Page 3 of Wild Hearts

Walker: She might not have been able to find me. We didn't share much information the night we were together.

Was this an appropriate conversation with a thirteen-year-old? I had so much to learn about parenting.

Then it was radio silence until I had to turn off my phone. Before I powered off, I sent her one last message.

Walker: I'm getting ready to take off. I have to turn off my phone. But you're welcome to ask me anything you want.

If she had questions, I'd answer them as best I could. The problem was, I didn't know what lengths Tammy had gone through to find me, and we might never know.

I vowed that I'd answer with whatever information I had. I checked my phone as soon as I disembarked the plane, but the only message was from Addison.

Addison: Let me know when you arrive. We should probably set up a time for you and Dakota to meet for the first time.

Addison had suggestions for how to handle this situation, but it wasn't like she'd gone through anything like this with one of her clients before. Or at least not exactly the same thing. We were all trying to figure this out as we went.

Walker: I just landed, but I'd like to meet her as soon as possible.

I tucked my phone away so that I could head to baggage and grab my bags. Eli, my eldest cousin, stood by the carousel.

We hugged, slapping each other's back.

"It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back." When my contract was up, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. It would be easy to continue with the military, but Dakota's presence was the excuse I needed to break ties. I couldn't be a single dad to her if I was deployed, or stationed halfway across the world.

She deserved all of me. Addison had warned me that this would be a tough transition. She lost her mother, had to get to know a father she'd never met. What if she hated me? What if she hated Colorado? The questions didn't sit right with me.

Eli helped me carry my luggage to his truck parked in the hourly lot. Then we headed toward the family's ski resort.

"Will I be staying in the condo?" Eli reserved rooms for family on the top floor of the lodge. It's where I stayed on all my leaves.

Eli glanced over at me. "I thought you might want a cabin this time."

"I thought those were luxury builds. Don't you need them for your guests?"

"They're not fully booked yet, and you need your space. I didn't think you'd want to move in with me and Scarlett. And the condo is no place for a teenager."

"I don't know. She might have liked access to the rooftop deck and pool," I joked.

"I'm sure she would have loved it, but it would have given her the ability to disappear in the lodge. Remember when we did that?" Eli asked me.

I knew all too well that the lodge and the grounds had become my refuge when I came to live with the Wildes. "You want her to spend time with me."

"It's important, and I have a feeling she's going to avoid it for as long as possible. You know how teenagers can be."

"I didn't want to talk to anyone for a while. I kept saying I was fine."

"But you weren't. Mom and Dad knew. But they gave you space."

"I'm not saying this would be any different. But it would allow you two to live as a family. She can't escape as easily as she could living in the lodge."

"That's thoughtful of you. Thank you."

"No need to thank me. You're family, and Dakota is now too."

"I can't believe I have a kid. A thirteen-year-old."

Eli grinned at me. "You're in for a wild ride."

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