Daddy's Searching

She stepped close again to hug him and he squeezed her against his hard body as if savoring the feel of her. Belinda closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest. Pedro had become her sanctuary. She almost purred when his hand unfastened her ponytail and his fingers combed through her hair, massaging her scalp.

“You’re going to marry me when you’re ready or six months from now, whichever happens first. Then, we’ll create our own brood of brothers and sisters who alternatively love and hate each other.”

“We’re going to get married in six months?” she repeated, leaning away from his body to search his face.

“Unless you have something else happening on January first.” Pedro arched one questioning eyebrow.

“We’re getting married on January first?” she repeated, trying to sort out all the information he had surprised her with.

“Yes. I like that date. It’s my birthday.”

“You want to get married on your birthday?” she double-checked.

“You are the best present I could ever receive,” he shared with an indulgent smile.

“Do I get any say in this?” she laughed. Surely, he’s joking.

“Sure, when’s your birthday?”

“September thirteenth.”

“That works, too. We could get married on September thirteenth,” Pedro agreed, moving up the timeline for their wedding.

“That’s only a few weeks away,” she panicked.

“Better to wait until January first, hmmm?” he asked.

When she nodded, he concluded, “Perfect. January first, you will become Mrs. Pedro Morales.”

He took a step back and lowered himself to kneel on one knee. “I talked to your father this morning. Your parents have given me their blessing.”

She shook her head in disbelief at all the information she tried to understand and assimilate into her brain. “You called my father?”

He winked and reached out to take her hand. “I love you, Little girl. Now shush, and let me do this right.”

Taking a deep breath, Pedro asked, “Belinda Marie Jenkins, will you be my bride and forever my Little to hold and treasure for all the time we have left in this world?”

“Daddy? You’re not teasing me, are you?”

“No, mi corazón. I am very serious.” He squeezed her hand to reassure her.

“Oh, I forgot something.” Pedro reached into his pocket and retrieved a small velvet box. Opening it, he revealed a gorgeous red ruby surrounded by sparkling diamonds with a matching wedding ring wrapped around the dazzling center stones.

“That’s the ring you selected for me? People are going to chop my finger off to steal it,” she said before she could stop herself. Belinda stretched out a hand to stroke her finger over the unbelievable display of sparkling stones.

“No one is removing your finger, Little girl. If you don’t like it, we can choose another,” he suggested, watching her face.

“Oh, no. I love it. It’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“What do you think, Little girl? January first?”

“January first sounds perfect,” she answered in a rush of words.

“That’s my girl,” he praised as he stood agilely to take her hand. “I’ll take out the engagement ring for now. Let’s see if it fits.”

Pedro slid the ring over her knuckle and into place. “Perfect.”

She held her hand out to admire the gorgeous ring. It matched the nails that her Daddy had refreshed just the night before—glitter white polish with a red heart addition at the tip. He’d planned this.