Page 79 of One Unexpected Gift

For a minute there, he thought his mother was going to pass out. She panted out a few breaths and then threw herself at Skylar, hugging her again.

“Gracias. Thank you. Gracias.” She took Skylar’s face between her hands and kissed both cheeks. “Welcome to the family, Skylar.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell his mother he and Skylar weren’t... that they... hell, he wanted them to be and had no problem with his mother’s assumptions. Might as well let Skylar get used to it.

“Would you like to hold her?”

“Silly boy and stupid questions. Yes, give her to me.” When he placed Gabriella in his mother’s arm he instantly knew his daughter would never go without love.

“I think she likes her,” he whispered loudly to Skylar, draping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side.

“Which one?” Skylar said as they watched Gabriella smile and laugh at his mother’s silly faces and loving words.

“I’d say it’s mutual. Come on. Let’s meet the rest of the pack.”

He tossed the diaper bag inside the car seat and carried them inside behind his mother.

***

Sky was overwhelmed with the instant love Nick’s mother doled out on her and Gabby. Within seconds, she forgot about being intimidated by the massive home overlooking the Atlantic. She followed his mother to a sunken living room with a million dollar view. His brothers, each laying on a couch, jumped to their feet when Isabella introduced her.

Travis Pierce kissed Gabby first, then held Sky in the longest, warmest embrace she’d ever had. Derek was her rock, her mentor, her childhood crush, and he gave great hugs and had strong shoulders for her to lean on. But Travis, in his six foot plus solid frame, made her feel like a little girl in her father’s arms.

He’d kissed the top of her head and thanked her over and over again like she’d given him the biggest gift in the world. At one point, she felt his chest shake and could have sworn he was choking back tears.

There was no judgment, no questions, no skepticism that she may be a gold digger looking to trap Nick and get her claws into his fortune. She didn’t even know there was a fortune to be had until fifteen minutes ago. Not that Mr. Pierce knew that, and still, he treated her with gratitude.

A round of introductions were made. Logan, the serious business man dressed in khakis and a polo who was the spitting image of his father, made a surprise visit. He had his father’s sandy brown hair and tall frame, but had his mother’s Latino, dark eyes.

Sky thought about what Nick had said earlier about one-upping each other with gifts. Logan gave her a quick hug and congratulated his brother. The quick scowl on his face and the smirk on Nick’s wasn’t lost on Sky. She almost giggled at the playful tension between them.

Holden had all of his father’s coloring but was the shortest of the men, not that he was short. Average height where Nick was just above average, and well-above average in every other quality. Holden was sweet, shaking her hand first and then giving her a respectful hug.

Camilla was a beauty. A younger version of her mother from head to toe. The woman had to have a line a mile long of suitors, especially if they knew about her family’s money. Sky hoped Camilla’s brothers kept the money-seeking mongrels away from her. No doubt they did.

None of the Pierces gave her any dubious looks and instead engulfed her in hugs and laid on the insults to Nick pretty thick. All in good fun by the sound of everyone’s laughter.

Even Logan, the brother Nick claimed was the most serious, had some hilarious stories up his sleeve.

“Has my brother told you about the time he stole my girlfriend?” Logan tipped his beer bottle toward Nick and then reclined in the overstuffed chair.

With six years difference between the two, the girlfriend stealing had to have been fairly recent, sometime after his divorce, no doubt.

“I don’t believe I’ve heard it.”

Travis adjusted the light blanket over Gabby, who was fast asleep in Isabella’s arms. Both grandparents were oblivious to their children’s stories, lost in the sweetness of their granddaughter.

“I didn’t try to steal her.” Nick took a seat next to Sky and handed her a glass of ice water with a slice of lime and basil floating in it. “I can get you regular water if you want. Mom likes to jazz hers up.”

“This looks delicious, thank you.”

Nick draped his arm along the back of the couch, and she settled into it.

“Did so,” Logan continued, focusing his attention on Sky. “Mindy Poleski had the hots for me. Everyone knew it, and then in comes big, bad ass Nicolas Pierce who says one word to her and I no longer exist.”

“I should warn you my brother has a flair for the dramatics. It’s a wonder he didn’t major in theater instead of getting his MBA.”

“Holden, is it not true?”

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