The 'L' word

Ivan could not stop the smile tugging at the corner of his lips at the memory of Jada in his room the first night she came to their home with Daniel.

"It just happened?" Daniela moved into the kitchen area, asking incredulously, eyes almost bulging out...

She then dropped the heels she held in her hand at her feet before climbing up on the stool, arching a brow at her father, placing her chin in her hand propped by her elbow on the kitchen island, ready to listen.

Daniela was curious about what this was. If it was all about having fun, she was okay, but if it was more than that on her father's part, she did not peg Jada as the settling-down type and did not want her father getting hurt.

Ivan had told Daniela simply that he had met Jada when Daniel brought her home. They instantly hit it off, and he considered taking their relationship up a notch.

He eyed Daniela at his last words and saw her eyes widen, "No, Dad, are you sure about this?... Jada does not seem like the type that settles down." Her hands fell flat on the counter, slapping it to emphasize her last words.

Her eyes and features were pleading.

"I know." That was all Ivan said, quickly taking another sip of his coffee.

"You know, and yet you are still willing to go down that road with her?" Daniela asked incredulously, her entire body moving as she leaned into and over the granite countertop, her features screaming shock and surprise.

A little again, and her eyes fell out of their sockets.

"I am in love with her, Daniela; this is serious," Ivan answered, looking at his daughter seriously.

And Daniela almost fell off the stool. This was worse than she could have ever imagined happening so quickly. Her father was already using the 'L' word Goddess.

"Dad! Goddess, she could still meet her Mate, you know." Daniela went straight for the jugular; surely he thought of this, and she knew her father was not Daniel to suddenly throw the idea of meeting one's Mate out the door.

"I know." That was all he said again and took another sip of coffee casually. He was unbothered by that fact. It would not deter him from having but a moment with Jada if that's all he had.

This is why he wanted to live his life to the fullest, wasting no time and with no regrets. Which meant no more hiding his relationship with Jada for him.

Ivan had thought of everything, and he already took that into consideration.

'What was it with the men in her family suddenly?' Daniela thought, completely taken aback.

Daniela's already widened gorgeous gray eyes widened some more if that was even possible. "Dad?..." She eyed him unbelievingly, with a slight scoff, "You cannot be seriously thinking about pursuing this?" Her tone of voice was skeptical.

"I assumed it was just a fling, but you love her dad." Daniela persisted.

"Chances of a witch meeting her mate were slim to none..." Ivan took another sip, then quickly added, while Daniela simply gaped: "We could have a lifetime together before they crossed paths."

Daniela vigorously rubbed her temples, her eyes closed. She was spent. Daniela had gone through a back-and-forth like this with Daniel, and here she was doing the same with her father.

Sighing audibly, she said exasperatingly, giving in, "I just don't want you to get hurt... that's all, but I am happy for you.." She sighed again, "I would be lying if I said I did not see the change in you."

But Daniela would not stop worrying about her dad.

She smiled as Ivan's eyebrows darted up in surprise, "Yes, Dad, I noticed." Daniela continued. "There is an air of happiness around you, a flare in your demeanor, and a bounce in your steps."

Daniela explained, and Ivan's brows knitted, "What flare and bounce you speak of?"

He was beginning to relax, propped on the counter opposite Daniela, and asked curiously, wanting to know, and Daniela explained to her father all she'd observed the past few days. She saw a change and was just happy to see him like that.

But now that she knew the reason behind this change, she feared it would be the same reason that broke him. He was her dad; she did not want some twenty-something-year-old woman toying with him and hurting him.

Ivan was amazed at all Daniela had noticed, even the extra care he took when dressing; he stared at his daughter, his mouth hanging open and closing because he simply could not deny it.

It was true. All true; Jada made him want to live again and not stay lost in his work. Both Ivan and Kodak came alive because of Jada, taking extra care with everything he did regarding her.

Nevertheless, their convo boiled down to Daniela resigning herself further to her father's decision as she realized, just like Daniel, there was no changing his mind.

He was ready to trudge on this scary path with Jada, someone he knew could not easily be tamed.

Ivan's conversation with Daniel was a bit more heated, given how Daniel was freshly crushed by Aubrianne and his wound all too deep. He was basically telling his father Jada would break his heart, no ifs, buts, or maybes.

And after some more yelling and comparisons and his father telling him he and Jada are not him and Aubrianne and never were.

Aubrianne was clear it was a fling from what he gathered... and you and Jada's also Daniel had shot back.

Then he reigned himself in and sighed, "Dad, you will get hurt. She would hurt you." His tone pleaded with his father to listen to reason.

"Can't you just be happy for me? I am having the best time in years; please let me have this... but it's not like I need your permission." Ivan was over this conversation.

Ivan did not need Daniel's permission to proceed with his plans. He certainly would not stop his intentions.

Even though Ivan would love his kids to be happy for him, he did not need their consent, nor was he asking for it. Ivan was simply ready to have a conversation with both of his kids before going public.

That way, they would not hear it from someone else.

They were his kids and deserved to know. But they were grown, and so was he. That's it. He can only hope that they are happy for him.

Plus, people were already speculating about his behavior the night of the ball, so he might as well. And it sparked the idea of planning this memorable trip to get away from it all and make things official.

When they return, that will shut everyone up. Ivan was no fool. Although he could not control Kodak that night, he knew people saw him. He was surprised out of both his kids that only Daniela saw.

Plus, Ivan was a big boy. He knew what this was for Jada; he simply wanted to make HIS intentions clear moving forward, but he was prepared to settle and move at her pace.

So, as far as Ivan was concerned, his children could relax and stop getting their panties in a bunch.

The bottom line is Ivan had gone to the extreme with his planning, securing them a bungalow on a private island with a beautiful pool and jacuzzi area that flows out into the sea.

A private chef was assigned to their bungalow to prepare any meal they fancied.

It took four hours to get there then when they landed, they got on a ferry and made their way to the island, already celebrating their time alone in the private cabin he'd secured on this luxury ferry.

There was only room for four of these small private cabin areas, outfitted with a small table, toilet and bath area, a small bed, and a sponge and leather-covered bench-type sitting apparatus.

The walls were thin, made of plywood or some flimsy material. They enjoyed their time alone, making sweet and slow love...

One hour later, they arrived and continued at their bungalow, christening every single room, space, and piece of furniture.

They had missed each other immensely this past week, and Ivan was dying to have her in his arms and, as usual, could not get enough.

Jada was thrilled to be in Ivan's arms again. Was she really the long-term relationship type?...