Page 97 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

She was an absolute mess. She didn’t want to share her daughter, and yet, the idea of him walking away, knowing the impact it would have on her little girl…

It killed her.

ChapterTwenty

Booker had experienced three formative,life-altering moments in his life.

One was his accident and losing his ability to play hockey.

The second was finding the adoption papers.

And the third was discovering Marcus had preyed on his weakness, stepping into the role of father figure to win his allegiance.

Tonight, he’d added a fourth.

I’m a father.

That kid with the green eyes? The one who’d climbed a bookshelf to get a stuffed moose, who’d sat on his lap as he’d guided her little fingers around a puzzle piece?

That little girl is my child.

It didn’t compute. Refused to sink in.

The concept of a daughter didn’t apply to him. It wasn’t even in the realm of possibility.

Thankfully, he’d mastered the art of concealment. It wasn’t like he could show his emotions to his clients. So, no matter what was going on in his life, he stayed perfectly neutral. Ginty didn’t know how difficult it’d been to walk away from Elite. He didn’t know Marcus had threatened to ruin him.

So, he knew he was convincing as Margot talked about draping flowers, the placement of tables, and renting a dance floor. He knew his tone didn’t betray a hint of his inner turmoil as he pitched the idea of holding the ceremony on the terrace at twilight with the mountains as a backdrop.

No one could see the hive of bees buzzing under his skin. Or the way he fisted his hands and curled his toes to suppress the urge to run.

There was no snow to shovel here. No excuse he could give to go for a run.

Besides, even if he had a reason, he couldn’t leave.

Because Stevie was hopping like a frog. The light from the bonfire glowed orange on her skin, and she seemed perfectly content to be in her own little world.

He couldn’t stop watching her. Even as he threw out suggestions for the joint bachelorette and bachelor party, he was aware of the way she’d squat low to the ground, then leap. She did it again and again, oblivious to her cousin who was stacking rocks on the ground and then knocking them down with karate kicks.

She was talking to herself. Sometimes, she’d roll her eyes like she couldn’t believe her imaginary frog friend had said something so ridiculous. And as much as he wanted to run, he was tethered by this awareness of her. No, it was more than that.

It was affection.

Maybe because she’d insisted on sitting on his lap. Or maybe because he’d saved her before she hit the ground. Or the way her little fists had clutched his shirt, and she’d planted her face against his chest.

She had this wild energy and imagination, and she was hisdaughter.

“Okay, so I think we should conquer and divide.” Hellcat pointed to the bride and groom. “You guys do the cake tastings?—”

“Why do I get stuck with the boring stuff?” Noa asked with a happy gleam in her eyes.

“I know.” Hellcat feigned pity. “Sucks to be you.” She pointed to the groom. “You’re good to line up a tux and do airport pickups?”

“Yep.”

“Awesome. I’ll write up lists for the rest of us, and then…let’s have ourselves a wedding!” Hellcat stood, and while the others said goodnight and hugged, Booker escaped to his room.

The entire way there, he felt wired and anxious. He’d crafted a life that worked well for himself. He had everything under control.

---