Melanie helped Nikki sort through her clothes to find appropriate attire to wear on what Nikki thought would be an exciting mini-vacation to Austin. Gabe was down in the parking lot tinkering with Melanie’s stupid car.

“Does Gabe have a pool?” Nikki asked.

“No, but he’ll probably take us to the lake on his boat.”

Nikki tossed a neon-pink string bikini into her open suitcase. Melanie didn’t comment. She would only wear a swimsuit like that to attract male attention, and in the past Nikki had thrived on that kind of attention, but she wanted Nikki to make her own choices. If she could manage to strut around in that bikini without initiating sex with the admirers that were sure to flock around her, more power to her. Melanie just hoped Gabe was impervious to Nikki’s blatant sex appeal. Crap. She’d forgotten the man had eyes. Of course he’d find Nikki attractive. What had she gotten them into?

Melanie took a deep breath. This wasn’t like situations in her past. She and Gabe were partners. Nikki wouldn’t take him away or seduce him, because he understood her risky behavior was part of her psychological condition. At least Melanie believed he understood that.

Her phone dinged with a text from Gabe. Got it started. Going to take it for a test drive.

“He got my piece-of-shit car started,” Melanie said, smiling at his genius.

“I’m not surprised,” Nikki said. “He’s pretty handy. Did you call your parents and ask them to dinner yet?”

Melanie’s heart took a dive to her feet. “I think I’ll just tell him that they couldn’t come.”

“So you haven’t asked them yet.”

“What if they don’t like him?”

“It doesn’t matter. You like him.”

“I love him.”

“Right. That’s what I meant. And if you love him, they’ll love him.”

Melanie was pretty sure it didn’t work that way.

“They thought Anthony was too wild for me.”

He was an accountant she’d dated a couple of years ago, one of her many boyfriends who’d ended up sleeping with Nikki. Her parents had thought him wild because he owned a motorcycle. He’d rarely ridden it, but just the owning of the dangerous thing had made him wild. If Anthony had been wild, then Gabe had been raised by wolves.

“Anthony was a dick,” Nikki said. “You know he came on to me, not the other way around.”

“I know.”

“I could have said no.” Nikki offered her a regretful frown and then looked into her suitcase. She removed the pink bikini and replaced it with a black one piece.

“Saying no is hard for you.”

Nikki nodded slightly. “Still not a good excuse. I’m sorry for all those times I messed up your relationships.”

“If it weren’t for you, I’d have never met Gabe.”

Nikki lifted her head and met Melanie’s eyes. She smiled. “So I guess that makes up for all my wrongs.”

Not even close, but Melanie nodded. “We’re square. Just don’t try to take him away from me.”

“I’d never. Not someone you actually loved. I’ve seen the way you look at him.” Nikki smacked Melanie in the gut with a bed pillow.

Melanie had thought she was in love with Anthony. Now that she was with Gabe, she knew better. He made her feel far more deeply than she’d ever experienced with anyone. So maybe all that heartache was a blessing in disguise. It allowed her to recognize the depth of her feelings quickly, allowed her to act on them, and to believe in them.

“I don’t know why you keep taking me back,” Nikki said, tracing a stripe on the comforter on her bed. “I’ve done some truly awful things to you.”

“I like to be needed.”

“Then I’m perfect for you. I have boundless need.”

Melanie laughed and hugged her.

“Go invite your parents to dinner,” Nikki said, “or I’m going to call them. I’m sure you remember how well that went the last time I called.”

Her parents had called the police, convinced that something terrible had happened when Nikki wouldn’t let them talk to Melanie. Melanie had been taking a nice leisurely bath. Nikki had called them to ask if they’d lend her the money to buy Melanie a birthday cake, which they thought was some code for drugs. Yeah, her parents were a bit overprotective and judgmental. She could only imagine their reaction when she introduced them to a man with a crimson-tipped Mohawk and dragon tattoos on his scalp. They’d probably think he’d pass those traits directly to their grandchildren.

“If Gabe finds out that he’s marrying into crazy,” Melanie said, “he’ll break off our engagement.”

“Your parents aren’t crazy,” Nikki said, but then she lifted her hands in surrender. “Okay, your parents are a little out there, but it’s only because they love you so much. I’d give anything to have parents like yours.”

Melanie snorted. “You wouldn’t say that if they were yours.”

Nikki yanked Melanie’s phone from her hand and managed to dial Melanie’s mother before she could get the device away from her. Melanie ended the call and shoved her phone back into her pocket. She had her mouth open to chastise Nikki, when her phone rang. She didn’t have to look at caller ID to know it was her mother. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then answered. She didn’t want the police to show up at her place because she didn’t pick up.

“Is everything okay, Melanie? You called but I wasn’t fast enough to answer.”

Melanie imagined her mother practicing speedy call acceptances like she was a Western gunslinger trying to perfect drawing her weapon.

“Everything is fine, Mom. I just butt dialed you. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I haven’t talked to you for days. How’s work?”

“Uh, well, I took some vacation days.”

“Then why haven’t you visited? Your dad made this great new beer. He’s been dying for you to come try it out.”

Nikki was giving Melanie a blend of the evil eye and a look of chastisement.

Melanie pivoted to the wall. “Actually, I did want to call and ask if you and Daddy wanted to join me for dinner. I . . . uh . . . have someone I’d like you to meet.”

“A new boy?”

Melanie rolled her eyes. Would she be perpetually twelve years old to her parents? “Not a boy, a man,” Melanie said. “And he’s incredibly important to me, so I don’t want you to act all overprotective when you meet him.”

“So it’s serious? How come you haven’t mentioned you’ve been seeing someone?”

She hadn’t had the time. “Because I wanted to be sure he was impervious to criticism before I introduced him to you and Daddy.”

Mom snorted. “Mel, we aren’t that bad.”

They were that bad. “So, dinner?”

“Dad’s been working on a rack of ribs for hours. Why don’t you bring your little friend here? Around seven?”

Her little friend? Gabe was far from little and was much more to her than a friend, but Melanie said, “Okay, but if you start acting like jerks, we’ll leave, and you might not ever see me again.”

“Why would we act like jerks?”

“Because . . .” How should she put it? “Because he’s not an accountant.”

Her mother laughed. “That’s probably a good thing. I remember how well your last relationship with an accountant went.”

“You’re being a jerk,” Melanie pointed out. “See you at seven.” She hung up before she changed her mind. Perhaps she should have asked Gabe if he was okay meeting her parents on their turf. They’d have to be more civil to him in public. But maybe she was worried over nothing. Except for the overprotective-bordering-on-oppressive thing, her parents were wonderful people.

She sent Gabe a text. How’s the car doing? We’re having dinner with my parents at seven. Hope you’re not stuck on the side of the road somewhere. Let me know if you need a tow.

He didn’t respond immediately—she hoped that meant the driving was going well—so she continued to help Nikki pack while Nikki prattled on about various times she’d gone head to head with Melanie’s parents. They treated Melanie like a princess. It was anyone who dared cause their princess grief that they turned on. And Nikki had caused Melanie plenty of grief in the past. Melanie kept them separated these days. She loved her parents dearly, but Nikki was an important part of her life too. If Mom and Dad had issues with Gabe, she supposed she could just keep them apart as much as possible.

A message from Gabe came at about six. Just now saw this. I’m on my way back to the apartment. The car is running fine. See you in a few.

“I thought maybe he’d chickened out and headed back to Texas,” Melanie said as Nikki helped her pick out something to wear to dinner.

“He’s the one who wanted to meet them,” Nikki said, holding a slinky red dress up to Melanie’s front.

“Uh, I’m taking my fiancé to meet my parents, not picking up johns on a shady street corner.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “You’re so gorgeous, yet you never show off the goods.”

“I show them off plenty to Gabe. He’s the only one who needs to see them.”

Melanie shoved the red dress back into the closet and pulled out a soft wholesome-looking green sundress that she knew her father liked. She paired it with flat sandals and a light sweater. The only make-up she applied was the lightest dusting of powder, some mascara, and a blush-toned lip gloss. Maybe by looking fresh-faced and sweet she’d counter some of Gabe’s overstated alternative look. She liked how he looked. In fact, his tattoos, piercings, and Mohawk turned her on, but it wasn’t the kind of look her parents would appreciate. She wasn’t going to insist he dress in any particular fashion when he met them. If he wanted to wear leather, a T-shirt that read FUCK AUTHORITY, and his Mohawk spiked straight to the sky, she wouldn’t have a problem with that. Whatever made him comfortable was fine with her. She’d love for her parents to accept him, but if they didn’t, it wasn’t a deal breaker. She loved him and didn’t care who approved or disapproved of their relationship.

Yeah, she told herself all that. But in her heart she’d be overjoyed if they approved of him.

A few minutes later, Gabe knocked on the door. She smiled at him, took from his hand the bouquet of white lilies and pink roses that he told her were for her mom, and kissed his cheek. He was filthy—hands covered in oil, grime, and general filth—and she had to admit he’d never looked sexier.

“Hope I have time for a shower,” he said, pulling his shirt off over his head as he headed for the apartment’s single bathroom.

Nikki offered his shirtless body an appreciative whistle before he closed the bathroom door.

“Aww, he bought you flowers?” Nikki said, touching the silky white petal of one of the lilies.

“No, he’s even sweeter than that. He bought my mother flowers.”

The shower kicked on, and Melanie stared at the closed door, wishing she had time to join him in there. She loved the dirty, sweaty version of Gabe, but might admire his wet and naked version even more. She couldn’t be sure unless she got an eyeful for comparison.

“If they don’t absolutely love him, they’re idiots,” Nikki said.

“Let’s hope they can get over their prejudices. If not, they’re the ones who’ll miss out.”

“Are you going to tell them that you two are engaged?”

Melanie lifted her left hand to show Nikki her naked ring finger. “Don’t see why I should. He hasn’t put a ring on it yet.”

“He hasn’t had time to put a ring on it.”

“I’m not upset about it,” Melanie said, staring longingly at the bathroom door. How late would they be if she stripped off her dress and joined him? “I figured we’d let them adjust to the idea of my new boyfriend before we force them to consider him my future husband.”

“Hey, if I was engaged to that delicious man, there wouldn’t be a person on the planet that I wasn’t proud to tell.”

Melanie grimaced, appalled by the connotation in Nikki’s words. “Does it seem like I’m ashamed of him?”

Nikki shook her head. “No, just that you expect others not to accept him for who he is.”

It was practically the same thing. She needed to get that vibe under wraps. If her parents picked up on it, they’d run with it. “I wish everyone saw him the way I do.”

“As a hot-as-fuck and talented badass with a great body and amazing green eyes?” Nikki snorted. “Trust me. Everyone sees him that way.”

But that wasn’t all that Melanie saw when she looked at him. “I see him as heroic, tender, a little hot-headed if he’s been wronged, but ultimately a good person.”

“I assume you’re talking about me.”

Gabe’s deep voice made Melanie jump.

Nikki giggled. “He caught you waxing poetic about him.”

Melanie turned to find him wearing nothing but a towel, his exposed chest and belly glistening with water. The fresh, clean scent of soap on his recently scrubbed flesh had her knees a bit wobbly. “If he hadn’t interrupted, I would have added that he’s smart, adventurous, talented, and devastatingly inventive.”

Gabe crossed his arms over his chest, his towel slipping an inch lower as he stood straight. “Do go on,” he said.

“He’s also a bit cocky. I’m not talking Shade Silverton’s level of cocky, but he’s not lacking in self-confidence.”

“Shade is perfectly cocky,” Nikki said. She moaned as if being tortured. “He also has a perfectly huge cock.”

“Gabe,” Melanie said, “you might want to keep your gorgeous body concealed from the recovering sex addict. She’s already thinking of Shade as a viable option.”

“Shade is always a viable option,” Nikki said, taking in an eyeful of Gabe. “He stops when you say stop, but who the hell would want him to stop?”

“Who would want him to start?” Melanie countered. She honestly didn’t understand Jacob’s appeal. He was good looking, but she just didn’t recognize him as having any substance, and now that he’d left Gabe and his bandmates high and dry just because he felt like it, she liked him even less.

“How long do I have before we’re supposed to be at your parents’ house?” Gabe asked.

Melanie glanced at the clock on the wall. “About three minutes.”

“Shit!” He disappeared into Melanie’s bedroom and shut the door.

“I hope they don’t use our tardiness against him,” Melanie said, figuring they’d use any negative as ammunition.

“He really is a good guy,” Nikki said. “But admit it. If you’d realized who he was before you started talking to him, you never would have come to know who he was, because you wouldn’t have given him a chance.”

“Exactly, and where do you think I picked up that horrible bias?”

“Your parents.”

Melanie nodded. “It will do me good to get out of Kansas.”

“Not sure how much a week in Austin will free you from their shelter.”

Melanie opened her mouth to remind her that she was moving to Austin for good, but remembered in time that they hadn’t told Nikki the move would be permanent. And that would be another weapon in her parents’ arsenal against Gabe. He was taking their baby girl far away from them. She predicted the evening was going to be a total disaster.

Gabe hurried out of the bedroom a moment later, looking mind-bogglingly attractive in a pair of black slacks and a white button-down dress shirt. She stared at him, mouth agape, for a long minute before realizing he was asking for assistance in buttoning his cuff sleeve. He’d applied a splash of cologne, which she could only smell when she was really close. The scent made her want to bury her face in his neck and breathe him in.

“Should I wear a hat?” he asked.

Melanie tilted her head back, her heart throbbing with excitement. Why on earth would he want to shade those gorgeous green eyes beneath the brim of a hat?

“I don’t have time to grow my hair out,” he added.

“Wear whatever makes you comfortable,” Melanie said. She was too far gone over the guy to give a fuck what her parents thought.

Gabe licked his lips. “Trust me when I say a man is never comfortable when he meets his future in-laws.”

“Her parents are ultraconservative,” Nikki said. “You should probably wear a Ronnie Reagan mask if you want them to like you.”

Gabe blew out his cheeks. “Hat, it is.”

He slipped back into the bedroom and reemerged wearing a trendy black fedora. Melanie let out a low whistle.

“Why didn’t you tell me you clean up so well?”

“Because I prefer to be dirty.” Gabe winked at her and extended his arm to take her hand. “Ready when you are.”

He let her drive since she knew the way. The flowers he held clutched in one hand were shaking slightly, but she didn’t let him know she noticed. She did let him know that he was flipping brilliant. Her car ran better than it had in years.

“I thought fixing new cars was impossible for anyone but a technician with all sorts of diagnostic equipment,” she said.

“You had a vacuum hose leak. Easy to fix.”

“My car has a vacuum? Can’t tell with all those crumbs under the seats.”

He laughed and picked up her hand. His palm was a bit damp, but she didn’t point that out either.

“Just so you know,” Melanie said, “if they don’t love you—and I’m not sure how they couldn’t, you’re amazing—I love you. Their opinion won’t change my mind.”

“Just like their opinion didn’t make you afraid of tattoos and men who have them?”

“I was an impressionable child at the time. I didn’t think my parents could be wrong about anything. They were wrong to exacerbate my fear into a phobia. I see that now. You helped me see that. Now it’s their turn to get over their stupid prejudices against tattoos. Tattoos are mainstream. I’d say half the people our age have at least one.”

“How many of those have them on their scalps?” Gabe pointed to his head.

“Just the best ones. I plan to get one to match.”

He laughed and squeezed her hand. She had been joking, sort of. She did want to get a tattoo, mostly to prove that she wasn’t afraid, but also because she was starting to think of them as sexy, and she wanted to be sexy for Gabe. She didn’t have plans to add one to her scalp, however. That had to hurt. She was thinking of something like a butterfly on her shoulder. Nothing too over the top. In any case, she’d hoped her little spiel would make him feel better, but he still looked green around the collar.

She pulled up into her parents’ driveway, the brick ranch house looking much the same as it had her entire life, and put the car in park. “Just remember you’re the one who wanted to meet them. I did not force this on you.” She kissed him on the lips and opened her door. After a few seconds, Gabe climbed out and adjusted his hat, tugged at a shirt sleeve, and smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle in his pant leg. Her warnings had the poor guy entirely nervous. Perhaps she shouldn’t have told him about her parents at all. Maybe it would have been easier to surprise him the same way she was surprising them. She linked her elbow through Gabe’s and urged him forward.

“Last I checked, they don’t have rabies,” she said, leaning close to him and catching the scent of his sweet and woodsy cologne. “They won’t bite. Their schnauzer, on the other hand, has been known to take a nip out of a kneecap or two.”

“Maybe I should wait for you in the car.”

Their arrival was announced by Lucy’s vigorous barking. Melanie opened the front door, and the barking morphed into an excited howl. She squatted to pet the pooch, but Lucy had spotted Gabe. Her growl of warning made Melanie cringe. Undeterred, Gabe squatted next to Lucy and made no threatening moves while the dog sniffed him.

“What’s his name?” Gabe asked.

“Her name is Lucy.”

“Hello, Lucy,” Gabe said, taking on his higher-pitched dog-speaking voice. “Are you a good girl?”

He extended his hand slowly, gauging the dog’s reaction, and she gave it a sniff before licking him and accepting him as a new member of her pack. Gabe scratched behind her ear, and she wagged her tail.

Melanie smiled as she watched the pair bond. “Good at fixing cars and charming cranky little dogs. I picked a winner.”

Gabe laughed and stood straight.

“Is that you, Melanie?” her mom called from the back of the house. “We’re out on the deck. Dad’s grilling ribs.”

“Dad makes great ribs,” Melanie said, her belly rumbling at the thought of scarfing some down. She was a little surprised the pair of them weren’t standing at the front door in anticipation of meeting her new boyfriend. Maybe they’d mellowed since they’d celebrated the loss of her last one.

“I love ribs,” Gabe said.

When they entered the kitchen, her mom was removing cold dishes from the refrigerator and setting them on the counter. “Could you give me a hand, Melanie?”

Melanie rushed forward to take the huge bowl of coleslaw out of her mom’s hands. Which was a good thing. Mom had just spotted Gabe, and her grip went slack. If Melanie hadn’t had a hand on the bowl, it would have dropped to the floor.

“This is Gabe,” Melanie said, feeling all sorts of awkward. “My mom.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.”

Mom’s hand fluttered near her neck, and she pressed it hard against her chest. “You too.”

“I brought you some flowers. I hope you like lilies and roses.”

Gabe handed over the bouquet. Her mom couldn’t take her eyes off him. Not even when she accepted his gift. Melanie was pretty sure her mother had gone into shock. While Melanie grabbed a vase from a nearby cabinet and filled it with water, Gabe attempted small talk.

“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Anderson. Uh, and a great dog.”

“Lucy?” Mom asked, glancing down at the gray-mustached dog at Gabe’s feet who was staring up at him adoringly. “Lucy hates strangers.”

“Well, she obviously loves Gabe,” Melanie said, taking the flowers out of her mom’s hands and sticking them in the vase. “He has a couple of Labradors.”

“Is that right?” Mom said, finally allowing her eyes a swift blink.

“Lady and Beau,” Gabe said.

“Could you carry this out to the deck?” Melanie asked, handing a bowl of potato salad to Gabe. He took it and turned, looking for the way out to the deck. Visible through the sliding doors, a big plume of smoke billowed from the grill as Dad manned the fire with his back to them. Gabe headed in that direction, Lucy on his heels, and Melanie reached for the bowl of coleslaw. Mom lifted a pitcher of lemonade and grabbed Melanie’s arm.

“You didn’t warn me that he was gorgeous,” Mom said, leaning close to whisper in Melanie’s ear. “I made a fool of myself.”

Melanie blinked at her. That was why she’d been staring at Gabe like that, because she thought he was good looking? Melanie laughed. “Hey, Mom,” she whispered so Gabe didn’t overhear, “my new boyfriend is very easy on the eyes. Don’t step on your tongue.”

“Mel!” she admonished, but then she laughed. “Actually, that is a possibility.”

Gabe slid the door open and waited for both women—and the dog—to exit before he followed them out.

“Thank you for the flowers,” Mom said to Gabe as she passed him. “They’re lovely. And please, call me Linda.”

“You’re very welcome, Linda,” he said, pulling the glass door closed behind them.

Melanie couldn’t stop herself from touching his arm as she stood beside him.

“You look just like your mom,” Gabe said.

“Everyone says that,” she said, “but I have my dad’s eyes.” She set her bowl on the rectangular table, and Gabe followed her lead with his bowl.

“Daddy?” she said, wondering why he hadn’t turned around. He had to know they’d come outside. Lucy was standing on her back legs right beside him, begging for a rib.

“Just about ready,” he said, closing the lid on his smoky charcoal grill.

He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and then turned. She watched Dad search Gabe’s face, the sides of his head that the hat didn’t conceal, and the little hint of a tattoo at his collar, and then narrow his eyes at the tattoos peeking out at each wrist.

“I assume you’re wearing long sleeves in late June to hide something,” Dad said, his hazel eyes boring into Gabe’s emerald green ones.

“Out of respect, actually,” Gabe said, not breaking eye contact.

“Mark,” Mom said, moving next to him and kissing her perturbed-looking husband on the cheek. “You promised.”

“I promised I wouldn’t castrate him on sight.”

“Daddy!” Melanie said, laying a hand on Gabe’s back to let him know his junk was safe. If necessary, she’d defend his nether parts with her life.

“I didn’t promise to like him,” Dad added.

“You haven’t even given him a chance,” Melanie said.

“If Melanie were my daughter, I wouldn’t have let me in the front door,” Gabe said with a disarming smile.

Dad seemed to like his answer. He actually laughed and offered his hand for a measuring handshake. He seemed to like the handshake as well, because it was accompanied by a hard clap on Gabe’s opposite arm.

“I hope you like ribs,” Dad said, turning back to the grill and opening the lid. A fragrant plume of smoke puffed toward the cloudless sky, and tongs in hand, Dad removed the ribs from the grill and placed them on a huge platter.

“If they taste half as good as they smell, I’m in for a treat,” Gabe said.

“They’re always delicious,” Melanie said, sidling up to her father to kiss his cheek. “How was your week?”

“Just fine,” Dad said. “We missed you Wednesday night.”

She usually had dinner with them at least once a week, but had been dealing with Nikki’s admission into the hospital most of the day on Wednesday. She hadn’t told her parents why she’d turned down a home-cooked meal, just that she was busy.

“Haven’t seen much of you for the past couple of weeks, to be honest. Does this fella have something to do with that?” Dad nodded toward Gabe, who was helping her mom fill glasses of lemonade.

“He might,” she said. “He’s important to me, Daddy, or I wouldn’t have brought him to meet you.”

“Not sure how you got him to agree to that.”

“It was his idea.”

“That so?” Dad assessed Gabe even more closely as he added the platter of BBQ-sauce-encrusted ribs to the center of the table.

“Family is important to me, sir,” Gabe said.

There was no doubting his sincerity.

Dad’s eyes narrowed marginally. “That so?”

“I’ve met his parents already,” Melanie said. “You’d like them. They’re both doctors. His sisters are also doctors. I haven’t actually met them yet, but I’m sure they’re as awesome as the rest of his family. And he’s great with dogs. You know what they say about men who are good with dogs. They make great fathers. Not that I’m pregnant or anything. I just wanted to assure you that family really is important to him—he wasn’t just saying that to impress you—and . . . I’ll shut up now.” She didn’t know why she was babbling. Probably because she so wanted her parents to accept the man she loved. She didn’t want to have to give up her close bond with her family to be with Gabe, but she would. At least Mom seemed to like him. Based on her appreciative stare, perhaps a little too much.

“So,” Dad said, taking a seat in his usual spot at the head of the table. The rest of them found chairs as well, with Gabe across from him, and his women at either side. “Family of doctors, huh? What do you do for a living?”

“I’m not sure at the moment.”

“He plays drums for a famous rock band.” Melanie squeezed his hand under the table.

“Of course he does,” Dad said with a frown.

“The band’s on rocky ground right now,” Gabe said in a tone far calmer than he usually used when talking about Sole Regret’s troubles. “I’m currently trying to decide my next move. Start a business. Go back to school. Try to get my band straightened out.” He shrugged and scooped a pile of potato salad onto his plate.

“I dated a musician right after high school,” Mom said, her chin in her hand as she gazed at Gabe.

“You see how well that turned out,” Dad said, sawing between ribs with a huge chef knife. Gabe eyed the sharp instrument warily.

“I never knew that,” Melanie said. “I thought you and Dad were high school sweethearts.”

“We were,” Mom said, “but we broke up for a few months before we came to our senses and decided it was meant to be.”

Dad reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m glad you came to your senses.”

“Me too, but those three months with Darryl sure were fun.”

Melanie blinked at her mother. How come Mom had never told her that she’d dated some musician named Darryl?

“He played guitar,” Mom elaborated. “In the backup band for a country singer. I think he still does, but I’m not sure. We lost touch long ago.”

“He wasn’t right for you, Linda,” Dad said, and Melanie recognized bitterness in the tight press of his lips.

“No, he wasn’t.” Mom leaned closer to Gabe to whisper, “But he was a lot of fun.”

As Mom leaned away, her eyes focused on the side of Gabe’s head where a hint of dragon claw was visible beneath the brim of his hat.

“Do you have something on your head?” she asked.

Gabe went entirely still, a forkful of coleslaw halfway to his mouth. “Uh, just a little ink.”

Mom grinned. “You do know that if you don’t show me, I’m going to look you up on the internet and find out just what kind of rock star my daughter is tangled up with.”

Melanie had already googled him and knew there wasn’t much incriminating evidence out there about Gabe. Compared to what she’d read about Jacob and Adam, Gabe was relatively boring. But there was a lot of commentary on his dragon tattoos.

“You might as well show her,” Melanie said.

After a few seconds of hesitation, he removed his hat and set it on the table beside him before picking up a rib and gnawing off a bite.

“You’re such a nice-looking young man,” Mom said, “Why would you permanently ruin your looks?”

Gabe turned to offer her a hard stare, and she shrank back into her chair with her hand over her chest as if he’d threatened her. He then smiled, and her shoulders relaxed.

“That’s why,” he said.

“I still don’t get it,” Dad said. “Or the red hair dye. What are you thinking, boy?”

“It’s part of his image,” Melanie said. “For the band. It toughens him up.”

“And if he ever wants to lose that image?” Dad asked.

“I’ll grow my hair out.”

Just in the few days he’d been off tour, a fine layer of dark brown hair had started to fill in the sides of his Mohawk.

“Now that I’m used to them, I like your dragons,” Melanie said. She touched a spot just behind his temple where the tips of flames from the dragon’s mouth extended a few centimeters beyond his hairline. “I’m not sure they’ll be entirely covered anyway.”

“For the most part they are. I always let my hair grow out when I’m not on tour. It’s a total pain in the ass to have to shave your head every day.”

“You might be able to get a real job, then,” Dad said.

Apparently the man was already comfortable enough around Gabe to offer parental criticism.

“I might,” Gabe said.

Melanie supposed he got similar talks from his own parents. Maybe he was used to this kind of thing, but it still annoyed her.

“I didn’t start going out with him because he’s a rock star,” Melanie said, “but I’m proud to be his.”

“That sounds pretty serious,” Mom said, her gaze darting to Gabe’s head whenever he was looking the other way.

“We are serious,” Gabe said. “And I was going to wait until after dinner to do this, but now seems like a good time.”

Gabe stood and slid his hand into the front pocket of his slacks. He went down on one knee beside Melanie’s chair, some small object in his hand. She smiled at the look of love in his eyes and was sure a similar look was showing on her face as well.

“I planned to ask permission, but I doubt your parents will grant it, so I’ll just make this official.” He took her left hand in his and slipped a dazzling diamond ring onto her finger. “You already said yes once, but I’ll ask again anyway, this time with witnesses and a ring. Melanie Anderson, you are my one. I promise to love you as you deserve to be loved every day for the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

His face blurred behind the sudden rush of tears in her eyes. “I meant it when I said I would. Ring or no ring, my answer will be the same even if you ask me a thousand times. Yes, Gabe Banner, I will marry you.”

Her mother produced a barely perceptible squeak. Melanie forced her eyes from Gabe’s smiling face to make sure Mom was okay.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom said, climbing from her chair to circle the table and wrap her arms around Melanie. “I’m so glad you found someone to love.” She kissed the top of Melanie’s head, nearly smothering her against her chest.

Melanie felt some of the strain in her spine ease. She hadn’t realized how worried she was about her parents’ reaction until her mom so easily accepted the inevitable. There was still a bit of tension in her body as she turned to her father. His face was nearly purple.

“No daughter of mine is marrying a . . . a . . . a thug.”

And here was the man she knew as her father. She’d wondered where he’d been hiding.

“He’s not a thug,” Melanie said, her spine stiffening defensively. “He’s the greatest man I’ve ever known next to you.”

Dad didn’t take that as a compliment. “Musicians are all alike—head in the clouds, impractical, self-serving destroyers of virtue.”

Melanie didn’t know which part to laugh about. Gabe was none of those things—except the musician part—and Melanie had been far from virtuous when she’d met him.

“Mark,” Mom said softly, “this isn’t about me and Darryl. This is about Melanie and Gabe.”

The flush on Dad’s face seemed to be embarrassment rather than anger as he ducked his head and then stood. “I need a beer. Melanie!” he said sharply as he headed for the garage where he’d set up the little microbrewery he was so proud of.

Melanie cringed. She was very familiar with that tone; in the past it had meant she was about to be grounded. And even though she was fully grown, living on her own and now engaged, she never wanted to disappoint her dad.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to Gabe as she stood.

She rubbed the unfamiliar band on her left finger and took a second look at her new diamond. She smiled, her heart brimming with happiness. The ring was perfect. Not too big, but not tiny. Like the man, it was perfect. When had Gabe found the time to get her a ring? When he’d been out test driving her car, she realized with a rush of pleasure. She glanced over her shoulder and offered him a courageous smile before entering the overwarm garage. Dad shut the door behind her.

“What are you thinking?” he said, taking her firmly by one arm. “You cannot marry a guy like him.”

“A guy like who? Like Gabe? I’m lucky to have him. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“You said that about the last guy.”

She didn’t remember ever saying that about any of her previous boyfriends, but it didn’t matter. “This will be my last guy. Gabe will be my husband. You’d better get used to the idea.”

Dad shook his head. “I’ll never get used to the idea. Will you look at him?”

“Will you?” Melanie said, tugging her arm out of his grasp and going to the small refrigerator where Dad kept his various home brews. “Look at him, Dad, not at what’s on the outside.” Though she was undeniably attracted to that part of him as well. “But what’s on the inside. I guarantee he will surprise you.”

“He surprised me all right,” Dad said. “At first glance he looks ordinary. But underneath?” He shook his head as if unable to believe that Gabe was real.

“He’s anything but ordinary, Dad. He’s remarkable. I see it, and I hope someday you’ll see it too. I’m moving to Austin to live with him.” She opened the refrigerator and peeked inside. “Which beer should I try?” Maybe that question would distract him from her previous statement.

“You’re not moving in with him.”

“I am. And I’m marrying him. There isn’t anything you can do about it. I’m a grown woman.”

He closed his eyes and bit his lip. After a moment, he said, “But you’re not. Not to me. To me you’ll always be my little girl.”

“Would you give beer to a little girl?”

He laughed and opened his eyes. She’d never seen her father cry, so the mistiness in his eyes made her own tears well up.

“You’ve always been clever. Do you know how exasperating that is?”

“I get that from Mom, and you must like it if you married her.”

“Take a beer to your friend and give me a minute to compose myself,” Dad said. “And you might want to hide the knife before I return to the table. I might find a new use for it.”

“Daddy!” She pulled two beers from the fridge, closing the door with her hip. “You aren’t going to stab anyone.”

“I believe I have a castration on my agenda.”

“Then you’ll never get to be a grandpa.” She kissed his cheek on her way past him. “I’ll give you a few minutes. If you’re not back, I’ll send Mom in here to find you.”

He cringed. “She’ll chew me out.”

But Melanie knew better. Her mother was her father’s perfect complement. And she hadn’t realized it until that moment, but her parents had the kind of relationship she wanted for herself. A lasting, strong partnership strengthened by love and honesty.

“For your sake, I’ll ask Gabe to put his hat back on.” She kissed her dad’s cheek as she passed him and left the stifling heat of the garage behind.

“How did that go?” Mom asked when Melanie returned to the table.

“He let me escape with two of his precious home brews,” Melanie said, handing one over to Gabe. “No matter how terrible it is, you have to say it’s the best you’ve tasted.”

“You’d have me lie?”

“To spare my daddy’s feelings?” She twisted the top off and took a sip, surprised that it was actually good. Dad’s early concoctions hadn’t been fit for consumption, but he had certainly improved with practice. “You bet I would.”

“She’s a bit of a daddy’s girl,” Mom said. “Always has been.”

“This one is actually pretty good,” Melanie said, inspecting the blue and gray label that read Anderson’s Secret Ale. “You won’t have to lie.”

A few minutes later, Daddy returned with a beer for himself. Her mother never drank, but was ever supportive of his various hobbies. As soon as Melanie spotted her dad, she nonchalantly placed Gabe’s hat on his head, slipped the chef knife from its position next to her father’s plate and hid it under the table. Gabe offered her a confused look before he smiled at her dad.

“Great-tasting brew, Mark,” he said. “How long have you been working at it?”

“Couple of years,” he said, tossing back a long swallow of his latest invention. “Everything I brewed at the start tasted like goat piss, but Melanie liked it for some reason.”

Melanie choked on her swallow of beer and set it aside, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she struggled not to cough up a lung. “It was horrible,” she said after she caught her breath. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings,” Gabe said. “Well, except for Jacob’s. She has a blind spot with that guy.”

“He’s a jerk,” Melanie said.

“Biggest softie on the planet,” Gabe said. “You just have to see him around his daughter to recognize it. Kind of like your old man here.”

Melanie scowled at him. “My daddy is nothing like Jacob Silverton.”

Gabe’s knowing grin had her seeing red.

“Jacob is the lead singer, right?” Mom asked.

How did she know that?

“I filled her in while you were in the garage,” Gabe said to Melanie. “I think you’d like him, Linda.”

“I’d love to meet him. Actually, I’d love to meet all your bandmates. They all sound so interesting.”

“That’s one way to describe them.” Gabe laughed and patted Mom on the arm.

Dad didn’t seem to appreciate their chumminess, but Melanie’s relief was absolute. If Mom liked Gabe, she knew it wouldn’t be long before her dad came around. Mom had never taken a liking to Melanie’s past boyfriends, so she couldn’t help but take her obvious affection for this one as a positive.

“So how’s Nikki?” Mom asked, pushing her empty plate toward the center of the table.

“She seems better now that she’s out of that hospital,” Gabe said.

Melanie squeezed her eyes shut. She’d forgotten to warn him about her mother’s intense dislike for one Nicole Swanson.

“Hospital?” Mom asked.

“She went voluntarily,” Gabe said.

“How about dessert?” Melanie hopped up from the table and grabbed Gabe by the wrist. “Mind giving me a hand?” she asked, but she wouldn’t give him the opportunity to refuse.

“I thought Nikki was out of your life for good,” Mom said.

Gabe’s eyebrows drew together, and he glanced at Melanie.

“She was in need of a friend,” Melanie said, tugging on Gabe until he finally stood.

“That girl is always in need of something.” Mom exchanged a knowing look with Dad.

“Melanie’s too kind-hearted to turn away anyone as broken as Nikki,” Gabe said over his shoulder as Melanie towed him to the house.

“Too gullible, you mean?” Mom said.

Gabe didn’t have the opportunity to answer because Melanie tugged him into the house through the sliding door and closed it behind him.

“Is it common for you to hide things from your parents?” Gabe asked.

“Certain things,” Melanie admitted. “They really don’t like Nikki.”

“I gathered as much. Can I ask why?”

“They think she uses me.”

“She totally uses you.”

“I know, but I’m okay with that. They’re not. They think it’s best if I don’t associate with her at all.”

“A week ago, I would have agreed with them, but Nikki needs someone like you in her life.”

Melanie nodded. “They’ll never see it that way. It’s best to just not talk about her around them. They both get all riled up.”

“Now you tell me.”

She wrung her hands, and her engagement ring caught her eye, which reminded her . . . “I told my dad I’m moving to Austin.”

“I’m sure he took that well,” Gabe said.

“I don’t think he’s processed it all yet. Maybe we should escape before he does.”

The door slid open, and Mom looked into the kitchen at the two of them. “Your father tells me that you’re moving in together. In Austin.”

Too late for escape.