Page 53 of Wild Hearts

I sighed. "I'm not going to survive raising a teenager."

"You will, and you have me to help out."

I liked the reality of Addison being here for us.

12

ADDISON

We stayed at the lookout for a few minutes. Walker was anxious to get his eyes on Dakota and Christopher. I didn't think either of them were interested in anything beyond friendship. But watching Walker worry about his little girl was entertaining.

I hoped he'd learn to relax about it, but I wasn't sure that was going to be easy. She was entering her dating years, and it would be a test for him.

We didn't catch up with them until we reached the bottom of the trail. We hadn't encountered many skiers, and the ride was quiet with nothing but the sound of our skis gliding over the snow.

"We're going to get some hot chocolate and hang out by the fire. Would you like to join us?" Dakota asked.

"You go ahead. We'll be along in a few minutes," I quickly offered before Walker could jump in.

They skied toward the lodge.

"Why did you say that? I wanted to go along," Walker grumbled.

"You're a little overbearing, don't you think? You have your eyes on them. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Walker growled low in his throat, and it did something to my insides. "What if I want to know what he's saying to her?"

"You have to give her a little space, or you're going to push her away."

He sighed. "Fine."

"Now, would you like to get hot chocolate and sit at a different bon fire than the one your daughter will be at? She wants friends, and you can't keep butting in. Or she won't be happy here."

"I never said she could have friends that were boys."

I shook my head. "You're impossible."

We removed our gear, then headed outside to grab hot chocolates from the truck vendor. I led the way to a bonfire that was away from Dakota and Christopher.

We sat on a log next to each other where we could see the back of their heads.

"I don't see why we couldn't be closer."

I nudged his arm with mine. "Can we just enjoy the time we have together?"

Walker refocused his attention on me. "You think they'll behave?"

"I don't think they have a choice," I said dryly.

"You had fun today? Visiting our old haunts?"

I sipped the hot chocolate. "I did."

"It was the perfect weekend. The festival, the market, skiing. Spending time with you and my daughter."

"It was."

"Do you think we could spend more time together?"

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