Living separately wouldn’t erase the tension with his mother, and they both knew it could still cause problems.

“There’s nothing for me to balance.” Brady offered a rueful grin. “You’ve seen for yourself the kind of person my mom is.”

Colleen blinked in surprise. He was right. She had already heard enough from Hadley to know what to expect.

“Honestly, with a mom like mine, I wouldn’t possibly side with her against my wife, would I?” Brady gave a soft laugh and shook his head. He still found it odd that his mother disliked Colleen so much.

He hadn’t expected it, but he wasn’t about to let that kind of mistake happen again.

“I’m my own person and I make choices on my own. I do not wait for my mother’s approval every step of the way,” Brady said, giving Colleen a meaningful look.

“You might think my comparison is off, but it still holds. Colleen, you’ve seen how I manage things between her and Hadley. Believe me, I will be even more attentive and determined when it comes to you and her.”

Colleen could not hide her shock. Her lips parted in surprise.

She remembered countless moments when Brady went out of his way for Hadley. Even though Hadley often showed her anger toward the Jenkins family, she eventually grew to see Brady as her brother. That was proof of how sincere his care was.

Now, Brady laid it all out in the open.

“You will need to try your best not to let my mother’s attitude get between us—that’s all I ask. And I’ll take care of everything else,” Brady continued, holding her gaze. “I cannot promise that my mother will become the kind of mother-in-law you might hope for. Colleen, I—”

For a moment, his words faltered. Then he quietly asked, “Is there still a chance for me?”

Colleen kept her lips pressed together and did not answer.

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Brady’s expression turned somber. He gave a weak smile. “Alright. That’s fine.” Only fragments of what he truly felt had been shared. “If this is something you cannot accept, you are free to turn me down. I do not want you to feel pressured.”

Given her background and strengths, Colleen could easily find another man whose family would both respect her and care for her deeply. It dawned on Brady that he had been thinking only of himself.

No reply came from Colleen, which sent a wave of unease through Brady. He stood up. “In that case, I—”

“Humph.” A sudden snort escaped Colleen as she scrunched her nose. “Who said anything about getting married? We’ve only been seeing each other for a short time.”

“Colleen?” Brady stared in disbelief, uncertain about what she was getting at.

Colleen made a face and replied, “Shouldn’t I make sure you’re trustworthy first?”

Her words could not have been more obvious.

There was still hope for him.

“Absolutely!” Brady’s excitement burst through. “I realize I rushed things. I will keep proving myself.”

“Good,” Colleen answered, lifting her chin.

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