Page 77 of One Unexpected Gift

Uncomfortable with his family’s wealth, he said, “Technically I didn’t grow up here. This was our vacation home until a few years ago when my parents retired.”

“Holy shit. This is a lot.” She rubbed her forehead with a loud sigh.

“I screwed up again, didn’t I?” He’d told her about the Pierce Oil Company and the live-in housekeeper his father grew up with. However, he also told her about his father being cut off from the millions. Maybe he forgot to mention his dad made more than that on his own.

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on your reason for keeping this from me. Is tomorrow going to be a fancy affair with cocktail dresses and summer hats? All I brought are jeans I can finally fit into and a maxi skirt.”

“I don’t know what a maxi skirt is, but jeans are fine. We’re a casual family.”

“Okay, so why didn’t you give me a heads up that we were going to your summer estate?”

“When I was a teen and even in my early twenties, I didn’t care if a woman was more interested in my family’s money than me.”

“Trish?”

Nick nodded. “At the time, I didn’t care. It sort of gave me an excuse to go off and do my own thing.”

“She used you for your family’s wealth?”

“I don’t resent her for it. I never did. I sort of used her for it as well. We didn’t have a relationship based on love and honesty.”

“I’m sorry about that, Nick. I really am, but I’m still shocked.”

“After Trish, I never brought a woman home, never hinted at my family’s wealth. I wanted them to... like me for me and not my family’s worth.”

“I would never do that.”

“I know that. I guess I have another apology. I was afraid you’d be intimidated by it and use it as a reason to back out, so I intentionally didn’t tell you.”

“I would have freaked, that’s for sure.”

“I’m batting oh-for-ten, aren’t I? I’m trying to impress you and be good about everything I do or say but somehow the opposite keeps happening.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers as another headache threatened to erupt.

He heard Skylar slide in her seat, and she reached across the center console, moving his hands away and replacing them with hers. “Another headache?”

“Not from the dissection. Just my own stupidity.” Her touch was warm and gentle on his skin, soothing away the surface area of pain.

“You know what they say about men?”

“That we’re the dumbest creatures on the planet?”

“That, and that you can tell a lot about a guy by how he treats his mother.”

Nick peered up at her through her fingers. “I treat her like she deserves.”

“You’ve put her high up on a pedestal and have sacrificed your own happiness for hers.”

That had been his plan with his stupid proposal to Trish.

“I don’t always see so clearly.”

“Because you’re blinded by your goodness. Other guys would be flaunting their family’s wealth, trying to buy a girl with material things. Instead, you’re impressing me with your time.”

“And my good looks.” He placed his hands over hers and brought them to his cheeks. “And my mouth.” He leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

While he would love nothing more than to take the kiss deeper, they had a baby in the backseat who’d been extremely patient during the three-hour car ride, which meant she’d be ready for some snuggling and feeding any minute.

When they were seated properly again, he put the truck in gear and drove slowly down the long driveway. Skylar’s leg bounced with nervous energy.

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