I stand up from behind the counter and lock eyes with her just as they’re reaching the door.
“There!” Miley points. “I see her! There she is. She’s over there! I knew it! Put me dooooown!”
“You’re crazy,” Miles says.
“Miles,” I say.
He turns his head and spins Miley to the side as he’s got her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
His eyes open wide and he stares at me giving me one of those, “What the heck are you doing?” expressions.
“It’s okay. She figured it out. She knows. And we have to tell her sometime.”
Miles slowly lowers his sister to the floor.
“Ah hah! I knew it! See. I told you.”
But then there’s silence.
“Okay, so you guessed it. It’s not like you get a gold medal or something,” Miles says.
“I’m sorry, Miley,” I say looking her straight in the eyes. I want her to know I’m sincere. “It just kind of happened…really fast.”
She stares at me and then suddenly her expression softens.
“Come here,” she says, her arms open wide.
“Really?”
“Really? There’s nobody in the world I trust more to take care of you and treat you right than my brother.”
“Oh. Whoa!” I say and I scurry across the floor towards her as she does the same towards me.
“Woo-hoo!” we say as we high five when we meet in the middle and then give each other a big hug.
“Tell me everything,” she says as she throws her arm around me. “Okay, not everything, but…you know. The stuff I should know.”
“Okay!” I say and we take off towards the other room together.
“Hey! What about me? This is my house,” I hear Miles say off in the distance.
“We’ll be back in an hour,” I say.
“Or two,” Miley adds.
We both laugh hysterically and hug again.
“This is so perfect!” Miley says. “So you’re going to be my sister-in-law.”
“Well, it’s not official yet, but…you never know,” I say.
“Oh yes you do know,” a voice says behind me and I turn and see Miles standing there holding a small black box. “Or you do now,” he says.
I feel Miley’s arms release me from our hug as I turn to face Miles.
My hands shoot up to my face and I can’t believe what’s happening.
“Sadie…beautiful…when you know you know. And I’m a man who knows what he wants and there’s nothing more I want in life than a life with you, because a life without you is no life at all. Will you do me the honor? Will you make me the happiest man in the world?” he says as he takes a knee. “Will you marry me?”
I nod and then I nod again until my head is just moving up and down so fast that I can’t stop it…don’t want to stop it.
Miles holds out his palm and I place my hand in his.
He flips open the box with his other hand and takes the ring from it and then slides it right on my finger.
I look down at it…at him. This is too perfect. Everything's happening so fast and it makes it all the better. Miles doesn’t waste time or mince words. He knows what he wants and he wants me. And the conviction and speed with which he pursued me only backs up his love for me.
He kisses my hand and then stands and we kiss for real.
As he spins me around I feel like a little girl on a merry go round, but this merry go round isn’t ever going to stop. I know he’s going to keep my head spinning up in the clouds forever. Being with him is like heaven and this is all one big dream that somehow became real.
After a few moments I feel my feet drag the ground and then come to a stop.
“Are you dizzy?” he asks.
“From spinning or from being so in love with you?”
“Awww,” I hear Miley say and we both turn to look at her. She’s filming the entire thing on her phone. I’m so glad she captured this memory.
“Wait a second,” I say. “Was this a setup? The two of you against me?” I joke.
“You’re a part of the family now. It’s the three of us,” Miles says. “One for all and all for one…and soon to be four,” he says putting his hand on my stomach.
“You’re pregnant?” Miley asks.
“Well…not exactly, or at least it’s not confirmed.”
Miley suddenly looks like she’s seen a ghost and I watch as her knees wobble.
Miles darts over just in time and catches her as she falls then carries her to the couch.
“Not a setup,” Miles jokes as he fans her with air.
“Is she okay?”
A few seconds later Miley is shaking her head and batting her eyelids.
“I thought you said you were pregnant?” she says. “Did I faint?”
“Yes and yes,” I say.
“I can’t believe all of this is happening,” she says.
“I can,” I say. “Because I’ve come to expect the unbelievable and the unexpected when it comes to you,” I say turning to Miles.
“And speaking of unbelievable, I do believe you owe me another one of your unbelievable kisses my soon to be wife.”
We lock lips and everything is perfect again. Because he’s perfect. He makes me feel perfect. And our love is perfect.
And I’m hoping for the perfect baby soon…very soon.
EPILOGUE
Sadie
One year later
I pull the stroller to the side of the Santa Monica pier while Miles pays for a couple of ice cream cones.
I look inside at my little baby Sandy.
She’s so beautiful. I know every mom says her baby is the most beautiful and every mom is right, because nothing is more beautiful than your own child.
I know that now because I have one of my own. Or more correctly, we have one of our own.
Sandy’s three months old and the math doesn’t lie. She was conceived our first time together, or at least very close to it. But we’re sticking with the fairy tale…the first time. The perfect conception.
And perfect she is.
I swear she’s got her daddy’s nose and my ears.
And she’s so darn peaceful. She’s been the easiest baby ever, at least from what I hear from some of the other wonderful women I met in my maternity classes. And of course Aunt Miley was there every step of the way to help me along.
And just to think…I was worried about what my husband’s sister might think about us being together and after all my worries what did it result in?
Nothing more than an even stronger friendship and an easy and obvious choice for my maid of honor. She handled everything so perfectly. Two people got married the day of Miles and I’s wedding, but it took a lot of people, and a lot of love, to make it happen.
And our number one cheerleader, organizer, and Miss Everything was Miley.
But now our Miss Everything is Sandy.
Miles and I both love nothing more than walks along the beach at sunset and we both knew it was something we’d love doing together for the rest of our lives.
Sandy was an easy choice for a name because once she starts walking we’re going to bring her here for those walks with us.
It’s what families do and we are just that…a family.
Just hearing the word give me chills, I love it so much.
“How’s she doing?” Miles says as he arrives with my raspberry and chocolate ice cream cone to his vanilla and lemon.
“She’s so peaceful as always.”
“Is she getting too much sun?” he asks.
“You practically equipped the inside of her stroller like an underground bunker,” I joke.
“So you’re saying no light is getting in?”
“Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada.”
“We have to keep an eye on that. I’ll shine a flashlight on it tonight and inspect for cracks or anyway light can creep in.”
I take my ice cream from him and we do what we always do. We tip t
he tops together in a cheers type manner. We don’t drink much so we stick to cheering with ice creams, pieces of pizza, and sparkling water except in the occasions where we do break open a bottle of California Merlot.
I bring the ice cream close to my face and smell the raspberry and chocolate flavors mix with the saltwater air and his natural musk. My nose is experiencing a sense overload right now and all of the smells it’s getting are wonderful.
I give him a hug.
“Everything okay?”
“Everything’s perfect. And I love that you’re so involved in Sandy’s life and her well-being.”
“I’m her dad. It’s my job to protect her and look out for her.”
“Checking her stroller for cracks of light that might reach her skin? That’s next level protection…and I love it. Because I love you.”
He leans in and we kiss. I wish there was a photographer here to take this picture. If there was there’d be no need to even consider what photo we’d use for our Christmas cards this year. The Santa Monica pier Ferris wheel in the background of this family that’s totally in love…and eating ice creams on a sunny day…nothing could be better.
Nothing except more babies that is. And I don’t know who’s more excited to give Sandy a sibling. Miles or me?
Miles swears we have to have a big family and the kids should all be the same age. I want to remind him that I’m the one that has to carry the children in my stomach and then birth the babies, but I never bring it up.
I know he wants so many babies because he wants me. He loves me. And I love him right back.
We’re always on the same page. We think alike. We finish each other’s sentences half the time.
And together is how we’re going to be forever.
Together with our family. And our family means more and more babies, laughter, and love.
“I love you, beautiful,” he says.
“I love you,” I say.
We cheers our ice creams again and then he taps his on my nose.
“See, I’m protecting you from getting a sunburn too.” He smirks.
“Good idea,” I say. I tap my ice cream on his cheek.
“Hey! You got me.”
“Let me get that for you,” I say. He leans in and I lick it off his cheek, but when he’s not looking I dab my ice cream on his other cheek.
He then gets me on my cheek and we’re like two kids on a date at the pier.
I’m young and in love. And he’s young at heart.
And we’ve got the first of our many youngins here with us today.
The first of many more to come.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Miles
Fifteen years later
“Time for our walk,” Sadie yells.
“Okay, Max,” I say. “We don’t want to make mom wait on us.”
“One more,” Max pleads.
“Okay. I’ll run towards your mom.”
“Okay. I can throw it that far,” he says.
I take off towards Sadie feeling the sand of the beach between my toes.
This is what life’s all about. Family. Staying active. Love. And family traditions.
And our longest-lasting family tradition of walks along the beach at sunset is the one we’re practicing tonight.
Followed by another tradition of always sitting down together for dinner.
I run towards Shelly and jump right over her. She’s only five so it’s pretty easy and she loves it. She always closes her eyes and then giggles when I do it. She actually loves the feeling of the sand against her skin and a guy my size kicks up a lot.
Mike runs towards me trying to playfully defend me, but there’s no way he can. He’s growing like a tree but he’s only seven so he can’t match big ol’ dad.
Max lets the ball fly and I run under it and catch it right in stride.
“Perfect throw, son!” I yell.
That boy really has an arm and he loves football. I training with him every day after school in the hopes that he can play professionally one day, but he’s got an even better shot at baseball which his mother and I prefer anyways. It seems a bit safer and I’m all about keeping my kids safe.
I want them to experience a long, healthy, active life like I’m doing. That’s part of what parenting is all about.
Making sure the generation after you has it better than you did. And we try and give our kids everything, while still making them work for it so they’re not spoiled.
I run over to where Sandy is and put my arm around her.
“Just a few more years and you’ll be off to college.”
“Will you miss me?” she asks.
I kiss her on top of her head.
“Miss you? Are you joking? You’re our first. Our original baby. Our family walks along the beach at night will never be the same.” I pause. “Promise me you’ll come back for Christmas…or maybe even go to school locally.”
“I hope so, dad. If I get a scholarship I’ll stay at home.”
“That’s my girl,” I say hugging her tight. “Four more years of sunsets on the beach together.”
“I’d like that,” she says.
“Me too,” I say.
“And I like you,” Sadie says.
“And I like you more,” I joke back with her.
Our entire family comes together and we get in a line holding hands and get closer to the water where the sand is wet.
Everybody already either has their pants rolled up or has shorts on so we’re ready to go. We’re pros at this at this point.
Sadie’s on the end of our line because she has to keep one hand free to hold our one-year-old Summer.
We start walking together and nobody says anything, we just take in the moment as the sunsets remembering how fortunate we are to have a perfect family in such a beautiful place.
But really deep down inside I know I’m the fortunate one.
I’m the one with the beautiful wife, beautiful family, and because of that the most beautiful life.
I was alone until I was thirty-three, and in some ways I thought I was fine with that.
I had no idea what I was missing out on until her. Until us.
Now I wouldn’t even want to imagine what a life like…a single guy chained to his desk and his work…would look like, and thankfully I don’t have to.
I’ve got them. My pride and joy. The loves of my life.
And they’ve got me. A father. A husband and a lover. Someone they can always count on and come to.
And that’s what life and love is all about.
Them. My family.
But no matter how big and strong or tall and beautiful they grow up to be they’ll always be my babies.
Our babies that is. Because without her there are no babies.
And she’s my number one and only baby doll for life.
Just as sure as the sunsets in the west…and that our family will be watching it together each and every day together…forever and always.
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s
Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Best Friend's Brother: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 63) Page 6