Page 161 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

After a shower, he packed up what little belongings he’d taken out of his suitcase when he’d checked into the Gentry’s lodge last night. And then, he shot a text to Beau.

Booker: Ready. Is she awake?

Beau: Been awake for an hour. Looking forward to seeing you.

The pain in his heart made it hard to type. This would be the last time he saw his daughter for a while. He’d keep up with her though. Talk to her on the phone. Find a time every day when he could either have breakfast with her or read her books at night. He’d align his schedule with hers, be consistent. And he’d come to town as often as he could.

It wouldn’t be the same. But it was the best he could offer.

Booker: You want me to come to your house or are you bringing her here?

Beau: Already here. In the Atrium.

His heart lurched to see his little girl.

Booker: On my way down.

But it was to say goodbye. And fuck, that felt wrong.

He was on the second floor, so he only had to jog down one set of stairs, push out the doors, and head to the back of this new, well-designed hotel. He passed a pool, a gym, and a large office space for guests.

In the indoor dining room, vines climbed the walls, flower baskets hung from the ceiling, and the scent of moist soil mixed with bacon and coffee. Only a couple families were up for an early breakfast, so it was easy to spot Beau and Stevie. He hurried over to them.

“Hey, sweet thing.” He sat down.

“I sawed a snake. And it goed—” Baring her teeth, Stevie made a claw with her hand and pawed the air.

Booker’s gaze cut to her grandpa, who was smiling. “It was a lizard, and it flicked his tongue.”

Since she didn’t seem traumatized by it, Booker said, “That’s cool.”

“It cool. Mister, I hungry.” She made a circular motion around her belly.

Still not calling me dad.She was too young to get it.That’s okay.He understood that.

But it really drove it home, what Lorelei said about rushing into things. His daughter had known him for five days. And most of that time, she’d been with her grandparents.

She needed time. They all did.

That part was fair. It was the other thing Lorelei had said—that she’d been so eager to have a father for her daughter she’d gotten carried away.

That gutted him.

Would he ever learn? Or would he just keep running the same play over and over?

At some point, he had to pay better attention, right? To see the truth instead of only what he wanted to see? “Well, then, let’s get you some food.”

She lifted her arms, and he loved the way she trusted him so completely.

Yeah, because you’re here.

She won’t trust you when you visit every now and then.

That’s not how it works.

He picked her up and carried her to the buffet table, her leg bumping against his back with every step he took. “What looks good, sweet thing?”

“Where Mommy?”

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