Lacey smiled as she nodded. “Yes, sir, I do.”

“You’re a smart girl, but I bet they are madder than hell at you right now. I can tell you aren’t one of those kind of girls to jump into a marriage.”

“I’m not,” Lacey said with a laugh. “But I’ve loved Karson my whole life.”

“Yeah, I can tell. Anytime he comes in the room, you’re watching,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re as much of a pussy as he is.”

Lacey snorted with laughter. “Well, since I have one, it makes sense, huh?”

Mr. King’s laughter boomed through the living room as he smacked his leg in amusement. Calming down a bit, he pointed at her, a huge grin on his face. “I like you, Lacey. You’re a good girl.”

“Thank you. I have to say, you’ve made me feel like part of the family.”

“You are,” he stated. “And don’t think I didn’t notice that you left out that your family is mad about you running off to Vegas with Karson.”

Her face warmed as she shrugged her shoulders. “Mad doesn’t really cover what they are, but I’m good with it. I’m happy with my decision.”

“They’ll come around,” he said, almost like a promise. “Karson is a very easy guy to love.”

She wanted to correct him, but she didn’t see what that would accomplish. She really didn’t want to tell the father of her husband that her family hated Karson and that they wanted to kill him. The Kings liked her, and it worried her that if she mentioned that, they might look at her differently. No parent wanted to hear anything bad about their kid, not when they thought so highly of them, and Regina and Karl King loved their children.

“You know, he did fuck up; we all know this. But surely, if you can forgive him, then they can,” he added, and Lacey was surprised by that.

“Karson told you that?”

He nodded. “Karson tells me everything.”

That made her heart skip. She never told her dad anything, nor her brother. Rachel knew some of what she felt but only the stuff that she was okay with Rachel blabbing to her husband about. As she sat there, staring into the same eyes as her husband, she honestly couldn’t think of anyone that she told everything to, but that all changed the moment she gave herself to Karson.

“That’s amazing,” she said softly.

“We are open books around here. You love us, we love you. You trust us, we trust you. It’s easy, you know? No secrets, no lies, and no betrayal. That’s how I raised my kids, and that’s how my marriage works.”

“I am in awe of you, Mr. King,” she admitted and he grinned.

“Told you to call me Pops and thank you,” he said with a wink. “I know we just met and this may be weird, but if you ever need anything, I’m here, all right? If Karson loves you, and obviously he does since he waited almost ten years for you, then I love you. All right, honey?”

She smiled, tears stinging her eyes as she nodded. “All right, Pops.”

Satisfied with her answer, he turned back to watch the TV and all she could do was sit there and swallow back her tears. He had known her for maybe an hour and had already accepted her as his. Her father would never do that. He was such a standoffish man, but like Karl said, he was an open book and she admired that a lot.

Looking back at the TV, Lacey settled deeper in the easy chair and brought her legs up under her chin as she smiled while Mr. King yelled at the screen. When a piece of pie appeared in front of her, she looked up to find Karson holding it out for her.

“Thank you, baby,” she said, taking it from him.

He grunted something before handing his dad a piece and then climbing into the chair with Lacey. It was a tight fit, but she welcomed it. Anything to be closer to her man. Leaning into him, she took a bite of the peach pie and moaned loudly.

“This is the freshest pie I’ve ever eaten,” she groaned.

“Ma makes the best pies,” Karson commented, taking a bite of hers.

“That’s why I married her,” Mr. King said with a quick grin, taking a huge bite of his pie.

“I heard that,” Mrs. King said from the kitchen, causing Mr. King’s eyes to widen.

“Couldn’t tell me she was right there!” he scolded Karson in a whisper.

“It’s an open-concept kitchen, Pops, she’s always there!”

Lacey snickered as she shook her head. “Mrs. King, this pie is fabulous.”

“Thank you, love, and it’s Ma, remember?”

Lacey nodded. “Yes, Ma, sorry.”

She smiled warmly at Lacey before turning to wash some dishes. Lacey turned her attention back to the TV as she gobbled up her pie. Thankfully Karson was eating some too because she sure didn’t need all that sugary goodness—no matter how yummy it was. Once the dish was empty, she got up and went to the kitchen to clean her plate, but of course, Mrs. King intercepted it.

“How’s business, Lacey?” she asked, stopping Lacey before she made it back to the living room.

“It’s wonderful, thank you,” she said, leaning against the counter, surprised that Regina knew about her business. “Karson tell you about it?”

“He did, and he gets Kacey and me gift cards for Christmas every year.”

“Really?” Lacey asked, her heart skipping a beat. “That’s amazing and insanely sweet, Karson,” she said to him.

“Gotta support my girl,” Karson said with a shrug as his dad shook his head.