Page 74 of One Kind Goal

Nia pouted for a minute, but she seemed to understand that reasoning.

Picturing Sawyer with a puppy, however, almost sent Morgan over the edge. What was better than a sexy, muscular guy with an adorably fluffy puppy? Fortunately, her phone buzzing with a message gave her something else to do besides melt over these imagined images.

Austin:See you in a bit!

“It’s almost time to meet Austin and Charlie,” she said after texting an okay to her brother. “Let’s finish cleaning up here and get changed to go.” She grabbed her purse. “I have something for you, Nia.”

“What is it?” Nia came to stand on Morgan’s side of the coffee table.

Morgan extracted a brown bag from her purse. “Finish cleaning first. Then you get what’s in the bag.”

Without a word, Nia raced around the table, collecting the papers in a neat pile and shoving the rest of her crayons into the box.

Sawyer gave Morgan a nod. “More innate parenting skills rise to the surface.”

“I’m as surprised as you are.” She shrugged.

“Some people are just naturals.” He nudged her knee with his sock-covered foot.

“Some people want to get in good with a hot dad,” she said, pinching his toe.

Sawyer barked out a laugh then shifted to his knees to kiss her. A quick brush of his lips, but that was capable of getting Morgan’s core to simmer. She was excited to go to the game tonight, but there had better be time later to touch this man and have him touch her. The darkening of Sawyer’s eyes as his gaze roamed down to her mouth—then lower—said he was thinking the same thing.

“Okay, Morgan,” Nia said, breaking the little staring and hungering contest Sawyer and Morgan were having. “I cleaned it all up. Can I have what’s in the bag now?”

“Sure can.” Morgan handed the bag to her.

Nia sat beside Morgan and unrolled the top of the bag to open it. She turned the bag upside down and let its contents fall out. Tossing the bag aside, she picked up the white material that had landed in her lap then let out a shriek.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She launched her small body onto Morgan, her arms going round Morgan’s neck and squeezing.

“Wow,” Morgan said. “That’s quite a grip, kid.” But she maneuvered to wrap her arms around Nia and hug her close.

“What is it?” Sawyer asked.

Nia held up the T-shirt. The Anchors T-shirt. Size XXXS.

“Aw, yeah! Now we’re a real team!” Sawyer high-fived Nia then stood, pulling Morgan to her feet and squeezing her up against his hard body. “You are the best,” he whispered in her ear. “And you’re totally in good with this hot dad.”

Laughing, Morgan wiggled out of his hold and patted herself on the back. Then she turned to Nia who had the shirt she’d been wearing half off. Her arm was stuck though.

“Let’s head into your bedroom and I can help you with that, Nia.” She put her hand on the kid’s shoulder and navigated her toward the hallway. Looking over her shoulder at Sawyer, she said, “I can help you too. If you need it.”

“Oh, I need it.” In a few long strides, he was behind her, skimming his hand along her back. “I need a lot of things.”