“And... you’re happy about it?”
“I’m thrilled.I’m a dad. How could I not be excited about that?”
My heart skipped a beat. Valentino opened his arms and pulled me close into a tight hug. His body was so big and solid, and between the happiness of hearing that he was taking the news well and the feeling of his muscular form against me, I was getting excited in more ways than one.
“We should celebrate,” I said. “I have just the thing.”
I set down my glass and hurried into the house before he had a chance to respond.
“Wait here!” I shouted over my shoulder.
Taking one last glance back to make sure that he wasn’t following me, I hurried into the kitchen and opened the fridge, sticking my head in as I let out a squeal of happiness, stamping my feet in a silly little dance.
There was still so, so much to talk about. But he was happy.Notjust happy, butecstatic. We were at the very beginning of a long process, but so far, it was looking good. I wasn’t just happy for myself—not even close.
It was Maddie.
Knowing that she was going to have a dad, one who was excited about being her father and maybe even ready to step right into parenthood... I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around it. Maddie had been the heart and soul of my life since she was born, and knowing she was about to get even more love was enough to make me want to scream with happiness.
Calm down. This evening is far from over. Get what you came in here for and go back out there.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath and then scanning the fridge for the bottle of sparkling wine. I smiled one more time as I picked up the bottle.
I’d saved it for years, always swearing that one day I’d have something big to celebrate.
Finding out that Maddie’s father wanted to be in her life sure as hell seemed like the perfect occasion.
Bottle in hand, I grabbed two more glasses and hurried back out to the patio. I could only imagine what was on Valentino’s mind. With only a few words, his life was changed forever.
“I have this,” I said. “Hope you’re not too cool for bubbly.”
He flicked his eyes to the bottle, another smile forming.
“Not at all. Allow me.”
He reached out for the bottle, and I handed it over. With a few deft motions, he opened it, apopcarrying over the backyard as he twisted the cork out. He poured, handing me one of the glasses.
“To... not messing this up?” he asked with a skeptical grin as he raised his glass.
I laughed, tapping my glass with his. “You sound like me when I held her in my arms for the first time. All I could think about was how many ways I could screw it up.”
“To parenthood.”
We sipped, looking into one another’s eyes as we did. It was impossible not to notice that there was something different in the air between us, a mood that hadn’t been there before.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
He sipped his wine then set it down on the patio railing.
“That’s a hell of a question,” he replied. “I’m excited and happy and eager to see where the future takes me, takesus.” He lifted his hand and placed it on mine. “But right now, at this moment, all I can think about is you.”
His words, coupled with the sensation of his warm, rough palm on the top of my hand, sent a thrill through me like nothing else. I swallowed hard, my heart racing.
“I know our night together was just that—a night. But all the same, it’s been on my mind for years. And now, here you are right in front of me.” He took his hand from mine and placed it on my hip.
However intense the feeling between us had been before, his touch then brought it to another level. All I could do was look up at him, my mouth opened slightly.
“We’re starting something new tonight. And I don’t know about you, but I've got a damn good idea how to begin.”
