Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 2

2

SCARLETT

C hance threw an arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side. It was a protective move, but I still felt unsettled. I used to be so confident with men, so sure of my power. But I'd been shaken recently. I was here to get a break from all of that. But I couldn't seem to escape the reminders.

Chance looked down at me, concern in his expression. "What were you doing outside? It's cold, and you're not wearing a jacket."

I hadn't noticed once Eli sauntered onto the deck and into the chair next to mine. I'd been able to appreciate the way he filled out his suit that came with an inherent confidence.

Eli Wilde knew his place in the world. He didn't have to search for it or wonder if he was doing the right thing. His purpose was running his family's ski resort.

Just the thought of being in one place for longer than a few months made me want to run.

Chance steered me toward the auction room where people were milling about. "You want to bid on any of the items in the auction? "

I didn't have any extra money for frivolous items. "Nothing stood out to me."

"I would have thought you'd enjoy the beach house." Eli nodded toward the first table.

"You thought wrong," I said flatly, hoping he'd let it go. I didn't have a steady job with pension and benefits. I made just enough to pay for the necessities. But not a home to come back to. That's why I occasionally stopped in Telluride in between jobs, but more often than not, I headed to the beach. It was my happy place.

Except this time, I didn't have a job to go back to. I'd made sure of that. But I couldn't tell him or my parents. It would be one more reason why they'd be disappointed in me.

Why couldn't I hold down a steady job? Why couldn't I pick a place to live? I was a source of distress for them.

We wandered the room with Chance stopping to talk to someone every few seconds. I fielded repeated questions about when I was leaving again and what was I doing now, as if no one understood my job.

When we found ourselves alone, I pulled out my phone. "I'm ready to head home."

"There aren't any drivers this time of night. I'll take you."

"I don't want to pull you away from your friends."

"Let me find Eli, and I'll say my goodbyes."

"Is that necessary?" I didn't think I could be in the vicinity of Eli for the rest of the night. Whenever I was around him, I felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any second. Yet when his brother Xander asked me to dance, I'd felt relaxed. I was confident I could handle him. He was a golden retriever with all that charm. I knew he knew how to make a woman feel good. But I also knew he didn't care beyond that.

"Of course." Chance scanned the room, finally finding Eli against the wall. "There he is."

I tensed as Chance led me toward the man who'd set every one of my instincts on high alert. I wasn't sure what my body was warning me of—a man who could dole out multiple orgasms or one who'd hurt me?

I tingled from the thought of multiple orgasms. I shouldn't be attracted to a man when my life was unsettled, especially not my brother's best friend. When we were kids, Chance spent many nights at the lodge with the Wilde brothers. So much that my parents joked they'd adopted him as another brother.

I'd always been a little jealous of his relationship with the Wildes because he fit in everywhere he went. The town accepted him. But I didn't belong here.

"You heading out?" Eli asked as we approached.

"Scarlett's tired. She wants to head home."

Eli raised a brow in my direction. "Is that right?"

Every word out of his mouth felt like an accusation of something; I wasn't sure what. He was suspicious of my motives, and the clenching of his jaw made me think my very presence caused him pain.

"I've been traveling all day so I didn't have to get a hotel room.

"I didn't realize," Eli said, slightly admonished. "From where?"

"California."

Eli raised a brow in Chance's direction.

I didn't want them sniffing around my circumstances. I wasn't ready to share anything and especially not to Eli, who seemed to have an issue with me. "I can get a driver if you want to stay."

"We've already established I'm taking you home," Chance said with a hard set of his jaw.

Over the years, he'd appointed himself my protector, but I dodged it more than he would have liked. And maybe that protectiveness is what made me run so far.

"Have a good night," Eli said to Chance as we turned to go .

In Chance's truck, I asked, "Why does Eli seem upset that I'm home?"

Chance drove down the resort's long driveway. "He's worried about me, I guess."

"Why would he be worried about you?" I shifted so I could face him.

Chance glanced over at me. "I like when you're home. Mom and Dad do too."

My heart skipped a beat. I'd convinced myself over the years that I was more of a hindrance to my family than anything else. "Don't I just cause chaos wherever I go?" I said, bringing up one of our reoccurring arguments. "I thought you'd be happy that I was gone."

Chance bit off a curse. "I'm sorry I said that. I shouldn't have. It's just?—"

"I get it. I can be a lot." I settled back into my seat. I lost count of the number of people who told me I was too much. The lifestyle of moving from one place to another prevented me from forming many attachments. People got sick of me soon enough. It was easier this way.

"That's not what I said. Why do you put words in my mouth?"

I blew out a breath. "You're not happy I'm home. Neither are Mom and Dad."

"We are cautiously optimistic that you'll stay this time," Chance said tightly.

"I never stay in one place for long." And I certainly never fit in here. My dad was the sheriff before Chance took over, and Mom was a school teacher. Our lives were relatively boring growing up. We were well respected in the community. Or at least the rest of my family was.

I tested my parents' patience, going to parties and getting into trouble. A part of me knew my dad would protect me from harm. He was the sheriff after all. But I couldn't help pushing the limits. I was the daughter they didn't know how to handle.

"You okay staying with Mom and Dad?" Chance asked, glancing over at me.

I shrugged. "I don't have anywhere else to go."

"You want me to see if there's a room for you at the lodge?"

"At Wilde Ski Resort?" I asked him, and at his nod, continued, "Absolutely not." There was no way I could afford to stay in the lodge.

"Eli might have a cabin or something that he'd be willing to let you use while you're here."

We both knew I wouldn't be here long enough for that. "I'm fairly sure Eli will say no. He's not fond of me."

Chance cleared his throat. "I wouldn't say that. You're reading into something that isn't there."

That's what my boss said when I told him I didn't like his roaming hands and sexual innuendos. "I'm positive I'm not."

"I'm hoping we can work through some things while you're here. I want a relationship with you. Something more than the occasional visit or phone call."

I didn't say anything because I didn't believe that was true. I was positive my family was better off without me. No one understood someone who felt the need to pick up and move as often as I did. The theater life was perfect for me. But now I wasn't sure if I wanted to work for another company. My boss had promised to blacklist me everywhere.

Chance parked in my parents' driveway. We'd always lived in town because Dad said he preferred to be near his constituents. It made him more accessible. They hadn't talked about moving since he retired. He loved socializing with people on his daily walks.

"Thanks for the ride," I said with my hand on the door handle.

"You're not in any trouble, are you?" Chance's voice was low .

My heart raced at the suggestion but I kept my face carefully averted. "No. Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"You being home this time feels different."

That sent my heart racing even more. I hadn't counted on Chance's cop instincts to catch on so quickly. I thought I was a better actress than that. I forced myself to say, "You're bringing your job home again."

Chance sighed. "If you need help, you'll come to me?"

"When have I ever done that?" If I was drinking underage at a party in town, someone would call my dad. I didn't need to ask for help.

Chance rested his head on the headrest and closed his eyes. "I worry about you."

I let out a disgusted breath. "You don't have to. I've been taking care of myself forever."

"You never let anyone in."

That stung because it was true. "I do."

Chance just gave me a look.

"I'm tired. I'm going inside." I knew Chance would walk me to the door. He was a gentleman, and his cop instincts wouldn't allow him to let a woman walk alone at night. I hadn't met a man in the theater circuit who was chivalrous. I kind of missed it.

I put the key into the lock, and Chance asked, "Can I get a hug?"

The tears sparked in my eyes. "Of course," I said as I allowed him to pull me into his chest. It felt good. Too good. I couldn't remember the last time I let someone hold me like this. I was the queen of keeping people at a distance. Letting them see what I wanted them to, knowing that they wouldn't like the real me.

I pulled away before I wanted to. "Have a good night with whoever's warming your bed," I added to keep things light. I didn't do serious.

"I'm not seeing anyone." His voice was resigned .

Girls in school had been attracted to him, and I bet the uniform only made it worse. I tipped my head to the side and said lightly, "No one can put up with your uptight ass?"

Chance shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "Something like that." Then he sobered. "Marigold would love to see you while you're home."

"You talk to her?" She was my best friend from school. She was the quintessential good girl. She followed all the rules, and for some reason, she decided long ago we were going to be friends. I think my parents hoped she'd rub off on me, but she never did. Marigold tried to maintain our friendship when I left town, but I needed the distance from my hometown.

Chance nodded. "I see her around town."

Marigold's first crush was Chance, not that she ever admitted it. She'd get all giggly when he was around. "I'll give her a call."

Chance nodded. "Good. Night, Scarlett."

"Night." I slipped inside, where Mom and Dad were still watching the news on TV in the family room.

"You're home early," Dad said, turning down the volume on the TV.

I plopped onto the lumpy couch. "I was tired. Remember, I drove all day."

"You could have broken it up more or had us come get you." Dad's voice was laced with concern for me.

"I'm a big girl, Daddy," I stood and kissed him on the cheek.

When I pulled away, he grabbed my wrist. "It's good to have you home."

"It's good to be home," I said, even though I wasn't so sure that was true. I wanted to put as much distance as I could between me and my former boss, Steve.

"Your room is all made up," Mom said.

I patted her shoulder. "You didn't have to go to any trouble. "

Mom waved me off. "You're never any trouble. Get some sleep."

I felt a pang at her words because I always felt like trouble around here. I'd done that on purpose.

I went upstairs and closed the door to my childhood bedroom. Nothing had changed. It was a combination of pink and black. When my parents refused to repaint the pink walls from my childhood, I added black to make it seem more bad girl. I never quite pulled it off. Good girl and bad girl. Soft on the inside but tough on the outside.

I washed my face until no makeup remained. I looked at myself in the mirror, wondering what Eli thought of the woman I'd grown into. The last time I'd seen him was before he'd left for college. I'd heard through Chance that he had a good time in school, and the girls flocked to him. But I'd never felt anything for him. I just thought he was one of my brother's irritating friends.

But now, Eli was a confident man. He wore a power suit like it was a uniform he was born to wear. The Wildes always had more than us, but it never bothered me like it did Eli. I didn't care about money or material things. And I never asked my parents for anything since I didn't play sports.

I put on my pajamas and climbed into bed. I debated whether Chance was serious about Marigold wanting to see me. I let out a breath and typed out a message.

Scarlett: Chance said you wanted to get together?

I put the phone away, not expecting to hear from her tonight. It was late, and I was tired. My body ached from sitting in the driver's seat all day. Then there was the stress of getting away from Steve. I worried about his threats, how he would blacklist me. The theater circle was small and tight. If he did that, I might never find work again .

But I couldn't stay and let him harass me. I was worried it would get worse. I was right to get out. But my family would probably say I was being flighty again. That I never stuck with anything.

I'd have lunch with Marigold if she was willing and stay for a few days. Then I'd need to find a job. I didn't like having nothing to do. Despite what people thought about me, I was a hard worker. I didn't like handouts, and I never asked for help.

When I closed my eyes, the image of Eli in his suit came to me. The way he walked with confidence bordering on cockiness. Then that moment he realized he wasn't alone. The fire that came into his eyes when he saw me. The way he said my name like it was a curse and a prayer at the same time.

Eli was my newest kryptonite. I might have hung out with theater types, but there was something about a powerful man in a suit that apparently did it for me.

I imagined him kissing me when we stood by the railing. In my fantasy, it was passionate. I wanted him to take me right there on the deck with everyone else dancing at the party. I wanted to be reckless with Eli.

He might have had a reputation in high school, but he seemed like he was all about rules and responsibilities now. It would be fun to loosen him up. But it was a stark contrast to the stories I'd heard over the years from Chance.

They got together frequently to go mountain biking, rock climbing, fly fishing, and skiing. Chance was always talking about the next adventure or thing they had to try. Eli had been wanting to travel and do crazier things, but Chance was more cautious.

My brother was a good guy. He followed the rules. He did what was expected. I couldn't help that I was the opposite. I'd never fit in here. No matter how nice it was to think about reconnecting with old friends and maybe even making new ones, this wasn't my home. It hadn't been for a long time.