Heidi McCahan - Their Baby Blessing

“And her baby?”

Gage’s question pulled her back to the present. Her scalp prickled with uncertainty. “Before I say more about Connor, I’d like to know why you’re asking. Who are you?”

“McKenna’s boyfriend, Ryan, is—was—my best friend.” Gage reached inside his jacket pocket and then slid a photograph across the table. “We were stationed in San Diego with the navy, and that’s where he met McKenna.”

“Oh.” Skye examined the picture of Gage and a blond-haired, blue-eyed man standing on the beach, wearing shorts and T-shirts and grinning at the camera, with the ocean in the background. Ryan. Skye didn’t know much about the guy with Gage, other than McKenna claimed he was Connor’s father. McKenna’s stories had always seemed a bit convoluted, though. It was reassuring to meet someone who could fill in some of the gaps, especially anything about Connor’s father.

“I’m not sure what happened after San Diego,” Gage said. “Ryan couldn’t stop talking about her, but then we got our orders to transfer to Florida and he asked her to move there.”

“She didn’t, did she?”

Gage shook his head. “Ryan said he talked to her all the time and tried to convince her to change her mind, even offered her money to help cover the expenses. Then she told him she was pregnant, and he...” Gage looked away, and a muscle in his jaw knotted.

“He what?”

Gage dragged his gaze to meet hers. “He died before he could see her again or meet Connor.”

“Oh no.” Skye’s stomach plummeted. “I’m so sorry. I—I had no idea. She never told me that part.” No wonder Connor’s father hadn’t come forward to help. Questions pinged in her brain, and she wanted to ask more, but the sheen in Gage’s eyes made her keep quiet.

“When did she come back to Merritt’s Crossing?” His voice was shaky as he tucked the photo away.

“First she showed up at my apartment in Denver right before Thanksgiving, with Connor in his car seat, a backpack and five dollars to her name.” Skye shivered at the memory. “I still don’t know how she got to Denver from California with a newborn. Frankly, I was afraid to ask.”

“So she and Connor lived with you?”

“I let them stay with me for a couple of days because I knew she didn’t have anywhere else to go. We’d both lost so much, and it was nice to have family around, you know?” She clamped her mouth closed before she revealed details about her family’s struggles. What was it about him that made her want to share information so freely?

“Where is Connor now?”

“My mom let McKenna and Connor move in with her in November. He’s been staying with my mother and me since McKenna left in January, although my mom is recovering from knee-replacement surgery, and I’m trying to keep the furniture store open...” She trailed off. Again with too much information. Stop.

Gage studied her. “Sounds like a lot for one person to handle.”

“I’ve managed so far, although it’s been really hectic. As long as Connor doesn’t get kicked out of the church’s child care program, then it’s all good.” And given the program director’s recent warning about Connor’s behavior, that was definitely a possibility. She forced a wobbly smile. “I hope.”

“Here’s the thing. I made a promise to Ryan before he died.” He worked his jaw before continuing.

A niggling in Skye’s chest forced her to stiffen. “What kind of promise?”

“I told Ryan that I’d take care of his child, and I intend to keep my word.”

What did he mean— take care of his child ? She clenched her fists in her lap. “I don’t understand. What are you—”

He held up his palm to silence her. “This sounds ridiculous, I’m sure, and I don’t blame you for being skeptical, but—”

“ Skeptical doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling.” Skye linked her arms across her chest. “Why would I believe anything you tell me?”

Irritation flashed in his eyes. “Because Ryan was like a brother to me. I can assure you he had every intention of being involved in Connor’s life.”

Skye’s throat tightened at the raw emotion in his voice.

“I—I want to do for Connor what Ryan can’t.” He cleared his throat. “I’d like to see him on a regular basis.”

This was crazy. She didn’t know this man, and he wasn’t even related to Connor. Did she really look that gullible? “I’m afraid that’s out of the question.”

* * *

Gage was not giving up. He’d come so close to finding Connor, only to encounter an unexpected obstacle—Skye Tomlinson. She was not only determined, but incredibly attractive. Her pink cheeks, long dark curls and pale blue eyes fringed with dark lashes all conspired against him and threatened to distract him from his critical mission.

Focus.

He couldn’t afford to blow his one chance and based on the way she was glaring at him, he estimated she was about three seconds from getting up and leaving.

“I’m sorry I’ve upset you.” He softened his tone. “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”

Something unreadable flickered in her gaze and vanished.

“Why are you here? I—I heard what you said about the promise to your friend, but do you really expect me to believe that you came all the way from Florida to find the baby he’d never met?”

The doubt in her voice pricked at him. What was wrong with a man keeping his word? Gage sipped his coffee and weighed his response. To be perfectly honest, he’d do anything to assuage the guilt he carried from watching helplessly while Ryan succumbed to the flames, knowing he could’ve saved him if only he’d followed the correct protocol.

No. Not now. He squeezed his eyes shut and battled back the mental images from that horrific day. Tomorrow was the one-year anniversary of the accident that killed his best friend, and he still had nightmares.

Setting his mug down, he met Skye’s gaze again. “After eight years in the navy, I decided to not reenlist. I’m almost finished with my online certification to become a wind energy technician, and the program’s director told me he places most new graduates with companies in eastern Colorado or Wyoming.”

“Ah.” Skye nodded. “Alta Vista Energy just opened a new wind farm not far from here.”

“I start my on-the-job training with them on Friday.”

“Did you move to Merritt’s Crossing hoping you’d find McKenna? Seems like a huge risk.”

“I moved here because it offers the best chance at starting my second career, and the only time McKenna and I communicated, she mentioned she was trying to move back home. While your cousin sounds unpredictable, she shared a lot on social media up until a couple months ago. All of her recent posts were from this part of Colorado, so I assumed this was home.”

Skye’s gaze narrowed. “When did you talk to McKenna?”

“Just after Ryan’s funeral. She wasn’t there, and I was worried, so I sent her a text.”

“But you’ve never heard from her again?”

“No.” Gage leaned back in his chair. “She’s ignored all my messages. I started looking for her as soon as I moved here, though. My first stop was a diner on the interstate near Limon because McKenna had posted that she worked there.”

Skye scrunched up her nose in a way Gage found incredibly adorable. “Yeah, that job didn’t last long. McKenna’s not meant to be a waitress.”

“That’s what the owner told me. She also mentioned your family’s furniture business here, and that someone might have more info if I stopped by the store. Honestly, I thought it was better to reach out online first. In case you didn’t—”