Sinfully Yours, Sir (Doms of Decadence 4)

“If she’d been home I might have figured out she was blaming herself for everything,” her father said, his regret evident.

“Like you were blaming yourself?” Dylan queried.

“Gotta let this go, don’t I?”

“The ‘what if’s will kill you, sir,” Dylan agreed. “Javier has already caused enough hurt in this family. Respectfully, it’s time to move on.”

Her father took a long suck on his cigar and was silent for a long moment.

“So, you ever going to ask her to marry you or you going to live in sin for the rest of your lives?”

Dylan bit back a grin. The older man’s voice warned him that there was only one right answer to that question.

“Sir, I’d like to ask your permission to ask your daughter to marry me.”

Zach was silent for a long moment. “I’ve only known you for a few days, and despite the two of you avoiding the question, I’m guessing you haven’t dated long.”

“We haven’t, sir, and no, you haven’t known me long. But I respect your daughter. I think she’s smart, amazing and giving. I want to spend my life with her, but if you need more time to get to know me then I’m willing to wait until I propose.”

“Hmm.”

There was another long silence. Muffled laughter reached them from inside.

“Haven’t heard them laugh and carry on like that in a long time,” her father said. He sighed. “Tilly said you insisted that she come home. I want to see her more often.”

“We’ll come here as often as we can and you’re always welcome to visit us.”

“Not really a city man.” He stubbed out the cigar. “But I’ll make an exception for my daughter and any possible grandkids.”

Dylan rubbed his hand over his mouth to hide his grin. There was the sound of a door opening and Tilly’s perfume drifted toward him. She didn’t say anything, though, and Dylan didn’t look her way.

“Lord knows, those useless sons of mine aren’t going to produce any grandkids for me anytime soon. I want her to stay here for a while. By herself.”

Dylan sucked in a sharp breath.

“You seem like a good man and Tilly isn’t the girl she once was. But I need to know for sure that she’s safe. I want her to stay here alone for a bit. I want to be sure that she’s not being coerced into anything.”

“Daddy, Dylan would never do that,” Tilly said.

Dylan turned as she walked toward them. She snuck in between them, cuddling close to him but looking up to her father. “He would never push me into anything.”

“Not saying he would. But before I can give my permission I need to put any fears I have to rest. I failed you once, Tilly. I won’t do it again.”

“Oh, Daddy.”

Dylan heard the tears in her voice and he hugged h

er tight. The issues between them wouldn’t heal in a few days; it would take much longer. But maybe if they had some time without him they could move on.

“I think you should stay,” Dylan said. It went against every fiber of his being to leave her here. But he had to show her that he loved him as much as she loved him.

“You want me to stay here?” she asked, the surprise in her voice clear.

“Would you excuse us?” he said to her father.

Dylan grabbed her hand. He tugged her inside and avoiding the living area, pulling her along to their bedroom.

“Why do you want me to stay here?” she asked once he’d shut the door.