Page 54 of One Kind Goal

“And have you ever been in a helicopter?”

Black curls bounced as Nia shook her head.

“Well, that settles it.” Charlie stood and pointed to her chopper. “I’m taking you up. I’ll ask your dad when would be a good day.”

“Yay!” Nia hopped around the kitchen, her big, green eyes full of joy. “Can Morgan and Daddy come too?”

“Of course,” Charlie said. “You will all love seeing Vermont from the sky.”

“Thank you, Charlie,” Morgan said. “That sounds like fun.”

“Let’s ask Daddy right now!” Nia raced toward the kitchen entry.

“Hold on,” Charlie said. “I need your help.” She grabbed a stack of napkins and small paper plates. She held them out to Nia. “Take these and put them on the coffee table.”

Nia took the paper goods and skipped out of the kitchen.

“She’s the cutest thing,” Charlie said. “And I don’t generally say that about kids.”

“Neither do I,” Morgan admitted. “Watching Sawyer with her makes my ovaries wake up.”

“Ah, yeah. He definitely is a prime example of a Hot Dad.”

“Did Austin tell you about Nia’s mother and her concerns?”

“He did.” Charlie opened the refrigerator, grabbing food and setting it on the kitchen counter. “You can count on us to keep her existence a secret.” She frowned. “Pretty shitty to keep a dad from his kid if you ask me, but I see her side too. I’ve seen how fans can be with Austin. Most of them are great, but some definitely are not. That could be hard for a little kid to be around.”

“Yeah, I want to hate Carina, but I can’t fault her for wanting to protect her daughter.”

“But she let Sawyer take Nia to Vermont,” Charlie said. “That could be her bending a little.”

“I hope so. He’s so happy to be with her,” Morgan said.

“From my brief conversation with him while Austin was hassling you at the door,” Charlie said, “he’s not only happy to be with her. I believe the word he used to describe you was incredible.” She waggled her eyebrows. “A man doesn’t use that word unless he’s sufficiently under your spell.”

Morgan wiggled her fingers like a spellcasting witch. “He might be doing a little magic on me too. A part of me thought he couldn’t possibly be as awesome as I remembered from the first time we met.” She put her hand to her heart. “I’m pleased to report he is, in fact, that awesome. He’s actually more awesome.”

Charlie picked up a platter of calzones and handed it to Morgan. “Sounds as if you two have made a real connection.”

“Is that what this feeling is?” she asked. “A connection?”

Charlie grabbed another platter. “Do you feel as if your insides turn to mush every time you look at Sawyer?”

“Basically.”

“Then, yes, you have made An Official Connection. Congratulations.” Charlie strode out of the kitchen.

Morgan hung back for a moment, her hands clutching the sides of the platter she held.

I’ve made a connection.

That felt like an accomplishment, but she had no idea what the next step was.