Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)(84)

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.