The day was nearly perfect.I pushed Pippa in the stroller with Isla’s hand gripping my bicep. I felt like the richest man in the world. As Isla told me about her favorite places to take Pippa, I absorbed her gentle voice.
I hardly even noticed Paolo several steps behind us.
“I wish I could take her on more walks. San Francisco is not like Pasadena. We get a lot of fog. Not much sun.”
“There’s one way to change that,” I told her. “I mean, summers are plenty sunny in Canada.”
What if she fought me on moving to Canada? She mentioned Pasadena, where she’d lived her whole life. Not my family’s estate.
“And frozen during the winter.”
“And that.” I winked as my stomach twisted into a knot. Isla hated subzero temperatures.
“I miss the sun, not winter in Canada. I’d move back to Pasadena in a heartbeat. I never wanted to leave.”
We stopped at a crosswalk. I lifted her chin, so our eyes met. “Then why did you move to the Bay Area?”
She exhaled a breath. “The redhead. I didn’t want to risk running into you two together.”
I pressed my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, baby. I promise you, there’s nothing to worry about. What you saw was a woman tripping on drugs.” I kissed her nose. “I’ve always been faithful, My-la. Always.”
Her whiskey-colored eyes simmered with emotion. “You also told me to never come back.”
Cazzo! I would never live it down, would I? “I’ve never regretted anything more.”
She searched my eyes, then shocked the hell out of me when she lifted onto her tiptoes and pecked my lips. “Let’s go.”
I stared at her in awe, then I followed her lead. Talking about the past and where we’d both gone wrong was futile. We couldn’t rewind time, only move forward and do better from here on out. I sensed that was why Isla had kissed me with Paolo witnessing her affection toward me. She was a kind, caring, and forgiving woman. She loved me.
I would never take her for granted again.
The sun graced San Francisco and us with its presence. It was simply magical and I hated knowing this time with my girls would come to an end.
“Are you hungry?” I stopped in front of an Italian market.
“A little. I should probably feed her too.”
I looked around and found a vacant bench. “Let’s get you settled here, and I’ll grab us some food.”
She smiled and squeezed my bicep. “Sounds lovely.” A flirty lilt was in her voice as she fluttered her eyelashes. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.
“I want to ravage you when you look at me that way.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Hmm.”
“You’re teasing me.”
She sat on the bench as I took Pippa out of the stroller. I’d never held a baby before her, but I felt like a pro. Except, I hadn’t changed her diaper yet. Admittedly, I wasn’t eager to learn how to do that task, but I would. I wanted to be able to care for Pippa in every way. From changing her diapers and bathing her to calming her down when upset and putting her to bed. I wanted to bethatdad.
“As if you aren’t trying to tempt me as well.”
“Guilty.” I placed the baby in her arms and dropped a quick kiss on Isla’s perfect lips to test her reaction. I needed to know if I was still banned from kissing her or if it had been lifted. She gave me a small smile. I’d take it as her approval. “I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be here.”
After Isla fed Pippa and we nibbled on antipasto skewers and bruschetta, we walked for several blocks. It felt so damn good to talk and laugh with Isla again. Best part? Penelope’s giggles.
I have a daughter. My mind still couldn’t compute the little fact. To think I never wanted kids or a wife.
