Page 80 of Wild Hearts

Addison: It looks like you had fun.

Walker: The best. She was in a much better mood and went right to bed.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call.

"Hey," I answered, pleased he’d reached out to me.

"I'm sorry if we worried you." His voice was low, and the pitch made my body hum with desire.

"I felt better once I saw the pictures. Skiing was a great idea."

"Dakota asked to hang out with her cousins, and they came through for us," Walker said as if he didn't quite believe it.

"That's what family does," I said softly.

"When I was younger, I didn't always believe that the Wildes would be there for me. I wasn't one of the brothers. I was just a cousin."

"I remember you feeling that way." Teen Walker had a chip on his shoulder, and the Wildes weren't successful in removing it. I felt like I smoothed the hard edges.

"They constantly reassured me in various ways that I was a part of their family. But I resisted."

"You wanted to hang onto the memory of your parents, and you felt like being part of this new family meant rejecting your old one."

Walker laughed. "How did I not see that back then?"

"I'm sure I didn't understand it until much later. Be patient with yourself. None of this is easy to navigate. And from what I'm seeing, you're doing a great job. You were there for Dakota and gave her what she needed."

"Is it bad that I need to hear you say that?" His tone was vulnerable.

"Eventually, you won't need confirmation. You'll just know it," I said with more confidence than I felt. Would Walker ever feel settled in his heart and soul? Or would he always be running from the love for him here in Telluride?

"Thank you, Addison. For being there for me. For us."

"I don't mind, and this isn't a job for me anymore, Walker. I care about you guys." It had to be said. This was outside the scope of my job. Walker and Addison had come to mean so much more.

"How did I get so lucky to meet you when I needed you the most?" Walker asked, and it felt like he was baring his soul to me.

My heart squeezed. "I think people come into your life for a reason. The Wildes. Dakota."

Walker had more than most. For me, it had only been him. That meant that if he walked out again, I'd have the most to lose. My family had always been there for me. But Walker was the magic that kept my heart buzzing with happiness.

"I need to be here for Dakota, but I want to see you too."

"You want me to stop by when I'm at the resort and say hi? We'll be doing a lot of preparation the next week for the charity event."

His voice lowered. "I want to see you in a more personal capacity."

"We'll have to see how things are with Dakota."

"Do you have plans for Christmas?"

My stomach fell slightly. I'd been hoping to spend some part of the weekend with Dakota and Walker, but I'd understand if they wanted to be with family. "After I distribute the gifts and donations to my foster kids, I spend it with my family."

"What does that entail? Distributing the gifts."

"Well, some families want to keep the presents a surprise so they can say they're from Santa, and others prefer that the kids know it comes from us."

"Is that something me and Dakota could help out with? Do you need someone to pack and deliver the boxes?"

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