Page 35 of Next Door Billionaire's Surprise Baby

Yesterday was Friday–I distinctly remember telling Mike I would see him again next week. That means today is Saturday.

Yes!

I almost weep at the relief and implication of what it means. I’ll get to spend as much time as I please with Chloe and Skye.

Skye….

If there’s anything I’m proud of Tim for, it’s making that beautiful child. When I saw her yesterday, it was like something clicked into place deep within me. I knew instantly that I wouldn’t allow myself to make the same mistakes Tim did. I would be the best uncle to be involved in her life. After all, the duty to ensure she has someone to protect her falls on me after Tim left.

As I float through my thoughts, a faint sound reaches my ears. I ignore it at first, but I quickly realize it’s Skye crying.

Without thinking, I hurriedly untangle myself from Chloe, doing everything I can not to wake her up. Once that is settled, I hop into my pants and dash out of the room and into the next room.

Skye’s room is still very much dark, thanks to the window blinds being closed properly. Her toddler bed is in the middle of the room, and Skye is lying on her back and wailing her little heart out.

I stand over the tiny bed and smile comfortingly at her, “Hi, princess. It’s another day.”

She stops her tears the second she sees me and sits up, reaching out her hands to me.

“Yes, ma’am,” I chuckle at her silent demand and pick her up, pecking her baby cheeks.

“How is my girl doing this morning?”

She makes a sound like a squeal and goes off in unintelligible baby talk before breaking off to smile at the end.

I carry her out of the room and head downstairs to get a glass of water. I enter the kitchen and pour some water for both Skye and me. As I gulp down the drink, I get the idea to do something very nice for Chloe – making breakfast.

For the next hour, I focus on whipping up simple pancakes, bacon, and eggs. I also multitask by keeping a close eye on Skye, who has become so agile all of a sudden and is running around the kitchen.

The sound of sizzling pans and the aroma of breakfast take me back to my mornings as a child when I would sit on the counter and watch my mom cook up something delicious for me, her, and my dad. The sun would stream in from our huge kitchen window, and I remember always looking out at the sprawling garden we owned back then.

Just as I’m finished making breakfast and in the process of serving it on plates, a pair of arms snake around from behind and envelope me in a tight hug. The strong scent of citrus body splash hits my nose over the delicious breakfast, and I turn around to meet face to face with Chloe, smiling at me, “Hi.”

She looks different this morning…younger, I think. She’s wearing an oversized T-shirt and a pair of comfortable shorts rather than the usual office attire I’m used to seeing her in. Her bed hair is frazzled and sticking out in different directions, but in my eyes, she has never looked better.

I wrap my arms around the curve of her back, leaning over to kiss her. When I pull back, I see her blushing.

“Good morning,“ I answer, tucking stray strands of her hair behind her ears, “Did you sleep well?”

“You made sure of that, so yes, I did,” she replies, tracing her fingers on my chest. She flashes me a shy smile before peeking around me to look at the stove where the eggs are still sitting in the pan.

“And now you’re making breakfast.”

“I know,” I say, turning around to pick up the pan and take it to the dining table where the rest of the breakfast is already served. I shovel the eggs onto the plates – the biggest portion for Chloe and the smallest for Skye.

We settle down for breakfast and dare I say it, we eat like a real family. Chloe and I chat about nothing and take turns to make sure Skye is eating her breakfast instead of making a mess with her food.

Why haven’t you settled down yet?

I've yet to meet anyone who can hold me down.

My words bounce around in my head as I look around the table and realize how happy I am to have this moment.

I think I may have met the right person.

“Hello? Are you still with us, Kane?”

I startle when Chloe snaps her fingers in my face to get my attention, and I blink at her, “Yes?”

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