surprised to see that it’s very homey. The entryway has a coat rack and a wooden bench covered in a dark tan cushion and hardwood floors as far as the eye can see. I hear the click, click, click of toenails on the floor.
Chloe comes tearing around the corner and immediately barrels into me, her entire butt wagging as she greets me. I get down on my knees and scratch behind her ears. “Aren’t you a pretty girl.” She does a sneak attack and licks my face.
“Chloe, get back, crazy. I’ll let her out really quick.” Walker grabs Chloe by her collar and leads her toward the back of the house.
I step farther into his home and see that he’s got a huge flat screen above a beautiful red brick fireplace. A taupe colored couch with thick cushions and a thick navy blue fleece throw hangs over the back. On his bookshelf are photos, but before I can look too closely, I hear the fast click, click, click of dog nails. This time she just bumps into my legs.
“Hi baby,” I coo and scratch behind Chloe ears again—she really likes that.
Walker comes in and places his hand on the small of my back, tingles shoot up and down my spine. I try to focus on the pictures and not his hand, but it’s really, really hard. I pick up a photo of Walker and another guy.
“Is this your brother?” Of course it is because they look so much alike.
“Yep, that’s Weston.” He grabs another photo. “Here’s Heather and the kids.”
I smile. She and the kids are beautiful.
I grab a picture and grin. It’s Walker and his brother, covered in mud, wearing bandanas around their heads. “Did you do a Tough Mudder race?”
“We did. A bunch of our buddies got together and created a team. I couldn’t walk for two days after. I was so fucking sore, but it was so much fun. How about I give you a tour?” He grabs my hand and then leads me to the kitchen, which looks like he’s in the middle of renovating. Two French doors lead to a large deck, and down the stairs is a fire pit and huge yard.
Off the kitchen is a room with a treadmill and weights—I’m not surprised because look at him, he’s got a great body.
Up the stairs are three bedrooms and a full-sized bathroom. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed in it and the standard bedroom furniture, all dark stained wood, with a master bath and a walk-in closet I’d kill for.
I turn to smile up at him. “Your place is beautiful.”
Walker brushes my hair back and leans down, kissing me. I immediately open my mouth to his seeking tongue. I moan into his mouth as it brushes against mine. He pulls back. “You’re beautiful.” He kisses me and then pulls back until our lips are barely touching. “Tell me to take you home or I’m not going to let you leave.”
I don’t answer him. Instead, I take a step back and untie the ribbon that is keeping the soft material of my dress together and let the fabric slip from my body, pooling at my feet.
“Wow,” is all he says before I’m in his arms with his lips on mine.
• • •
“…and we lived happily ever after.” My babies all smile up at me when I finish telling them the story of how I met their dad. Of course, it’s the G-Rated version.
I, of course, don’t tell them that Walker and I spent the whole weekend in bed—only getting up to eat and to play with Chloe.
They do know, even though I don’t think they totally understand, that our relationship was a whirlwind. We moved in together three months after our first date, engaged after six months, and then we got married on the year anniversary of the day we met.
Our first date was seven years ago, and is still one of the best days of my life. Our daughter Bella was born nine months after we got married; we were not expecting it, but thrilled nonetheless. Our daughter Amelia was born two years later, and our youngest, Alex, named after my dad, was born a year and a half after her.
“Mommy?” Bella asks from her bed.
“Yes, baby?” I move and sit next to her, brushing her hair back—the way their daddy always does to me.
“Is Daddy your prince?”
I smile and shake my head. “Nope, he’s my king and I’m his queen. You and