Page 82 of One Unexpected Gift

Nick looked at Sky in surprise, and then his eyes did something new. They softened in a way that was different from how he’d ever looked at her before. Similar to how he looked at Gabby in awe and amazement and... love.

Isabella cleared her throat and gave Sky a final pat on her shoulder. “Thank you for the compliment, both of you. Parenting, raising a child, is the most challenging and rewarding job you’ll ever have. There is nothing you can do to prepare for it. Whether you’re married, dating, single, it doesn’t matter. Even when you have your second child, you’ll think you know what you’re doing, but his temperament will be different. His personality will test you more than the first, or he’ll be a cuddler or won’t like to cuddle. And no matter the similarities or the differences, you’ll learn how to love your children, you’ll learn how to make them happy. And in return, they’ll bring you a lifetime of happiness as well.”

The room was silent for a moment before Nick added, “And headaches.”

Isabella laughed. “Yes, some children will bring you more headaches than others. Your daughter has you wrapped around her little finger. I can already tell by the way you look at her.” She bent over Nick, whispering loud enough for Sky to hear as well. “And the same goes for her mother.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

After a dinner of grilled chicken and shrimp kabobs, vegetables, and pasta salad, the family gathered in the living room. The temperature had dropped significantly, and even with a fire outside, it was too cool to linger for long on the deck.

There were so many windows in the room it was just as beautiful watching the sunset from inside as it would be from outside. Sky listened in as Nick’s parents asked Logan about business in Texas, and Holden about his auto body shop. She didn’t feel like a voyeur listening in. They all made her welcome and included her in the conversation. Even Camilla who, at twenty-three, was still figuring out what she wanted to do with her master’s degree in communications from NYU.

When Gabby had dozed off, she brought her upstairs and set her in her playpen in Nick’s old bedroom. She came back downstairs and walked into an interesting conversation.

“How’s the hunt for a girlfriend?” Nick teased Holden.

Sky returned to her seat next to Nick on the couch and remembered what he had said about his brother wanting to settle down. Holden had been so sweet tonight holding and playing with Gabby. He’d be a great father and husband someday.

“Can I borrow Gabriella sometime? She’d be a perfect chick magnet.”

“Nice, brother.” Camilla swatted his shoulder. “You’re not going to use my niece as a ploy to get a date. It’s bad enough Nicolas used her to win points with Mom.”

“Who said I didn’t get Mom another gift? We just happened to introduce her to her granddaughter this weekend. Gabriella isn’t my gift.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her beautiful blue eyes at Nick.

“You kids can stay up and bicker, but we old folks are going to bed.” Isabella gave each of them a hug, and then Travis took his turn saying good night to everyone.

“Holden has a point,” Logan said once their parents had left. “The only way someone as beautiful as Skylar would be with an ugly schmuck like you is because of my niece.”

Had Sky not spent the day with the Pierce family she would have been aghast and come to Nick’s defense. Since she’d learned their way of showing brotherly affection, she chimed in.

“Yeah. It’s too bad your sister and brothers got all the good looks in the family. I got stuck with the ugly, boring one. Maybe I should see if one of your brothers is more exciting.”

Nick’s forced smile and Holden and Logan’s loud intake of air told her she’d crossed a line somewhere. They’d been teasing Nick all night. Nothing seemed to be off limits. Making fun of his looks–that were way above average–couldn’t have caused such a stir.

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