When Niko and Leyla hugged me, she whispered conspiratorially, “Don’t let him fool you. He only knows how to make stir fry.”
Niko shook his head. “Hyatim, he’s going to get you for that.” I wasn’t sure what they meant, but I filed it away.
With hugs and promises to meet again soon, Mike and I thanked them all for everything. He held my hand as we walked to his truck. My heels dangled from his other one.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked, a warm smile on his face, his hair disheveled just the way I liked it. His forehead was covered with curling strands that I wanted to touch.
“The best. This has been my favorite wedding ever,” I answered, as he lifted me up by my waist into my seat.
He chuckled and handed me my shoes. “You need to rephrase that, wife. This is youronlywedding, if you meant that in first person.”
“Ah, well, my English failed me then,” I said. He pushed my out-of-control curls out of my face. They had become a wild mess from sweating all night. I took the opportunity to do the same for him, making him close his eyes at my touch.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said quietly, making me blush.
“So are you.” He leaned in and kissed my nose, then one by one kissed each cheek, then slowly moved to leave one on my forehead.
When he pulled back, my eyebrows high, I said, “I see you’ve finally watchedPride and Prejudice.”
He snickered as he stepped back. Before he closed my door, he said with a shrug, “Maybe once or twice. Research, you know. I am a scientist, after all.”
As he drove us to his house, I closed my eyes, picturing Mike in a long coat walking through the morning mist toward me, and sighed. Matthew MacFadyen hadnothingon my husband.
Husband.I’d made a vow to him that I intended to keep, but my fear of not being what he needed had me confused. If I couldn’t fall in love, how was I going to let that incredible man go?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Mike
“Ren,”I whispered, “we’re home.” My wife had fallen asleep, and my chest constricted as I watched hers expand and contract.My wife.I pulled her into my arms and shut the door as easily as I could with my foot. I wanted to kiss her again so badly that my chest ached.
“Mike,” she murmured sleepily, her eyes blinking open.
“Hey, sleepyhead. We’re home,” I whispered, holding back the urge to wake her up with that kiss I was longing for.
She jostled slightly as I walked to the door. “I can walk. You don’t have to--.”
“Not sure if it’s an Italian tradition or not, but Iwillbe carrying you over the threshold, my little Spitfire.”
Ren looked up at me, her light brown eyes narrowed. “Spitfire?”
I juggled her and my keys, finally getting us both inside, setting her down triumphantly. “Yes, my dear. That’s your new nickname.”
She snorted, our banter making her slightly more awake. “Vicky getsLittle Fairyand Leyla getsHyatim.”
I shrugged. “Then you shouldn’t be so stubborn.”
I took her by the hand, heading for the guest bedroom I’d prepared for her. She’d never been here before, and we both looked nervous as she stood in the open doorway, peering in.
“Too tired to argue, but you’re going to change that name soon,” she warned with a wide yawn. Vicky had sent Miles over earlier to leave Ren’s bag. When her parents left the next day, we would get the rest of her things.
“We’ll see about that,” I said with a smirk. We both stood there, not quite sure what to do. Finally, I leaned over and kissed both her cheeks. She seemed to like that earlier. “Happy wedding day, Ren.”
She closed her eyes and nodded with a smile. “Happy wedding day, Mike.” She opened her eyes, and I waited to see if she’d say more, but she walked into the room and quietly closed the door. I leaned my head onto it for a breath.
“Night, my wife.”
Renand I pulled away from the airport after seeing her parents off. They’d let her know that the apartment in Tuscany had been taken care of, and the things she didn’t need would be moved to their home in Rome. Whatever personal items she wanted would be shipped to her here, making a trip back to Italy unnecessary. I was relieved knowing she didn’t have to come and go again, as I’d mentioned to my parents.
