The Wild Ones (The Wild Ones #1)(60)
Author: M. Leighton

I’m pretty sure I can’t breathe. My chest is so tight it feels like it might pop from the pressure.

Although she only pauses for a few seconds, it feels like an eternity. When she drops to her knees in front of me and takes my hands, I feel a relieved sigh rush out in a flood, taking with it all the last little bits of doubt I’d had.

I can see her answer in her eyes, before she even opens her mouth. And it makes me want to celebrate.

“Yes. To all of that. I don’t have a life without you. I never did. I never could. You’re everything to me. You’re all I’ve ever wanted and all I’ll ever need. I’m never letting you go.”

When she brings her mouth to mine, I can’t help but smile. Yes, I’m happy—so, so happy—with her answer. But that’s not all. I get to make her even happier later when I tell her that I finally got her father’s blessing.

About two weeks ago, when I bought Cami’s ring, I made an impulsive detour on the way back from the jeweler’s. I decided to stop by the Hines ranch. I knew Cami wouldn’t be there; she’d already moved in with Jenna. What I didn’t know is whether or not Jack would be there. I knew it would be worth a try, though. And it was a good gamble. Turns out he was there after all.

The housekeeper, Drogheda, had smiled when she answered the door. I liked her instantly. Something in her eyes welcomed me as the guy who would make Cami happy. I didn’t realize how much I needed to see that from someone else. Someone who loves Cami almost as much as I do.

Without a word, she led me back to Jack’s office. He was sitting behind his desk looking at something on the computer when she stopped in front of the open door. He looked up, not in the least surprised. Or so it seemed. He nodded to her and she walked off, leaving me standing there to be examined like a bug under a microscope. But I didn’t care. Jack was the least of my worries. But he’s important to Cami and she’s the one I care about, so I stood my ground.

He didn’t invite me in, but I went in and grabbed a chair anyway. We sat in silence for a painfully long time before I decided to take the bull—or in this case, the jackass—by the horns.

“I know you don’t respect me. I know you would’ve chosen someone else for your daughter. But I also know that you could scour the Earth for the rest of your life and you’d never find someone who loves her as much as I do. She’s one of the few things in the world that really matters to me and I won’t rest until I give her the life she deserves. Whether or not you want to be a part of that is up to you. It would mean an awful lot to Cami if you’d stop being so stubborn. And, no offense, but her feelings are the only ones I care about.

“You don’t have to care about me. You don’t have to respect me. Hell, you don’t even have to like me. You care about Cami and that’s enough for me. That’s all I ever need to know. How much you’re willing to sacrifice for her, though, is entirely up to you.”

I was ready to leave after I said my piece. But I felt obligated to wait for him to respond, so I did. I leaned back in the chair and laced my fingers together over my stomach and I eyed him. Just like he was eyeing me.

When he finally spoke, he surprised me. I really didn’t expect the old bastard to cave. But he did. I was right all along about that, too. Cami is his kryptonite.

“All right.”

“All right?”

He nodded. “All right. I believe you. And I’ll give you one chance to prove it. But just one. If you hurt her, I’ll castrate you. And you’ve lived in the country long enough to know what something like that looks like. You get my meaning?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, sir. Lucky for both of us that’s not gonna happen. I love her. More than I do myself. I’d rather die than hurt her.”

“Just remember that. Because I can see to that, too.”

I nodded. He nodded. And then he turned back to his computer screen.

That was the best I could hope for from Jack Hines. But that was all I needed, so the rest didn’t matter.

But now…now I get to tell Cami that I finally got that cold prick to see I’m what’s best for her, that no one will ever love her like I do. That alone makes it all worth it. Cami’s worth everything. At least now more than one person knows that it’s become my mission in life to give this girl everything she ever wanted. And maybe even a few things she didn’t know she wanted.

Until she met me.