“Yes,” he said. Tears were shining in his eyes. She didn’t care about what her father had just done. All of her life, Elliot had been there trying to protect her. He couldn’t protect her from everything, and there was no way he was keeping her from being with Trey. Running to Trey, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. “I love you. I love you.” She repeated the words over and over again.
“Is that your answer? Will you marry me?” he asked.
Leaning back enough to look at him, June nodded. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you. I love you so much.”
Trey kissed her. Elliot clearing his throat interrupted their moment. She turned to her father, glaring at him.
“I needed to know, honey.”
“What did you need to know?” she asked, angry at him.
“A lot of men would have named a figure and been gone. I needed to know he was a man who deserved you. I’ve always wanted to the best for you.”
“This was some kind of test?” Trey asked. His arms went around her waist pulling her close.
“When you’re a father to a daughter then you get to judge me, Trey. You’re my baby girl, June. Don’t expect me to accept everything just because it’s what you want. I love you. You’re my daughter, but don’t expect me to stop being your father.” Tears shone in her father’s eyes, and she saw the happiness along with the sadness glowing inside.
Leaving Trey’s side, she wrapped her arms around her father. “I love you, Daddy. I always will, and I’m not going anywhere. Trey and I are going to be putting our roots down here, right?”
She turned to Trey waiting for his answer.
“I love Winters Fall. I’d never want to leave, Sir.”
“Then you’ve got my vote. Now all you need to do is allow your mother to organize your wedding.” Elliot kissed her cheek and left quietly. It was a good job he left when he did as otherwise June would have been happy to hold a grudge against him.
“I like your dad. He’s going to be one hell of a grandfather,” Trey said.
“I hate him for what he’s just done. He’s a jerk, and I’m going to be a total bitch to him when we’re around him for a couple of months. All of that crap aside, he’s a great dad.”
“He loves you, and I’m going to do what he asks and reserve my judgment until I have a daughter.”
Trey pulled her close, kissing her head. “I love you, June Armstrong.”
She smiled, reaching up to kiss his lips. “I love you, Trey Hunt.”
Chapter Fourteen
“This is not funny. She must have organized the fastest wedding in history,” June said, complaining.
Trey listened to her through the bathroom. He was blindfolded at Lexie’s insistence. Seeing the bride before the wedding was against the law.
“It’s not bad.”
“We’re getting married on Christmas Eve, Trey. It’s not funny. I asked for a New Year wedding, not a Christmas one.”
He chuckled as she yelped again. Molly was in there with her trying to arrange her hair.
“What’s all the fuss about?” he asked. “New Year, Christmas, what does it matter so long as we’re together?”
“She did it on purpose.”
“Why?”
“Mom is making sure we stay for dinner. She has arranged everything even down to our honeymoon.”
Trey laughed as Molly cursed and ordered her around.
“Will you sit still? I’m trying to get your hair right.”
“June, tonight we’re going to be alone. Yes, the wedding is a little fairy tale, but it’s going to be amazing. You’re going to be beautiful, and everything is going to work out.”
“Do you promise?” June asked.
“It’s the nerves, baby. I promise you we’ll get through this and have something magical to tell our kids when they’re ready.”
Lexie knocked on the door and breezed in. “I’m stealing the groom, honey. Hurry up, you’ve got five minutes and we’ll need you downstairs.”
He was pulled from the bed and herded outside where Lexie removed the blindfold. Blinking from the light, he stayed still as she put his hair back into place.
His future mother-in-law had him covered from head to toe. The ink around his neck was hidden from the collar of his shirt. Lexie didn’t want ink to get in the way. It had been amusing hearing her screech when she’d caught sight of June’s ink on her back. He had a surprise in store for his wife and begged her parents to let him take her home with him that night.
Neither of them wanted to agree with his request, but they had after June talked to them.
“Go on. I’ll bring her down ready for you. I’m so proud of you, Trey. You’re going to make my daughter very happy.”