Page 115 of One Unexpected Gift

“I know. I thought you’d figure out where I was, so I kept my phone off.”

“This is a very nice surprise.” He got to his feet and stood in front of the bed. “A wonderfully, perfect surprise.” He was afraid if he touched her he’d discover it was all a dream and she would disappear.

“It’s a couple hours early, but it’s almost our daughter’s first birthday.” She reached behind her and handed him a small gift bag.

“I thought it was customary to get the birthday girl a gift, not her father.”

“This isn’t a conventional gift. It’s actually... it’s actually a gift for me. You know, since I did all the hard work.” She gave him a suggestive smile.

“Oh, like lingerie or chocolate sauce?”

“Chocolate sauce?”

“Mm.” He dipped his head and kissed her, finally. “Chocolate sauce that I can drip all over your body and then lick off.”

“That’s what you want?” she moaned into his mouth.

“Darlin’. You don’t need chocolate sauce to make you taste sweet, but if that’s a gift you want to give me, I’ll gladly accept.”

Skylar giggled and pushed him away. “Open this first. Then we’ll discuss the chocolate sauce.”

“Bossy. I like it.” Nick kissed her again before taking the bag and pulling out the tissue paper. There was a box inside. He picked it up and opened it. “A baby monitor?”

It wasn’t what he was expecting, not that he was expecting anything, especially Skylar naked in his bed tonight.

“Thank you.” He’d definitely win in the gift giving department. He went overboard with Gabriella’s gifts, and also got a few things for Skylar. His gift was sure to put a smile on her face. He hoped. Yeah. It would. Maybe.

“Are you going to ask me why I got you this?” She chewed on her bottom lip and folded her hands in front of her with a nervous twitch.

“I assume it’s to hear Gabriella?”

“I don’t need one in my house since it’s so small. But here I figured we’d need it.”

“Especially if we have to keep our door closed because you’re so loud.”

“That’s not what I mean.” She pushed at him playfully.

“Speaking of, where is she?” Nick looked over his shoulder as if expecting to find her in their room. He didn’t see any sign of her. Since she hadn’t stayed at his house since last November, he didn’t have any place for her. “And how did you get here? There’s no car in the driveway.”

“Brooke picked us up from the airport and brought over a playpen she borrowed from a teacher at school.”

“Wait. So they knew you were coming, and no one told me?”

“Surprise?” She held up her hands in question. “But that’s only the first part of the surprise. This is the second.” She tapped the box in his hands.

“Is this so we can close both doors and you can scream, Nicolas all night long?”

“All week long.”

“You’re staying for a week?” This was so much better than he anticipated.

“All month long.”

“You got two weeks off?” He put the monitor down on the bed and circled his arms around her, drawing her naked body into his.

“No.”

“I’m not following.”

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