Page 264 of The Bluffing Game

He looks down guiltily and then back at me. “I know it’s a lot of money, but⁠—”

“It doesn’t matter how much money it is. I finally realized money isn’t just for buying expensive clothes and fancy cars. It’s for doing good. It’s for helping other people. It’s for making life better for all of us. And you know what? You’re doing this for Louisa; you’re doing this for Toby. I would never be upset at you for spending your money to help her. I’m glad you are. It shows me the sort of man that you are. You’re the sort of man who would give the shirt off your back to help someone, and, well, that says a lot.”

“You sound like you kind of love me.”

“I think I kind of do.”

“I think I kind of love you too.” He strokes the side of my face. “Tell me you’ll marry me soon, Sage. Tell me you’ll make an honest man out of me.”

“How soon are we talking, Dalton?” I laugh at the intensity in his gaze.

“Tomorrow?”

“I can’t marry you tomorrow.”

“Because you don’t want to?”

“Because we should at least wait a couple of months.”

“Why?” he asks. “Do we really need to wait?”

“I don’t know. It just feels right. Let’s get everything settled first.”

“Everything, like what?”

“You know, all the plans I have in place for the restaurant, all the plans I have for travel⁠—”

“We can travel as a married couple, you know?”

“I know. I love you—you know that, Dalton. You know I’m going nowhere.”

“I know.”

“Did I tell you that Parker pled guilty and that he’s taken a plea deal? Ten years.”

Dalton nods. “How do you feel about that? I know you probably wish it were more time.”

“Part of his plea deal was that he was going to get psychological help, so hopefully, that means something and helps him. I’m just glad that he’s out of my life. He’s out of our lives. You know?”

“I know. He’s a sicko,” Dalton says. “He’s lucky that I didn’t punch the living daylights out of him.”

“Now, now, Dalton. I know. I do not condone violence, only on people who really and truly deserve it,” I say with a laugh.

Rosie comes out of the back, a smile on her face as she sashays over to the bar and says something to Jimmy. Jimmy cracks a smile, and she starts laughing at something. She throws her hand down and leans over and whispers something at him.

“I’m so glad they’re developing a relationship. Hold on,” I say and hurry over to the bar. “What are you two talking about?” I ask.

Rosie looks up at me with bright eyes. “Jimmy was just telling me about a time that he worked as a sommelier in an Italian restaurant and then got fired because he had drunk too many bottles of wine.”

“What can I say? You got to taste the goods to see if they’re good, right?” Jimmy says, and they both start giggling.

“Dad, you’re too much,” I say and laugh.

I suddenly realize what I said, and Jimmy looks at me with bright, open eyes.

“You called me Dad,” he says, a huge grin on his face.

I nod slowly. “I guess I did.”