Tony pulled to a stop at the curb at the airport, putting it in park and flipping the hazards on. Then he circled around to the back of the car to remove Ginny’s parents’ luggage from the trunk.
Julie took hold of one suitcase and Ginny took the other.
“Thanks,” Ginny said, looking up at him like he’d done a superhero feat instead of simply unloading her parents’ luggage. But that’s how she was—she didn’t take one thing for granted and he loved that about her.
“You’re welcome,” Tony said, pressing his lips to hers and wishing it were he and Ginny going away on a trip instead of her parents. But he couldn’t take the time, not right now.
Adamo Enterprises was a disaster. The day following Barkov’s arrest, officers flooded Adamo, arresting Tony’s father and halting production so they could search the premises. That was three weeks ago, and things still weren’t quite back to normal. But then again, what did he expect when the CEO was arrested for illegal drug production and distribution?
Two lab techs were implicated in the drug ring as well and Tony had yet to find suitable replacements. Or should he say, Dr. Gilbert had yet to find replacements who met his steep standards. Tony had given Gilbert full authority over the lab, which was how it should have been the whole time.
He’d also promoted Ingrid to chief operating officer. Her talents were wasted as an admin assistant and she’d stepped into the role with guns blazing. So while things at work were still rough around the edges, he hoped to take some time off soon.
“I’m going to park the car with Tony,” Daniel said. “We’ll meet you inside.”
“We have plenty of time,” Julie said as she and her daughter walked toward the automatic sliding doors.
Tony waited until the doors had closed behind the two women before pulling away.
“It’s really nice of you to drive us to the airport,” Daniel said. “We could have taken a cab.”
Tony snorted. “Sir, you don’t know your daughter at all if you think she’d let you take a cab.”
For a second, Daniel’s eyes clouded over, and he was probably thinking about his other daughter—the one who was wanted and at large. Barkov’s threat of evidence against Veronica turned out to be valid, but Veronica hadn’t been seen in weeks. Tony half-expected her to turn up at his and Ginny’s door, but maybe she’d finally taken the hint that Ginny was done being used.
“Well, all the same, we appreciate it. Julie is nervous about flying.”
Daniel and Julie were taking a much-needed vacation while they figured out their next steps. He’d decided to sell the company when a competitor made an enticing offer, letting him break even on the deal. The family walked away from the table with nothing, but more importantly, they hadn’t lost anything.
They’d also gotten a sizable insurance payment for the house, but rather than rebuild, they were taking the time to really think about what they wanted to do—hence, the trip to Hawaii. Julie planned to spend a few weeks painting the tropical landscapes and sea life while Daniel recovered from years of trying to fulfill a dream that wasn’t his.
“It’s safer than taking a car,” Tony said, tongue-in-cheek, as he pulled into a space in short-term parking.
Daniel chuckled. “That’s what they say. I’d like to know who they are, though.”
The men got out of the car and as they walked to the airport, Tony stuck his hand in his pocket, wrapping it around a small black box.
“Daniel, I’m glad we got this moment alone, actually.” Tony was nervous, which was stupid. He was a grown man and, anyway, Ginny’s parents loved him. But still, he wanted to do right by her in every way possible.
“Yes?” Daniel asked, with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
“I plan to ask Ginny to marry me.”
“You haven’t been together very long,” her father commented.
“No, but every day that passes is one day too many that we’re not married,” Tony said. “I love your daughter, sir, and I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy. I’d like your blessing.”
Daniel stopped. “Wait here a moment.” He paused, seeming to need to gather his words. “Ginny is a special girl—woman. I still think of her as my little girl. A father’s bad habit. One day you’ll see. I see the way you look at her and how she looks at you. It reminds me of Julie and me. I know what Julie and I have and it’s the most I could ever hope for for my daughter.” He clapped a hand on Tony’s arm. “I’d be pleased to call you my son-in-law.”
Tony’s mouth stretched into a smile. He hadn’t done this before he’d been engaged to Veronica, but so much had been wrong with that situation.
This, on the other hand, felt right.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Stop with all that ‘sir,’ business,” Daniel said with a smile.
The two men continued walking toward the airport toward the women they loved.
When the doors opened, Tony caught a glimpse of Ginny helping her mother with the luggage tags. When she noticed him, she pushed her hair back and smiled.
Like it did every time she smiled, his heart swelled.
He laced his fingers with hers and they stood aside to wait while her parents checked in. Finally, they turned. Julie had a smile on her face but tears in her eyes.
“Mom, what is it?” Ginny asked, gripping her mother’s arms.
“Just—” Julie waved her hand dismissively, then wiped her eyes and put on a brave smile. “Everything.”
Tony could sympathize. Their lives had gone through a total upheaval, not to mention the fact that their older daughter was the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
“Come on, dear,” Daniel said gently. “It’ll be good for you—for us—to get away.”
Julie nodded and hugged her daughter one last time. With a final wave, the older couple disappeared in the TSA security area.
Tony nudged Ginny. “Are you going to be okay?”
She sighed. “Yeah. But I’ll miss them.”
Tony led her out to the car. He hoped the next thing he had planned would cheer her up.
When he took a left instead of a right out of the airport, she frowned. “Are we going somewhere?”
“You’ll see,” he said simply.
She bit her lip and squirmed in her seat. God, it was sexy.
“Can you give me a hint?” she asked.
He grinned. “Nope.”
He passed his parents’ neighborhood, moving into the more historic residential area. Finally, he pulled into the driveway of an older house that had great structure but needed some TLC.
“What’s this?” Ginny asked.
He didn’t reply, instead taking her hand and leading her up the front stoop. He pulled the key from his pocket and unlocked the front door.
“Tony, what’s going on?” she asked cautiously.
Still not answering, he guided her into the kitchen. “What do you think of this?”
His gaze traveled over the shabby room, trying to see it through her eyes. The appliances were outdated and a huge crack ran through the countertop. The space was huge though, and the natural lighting couldn’t be beat.
“Um . . .” Her brow furrowed and she clearly didn’t know what to make of the room or how to answer his question.
He pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen a few times. “Here,” he said. “The place is a piece of shit right now, but it has potential. Check out these plans.”
Leaning back on his heels, he watched as she realized what was on his phone. Her eyes widened and she looked up at him in shock.
“Don’t get too excited,” he said. “I haven’t put an offer in yet. I wanted to make sure the renovations I wanted were possible. But more importantly, I wanted to make sure you liked it.”
“Like it?” she squealed. “The plans for this kitchen are . . . I have no words.”
Tony smiled, glad his instincts had been right. “I noticed you salivating over Natalie’s kitchen. I figured if you’re going to be cooking for me every night, I should make sure you have a fully equipped kitchen.”
She smiled slyly and sauntered over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Is that right?”
“Well, yeah.”
She lightly punched him in the stomach and he doubled over, playing along. Then he grabbed her wrist and yanked her body against his.
“Seriously, do you like it? If you don’t—”
“Don’t be silly. I love it. And I love you.”
Those three words took his breath away every time.
“I love you. So much.” Then he lowered his mouth to hers.
The future was bright.