Page 90 of One Unexpected Gift

Charlie, no doubt, had high hopes for romance. So did Nick, but that wasn’t the number one reason why he asked Skylar to stay. A close number two though.

“You can take my room.” He guided Skylar up the stairs to the second floor.

“I’m not kicking you out of your room.”

“My spare rooms aren’t exactly furnished yet.” He opened the door to the first room. It was as empty as the day he moved in. The second, he showed her, was piled high with boxes he’d yet unpacked. “I’ll take the couch. It won’t be the first time I’ve fallen asleep on it.”

They stood in the hall outside his master bedroom. She moved past him into the room and set her bag in the middle of his bed. “You’re not sleeping on the couch.”

“You’re not sleeping on the couch,” he emphasized.

Skylar stalked up to him and rested her hands on his chest. “Neither of us are sleeping on the couch.”

His heart thumped wildly in his chest. “Skylar,” he said, tangling his hands in her hair. “This isn’t why I asked you to stay.”

“I know. But if it was, I’d be okay with that.”

Nick closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ve wanted you for so long I can’t remember not.”

“Ditto.”

He lifted his head a fraction and stared down into her eyes. “Really?”

“The fact that you question my desire for you tells me I’m way out of practice here.”

“I like that you’re out of practice, and I don’t mind helping you get back in your game.” He trapped her bottom lip between his teeth and gave it a gentle tug. “As long as you’re only playing with me. I don’t like to share. Especially you.”

“I’m pretty greedy myself.” She copied his kiss and bit his lower lip.

Gabriella’s crying had them both groaning. “You get ready for bed or do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll take care of the baby.”

“You keep talking like that and I’m going to jump your bones before you make it to the stairs.”

“You’re killin’ me smalls.”

“Be still my heart.” Skylar tapped her chest with her hand and stumbled back to the bed in an exaggerated dance. “Even your movie quotes have my insides quivering.”

The crying grew louder. “We’ll talk movies later. Go get naked.”

Nick jogged down the stairs and scooped up Gabriella, twirling her around the room.

“Hey, angel.” He lifted her above his head and blew kisses on her belly. “Your mommy and daddy are gonna get lucky tonight, so you be a good girl and sleep for a long, long time. Okay?”

Gabriella cooed and drool dripped on his face from her gummy smile. He wiped his face on his shoulder and tucked her into the crook of his arm as he picked up her blanket and a few other things around the living room.

A few minutes later, he headed upstairs, excited to see Skylar propped up in his bed, even if she did have clothes on. Well, a loose T-shirt. He prayed she was buck ass naked under the covers.

“You ready for bed?” Skylar reached out her arms to him.

“Oh, darlin’. I’ve been ready for a long, long time.”

“Not you.” She rolled her eyes and took Gabriella from him. “You’ve had a long weekend, baby girl.”

Gabriella squirmed with excitement in her arms, eager to nurse. Again, Nick’s mind didn’t rush to the gutter. Instead, his heart beat in awe at the beauty of his daughter and his... and the mother of his child.

Feeling useless while Skylar fed the baby, he picked up the playpen, still folded up in its travel bag. “Do you mind if I set this up across the hall? I’ll leave both doors open so we can hear her.”

Skylar looked up from her breast. “Why do you... oh.” She gnawed at her lower lip, the same lip that had been in his mouth fifteen minutes ago, and he saw a stain of pink on her freckled cheeks.

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