Chapter 41
Damien
I stared at Daisy and Leo through my sunglasses while sipping my drink. “She’s coming this way,” I told Willa.
“Oh God. She’s with him. But he does have great hair.”
“Yeah. That’s a problem,” I said. “Is he wearing loafers with no socks?”
Daisy walked over with a smile, her designer sunglasses perched on her head like a tiara, all while giving off the vibe, “Y es, I know you two are panicking .” Leo walked beside her, smiling like he wasn’t walking into the world’s most dangerous parental interview. We’ve scared off more boys than we cared to count, and I was proud.
“Hey, parents. This is Leo. Leo, my parents.”
Leo politely smiled and extended his hand. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood. It’s nice to meet you.”
As much as I wanted to dismiss his hand, Willa discreetly smacked the back of my head.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I placed my hand in his.
“He’s eighteen and from Minnesota. His dad is a surgeon, and his mom is a nurse. And no, he’s not a server here like I thought when I gave him my drink order.” Daisy smiled. “Oh, and he’s going to NYU in the fall.”
“What will you be studying, Leo?” Willa asked.
“Finance and marketing. I’m going for a double major. I’ve already completed some college classes online that will transfer to NYU.”
“Why not the medical field like your parents?” I asked.
“I pass out at the sight of blood. So, that wouldn’t be a good career choice, sir.”
“Do you have a criminal record?” Willa asked, and I stifled a laugh.
“Mom?” Daisy cocked her head, eyes wide.
“Uh, no, Mrs. Blackwood.”
“Planning on getting one?” I narrowed my eye.
“Also, no, sir.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Dad, knock it off. I’m so sorry, Leo.”
“What? It’s a reasonable question to ask in this city,” I said.
“I promise not to whisk your daughter away to a chapel.” He smirked.
“She told you?” I asked with irritation.
“Well, that’s what Damien said hours after we met, and I woke up married to him.” Willa grinned.
“Don’t worry. I already told him marriage is off the table unless the ring is custom.” Daisy smiled.
I could see the fright in the poor kid’s eyes. He probably thought she was joking, but this was Daisy, and trust me, she wasn’t.
I leaned forward. “What are your intentions with my daughter?” I asked.
“Um…we were going to get virgin mojitos,” Leo nervously said.
“Is that code?” Willa cocked her head at Daisy.
“Oh my God, calm down. Look at him. He’s cute, harmless, and he listens to me when I talk about skincare. That’s rare, Mom. Even Dad shuts down when you mention wrinkle cream.”
“She also told me her five-year plan,” Leo said.
“Just so you know, Leo. She has different versions of that plan.” I smirked.
“But she showed me the PowerPoint on her phone,” he said.
“And you’re still around, why?” Willa asked.
“MOM!” Daisy shouted, turned, and pulled Leo behind her like a celebrity in a power suit.
“HOLD IT!” Willa commanded. They stopped and turned around. “Damien, go frisk him for drugs.”
“Willa?” My eyes widened.
“Do it! Now! Remember what happened to us when we were here.”
“You do it.”
“I’m a woman. That would be weird, and like I was molesting him or something. Go on!”
I held up my finger and called him over. Standing up, I patted him down. “I apologize for this. The women in this family are?—”
“It’s okay, Mr. Blackwood. I get it. I would do the same if I were a father.”
“No drugs.” I looked at Willa.
“Enough trauma, parents,” Daisy said. “We’re going to get virgin mojitos now and find a therapist for Leo since you just scarred him for life.”
“I don’t know whether to be impressed by that boy or terrified.” I glanced at Willa.
“She is our daughter.”
“He did call you Mrs. Blackwood, not ma’am. That kid is already three steps into our family.” I smirked.
“She’ll marry him at twenty-two. I’m calling it right now.”
“If he sticks around that long, I’ll be impressed and welcome him with open arms.” I grinned.
* * *
Three Years Later
Damien
It started at brunch, at the country club. Willa was sipping her second mimosa while I cut into my eggs Benedict. It was just the two of us and Leo, Daisy’s boyfriend for the last three years.
“So, I was wondering if I could talk to you both about something,” Leo said.
Willa set down her drink. I set down my fork. The world paused. I already knew what he wanted to talk about. I felt it in my gut.
“Of course,” Willa said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Totally. Everything’s great. So great. Amazing, even,” he nervously spoke.
“Are you dying?” I asked.
“No, no—uh?—”
“Are you breaking up with Daisy?” Willa asked.
“God no,” Leo said.
“Did you get my daughter pregnant?” I gritted my teeth.
“WHAT? NO!”
“Okay,” I blew out a breath. “Go on.” I leaned back in my chair.
“So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I mean, we’ve been together a long time, and I love her. She’s smart, driven, and?—”
“Mildly terrifying.” I slowly nodded.
Willa shot me a look. “And brilliant. Continue, Leo.” She smiled.
He inhaled a sharp breath. “I’d like to ask your permission to marry, Daisy.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
“I need a moment to process this,” I said.
“Take your time. I just thought it was respectful to ask before I officially propose.”
“Wait a second.” Willa’s hands moved around like a crazy woman. “ You want to marry Daisy?”
“Yes. Of course. I love her.” Leo nodded.
“Have you met her?” My brows furrowed.
“Yes.” Leo chuckled.
“Are you sure?” Willa asked.
“Wow. You two are making me believe I’m not good enough for your daughter.”
“You’re mistaken, Leo. We’re trying to protect you,” I said. “You want to legally bind yourself to a woman who once made a waiter cry because his presentation of the dessert tray lacked vision?”
“She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to let people know. I admire her,” Leo said.
“You’re not scared of her?”
“We are.” Willa’s finger wiggled back and forth.
“Well, kind of. But in a healthy, character-building way.”
“My God, you’re serious,” I said.
“Dead serious, Damien.” Leo grinned.
Willa reached across the table and patted Leo’s hand. “You poor, brave soul.”
“You have our permission. But on one condition,” I said.
“Anything, sir.”
“You have to let her handle all the wedding plans without an opinion, or you’re toast.”
“But what if I don’t like something?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head. “Agree and keep your mouth shut. You’ll be okay and will make it to the wedding.” I smirked.
“Okay. That’s fair. I can do that.”
I stood up and patted him on the back. “Then welcome to the family. You’ll never win an argument again.”
“But you’ll be very moisturized, emotionally supported, and slightly afraid all the time.” Willa smiled. “Wait. What about the ring?”
“Oh. I have it with me.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small velvet box, and flipped open the lid. “What do you think?”
“Is that a pink diamond?” I asked.
“Oh, look at all the pink diamonds going down the sides.” Willa smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“I wanted it to feel—like her. You know? Beautiful. Bold. Slightly intimidating.”
“I’m guessing four carats?” I asked.
“Five, including the diamonds going down the side,” he said.
“Whatever you do, don’t propose in Vegas,” Willa said.
“I was thinking Paris,” Leo said.
“OH COME ON!” My eyes widened.
“Ignore him. Paris is fine. Just make sure wherever you are, the lighting is good. She’ll want a video and a thousand pictures.” Willa smiled.
“Well, I already hired a drone team.”
“Was that in her crisis binder labeled Engagement Strategy: The Vision ?”
“Don’t tell her, but yes, I took a peek at her binder.”
Willa picked up her mimosa and gestured for us to do the same. “To future chaos. And to one hell of a ring.” She grinned.
“Let’s hope she doesn’t ask for changes.” Leo clanked his glass against ours.
“She will,” both Willa and I said in unison.
Later that evening, Willa and I sat on the terrace. I had a scotch in one hand, and Willa had a glass of whiskey in hers.
“You still breathing?” I smirked.
“Barely.” She smiled. “It really is a perfect ring.”
“I’m not ready, Willa. I just got used to the fact that she has several Roth IRAs.”
“I’ve been emotionally preparing for this since she was five and told her teacher, ‘I don’t need to be a princess—I’ll own the kingdom.’”
“Remember when she couldn’t say ‘sparkle’ and kept saying ‘sparko’?” I smiled.
“She used to wear glitter like war paint.”
“Do you remember when she was twelve and threatened to sue me if I made her go to bed during a ‘creative cycle’?” I chuckled.
“And now someone wants to marry her.” Willa reached over and grabbed my hand.
“And we’re allowing it.” I sighed.
“We don’t have a choice. I’m sure she already negotiated terms with him. Poor guy.”
“Leo is a good guy. He’s kind, smart, and terrified of her in a good way.” I smirked.
“He laughs at her sarcasm. He lets her lead. He listens. He reminds me of someone I love very much.” Her brow raised.
“I love you, too, sweetheart. Are we old enough for our kid to get engaged?”
“We got married in Vegas after knowing each other for a few hours.” A smirk crossed her lips. “At least she fell in love first.”
“We were drunk and drugged,” I said.
“Okay, but we were hot together. You have to admit that.”
“We still are.” I winked.
“True.” Willa held up her glass, and I tapped mine against it.
“I just can’t believe it’s happening. You sure called it. I still remember holding her the day she was born, staring at me with those big bossy eyes.”
“She came out of the womb with opinions,” Willa said.
“She came out with a life plan,” I said.
“And if Leo hurts her?” Willa asked.
“I’m not worried about that.” I chuckled. “She’ll destroy him first—his heart, soul, body, and mind. Come here.” I held out my arms.
Willa stood up and climbed onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight.
“I give them two weeks before she sends him a branded engagement schedule and an email with the subject line that says Our Marriage Mood board ,” Willa snorted.
“He has no idea what’s coming. They haven’t even lived together yet,” I said.
“He’ll be fine. His life will be spreadsheets, glitter, moody moments, chaos, high demands, and tax deductions,” Willa said.
The door to the terrace opened, and Delilah looked at us.
“Can you please not?” She cocked her head. “Mom, get back over to your chair. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
A boy followed her out to the terrace.
“Mom. Dad. This is Peter. Peter, my parents. Don’t let them intimidate you. They’ve mastered it over the years.”
“Sweetheart, that is not true,” I said. “It’s nice to meet you, Peter.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet the two of you.”
“What do you mean by ‘finally’?” Willa asked.
“We’ve been dating for eight months,” he said.
“Eight months!” I shouted.
“I really like him and didn’t want you to scare him off,” Delilah said. “You two are really good at doing that. Anyway, we’re going out.”
“It was nice to meet you, Peter,” Willa shouted as they went back into the house.
I stared at Willa. “Let’s go back to Vegas and renew our vows. We won’t tell anyone. Not even the girls. Just you and me, babe.”
Willa climbed back onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“You mean, sober?” She smiled.
“One hundred percent sober. I want to remember every word and detail.” I grinned before leaning in and kissing her lips. “I love you so much, and I want to marry you again.”
“I love you, too.” She smiled. “And I would love to marry you again. When do you want to do it?”
“Tomorrow. We’ll leave tomorrow.”
“But, Damien, we just can’t?—”
“Shh.” I placed my finger over her lips. “We are leaving tomorrow. I’m calling my pilot and telling him to have the plane ready. End of discussion. Understand me?” I raised my brow.
“God, you’re so fucking hot. Take me to the bedroom now!”
“It would be my pleasure.” I grinned and carried her into the house.
Thank you for reading Accidentally Yours.
I hope you enjoyed it!