Page 44 of Wild Hearts

"Okay." Because how could any girl argue with that? This might be the dumbest move I'd ever made, but every nerve ending in my body was firing, yearning for him to kiss me again. The passion was still there, and I was starting to wonder if that intensity would carry over into a physical relationship.

We were intimate as teens, waiting until we were each eighteen to go all the way. But then he'd walked out on me a few months later when he'd enlisted.

"Do you want to go to the farmers market? I thought we could walk around and then grab lunch at our favorite pizza place."

I found myself nodding before he'd finished talking. "That sounds nice."

"You ready to go?"

I fumbled with my jacket. I was nervous.

He stepped closer to help me, sweeping my hair off my shoulders and settling the coat on my back. I grabbed my purse, wondering if it was smart to get involved with Walker again. He hurt me once. Wouldn't he do the same thing this time?

As angry as I'd been at him when he broke up with me, I'd softened over his interactions with Dakota. He'd bought her pads in the store even when he was out of his depth. He put her first and always thought about her feelings. He was the perfect single dad, and I couldn't resist that side of him.

Maybe he had changed. But I wouldn't know if I didn't give him a chance. Not that I was ready to admit any of that to him. I would be wary this time.

He opened the passenger-side door of his truck and helped me inside. When he climbed into the cab on the driver's side, he said, "I hope Dakota's okay with Scarlett and my aunt."

I frowned. "Why wouldn't she be?"

"I wasn't sure she was ready to be alone with my family. She barely knows them."

"That's what the outing is about, right? They'll get to know one another."

"I just worry that she's uncomfortable. What if she needs me?"

"That's a natural feeling. You're a first-time dad, and you want to be there for her. But she's also a teenager, and you have to give her space. It's a delicate balancing act." It felt natural to give him advice about Dakota.

"So far, she's been settling in just fine. I'm not sure if she has good friends yet. But she's in a nice routine with school. I even found her an open gym for volleyball this spring."

I nodded. "You're doing everything right."

"She hasn't cried much about her mother. Not that I would necessarily know. But I like to think she would tell me if she was struggling."

"She might not cry, or maybe she only does it when she's alone. Everyone handles grief differently."

Walker glanced over me with a panicked expression on his face. "You think she's crying herself to sleep?"

I was touched by his concern. "If you're not seeing any other signs, she might be okay. Or she might be fine one night but cry herself to sleep the next."

"I wish I knew more about how Tammy was as a mother. I want to continue her mother's approach to parenting as much as possible."

"She'll share if she feels comfortable. You can't rush these things."

"She did tell me that her mother expected her to do chores but wasn't paid an allowance. Tammy's theory was that everyone in the family helps out."

"That's a good approach," I said, not wanting to influence his parenting style. He'd need to develop one of his own. But it was good to be consistent for now.

"My instinct is to do everything for her to make up for lost time, but that's not good for her. She needs to learn to be independent and take care of herself. I can't believe she'll be leaving in a few years for college." He rubbed his chest.

"Let's say that, in four years, she goes to college, and your house is empty again. Then what?" I asked him.

"I hadn't thought much about that far into the future. I didn't think I'd be discharged from the military this soon. I never thought I'd be the father of a teenager at my age. That's why this thing with Dakota has been so good for me. It forced me to change everything about my life. I hadn't realized how empty my life had been."

"How so?" I asked, my gaze on the side profile of his face. He had a strong jaw covered in stubble I wanted to run over my skin. He'd kissed me a few minutes ago, but it wasn't enough. I hadn't gotten to touch him or revel in his proximity.I couldn't deny that I still wanted him. That kiss had only been a tease.

"I worked and I had friends, but it was all related to my job. I didn't have a home or a family I was close to. It was all superficial. I wasn't building something. If that makes any sense."

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