by Anne Leigh
The woman who birthed this herculean, six-foot-three beast of a man who could command an army of a hundred and never break a sweat.
“Son, it’s rude to imply that I’m lying in front of your girlfriend.” She smiled and I saw the dimple that Webb inherited from her make an appearance.
“You know what I’m saying, Mom.” Webb turned his head to my side and planted a kiss on my cheek, “I love your cooking. It’s just that I had too much ice cream and I’m so full because Athena didn’t finish hers and I had to eat hers, too.”
I gave Mrs. Worthington, she’d asked me to call her Magda, a conspirational grin. It was her idea to get the ice cream because she said her son couldn’t tolerate sweet stuff and since she was craving ice cream, she wanted to see if he would cave in and eat some.
Well he did.
Two scoops of chocolate cheesecake ice cream on a sugar cone and the rest of my mint chocolate chip had done him in.
By the time it was time for dinner, he could barely finish the heaping plate of Schwabische Kasespatzle (it was really hard for me to pronounce) that his mom made for us.
The dish was excellent.
It had a lot of cheese and a lot of pasta.
And it made me very sleepy.
“I’m so glad you came today, Athena,” Mrs. Worthington – err, Magda, said.
“Me too. I’m happy to finally meet you,” I replied. The first time Webb asked me if I wanted to meet his mom, I wanted to know more about him first because I didn’t feel like it was fair to have all of my life’s history laid out for him and I had no clue about his.
Now, when his Mom showed me his baby pictures, I could relate more.
We’d finished helping Magda clear out the dishes in the kitchen so now we were sitting by the living room.
She took out a big brown album and shared stories of Webb and his dad.
Webb’s phone chirped and he said, “Excuse me, ladies. I have to take this call. It’s Tony.”
Webb’s private security business was now growing and Tony’s services were more in demand. Liam headed the day-to-day operations and Webb conducted more of the meet-and-greets and decided if they could take on the client. They were hoping to hire at least three more people by the end of the month.
“I’ve never seen my son this happy,” Magda said, her hands landing on mine, above my own. “Thank you.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“When his father died, I saw him grow up from a boy to a man in an instant. It’s like there was a fire lit inside of him and he had to join the service to pay homage to his Dad. He’s always been a good kid, but he keeps a lot of stuff in his head,” she said, her eyes drifting to the portrait on the wall of her and her husband on their wedding day. “My husband was a good man. My only hope is that his father left him a legacy that his son would be proud of.”
“Your son’s a good man,” I said, hoping to ease her worries. “He always talks about his dad with so much pride. And he talks about you with so much love.”
The smile that showed on Magda’s face reminded me of Webb when he was really happy.
“Whoa! Whoa! What’s going on here?” Webb’s animated face teased us. “Mom, are you telling Athena of my childhood pranks?”
I rolled my eyes. “Pranks? You? No.”
Magda laughed and said, “I haven’t even started. I don’t want to scare her.”
Webb sat beside me and pulled me close to him. “Athena’s not easily scared, Mom. A few pranks with clowns and balloons and fireworks aren’t going to keep her away from me.”
“I hope not.” Magda returned, even the way she sat had an air of elegance, she was a beautiful woman.
“It’s going to take a lot more than any of your stories to freak her out and make her love me less.” His blue eyes winked at me and he added, “Right, sonnenschein?”
Magda’s eyes grew wide.
He’d mentioned love and sunshine in one sentence.
I swear I saw her eyes dreaming of grandkids right about then.
I smiled because one day, I hoped her dreams would become reality.
I leaned on Webb’s shoulder and replied, “Right.”
“What time are you flying in, Dad?” My question hung in the air as I tried to concentrate on my pace.
I’d been running for three miles now when my phone rang.
Webb was busy with another contract so I was alone jogging up the path off of Mulholland Drive.
That’s right.
I was alone.
And safe.
And free.
“I’m leaving here in two hours. We can meet up tomorrow for brunch. Or will that be too tight of a squeeze in between your classes?” I could tell he was busy because he was talking fast.
“Dinner would be better,” I said, feeling the burn of the run in my thighs.
“Okay A.I. I’ll text you before we go up in the air.” He said, “Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad,” I answered and let the sounds of Alan Walker flood my ears once again.
I saw hummingbirds hanging out on the soft leaves of the chapparals and bumblebees feasting on the greenery.
I took a breath in and closed my eyes.
This –
This was the feeling of freedom.
It felt like a lifetime ago when Webb had called me from Florida, letting me know that Caterina had my father in her hands.
Initially, it was all a shock to me – that this woman from his past would come to haunt him after all these years.
But I learned that life held a lot of surprises.
After my dad was released, he worked on helping Caterina’s mom. It wasn’t even a question if he was going to help her or not. I didn’t hear much of her treatment details but it seemed as if my dad’s research was making a lot of progress in forestalling the effects of her disease.
My father didn’t care whether you’re the son or the daughter of a bastard; if he could help someone in need, he would.
When I’d asked Webb how he felt about seeing Caterina, he’d said it was freeing.
He’d been shackled by the memories of her and what they’d lost that now he felt that he had found complete closure.
There was an instant where my mind had gone to the what if? What if he still loved her? What if he was going back to her?
But he’d quelled that with a simple statement, “I love you, Athena.”
He wasn’t a man of big words.
But his words held all the weight.
I pressed answer to the incoming call, “What do you want for dinner, babe?”
His warm voice filled my ears.
I loved to tease him.
“You.”
“I’m serious, babe. I’m too tired to cook and Vero’s off. Do you want Italian or Chinese?”
I answered with a giggle. “I want American with a side of German.”
His laugh almost made my ear drums burst. “Babe, come on.”
“I’m telling you the truth, dahling. I want you. Order whatever you want, but after we’re done eating, I want you. With whipped cream.”
“Fuck.” I could hear the arousal in his voice. “How do you do this to me?”
“Hmmm… A woman’s gotta keep a few secrets for her own.”
“Are you gonna be back soon? You know I can’t stand blue balls,” he huffed. I pictured him standing in his office with a tent in his jeans.
“Your balls are never blue,” I teased, completely stopping from my run and turning back. “They’re always emptied out inside of me.”
“Fuck babe.” I heard the groan in his voice. “Come home.”
“I will,” I said, smiling and feeling lighter than I had in years.
I was no longer in danger.
I was free from being the bait in the cat-and-mouse game that Caterina’s father played.
And like the many yesterdays before today,
I was happy to come home to him.
Years later…
�
��I, Webb Thomas Worthington, take you, Athena Isabelle Bridges, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to love and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health and to many lives after.”
There I said them.
My vows to her.
I changed the last line because even death wasn’t going to part me from her.
Her hazel eyes shone with tears and love and her face was exquisite with happiness.
I’d never seen a more beautiful bride than the woman in front of me.
Granted, I hadn’t been to a lot of weddings, but it’s not like I gave two shits about other brides.
My woman was the only bride I wanted to cherish.
I had the ring since she’d graduated from college.
But I didn’t ask her until a year and a half later, after she’d interviewed for a new position as a corporate communications specialist. She already had the experience in the traditional media and she’d wanted to explore other facets of her career.
I didn’t ask her at a restaurant. I wasn’t a dumbass like that.
I didn’t ask her when we went cliff diving because I wasn’t corny like that.
No, I asked her when she was riding me. In bed. And there was no way she could refuse.
Not that I was scared she would, but in case she did, I wouldn’t give her a choice.
One day when our kids asked where I proposed to their mother, we’d say, at a local park, I went down on my knees and asked her to be mine forever.
I didn’t ask her to be mine either.
She was already mine.
Marked from the beginning.
I’d simply said, “Marry me or I won’t let you come.”
And what choice did she have?
No, I’m kidding.
Look at me, all jokester now, I just said, “Marry me. Please.”
And she said, “Yes.”
She’d finished her vows and she looked at me with a devilish grin, “What’s that look for?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged my shoulders in my Zegna suit. Liam had helped me pick out my suit and I liked it, but I would never tell the fool or I’d never hear the end of it.
“It’s nothing, babe.” I smiled, cupping her cheek as I lowered my lips to kiss her.
I knew the minister hadn’t said it was okay to kiss, but shit, I wasn’t going to wait another minute without tasting her lips.
Her eyes dilated in lust as she whispered, “I don’t think it’s time to kiss yet.”
I complied by placing a chaste one on her lips and I heard snickering behind my back. It was probably Liam or Markus or Viggo. They knew how patient I was during an ops or an assignment, but they also learned how impatient I became when it came to Athena.
The minister asked us to face him and my eyes grazed on the beautiful scenery around us.
The gorgeous winery was a great backdrop against the rough browns of the mountains.
Malibu at its finest.
We both wanted a local wedding.
A place where our loved ones could come and attend.
My mom looked beautiful in her sparkly dress and Athena’s parents looked happy entertaining our friends and guests.
As I held Athena’s hands in mine, I already knew that I wasn’t ever going to let go.
Not of her.
Not of the tiny pulse beating inside of her.
Yes, it was unexpected.
As unexpected as the morning sickness that plagued her throughout the day.
We’d known for two weeks.
And I was looking forward to letting everyone know when she was past twelve weeks.
The minister said we could kiss so I kissed her to the clapping and cheers of our loved ones.
I kissed her and promised to take care of her every day of my life.
Years ago, I entered her life. Broken and embattled with the darkness that encompassed me.
Here I am now, standing with her, amid the slightly cloudy skies, but from the horizon, I caught a glimpse of the sun setting in its nest.
“Sunshine,” I whispered in her left ear that housed the diamond stud earrings my mom had helped me pick out for her after we got engaged.
“Hmm…” She leaned on my chest, savoring a second of silence between us before we left for the wedding reception.
“I love you,” I proclaimed. I’d said it many times in the past and I felt that I needed to say it now. “Always.”
“There’s a reason for everything we do.
An explanation for events that happen to us –
Why we meet certain people,
Why our paths crossed with theirs.
Sometimes these reasons may not be evident right away.
Other times we may never find out why.
I’m lucky to find out why –
And to know love.
It’s in the way she touches me,
As if she’ll never let go.
It’s in the way she holds me,
As if I’m her lifeline.
And it’s in the way she looks at me,
As if the sun starts and ends with me.”
“I write because I love it and for no other reason. The minute I stop enjoying it will be the exact moment I will stop writing.”
Anne Leigh is a 30-something-year-old who refuses to let the calendar dictate her age. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Nursing. She likes to write about strong women and equally strong guys who grapple with their emotions when faced with something as intangible as love.
She lives in Los Angeles with her family. With her crazy schedule, she gets frustrated at L.A. traffic and needs an escape to keep her sanity, which thankfully her characters provide.
She didn’t think of publishing her stories and when she finally did, she’s truly appreciative of every, single person who found the time to let her characters become parts of their world.
She appreciates all the readers who leave kind comments/reviews on where they purchased the book because without them, all her stories would remain locked up in a thing called “computer.”
She’s always happy to find new friends and would love to hear from you via:
Facebook: Like her Official Author Page for book updates: Author Anne Leigh
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E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @ Anneleighauthor
To YOU
My husband – For keeping me grounded and catching me every time I fall, thank you. You are the reason I can write these stories. My love for you will always be my inspiration.
My daughter – I hope that the world will always show you kindness and that you are always kind to the world. You are the blessing that your dad and I never expected and I am grateful to be your mom.
For my family, you give me hope – in everything.
For my friends in the book world and outside of it – I can’t write about friendships if I didn’t have all of you to model them for me. Thank you.
For the One Up Above, thank YOU for YOUR graciousness.
My dear readers – I always say that writing is the easy part and publishing’s a whole other beast. There are days when I just want to lock my stories up and never let them see the light of day outside of my computer. YET I keep on publishing them because of you. You who read them and give me a note of encouragement. You who leave a review and tell me that I made your day brighter just a little bit. I thank you for giving my characters a chance to fill your time. Writing Webb and Athena wasn’t easy but I took on the journey because their spirits amazed me. So…thank you. As always.
Love Unexpected
Love Unmatched
Love Untouched
Fight or Fall
Love Undefeated
W
rchive.