Because he is. Don’t underestimate yourself, Heather. He was one lucky bastard the day he found Wolfie, and he knows it. That’s why you’re going home with him. So, really, any outfit will work, because I don’t see a way today ends without you dropping by my house to show off your engagement ring.”

Tears filled my eyes. “This house is so small, I can’t see Sebastian living here . . . not if we’re thinking of having more children, but I don’t want to move away from you.”