Page 106 of One Unexpected Gift

Oh my God! She mouthed at him. “He’s going to know,” she whispered.

By the dancing light in Nick’s eyes, she could tell he didn’t care. If he didn’t, she shouldn’t either. It wasn’t like she had to face Colby every day. Heck, she wouldn’t see him for months. Years. Ever? Sadness washed over her as she pulled her arms through the sleeves of her sweatshirt and righted her hair.

In two days she’d be packing up and leaving. Her next leave would be in late spring. By then she could be a distant memory. Nick could turn office sex into a regular thing, and she’d be forgotten.

Unaware of the melancholy that had washed over her, Nick chugged the rest of his water and patted her butt. “You ready?”

Sky nodded and he took her hand, then unlocked the door.

“You had work to do?” Colby asked with skepticism behind the bar.

“I did.”

“Did you get it done?”

“That, I did, and then some.” He squeezed Sky’s hand and guided her through the bar. “I’ll be in around five tonight. Call if anything comes up.”

“Will do. You two enjoy the rest of your day.” The knowing smirk on the kid’s lips had Sky blushing all the way to Nick’s Jeep.

“I can’t believe you.” Sky smacked Nick’s arm.

“What?” He shrugged his hands up in the air, a gleaming smile forming on his lips.

“You’re embarrassing.”

“Aw, darlin.’” He snaked his arms around her and rested them on her lower back. “Don’t shame a man because he’s proud to show off his girl.”

His girl? Okay, Nick was semi-forgiven. “You didn’t have to tell him we just had sex in your office.”

“I did no such thing.” He drew her in close until their torsos touched.

“You implied.” She slid her hands up against his chest and pretended to be mad.

“Colby’s a smart guy. He can put two and two together. Besides, you’re the one who gave it all away.”

“I did not.”

“Darlin’. Your lips are swollen and you have beard burn on your neck.”

Sky covered her neck with her hands. “You barely have any stubble going.”

“Maybe. But we played hard.” He nipped her bottom lip between his teeth. “Isn’t that what you asked for? Hard, fast, and furious? I was just trying to please my woman.”

His girl. My woman. Maybe she could take a leap off the deep end and tell him how she felt.

“Ready for part two of our date?”

“There’s more?”

“There’s always more where that came from.”

***

Nick turned down the road toward Camp Illumination and parked in front of the mess hall.

“What are we doing here?”

They got out of the Jeep, and he reached for a blanket in the back. He took her hand and led her toward the water. “I thought we’d go kayaking around the pond. It’s not something you can do with Gabby.”

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