“Julia, I’m here for you. I could easily have handled this on the phone and forbade their coming to the house. I thought about it.” He leaned down until his forehead met mine. “I have no problem being assertive. Truth be told, I have more trouble not being.” Our eyes met. “My assertiveness won’t facilitate what you want.”

“What do I want?”

“To be seen as a capable adult in your parents’ eyes.”

I inhaled, knowing he was right.

“To achieve that outcome, you need to assert yourself. Show them that you can make your own decisions and let them know that you’re aware of the consequences of those choices.”

“I told them that you found me, that you saved me in the snowstorm. They said you’re a rebound. You aren’t.”

Van nodded. “I know what I am. If I were your father instead of your fiancé, I wouldn’t trust me. Don’t get upset that they’re leery. It only means that they care.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m not sure I trust them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wade was going down. How could your parents not know?”

I’d never thought of that.

As Van turned to leave, I called out his name.

He turned back.

“If you were my father,” I asked, “and I came downstairs wearing a man’s shirt, only his shirt, from a man I’d recently met and announced as my fiancé, what would you do?”

His grin returned, bringing gold shimmers to his green orbs. “I’d kill him.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. I don’t mean mortally wound; I mean that I’d ruin him.”

“I won’t do it. I won’t wear your shirt.”

“Your dad can’t ruin me. That’s the difference. I could ruin him.”

“But you won’t,” I said, wanting the reassurance.

“I’ll do whatever you want, Julia. As I’ve said, my only connection or care for Wade Pharmaceutical is you.”

“They’re my parents.”

He nodded. “Hurry, beautiful, they’re on their way.”

Standing in the large closet, I debated my few pieces of clothing. With my hair mostly dried and hanging over my shoulders and a minimal amount of makeup, I ran my fingers over the few pieces of clothes I had at my disposal. I could wear the outfit I’d worn to the interview or dress less formally and more laid-back. As I took in the soft sweaters, I decided for casual. After all, this was Christmas day and I was home.

Isn’t that what Van wants me to think?

He’d said that he’d like me to refer to his home as mine. He’d said as his fiancée, nothing was off-limits.