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forty

Davey followed Rowan down the sleek staircase from the rooftop, the sound of her boots a steady rhythm against the polished steel steps. Each step felt heavier than the last as the weight of what lay ahead settled on his chest. Meeting Rowan’s father wasn’t something he’d prepared for—especially not when that father was Gabe Bristow, a man who could make Navy SEALs quake in their boots with a single glare.

“Relax,” Rowan said over her shoulder, her tone light but laced with amusement. “He doesn’t bite.”

Davey let out a dry chuckle. “That’s not exactly comforting, considering I’ve heard what he does do.”

She paused at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face him with a smirk that was both infuriating and endearing. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t say anything stupid.”

“Great advice,” he deadpanned. “Anything else? Like how to dodge flying knives?”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh, he doesn’t throw knives. He just uses them to… make a point. Usually in soft, sensitive parts of the anatomy.”

Davey’s stomach dropped, and he barely resisted the urge to shield his balls. “Oh, fuck.”

Rowan laughed, the sound soft and teasing. She reached out, brushing her fingers over his arm. “I’m kidding. Mostly.”

“Mostly?” he muttered under his breath.

Before he could talk himself out of it, she grabbed his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Relax, Davey. It’s just my dad.”

“Yeah? Then why do I feel like I’m walking into my execution?”

She just laughed, pushed open the door to his office, and stepped aside, letting him walk in first.

Davey froze.

Oh, shit.

He’d been preparing himself for Gabe Bristow’s infamous death glare. He had not been preparing for this meeting to take place in his damn office.

Or for Gabe Bristow to be standing in front of the same desk Davey had very recently?—

Jesus Christ.

His face went scorching hot before he could stop it.

Rowan knew. He could tell by the way her lips twitched, by the barely concealed amusement in her hazel eyes. She was enjoying this.

Meanwhile, Gabe was staring at him. Arms crossed, stance deceptively casual but radiating authority. His gold eyes locked onto Davey, sizing him up in a single glance.

Behind him, Audrey sat perched on the edge of the desk— the desk —her gray hair streaked with wild shades of teal and purple, her smile warm.

Next to her sat Rue, who was a carbon copy of their mother.

And then there was Gabe. Still staring.

Davey resisted the urge to gulp. He’d faced down armed enemies, infiltrated hostile territories, and survived things most men couldn’t fathom?—

But the steely gaze of Rowan’s father? That was something else entirely.

Gabe didn’t say anything. He just kept looking at him. Like he was trying to decide how many different ways he could kill him.

Audrey tilted her head, watching Davey’s sudden shift in color. Then her gaze flicked to the desk.

Something clicked.

Her lips twitched.

Oh, fuck no.

“Everything all right, Davey?” she asked sweetly.

Rue’s gaze followed hers. She looked at the desk. Then at Rowan. Then back at Davey.

And then she grinned like the little menace she was.

“Oh my God. Did you two—” she pointed at the desk, then back at them, “—on the desk?”

Davey choked on air.

Gabe’s expression turned lethal. “What.”

Audrey smacked her husband. Not on the arm or shoulder. No, she slapped his ass. “Oh, c’mon, sailor. Like we’ve never done it on your desk at home. In fact, yesterday…”

“Oh, no!” Rue clamped her hands over her ears. “No, no, no. We’re resetting this conversation right now.” She dropped her hands from her ears with an exaggerated shudder and pretended to jab a button. “Reset. I came here for an interrogation, maybe some bloodshed, not psychological trauma.”

“You started it,” Rowan pointed out, smirking.

Rue ignored her, turning to her father. “Aren’t you supposed to be threatening him or something?”

Gabe, who had been glaring at the desk like it had personally wronged him, exhaled through his nose and finally—finally—dragged his death stare back to Davey.

“Right,” he muttered, straightening to his full, imposing height. “Where were we?”

Davey braced himself.

Gabe held out a hand. “I never thought my daughter would end up with a Wilde.”

Davey’s hand was engulfed in an iron grip, the older man’s palm callused from years of hard work and combat. He exhaled and met Gabe’s gaze steadily, refusing to flinch even though his face still felt like it was on fire.

“Sir,” he said, proud that his voice was calm. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

Gabe’s eyes narrowed slightly, searching his face for any sign of weakness. “Is it now? And why’s that?”

He could feel Rowan’s eyes on him and knew she was waiting to see how he’d handle her father’s interrogation. He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Because you raised an incredible daughter.”

“Yeah, I did.” Gabe’s grip turned painful, grinding the bones in his hand together. “And if you hurt her?—”

“Let me stop you right there,” he said, cutting off the threat. “I have no intention of ever hurting Rowan. I love your daughter, sir, and I’m going to marry her. My only goal is to make sure she’s safe, happy, and never forgets how much I love her. If I ever fail at that, if I ever cause her a moment’s heartache, then I will personally hand you the dull knife so you can castrate me.”

Gabe held his stare for a stony moment, then a slow smile spread across his stern face. And suddenly, Davey knew exactly who Rowan inherited her smile from.

“I believe you mean that.” Gabe finally released his hand to sling an arm around his shoulders. “But it’s not me you’ll hand the knife to.” He nodded toward his daughter. “She’s more than capable of doing it herself. And then, after you bleed out, I’ll make sure nobody ever finds your body.”

Davey resisted the urge to gulp. “Understood, sir.”

“Sailor, you better not be threatening him.” Audrey strolled over with an arm looped with each of her daughters and gave her husband a sharp look. Her voice was a whip-crack of authority that had Gabe snapping to attention. “I won’t have you scaring him away when I like him, and he’s clearly head over heels in love with our girl.”

Gabe held up his hands in surrender, his rough features melting into the semblance of innocent amusement. “Only making sure the boy knows what he’s getting into. And that it’s not me he needs to be afraid of.”

Davey smiled at Audrey and held out an arm for Rowan. “Nothing could scare me away.”

She slid into his arms like she’d always belonged there, her slim, muscular body fitting perfectly against his. Hazel eyes met his with a warmth that always softened the heart he’d tried so hard to harden against her.

She traced the line of his jaw with one finger. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. I’d walk through hell for you, Rowan.”

Her eyes clouded. “You already have.”

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He bent his head and pressed his lips against hers in a kiss that was sweet, full of promise. For a moment, everything else faded into the background, and it was just them…

Until Gabe cleared his throat.

Davey looked up and found Gabe scowling. Audrey beamed with approval and reached for Gabe’s hand. The man let out a gruff sound but didn’t pull away from his wife, holding her hand like he never wanted to let it go.

Davey knew how that felt.

“Aww.” Rue clasped her hands in front of her, her eyes welling with tears. She rushed forward, enveloping them both in a hug. “I always knew you two were meant for each other!”

Davey chuckled as Rue pulled back. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Glad someone saw it before I did.”

Rowan laughed, the sound light and free, and leaned into his side. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight on his chest lifted.

Audrey’s smile—so much like Rue’s—was bright as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Well, I, for one, am thrilled. And I hope this means we’ll be seeing more of you, Davey.”

“Absolutely. You’ll have a hard time keeping me away.”

“Good answer.” Audrey’s gaze shifted to Rowan, her expression turning serious. “And you, my fierce girl. Are you happy?”

Rowan hesitated. Just for a heartbeat. But it was long enough for Davey’s stomach to drop. His brain took that second’s hesitation and ran with it. Why was she hesitating? Was she not sure? Was she second-guessing them?

Then, her fingers curled tighter around his.

“Yeah, Mom.” Her voice was steady. Sure. “I am. Very.”

Relief crashed through him so hard he nearly swayed. Jesus Christ. He’d survived combat, near-death experiences, and some of the most brutal missions imaginable?—

But that single pause had almost taken him out.

“Good,” Audrey said, her voice a little rough. She stepped forward and kissed Rowan’s forehead, then squeezed his arm as she turned to face him. “You keep her that way, mister.”

“I plan to, ma’am.”

“Well, this has been touching and all,” Gabe grumbled, breaking the moment, and strode for the door. He still moved like a SEAL with only the slightest hitch in his step from his prosthetic leg. “But we’ve got a long drive ahead, and I’m not getting any younger. Let’s wrap it up.”

Audrey shot him a half-amused, half-exasperated look. It was the same look Davey’s mother often gave his father. “Sailor, we’re flying back.”

“We’ve still got a drive to the airport, and there’s traffic.”

“Not until tomorrow morning. I told you we’re staying the night, and we’re taking our girl and her man out of dinner.”

“I hate this city,” Gabe grumbled.

Audrey rolled her eyes at her husband’s back. “Sorry. He’s cranky.”

“He’s always cranky,” Rue added.

“I heard that,” Gabe called over his shoulder, not bothering to turn around. “And I’m not cranky. Toddlers are cranky.”

Rue snorted. “And old men.”

“Yeah? Come over here and say that to my face, brat.”

Rue grinned and bounded over to her father, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “You’re a cranky old man,” she said, her voice muffled against his back. “But we love you anyway.”

Gabe’s scowl softened slightly as he patted Rue’s hands. “Yeah, yeah. Love you too, kid.”

Despite his gruff exterior, it was clear there was a deep well of love beneath the surface.

“So, dinner?” Audrey looped her arm through Davey’s and steered him toward the door. “I’m thinking that little Italian place down on Fifth. The one with the homemade pasta. What do you say, Davey? Up for some carbs and more interrogation? Oh, and you can invite your parents! I haven’t seen Jude and Libby in?—”

“No,” Gabe growled. “Not fucking Jude. Cam and Vaughn, fine. Reece, sure. Greer, great. But not Jude. The man is a goddamn menace. I’d rather chew glass than have dinner with him.”

Audrey cleared her throat pointedly and tilted her head in Davey’s direction. “Jude is Davey’s father,” she reminded in sing-song.

Gabe’s glare softened marginally. “I mean… he’s all right.”

Davey smothered a smile and decided to let Gabe off the hook. “If he was anything like my brother Dom is now, ‘goddamn menace’ is a good description.”

That got a faint smirk out of Gabe as he turned back to the door. “All right. If we’re doing this dinner shit, let’s move. I’m hungry. And, yeah, invite your parents.”

As the group walked toward the elevator, Davey hung back to text his parents. He had planned to anyway. He wanted to see them, and he wanted his dog back. He missed Luka.

Dinner tonight? Italian place on Fifth with Rowan and me. Thought you might want to come and meet the woman I plan to marry. Gabe and Audrey will be there, too.

Mom: WHAT?!

Dad: Oh, hell yes. I never miss an opportunity to annoy Gabe Bristow.

Davey huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. Of course. Mom was already hyperventilating, and Dad was gearing up for chaos. Gabe was definitely going to regret inviting them, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

See you soon. I’ll pick up Luka after dinner.

He pocketed his phone and ran to catch up with the Bristows, only to find Rowan and Rue right there in the hall by his office door, murmuring to each other.

“We good?” Rue’s voice.

He paused. The conversation seemed intense, and he didn’t want to interrupt.

Rowan bumped her shoulder against Rue’s. “We’re good.”

A flicker of something crossed Rue’s face—relief, maybe. But she didn’t say anything, just nodded.

Rowan’s voice softened. “You know I’m always here for you, right? Even if I’m not physically with you. Just call, and I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Rue exhaled, then gave Rowan a quick hug before sprinting ahead to catch up to their parents.

Davey walked over to Rowan. “What was that about?”

Her hand slipped into his. “Sister stuff.”

That was vague as hell, but he wasn’t about to push. She’d tell him about it when she was ready.

She squeezed his hand and nodded toward her family. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

“Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one getting your hand crushed.” He flexed his hand and swore he could still feel her father’s punishing grip.

Rowan smirked. “Consider it a rite of passage. You survived the Gabe Bristow handshake. That’s more than most can say.” She tilted her head up, hazel eyes gleaming with mischief. “And, by the way… you told Dad you were going to marry me.”

“Yeah, I did. Just told my parents, too.”

She scoffed. “And when were you planning on telling me ?”

“I already did. I told you I want forever.”

Rowan’s lips parted slightly, her steps slowing as she searched his face. “You meant it?”

He turned to her fully, lifting his free hand to tuck a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear. His thumb lingered, brushing over the delicate curve of her cheek. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, Hellcat.”

Her breath caught.

And for once, she didn’t have a snarky reply.

Instead, she curled her fingers into his shirt, fisting the fabric and dragging him closer. “Seems to me you missed a crucial step. You’re supposed to ask me, Wilde.”

Something in his chest snapped, unraveled, and reformed into more than he knew how to hold.

He thought of his parents and Gabe and Audrey. He wanted what they had. Thirty years from now, he still wanted Rowan pushing his buttons, driving him insane, making his life better in every single way.

And just like that, he knew.

Knew it wasn’t a question of when.

Knew it wasn’t about finding the right moment.

Because this was the moment.

Before he could second-guess himself, before he could stop to wonder if he should wait?—

He dropped to one knee right there in the middle of the WSW hallway with Rowan’s entire family standing at the elevator doors.

Rowan’s eyes widened in shock. “Davey?—”

“Marry me.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers trembling where they still fisted his shirt. “That’s not asking. And you don’t even have a ring.”

“Will you marry me?” He grinned up at her, unapologetic, reckless, and madly in love. “I’ll get you a hundred rings later if you want, but I’m not waiting another damn second to make this official. You could run away from me again.”

She shook her head once like she couldn’t believe this was happening.

For half a second, Davey braced. This was the moment—the one where she could run, where she could push him away again.

But she didn’t.

“Not this time. I’m done running.”

The final piece clicked into place. Every chase, every fight, every damn mile between them had led to this. And now she was right here, choosing him. Choosing forever.

Davey reached for her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles before holding it between both of his. “I love you, Rowan. I want every fight, every challenge, every stubborn second of every single day for the rest of our lives. And if you say yes, I promise—” His voice caught in his throat, and he exhaled. “You’ll never have to doubt how much I love you. Not for one goddamn second.”

Her lips parted, her eyes glistened, and she looked at him like he was the only thing in her world.

“Yes.” She huffed out a laugh. “Like there was ever another answer.”

A grin split his face just as she dropped down to him, her knees hitting the floor, her hands cupping his jaw. She kissed him like she wanted to steal the very air from his lungs.

And just as his hands slid around her waist?—

“Hell, yeah!”

They jerked apart, startled, to see the entire Bristow family still standing at the elevator doors.

Rue bounced on the balls of her feet, grinning.

Gabe looked half-pained and half-amused.

Audrey sniffled and swiped her hand under her suspiciously bright eyes.

And every single one of them had just witnessed the whole damn thing.

Rowan let out a horrified groan, burying her face in Davey’s chest. “Oh my God.”

Davey just laughed, tightening his grip around her waist.

And then Rue plowed into them, wrapping her arms around them and nearly knocking them to the floor. “Welcome to the family, Wilde!”