With a snort, he said, “Fine, I’ll get the coat, but I’mnotdoing that hand flex. It’s just weird.”
He started walking back to our bedroom, and I quickly said, “Hey, hey. I need sustenance, Mr. Walker.” He stopped and walked us back to the kitchen and deftly picked up a pastry with one hand, handing it to me.
“Impressive skills,” I said, taking a bite and feeding him one.
Mike’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You ain’t seen nothing yet, beautiful.”
“Mike!” I gasped, blushing pink as I held onto his muscular shoulders.
He laughed as he kissed me, his voice deep and rich, his lips warm and inviting. “I’m going to enjoy making you blush, wife. And just so you know. Imeantwait til you see me on a surfboard.”
I couldn’t help picturing my husband on one as he walked us into our room smiling widely, both of us lost in each other’s gaze. Mike leaned in, kissing the pulse point on my neck as he inhaled deeply, making my body hum with anticipation.
Our love was the gift from God I could never have imagined possible and one I’d never stop thanking the Father for.
EPILOGUE
Five Years Later
Mike
As I watchedRen chase our four-year-old daughter, Alessia Rose, around in the sand, my heart swelled with pure joy. It was days like this that made me unbelievably grateful for my life.
I couldn’t believe where the years had gone, but I wouldn’t trade a single moment for anything in the world.
Four months after our wedding, Ren received her work permit, and less than a year later, she and Vicky opened Bella Costa Design. The name meant ‘beautiful coast,’ reflecting their love of both California and Italy. Their motto was “California-inspired Italian luxury,” and the studio opened with much fanfare in a cute studio in La Jolla.
Laughing as my daughter tried her favorite gymnastic move, I thought back to the day she was born. We had wanted to name her after Grammy and decided to use it as her middle name. Alessia meant ‘strong protector,’ and that was exactly what she was. Even though she wasn’t the oldest among the ‘cousins,’ she was bossy enough to think so. I got an eye roll from my beautifulwife when I suggested our little girl didn’t get that attitude from me, but I knew I had a Spitfire Jr. on my hands, and I loved it.
Alessiadid, however, get her Mama’s curly hair. I smiled from my perch on the beach chair as I watched her argue that she could, in fact, surf on her own.
“See what you did, Mike?” Ren called out from the water’s edge. “You put her on that board with you, andnowlook what you’ve started.” There may have been a few frustrated Italian words tossed in, but she knew she’d have to be careful with them since Alessia had picked up Italian like a sponge.
I launched myself out of the chair, eating up the distance between us in seconds as I grabbed Alessia in one arm and Ren in the other, both of them squealing with delight, curly hair bouncing everywhere.
When I set them both down, Alessia said, “Daddy, please tell Mama I can do it all by myself.”
I pinched my lips together to keep from laughing as I watched her signature pout, complete with both hands on her hips. The girl meant business. Ren’s hands went up in the air in a move I knew well since becoming a father: “Look what you’ve done.” I sheepishly smiled, hoping to distract her, since she said it was that very smile that won her over. Well, that and my ridiculously good looks, which she mentioned helped seal the deal. Niko said it definitely wasn’t my stir-fry.
“Spitfire, I really didn’t tell her that,” I pleaded while my wife glared at me, trying hard not to smile. “She probably wanted to look like her beautiful Mama out on that board.” I was telling the truth, because when I finally got my gorgeous wife on those waves, my heart felt like it had been drop-kicked. Did I mention how beautiful she was?
“Daddy, why do you call Mama that?” Alessia asked. I picked her up again, throwing her over my shoulders as she laughed and held onto my hair. She told me recently that I was her pony,and she insisted on holding onto my mane. I could only hope I didn’t need a hairpiece like Ren’s old boss anytime soon.
“I call your Mama that because she has fire, and passion, and sass,” I answered, lovingly looking at Ren, who smiled.
“And spit?” my daughter asked, making Ren and me laugh.
“Yeah, a little of that, too.” I earned myself a smack on the arm from my wife for that.
“Alli,” I said, using my daughter’s nickname, “you’re not quite big enough for that. But as soon as you are, I’ll teach you everything about surfing. I promise.” I crossed my heart, our way of making it an ironclad pact. She crossed her heart too, sealing the deal.
“Mama, when does Mimi and Papa get back? They will let me do it.”
Ren gave me a knowing look because that’s what Alessia called my parents. From the day she was born, they’d transitioned to another position within their organization so they could return to San Diego more often. She had them wrapped around her little finger.
“In two weeks. Remember, we counted it on the calendar,” I said.
Heaving out a loud sigh, she said, “Okay, Daddy. I hope it’s not too long. It was rad to be surfing like a big girl.”
