Page 119 of Charm

That’s it.

That’s all it takes for him to pull me into him for a bear hug.

“How?” He chuckles. “Not how did it happen, but how did you find out?”

We break apart. “I fell in love with her mom. I met her daughter and realized she was my daughter.”

He shakes his head. “Wait. You’re saying you slept with this woman years ago, reconnected now, and she told you that she’d had your kid during your first go round?”

“It’s way more complicated than that.” Rook laughs, slapping Declan on the shoulder. “I’ll grab some beers because this is going to take some time for Holden to explain it all to you.”

It’s beenfour weeks since Olive found out she’s my daughter. Tonight, I’m watching her spin around the dance floor in the ballroom at the Bishop Hotel Tribeca.

Martha made the pale green dress she’s wearing. Olive said she felt like a princess in it.

I reach across the table to tap Greer’s wrist to pull her attention to me. She reluctantly does. I can’t blame her. She’s been watching Olive dance, too. It’s a sight to behold. As soon asI told my daughter that I knew how to tap dance, she wanted tap shoes.

For the past two weeks, we’ve been practicing in one of the spare rooms on the second level of Greer’s house. Bruce has joined in with bare feet. It’s become a family tradition after dinner.

“This wedding has got me thinking,” I say as soon as Greer looks at me.

A soft smile spreads over her ruby red lips. “About what?”

She knows the answer to that question. As we were getting ready to come to Krista and Howie’s wedding today, I dropped to one knee to tie my shoe. I heard her breath catch as I did, so I know we’re edging closer to the day when I can finally ask this beauty to be my wife.

“When I get married, I have three solid choices for a best man,” I tease.

Her eyes light up. “I have one choice for a matron of honor.”

Since Olive is the flower girl today, she has already made it clear that when we get married, she’s reliving that role for us.

“Martha?” I ask with a soft smile.

“You know it.” She glances at Olive again. “It’s been a month since she found out you’re her dad. She’s been asking me a question, Holden. She’s going to ask you tonight.”

“About?”

I expect her to say marriage or our living arrangements since I’ve been spending a few nights a week at Greer’s home. She’s come to my apartment, too, but she’s always in a rush to get back to her house before Olive wakes up.

“Her name.” Her eyes lock with mine. “Olive Irwin-Sheppard is what she’d like to be called.”

There’s an instant lump of emotion in my throat. I knew this was coming when my mom met Olive last week. My daughter made a point of mentioning that she loved our surname. Mymom pulled me aside to tell me that she thought Olive would make the request for a name change soon. Her grandmother’s intuition was spot on.

“How do you feel about that?” I ask Greer.

“It has a nice ring to it.” She smiles softly. “Olive Irwin-Sheppard. Greer Irwin-Sheppard. It all sounds good to me.”

“Does that mean…”

I’m about to drop to one knee to ask her if it means she’s ready for a proposal. I’ve been carrying an emerald and diamond ring engagement ring around with me for a week.

“It means one day after you move in with us, you’ll get on one knee and it will have nothing to do with tying your shoe.”

“I can move in tomorrow,” I offer.

“We’ll talk about when you should move in tomorrow,” she counters. “We’ll make it soon, Holden. We’re a family. I feel it.”

“Me too.” I tilt my chin toward the dance floor. “Let’s join our daughter out there.”

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