CHAPTER FOUR

"Daphne, babe, what are you talking about? I just said that I want you, and I meant every damn word of it. I want you. No matter what."

"You don't know what he did to me, Brix. Marshall. You don't know what he did to me."

"Then tell me, honey. Tell me what he did to you. It will only matter to me because it matters to you. I can't guarantee that I won't kill him, but tell me." She gave a sad smirk, and he kissed her nose.

"Honestly, they weren't sure what he did to me, but after the attack, my cycle wasn't regular. I developed fibroids, and they said I probably wouldn't be able to have children."

"Then we'll adopt," he said, smiling. "Did your parents know about this?"

"They did but thought I should give it the old college try," she winced. "God, I love my parents, but I hate that they've put so much stress on me about this. What if I can't, Brix? What if a year from now, I can't have a baby, and you hate me."

"Baby," he laughed. "There is no scenario around this where I will hate you. I love you, Daphne. I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but I was in love with you while we were packing Elena's clothes. I'm nuts about you, babe. I want to start a life with you. Here.

"If you want to work at a gallery, by God, we'll build a gallery. Or better yet, you can help to advertise and sell the art at the General Store. When we have cases about art, we can involve you. You are wanted. Here. With me. Forever. Clear?" He smiled at her, and she nearly melted.

"It's very clear. I love you, too, Brix. I love you so much, and I don't know when it happened. I love your parents. I love your friends and family. I love them all."

"And they love you," he grinned, kissing her. She lingered a little longer on his lips, and he took that as a good sign, pressing against her a little harder, exploring her warmth and sweet taste. He heard her groan, and he stepped back.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Perfect," she smiled. "God, you're really good at that. Now, I want you to tell me something. Why did you think I wouldn't be interested in you? Before. When you left England, why did you think I wouldn't be interested in you?"

"Ah," he smirked, nodding at her as they walked back toward the cottage. He'd do the Sugar Lodge another day. "There was a woman once that I was seeing. Actually, that's a lie. She was a one-time hookup. I'm ashamed to say that now, but that's what she was. She worked in a local bar near the base. She walked up to me and said she was pregnant. I kept telling her it was impossible. I always used a condom. Honestly, sometimes two. I was very careful."

"That's smart," nodded Daphne. "And there's no reason to be embarrassed, Brix. I'm not a virgin. I'm ashamed to say I've had a one-night stand as well."

"Then we're even," he grinned, kissing her. "Anyway, she said some pretty unkind things about not wanting a mixed-race baby. She only wanted to hook up with me because of something other women had said about my, uh, appendage."

"I see," she smiled.

"She told me to look at the walls in the ladies' room. It changed the way I thought about women and sex, Daph. My name was all over the walls, drawings, all kinds of shit. I can only imagine that's how women feel when it's done to them. I changed after that, but I couldn't get her words out of my mind."

"But you knew my parents were black," she said, staring up at him.

"I knew it not once, but twice," he laughed. "It was as if the first time, it didn't sink in for me. I don't know what happened. But when I really understood, I knew that you weren't holding anything against me."

"Brix, I would never, ever do that. Besides, there is nothing about you that would indicate to anyone right away that you were mixed race or black or anything else. To me, you're just a sexy, hot, unbelievably fit man. I've never looked at a man's skin color or eyes or hair. None of that mattered to me."

"Maybe. But you would have known when you met my parents, and I guess that was weighing heavily on my mind. It doesn't matter now. I know that was my insecurity showing through. It had nothing to do with you." She hugged him, laying her head against his chest. He felt so wonderful. So safe, so warm. She felt at home.

"What do we do about my parents, Brix? They're going to be demanding grandchildren if we get married."

"We'll worry about that later. I can handle them. If they don't allow us to live our lives, we might have some tough decisions to make. All I want to be certain of is your happiness. You and me, Daph. That's all that matters."

"I love you, Brix."

"Love you more, Daph."

When they reached the grove, the others were preparing for a nice lunch outside. They all applauded as Daphne walked up, looking better than ever. They knew where she'd come from, and they knew why she looked so good.

"Well?" smirked his father.

"We want to get married," smiled Daphne. "I hope you'll give your blessing."

"Honey, Hazel and I couldn't be happier. You are the woman that my son has chosen. End of story for us. You showed your courage and grit by helping Elena and the others. You're going to fit right in here."

Daphne reached up to hug Tiger, and he laughed, giving her a fatherly squeeze. She seemed so small compared to his Hazel.

"Thank you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome," she sniffed.

"Sweetie, you are going to be my son's wife. You will always be welcome. Him? Sometimes not," he smirked.

She laughed, shaking her head at his sense of humor. They all did it. They all used humor to lighten a situation. Her mother saw humor as something that should only be used on stage. By someone else's children.

"Feel better?" asked Brix with a big smile.

"Yes. But now I have to call my parents."

"WE. We will call your parents, honey. You will never have to face them alone again."

"Daphne, this is unacceptable! An American. An American ex-military man. It's horrid. He's probably killed innocent people and done despicable things. You know how they are. They all have PTSD. He probably wants your money," said her mother, staring into the screen.

"Ma'am, you can insult me all you like, but you won't insult my integrity, my time in service, or the decisions of my future wife. I don't need your daughter's money. She can keep it in an account all on her own, in her name. I won't lay a finger on it. I might be a retired military officer, Special Forces if you give a damn, but my family owns multiple businesses. I don't need your daughter's money."

"I see," said her mother, chewing her bottom lip.

If Brix expected an apology, he wasn't going to get one from the Lady Bishop. He could see the wheels turning in her tiny little head on how she was going to keep making her point.

"Daphne, will you really have enough to live on there?" asked her father. "I just want to be sure that you're always secure and able to live on your own if needed."

"What are you saying?" spat her mother.

"I'm saying that if she is in love, happy, and this man is as good as she says he is, doesn't she deserve a chance to be happy? Doesn't she deserve to make her own family?"

"Thank you, Father," she smiled.

"We've pushed this on your shoulders for too long, Daphne. I'm sorry we did that. After what happened, well, we shouldn't have done this. I'm sorry, and I'm ashamed of myself."

"I appreciate you saying that, sir. I love your daughter very much, and I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to make her happy and keep her safe."

"Will you come for the wedding?" she asked her parents.

"You won't get married here?" frowned her mother.

"I'd rather not, Mother. Other than you and father, I don't have anyone there that I would want to attend my wedding. Elena is here, my closest friend. Brix's family has become like my own. I'd prefer to be here. I just don't want to relive what happened to me over and over again any longer. I'm not sure that England is my home any longer. Will you come?"

"I need to think about it, Daphne. People will talk about how quickly you're marrying this man."

"Brixton. Brixton Fox Slater. Not ‘that man,'" said Brix. "I'd appreciate it if you'd address me by name." Daphne tried to hide her grin, but it was nearly impossible. He'd stood up to her mother and was doing a damn fine job of it.

"Of course," she said through clenched teeth. "Brixton. An unusual name."

"I suppose it is, but it's mine, and I'm proud of it. Now, my fiancée asked if you would be coming to our wedding. We'll need to know so that we can prepare a cottage for you."

"A cottage?" asked her father with a grin.

"Yes, sir. We have dozens of cottages on our property for guests. Our family, our company owns thousands of acres, and we've created a safe, secure community for all of our families."

"Let me speak with your mother, Daphne. I'll let you know by tonight."

"Thank you, Father. Thank you so much." They ended the call, and Daphne turned, hugging Brix.

"And thank you for biting back at the dragon. What she said to you was appalling, considering how much she and my father went through to fit in. I'm sorry she said those things."

"She wasn't anything," he smirked. "I love her daughter. I would have slain the dragon if I had to." Daphne just laughed, shaking her head.

"Let's hope you don't have to."