With Every Heartbeat (Forbidden Men, #4)(147)

Mr. Wilder nodded. He drew in a deep breath and glanced away. “Well…I’d tell you to call me if you every needed anything, but I understand if you never want any more contact with me.” He turned his attention to me and rasped, “Take care of my little girl,” before he spun away and hurried from the room.

“Wow,” Zoey said, her voice hoarse and eyes more watery than ever. “That was my dad. My real dad.” She glanced up at me, and I knew she’d contact Mr. Wilder again. She wanted a relationship with her real father. “I think he might actually love me.”

I leaned down and pressed my forehead to hers. “Of course he does. You’re impossible not to love.”

“Oh, you’re just saying that because...because…” She frowned, trying to think up a reason.

I smiled. “Because I had a million and one reason not to fall for you, but I did anyway?”

“You did, didn’t you?” She gazed at me with appreciation before closing her eyes. “Merry Christmas Eve, Quinn. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out, but knowing I’ll be sharing it all with you makes me eager to start it.”

“Amen,” I murmured. “With you in my life, I’m looking forward to everything.”