Page 8 of One Unexpected Gift

Unless they were father material. Gabby opened up her lungs letting the neighborhood know how hungry she was. Sky said goodnight to Charlie and Olivia and went into her room, getting comfortable in bed, and nursed her daughter back to sleep.

Father material.

She wasn’t one who needed a man in her life. Being single and independent suited her just fine, but was that fair to her daughter? Sky loved being in the army. She loved working in the field and the rush of adrenaline working in the medic tents. It was mentally and physically exhausting but also rewarding.

To continue with her career, she’d need help with Gabby. Finding a father for her could be the answer to having it all.

CHAPTER THREE

Nick dragged the tarp, now filled with leaves and pine needles, to the edge of the woods and dumped the debris down the embankment. It was his sixth trip of the morning, and the physical labor felt invigorating.

He’d enjoyed being part of Camp Illumination’s spring cleanup crew and volunteered again to help close up for the season. Being a business owner in the community, he felt it his duty to give back. Plus, he had a good time.

Most of his gym and ski buddies were there as well. This year, he offered to contribute toward lunch. He still had a few hours before he had to head back to The Zone to pick up the burgers, dogs, and buckets of potato salad he’d prepared last night.

It was good business, offering his time and donating food. Plus, he had the added perk of hanging out with friends. Although, it wasn’t the only reason he was one of the first to arrive at the camp.

He dragged the now empty tarp over to the Allagash cabin and scanned the area for her. He’d assumed Skylar would show since she was part owner of the camp.

Living in a small town and having friends in common meant her name came up frequently, and damn if he couldn’t help the way his ears tuned in a little more when anyone mentioned her name. Seeing her a few nights ago in his bar nearly knocked him on his ass.

He’d figured he’d have heard about her being in town, but Owen and Bryce hadn’t mentioned anything to him. Not that they would. They had no idea he’d been pining after her for over a year.

The first time they met she had him on his knees. Literally. It had started as casual flirting at the bar while she waited for Brooke, Gina, and Charlie to show up, and then led to crazy hot sex in his office.

She’d christened the hell out of his desk, and he found it hard to focus on anything but the image for days. He’d just barely gotten control over his dick responding anytime he thought of her when she stopped by one night right before closing. Colby was in his office counting the drawers for the night but all it took was the mention of a storage closet down the hall past the bathrooms, and he’d found his way under her dress.

He wanted it to be something more and gave her his cell number, but she never used it and never gave him hers. Sure, he could have easily gotten it from Owen, but he wasn’t one to chase after a woman. Especially one who lived a thousand miles away.

There were long-distance relationships and then there was the impossible. While Nick loved the challenge of the impossible, this wasn’t a situation he was ready to take on right now.

He reached for his rake and picked up where he left off, piling the fallen needles onto the tarp.

Laughter carried through the cool morning air and wrapped around his chest. Skylar. Dropping his rake, he turned toward her voice and easily spotted her red hair piled high in a bun on top of her head. She wore a navy blue sweatshirt, jeans, and work boots.

Never had he seen a sexier sight. Yeah, she was a picture in her short dress and high boots with her legs wrapped around his waist. Also sexy as hell in her casual top and leggings sitting at his pub table. And today, dressed for outside work... damn. Yet, there was something different about her.