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Well, the pieces that are left of it.
Bronson continues speaking, his words measured and deliberate. "My daughter is a beautiful woman with a great heart," he says, his gaze never leaving my face. "She deserves nothing but the best in life."
"And as our only daughter, she needs the fiercest protection," Paige adds.
Bronson says, "And we truly believe you could provide that for her."
Paige interjects with, "You did such an amazing job with that mission.”
Bronson looks like he wants to blink back tears. "It's time. Kate Paisley needs direction.”
“Someone to tie her down,” Paige adds.
Bronson flashes a look at his wife. "That's my Katie you're talking about."
"Not like that." Paige blushes.
"Hold up," I say, interrupting the myriad comments. "I don’t understand.”
Bronson says, "With you, she'll have the protection she needs."
Paige nods. "The direction she needs."
Bronson shakes his head, pinching his brow between his finger and thumb. “And God knows…she needs it.”
“God knows she needs it.” Paige looks up at the ceiling tiles.
I want to ask what they mean. About Paisley needing protection. Sounds like more than just the regular family bodyguards that she already has. I have a lot of questions.
I haven't gotten a word in yet.
Bronson's tone drops, filling with emotion. "Katie is my heart. My little girl. She deserves nothing but the best in life and I truly believe you could provide that for her. It would be an honor if you agreed to marry her."
Marry…
My stomach plunges to the floor.
The guy who’s sworn off love.
A man who will never, ever again have a serious relationship.
Marry.
“Bronson!” Paige gives him a hearty nudge in his ribcage. “You just asked Paolo to marry Kate.”
“Oh my God.” He brings a hand to his forehead. “I’m so sorry. My head has been spinning with this birthday gala.”
Their words swirl around in my mind, coming together, making sense. It’s not me they want to marry their daughter. I can breathe. My God. I can breathe.
I try to laugh with them over the confusion, but the sound gets stuck in the back of my throat, still tight from Bronson’s earlier words.
Bronson recovers. “I meant, you’d be the perfect person to travel with her, to be her bodyguard on her trip to meet her fiancé for the first time. It would be an honor if you agreed to protect her.”
Paige says, “We thought you could create and head your own team to protect Paisley.”
“And keep her mind on what’s important,” Bronson says. “Focused on her fiancé and her upcoming marriage.”
I shake their hands and agree, finally able to come up with a chuckle.
