Page 4 of Wild Hearts

I shook my head. "Addison said something similar."

"You two were tight in high school. But then it seemed like you broke things off."

"Yeah." I didn't want to share my secrets about my relationship with Addison. I wasn't proud of how I acted in the end.

"Is it going to be okay working with her?"

"I need her help. We're working toward helping Dakota. It's not about our past."

"Seems like it will be hard to avoid."

"Maybe so. But I'm okay with focusing on Dakota." I hadn't allowed myself to think about Addison. I'd been consumed with Dakota and my new role in her life. I didn't want to screw anything up. I couldn't get mired in the details of our shared past.

Dakota came first.

"We're here for you and Dakota. Whatever you need."

"I'm counting on that."I might have rebuked their efforts when I was a kid. But I was smart enough not to turn it down now. "I'm going to need whatever help I can get."

"You got it. You're a Wilde, and so is Dakota."

"What if she doesn't want all of this?" I asked as he pulled into the lodge and took one of the roads around the property and parked in front of a cabin.

"She'll come around. You're going to be a great dad."

Some of the tension unraveled. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because you remember what it was like to lose your parents. You'll be able to connect with her in a way other people couldn't."

I blew out a breath. "I don't know if that will be enough."

"All you can do is be there for her and love her," Eli said as he hefted the luggage from the bed of the truck. We carried it inside. The cabin was large and had every amenity.

The kitchen had high-end appliances, a gourmet island covered in marble, and the walls were rustic logs. There was a large stone fireplace, a huge deck with a view of the trees, and the master bathroom was large with an en suite.

Last, Eli showed me the two spare bedrooms located at the opposite end of the house. The setup would give Dakota privacy, and she had her own en suite. "Hopefully this is good enough for a teenager."

"Scarlett wants to take Dakota shopping so she can make the space her own, but she doesn't want to intrude on your time with her. So let us know when Dakota's ready to meet everyone."

"It might be overwhelming for her. I'm not sure what her life has been like."

"You'll figure it out."

I remembered being a sullen teenager, refusing to talk to anyone in those early days. It was Eli's dad who tried the hardest and had the best luck. I remembered that he was persistent and never gave up. That's how I had to be.

"Mom and Dad are coming home."

"Because of me and Dakota?"

Eli smiled. "They want to meet their niece."

I let out a breath. I hoped I had what it took to be a good dad to Dakota. I had a feeling she wasn't going to make it easy.

2

ADDISON

It was surreal talking to Walker Wilde. We met at fourteen.

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