Page 1 of Gifted To His Dad

Chapter 1

Eve

“Wake up, babe. We’re here.”Cole leans over, guiding a strand of my hair behind my ear. Sleep still holds on to me, and the cab of his truck feels like a warm cocoon I don’t want to break out of.

A yawn takes over my face as I come to my senses. “Sorry.”

His clear green eyes focus on me as his soft chuckle fills the space. “You’re adorable like this.”

I don’t know how to respond. I’ve never considered myself anything but ordinary. Boring brown eyes, mid-size frame, with a below-average height. The only thing distinct about me is my copper hair, which my mom swears I inherited from my father. Not that I can remember him. My mom never missed an opportunity to remind me that I was the reason he left her. Apparently, I was colicky as a baby, cried for hours at a time, and he just couldn’t take it. Even as an infant, I was too much trouble.

So how am I dating Cole? He’s perfect in every way. Captain of our college hockey team. The highest-scoring forward in the division and somehow manages to be at the top of our class in grades. That’s not even touching on his popularity. There’s not a single person who doesn’t know him, or at least wants to know him, on campus. He could have anyone he wants.

So why is he here with me?

“What are you thinking about so seriously?”

I gaze out the windshield at where a mansion of a log cabin stands tall in front of us. Lantern-shaped lights illuminate the rustic details even in the night.

“I don’t belong here.” I bite my lip, looking anywhere but at him, but he catches my jaw and brings my gaze back to his.

“Don’t say that. I’ve spent weeks begging you to come here. That should be enough to convince you I want you here.” He leans over and kisses me gently. His broad frame eclipses mine as his tongue runs along my bottom lip, coaxing my mouth open. The sweet taste of peppermint gum takes over my taste buds as he deepens the kiss. My fingers dig into his shirt, tightening the fabric in my fist as a soft moan escapes my lips.

Tension eases from my shoulders with each stroke of his tongue. This is the one thing I’m sure of. He wants me. With every touch, he devours me more until I feel like he’ll consume me whole, wiping away all my worries.

It’s not until my lungs burn for air that he lets me go, resting his forehead against mine. “Let’s go in before I fuck you in the car.”

I can’t stop my smirk. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Before I can pull him back into me, he opens his door, and the crisp winter air sends a chill through me. He somehow convinced me to come to his family’s mountain retreat for Christmas break after hearing I wasn’t going home to Florida. Cole comes around my side of the car, opening the door and wrapping his arms around me the second I get out. “So…what do you think?”

The full moon casts a glow over the entire area, giving it an almost ethereal look as giant, fluffy snowflakes float down from the sky. I inhale deeply, the cold air stinging my cheeks, but I don’t want to break the moment. “It’s beautiful.”

Cole’s gaze is on me, a small smile curving his lips when he responds. “Yeah, you are.”

A shiver rolls through me, and Cole entwines our fingers as he leads me up the front steps. He doesn’t let go as he punches in the lock code, and the heavy wood door swings inward, revealing a large entryway that’s lit by a giant chandelier. Every light is on in the house like someone’s here.

I tense, feet sticking to the floor. “I thought you said your stepdad wasn’t coming until tomorrow?”

I’ve been counting on the fact that I’d have an entire day to prepare myself to meet his stepfather. If he’s anything like his stepson, I can only imagine how overwhelming it will be. Guys like Cole don’t bring girls like me home. We’re from different worlds. Not that Cole would ever say that.

He nudges me deeper into the house and shuts the door behind us. “He’s not.”

I turn my chin up so I can look at him. His six-foot-three height makes it impossible for me to see him eye to eye. He curls his shoulder, cutting the space between us. “I turned the lights on with an app when we got here. I thought you’d be more comfortable that way.”

He’s sweeter than should be possible, and a tinge of guilt tightens in my chest. It’s not fair to him that doubt still creeps in, that somehow none of this feels real. Especially since he’s done nothing but be good to me for the last several months.

My fingers tighten in his as we move through the hall to where it opens to an enormous living room. The exposed wood beams at least twenty feet above us look like they’re holding the ceiling up. Windows shaped in an A-frame take up the back wall. They’re black in the night, but I have no doubt the view is phenomenal.

The focal point of the room is a giant stone fireplace, running floor to ceiling. Large, soft leather sofas flank it, with two extra-deep club chairs in the middle.

“Your mouth’s hanging open,” Cole says playfully, bumping his shoulder against mine.

My cheeks heat. I’ve never seen anything like this. “I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it in no time. Think of it as a hotel.”

He’s trying to soothe me but has no idea I’ve never been in a hotel that holds a candle to hisvacationhome. I’ve been to his apartment several times, and even though the furniture is obviously expensive, it didn’t make me feel as out of place as I feel here.

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