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Four years ago.

GARRETT HELD ISLA’S HAND as they approached the Laguna Beach Country Club. He was just as nervous as she was. This was the first time that he would meet her parents.

The infamous Peter and Rebecca Maxwell, senator and wife. Pillars of the community.

Tormentors of the girl he loved.

As they stood before her door, he considered taking her away. He honestly didn’t want or need their approval. He had planned to propose to her and made the mistake of telling her first.

Of course, Isla insisted on having her father’s blessing, as if it would keep him from giving her that ring.

Sighing, Garrett adjusted his tie, uncomfortable in his new suit and tight dress shoes. Anything for Isla.

He gave her a wink as she fiddled with her clutch. “Relax, babe.”

She inhaled and smiled. “Okay. I’m just nervous. My parent’s circle of friends and colleagues can be so judgemental. But, we are going to be fine.”

Garrett gave her hand a squeeze. “You think I care what anyone in here thinks of me? I have the most beautiful girl in Laguna Beach by my side.”

She blushed and he kissed her cheek.

The doors opened and a young woman with long blond hair checked the list to make sure they were invited to the event. Once inside, they were greeted by a server who handed them virgin daiquiris.

Isla drank hers with a giggle. “I have a tiny bottle of vodka in my clutch,” she whispered and Garrett shook his head.

“Let’s not give your parents another reason to think I’m a bad influence on you. Keep it in your purse.”

She groaned. “Boo. You’re no fun.”

“Shh,” he said as they walked down the long carpeted hallway to the Sage Ballroom. “We can drink later. Maybe we’ll be celebrating.”

Once they stepped through the archway and into the ballroom, Garrett’s brows lifted. It truly was like stepping into a fairy tale, his princess at his side.

“Wow,” he said at the size of the place.

It was bigger than his entire house, with windows and glass doors overlooking the expansive golf course and majestic walls of the canyon.

The scene was both elegant and intimidating, chandeliers lit above them, casting a golden glow on everyone and everything.

All eyes seemed to go straight to the young couple.

Garrett swallowed, his face growing hot with all of the attention they received. He hated how they looked at Isla and wanted to take her by the hand and leave.

“See,” Isla whispered as she leaned over to him. “We should have had a shot before coming.”

He wasn’t so sure that alcohol would have made it better.

He led her away from the silent scrutiny and around the perimeter of the crowd of ballgowns and tuxedos. Suddenly hot around his neck, he pulled Isla into a side hallway.

“Are you okay?”

Garrett nodded, leaning against the wall. He wanted to go home but had to do this for her. He knew that he didn’t fit in. He had a tattoo of an eagle on his neck that peeked out from under his collar. It was a target that singled him out despite his nice clothes.

“I’m fine. There are more people here than I thought.”

Isla slid her hands around his waist and locked them behind his back. In a yellow dress, her hair done up, she truly did look like a princess. Having her hold him soothed his nerves.

She pressed the side of her face to his chest. “Thank you for doing this, Garrett. I know it’s hard for you, but I need my father’s blessing. Do you know how much I envy Chrissy? She’s perfect. Never had a bad grade or a stupid rumor spread about her. No one ever treated her like less than an angel. At her wedding, the family was happy. Genuinely happy. I want that for ours as well.”

Garrett held onto her, resting his chin against her hair. “I’ll do it for you, Isla. But you’re perfect to me no matter what. And you always will be.”

“Promise?” she asked in a sweet whisper.

“I promise.”

“Isla,” Rebecca Maxwell called from behind her. “I heard you had arrived. What are you doing hiding out back here?”

Isla turned to her mother and straightened her posture. “Oh, Mother, this is Garrett Thorne. You know, the guy I was telling you about?”

Rebecca pursed her painted red lips, her brown eyes looking Garrett up and down, landing on the hint of a tattoo peeking from beneath his collar.

Garrett didn’t like how she looked at him. She was a tall woman, thin, with shoulder-length brown hair that curled just at the ends. He’d seen her in the paper and magazines and on TV before, and her hair always looked neat and shiny as if a personal stylist followed her around with a spray bottle. Not like his mother, who was more comfortable with ponytails and jeans and T-shirts.

“I see,” she said, a hint of disapproval in her modulated voice. “Well, let’s bring the boy to meet your father.”

Isla smiled, nodding eagerly as she motioned for Garrett to follow.

He took a deep breath and followed them back into the crowd. He just wanted to get this over with and go home. For two people who hated the thought of their daughter dating the son of a convict, an edgy Yorkshire-born boy, they never seemed to care that she’d been staying at his house for the past two months.

As long as they disapproved in public, who cared what happened when no one was looking?

The hypocrisy annoyed him, but he tried his best to not let it show on his face as everyone stared. They crossed the dance floor and heading to Peter Maxwell, who stood toward the back, just before the glass that looked out to the walls of the orange and red canyon.

Peter Maxwell ended his conversation with an older gentleman and turned his attention to the three of them.

Rebecca spoke first. “Darling, Isla has finally brought the Thorne boy over to meet us. And at a benefit no less.”

He didn’t like the way she said that but bit his tongue. The snobbery was thick in the air.

Instead of retorting, Garrett held out his hand to Peter Maxwell. “Lovely introduction,” he said, faking a posh American accent the best he could. “Garrett Thorne.”

Peter shook his hand, his grip tight and confident. Garrett had practiced his handshake, knowing how important it was to Isla’s father. It was as if he’d been coached for this day. Wear a tie. Polish your shoes. Give him a firm handshake. Try not to swear.

That last bit would be a tough one.

“Are you a charitable man, Garrett?”

Garrett lifted a brow. “I don’t follow, sir. What do you mean by the term charitable?”

“That’s right. This is a benefit after all. Did you come to donate? Or are you here to waste my time?”

Speechless, Garrett felt his face heat. It appeared that the niceties ended with his wife’s introduction. He considered his words carefully, keeping his emotions bottled inside. The worst thing he could do was perpetuate the rumors that he was a loose cannon, a violent man like his father.

“I hardly think that wanting to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage is a waste of time. Do you? And while I don’t have thousands to donate to charity, I’ve been donating my time for four years at the animal shelter.”

Peter’s eye twitched, but he kept a smug smile on his face. “Is that so? The animal shelter.” He glanced at his wife, who smiled as well.

“Charming,” Rebecca said, the sarcasm dripping from what looked to be her freshly injected lips.

How could two people be so insufferable?

“Dad,” Isla said. “Please don’t insult Garrett. He is a good man. We just want your blessing so we can start our life together.”

“Is he, Isla? What is so good about him? Tell me and I might give my blessing.”

“He’d heading to the army. Isn’t that admirable?”

“Any reject can join the army. What else do you have?”

Garrett clenched his jaw.

Isla chewed her lip, her cheeks growing red, tears in her eyes.

Garrett took her hand into his. He should have stood firm and shielded her from this.

“Well, for one, he’s been taking much better care of me the past year than you ever have,” she said, and turned away, rage and pain in her eyes. “Let’s go, Garrett.”

“If you walk out that door, you are cut-off, Isla,” Peter said, firmly.

Isla shrugged. “Cut me off, Peter. You can’t touch the trust Grandpa Lloyd set aside for me. So...yeah. Do your worst.”

Together, they left the party.

Garrett couldn’t help his grin. Finally, Isla stood up to her parents.

He had never been so proud of her.