Chapter 26 #2
He stepped forward and cupped my face. “I love you, baby girl. As bad as I want you to stay my sweet, innocent Jaeda, I respect that you are a woman, and you don’t need me as much anymore.”
“Daddy, I will always need you. Who else is gonna take me on daddy-daughter dates and let me spend their money with no complaints?”
He chuckled. “That part will never change. You can be forty, and I’ll still run up a check on you, baby. I’ll always be your protector, but I have to turn over the reins for this part.”
“You’re confusing me. This whole thing is confusing me right now.”
He offered me his arm. “Let me make it a little clearer. Come on.”
As soon as I looped my arm through his, he clapped his hands, and the curtains opened. My eyes widened as we stepped into a completely transformed space decorated completely in red and white. Roses were everywhere. The tables were beautifully decorated with glass tablescapes.
I gasped as I realized my entire family was here, all dressed to the nines. Quaid’s parents, Titan, and a few other people I assumed were his family were also here, all smiling. My father walked me to a red carpet and kissed my cheek.
“Go get your man.”
The crowd parted, and there stood Quaid looking so damn sexy in a perfectly tailored suit.
He smiled as his eyes undressed me. Where the fuck had he come from?
He was supposed to be out of town, but I guess that was a coverup for this .
. . this wonderful, beautiful gesture. Nervously, I stepped onto the red carpet.
Shar, Mia, Romi, Salima, Renay, Kalia, Kaylynn, Darlynn, Korri, Juri, and Deja lined the walkway, handing me a single rose as I passed them.
Tears clouded my vision, threatening to fall. When I got to Juri, she handed me the rose, then pointed to Quaid before reaching for me. I giggled as I picked her up and made my way up to my man. The moment we were in his presence, she reached for him. He chuckled as he took her from me.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, swiping at my tears.
“Hey, handsome,” I said, my voice trembling. “What is all this, Quaid?”
He reached for my hand, and I happily gave it to him. “This is me making good on a promise.” He looked out at the crowd. “This was supposed to be a solo performance,” he said, kissing Juri’s cheek. “I guess my friend here had other plans.”
“Tell him you’re the star, baby,” Smoke said, making everyone laugh.
I pinched Juri’s cheek before kissing it. She rested her head against her favorite person, holding onto him tightly.
Quaid addressed the crowd again. “If you don’t know by now, I love this woman. I’ve been in love with her. If you knew how many channels we jumped through to get here, you’d know I went through great lengths to get her.”
My brothers and Titan smirked but kept quiet.
“Jaeda Janelle Dillinger, . . . you are everything I hoped for. Everything I prayed for and some things I didn’t know I needed.
My time with you, while short, has been the time of my life, and I don’t take a single moment for granted.
When I gave you this promise ring, I made a promise to love and cherish you.
A promise to always hear and see you for exactly who you are.
I promised that I’d never bruise, never break, or mishandle your heart for any reason.
That ring was a placeholder, but what you didn’t know is, I was ready to make you my wife then. ”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. Juri’s curious self reached down and opened it.
“Ooooo!” she said, pointing, causing everyone to laugh.
When Quaid turned the box to me, my hand flew to my mouth. The ring was absolutely stunning. He pulled it from the box and got down on one knee, Juri still in his arms.
“I love you, Jaeda. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I didn’t have any words.
All I could do was nod repeatedly. He slipped the ring on my finger and stood to his feet.
I didn’t care that I was going to have to fight my niece for this kiss.
I crashed my lips into his as the crowd clapped and cheered.
Much to my surprise, Juri let us have it for a good fifteen seconds before she said that was enough and pushed my head away.
“No!” she said, frowning.
I took her from his arms and held her out.
“Smoke, come get your baby before we have to tussle up here.”
He laughed as he came to retrieve her. The moment she vacated my arms, Quaid pulled me back into his.
“Where were we?” he asked, cupping my chin.
“Right here.”
Our lips connected again, this time in a slow, sensual fashion. I could hear my sisters and female cousins shouting their praises in the background.
“I know that’s right!”
“Get your man, sis!”
“That’s my girl!”
As our lips finally parted, I rested my head against Quaid’s chest and looked out at the smiling faces of our family.
My heart was so full of love, happiness, joy, and peace.
I never thought I’d be standing here with the love of my life, preparing to take his last name in the very near future.
Well, . . . at least hyphenate my last name.
Jaeda Michaels sounded good, but Jaeda Dillinger-Michaels sounded so much better to me.
My family was a lot to handle.
They were a lot of things, good and bad, but they made me who I am, and I’d forever be a fucking Dillinger.