Page 101 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

She patted the bed. “Wead.”

And so, he stretched out beside the little girl, opened the book, and began reading.

Stevie snuggled up against him, the moose in her clutch.

Her little body was hot, and she fit perfectly in the crook of his arm. A knot formed in his throat, but he forced himself to continue.

Before long, her eyelids fluttered closed.

He should go.

But he found himself unable to budge.

So, he lay there and let it sink in all the way.

This is my daughter.

He touched her silky hair, ran the backs of his fingers over her plump, rosy cheek.

I’m a dad.

Breakfast was mayhem. Hellcat’s family laughed a lot. They ate a lot. And they never ran out of conversation. Ginty threw himself right in, which was nice since he didn’t have family anymore, and Noa shared her wildest stories from the road.

Booker sat quietly, watching Stevie. Her grandmother had set down a bowl of oatmeal with sliced strawberries sticking out of it. Apparently, the toddler liked being a dinosaur and growling while she munched on the berries.

He’d had a fitful sleep. His mind wouldn’t settle.

Should I take a paternity test?He’d already messaged his attorney, asking for the next steps.

He’d accepted that he had a daughter. But what did he do about it? He couldn’t live here, and there was no way Hellcat would move to New York.

Do I want her to?

No. Absolutely not. Some nights, he didn’t get home till three in the morning. Most weeks, he was on the road so often his apartment felt more like a hotel room.

That’s no life for a kid.

And yet…how would he get to know her if she wasn’t around?

But it wasn’t a possibility. Hellcat’s entire support system was here. Not to mention the time and energy she’d put into this property she loved so much.

Which left one thing: he’d visit every now and then.

That’s good. It didn’t stop his stomach from churning, but it was doable. He could visit.

A familiar name flashed on the screen of his phone, giving him a jolt.

Jaime: Heard about the new wedding plans. Looks like a good time. What do you think of a day for the kids on my ranch? Ice skating in my indoor rink, a trail ride. My mom and sister are down to host an ice cream sundae party. Parents are welcome, of course, but we’ve got childcare covered if your guests want some adult time. Let me know.

“What’s that?” Hellcat asked quietly.

He glanced up. “What?”

She sat in the chair next to him, her blue eyes filled with concern. “All morning, you’ve been handling work like a boss, but something just threw you off your game.”

How did this woman read him so well? It was uncanny.

Or maybe it was just that she paid attention.

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