Page 63 of Wild Hearts

I grinned at Walker, wondering how he'd handle this.

"I don't see why not. You're sleeping overnight?"

"She said to bring a sleeping bag. Do you have one?"

"I'm sure we have one somewhere." Walker gave me a knowing look.

Dakota jumped out of the truck and ran ahead of us into the house, presumably to get her things ready.

"Did she plan that, or am I being paranoid?" Walker leaned on the back of the truck, the smell of evergreen surrounding us.

"You think she asked Scarlett to invite her over?" I asked.

His nose scrunched. "I wouldn't be surprised. Dakota wants us to get together."

"She orchestrated this whole thing so we'd have a night together alone?" I asked carefully.

"I think so."

"I'm not sure how I should feel about that." A thirteen-year-old was manipulating us. I should be upset, but I was excited to have an evening alone with him.

Walker winked at me, and my heart rate kicked into high gear. "I think we have to go with it."

Walker hefted the tree out of the back and leaned it against the porch railing. "I'm going to cut the net and trim the bottom before bringing it inside. Can you grab the tree stand? It's in the front closet."

"Sure can," I said as I headed inside to find the stand and set it up in the living room.

The cabin was warmer with the print over the fireplace. Now they just needed a few more family photos. Maybe Walker was waiting to create new memories so he could add those to the wall.

There were even new books on the shelves. Walker and Dakota were slowly making this place their own.

A few seconds later, Walker came inside with the tree. He set it in the stand, asking for my advice on how straight it was before he tightened the screws. Dakota came out of her room with a bag. "I have everything ready to go."

"Why don't you help us with the tree before I take you to Scarlett's?" Walker asked her.

Dakota checked the time on her phone. "Sure. I have some time before I need to be there."

"I'll grab the sleeping bag and the decorations. Be right back."

Dakota sat on the couch.

"Did you orchestrate this sleep over?" I couldn't help but ask her.

Dakota shrugged. "Scarlett mentioned doing it sometime. I was just the one who asked if we could do it tonight."

"You're okay with me dating your father?" I asked her.

"Oh, yeah. I really like you, and Dad deserves to be happy. My mom never dated. I think she wanted to focus just on me, and I feel bad about that now. She shouldn't have put off her happiness."

"I agree, and I think it's sweet you want to help your father, but whatever happens or doesn't is between us."

She grinned. "I know. But no one said I couldn't push a little."

"You won't interfere, right?" I asked her. I needed to know that Walker wanted to be with me, and it wasn't his daughter pushing us together.

Dakota held up her hands. "This is all you. I've done my part."

"It's nice to have your support, but if at any time you want me to back off, let me know. You just moved here, and I don't want to make anything harder for you."

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