Page 117 of Holden’s Resurrection

Holden scooted to the edge of the bed and threw his legs over the side. He had to wait a moment for the dizzy spell to pass.

Did that just happen?

Hell, yes, it did.

His daughter had just initiated him into her bedtime ritual. A ritual she’d only ever shared with her mom.

Sweet Christ, that felt good.

Holden didn’t look back as he exited the room. On shaky legs, he walked to his room, fire pumping through his body with each beat of his heart. He stopped in the middle of the room, his head dropped forward, his hand went to the back of his neck, and he thought back over his life. This time without compunction or regret, but searching. He loved Charleigh, he knew it down to his bones, he loved that woman something fierce. But never had he felt a love so pure and sweet. Never had he loved so completely, without hesitation or pause.

“You okay?” Charleigh asked.

The door clicked shut, he heard her approach, but he didn’t move.

“Holden?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No, baby, I’m not all right.”

“Hold—”

“I just fell in love with my daughter.” He felt rather than heard Charleigh’s swift intake of oxygen. “I reckon it happened for you the second your hands wrapped around her tiny body. A moment when you and she were still one. Mine happened with Eskimo kisses.”

Holden righted his head.

“I love you, Leigh-Leigh. Down to my soul, I love you. It’s a consuming, undying, unwavering love. But that girl in there, I love her more than that. I love her in a way that I never thought was possible. Different than how I love you.”

“Good,” she whispered.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t—”

“Thank you for being such a great mother.”

“Honey, you never have to thank me for that.”

“I need you to teach me how to be a good dad.”

“You don’t need me to teach you anything. She’s happy in a way I’ve never seen her. All she needs is you.”

All she needs is you.

He hoped like hell Charleigh was right.

Unable to wait another second, he tagged Charleigh around the waist and hauled her closer, then closer still until she was plastered against him.

Then he thanked her properly.

The kiss wasn’t sweet, there was no slow gradual build-up. He went straight to deep and wild, even though Faith was still awake and he couldn’t take it where he really wanted, which was hot and wild with Charleigh on her back, his tongue not in her mouth but in her pussy.

That would have to wait.

Holden broke the kiss but kept her close and told her, “I have to talk to you about something. But first, let me go lock up the house.”