Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 7

7

ELI

I couldn't stop thinking about the night I'd cooked dinner with Scarlett. I'd never cooked with another woman like that.

When you shared a meal with someone, that meant something. And I could tell myself that spending time with Scarlett was fulfilling an obligation to Chance. But I couldn't ignore the fact that it made me feel good.

We'd sat outside by the fire, talking for hours about our childhoods. She was enraptured by the stories of my adventures with my brothers, both then and now.

My plan was to find out more about her, but she'd kept the focus squarely on me. I wondered if she'd done that on purpose, if she purposely deflected to keep the attention away from her. Was she tired of being judged and found lacking?

I found her intriguing. She was nothing like how I thought she'd be. I assumed she'd be selfish and immature, only caring about herself. But I suspected she felt deeply when it came to Chance and their parents.

She didn't want to hurt them, but at the same time, I think she felt like she was doing everyone a favor by leaving. I wasn't sure why I thought that. It was just a sense that I had.

Ever since, I'd resisted the urge to stop by for dinner, to see if she needed help. It was important I respect her space. I wanted her to get a sense of accomplishment from doing it on her own. We'd exchanged phone numbers that night. I'd said it was in case she needed anything. As her landlord, it made sense, but I wanted it for a more personal reason.

When I texted to ask her how dinner went the next night, she sent me a picture of spaghetti and meatballs. She'd said it wasn't as tasty as the chicken we'd made. But I said it looked great. I was proud of her for taking the time to learn how to cook and that I could give her the kitchen to do so.

Selfishly, I hoped she'd stay. It would make Chance happy, and that was important to me. But at the same time, I felt like she belonged here. She was running away, not figuring anything out.

Maybe she'd learn more about herself if she settled in one place, even if it was for a short while.

I'd taken a lot of cold showers, trying not to think about what she'd look like in the bathtub. I wondered if she took advantage of the rooftop pool or the hot tub. I'd purposely stayed away, wanting to give her privacy.

Tonight was Friday, and I could have grabbed a drink with my brothers or even Chance, but everyone was busy with something or the other.

In my condo, I took off my suit and changed into jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. I rarely dressed in anything but a suit. But I wanted to be more casual with Scarlett.

I ordered take-out to be delivered by my staff to the rooftop deck, then texted Scarlett.

Eli: I ordered too much food. Want to help me eat it ?

Scarlett responded with a picture of something charred in a casserole dish and a caption that said:

You saved my night.

I wanted to do more than that, but I'd settle for feeding her. I was supposed to be keeping an eye on her after all.

Eli: Meet me on the roof.

I grabbed a bottle of wine and a corkscrew before taking the access stairs to the roof. I turned on the heaters and settled into the kitchen area where there were tables and cushioned chairs. I wasn't going to suggest jumping in the hot tub, but I wouldn't say no either.

A few minutes later, the door burst open, and Scarlett breezed through. "You're a lifesaver."

Her gratitude made me feel like a hero. "I ordered too much food and took a chance you hadn't eaten."

She wore a dress over tights and boots. "It's actually warm."

I handed her the glass of wine. "I turned on the heaters."

"I think I'm in love with you," she said as she took a sip of wine. Then her eyes widened.

"I knew what you meant." I kicked my feet up on the ottoman. It was a beautiful, clear night so we could see the stars and the mountains. The chilly air was tempered by the fire and the heaters. It was the perfect night, and I finally had someone to share it with.

Scarlett mimicked my position, kicking up her feet and resting back on the chair. "It's gorgeous out here."

But my gaze was on her. Her cheeks were flush, probably from her ruined dinner, and her hair was up in a messy bun. I wanted to tug the pins out and watch as it tumbled around her shoulders. I shouldn't be thinking about what she'd look like under those clothes. She wasn't mine and never would be.

"How was your day?" Scarlett glanced over at me and caught me staring at her.

I shifted in my seat. "Zoning finally went through, so we started construction on the cabins. Fletcher Construction is handling it."

"They're your friends, aren't they? I kind of remember you hanging out with the Fletcher boys growing up."

"I like to do business with friends whenever possible."

"I thought you weren't supposed to?" Scarlett asked.

"That is what they say, but I've never had a problem. I expect quality work done on time, and my friends can deliver. Otherwise, I wouldn't work with them."

"I'm sure you know what you're doing." Scarlett's voice was soft and her gaze on the sky.

I reached over and squeezed her knee. "I bet you're amazing on a stage."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "How could you possibly know that?"

"I remember you acting in those plays you put on."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Those were nothing."

"Don't sell yourself short. Maybe we could see you perform sometime. Are you ever in the area?"

"I've never been to Denver, but I'm sure they have a theater there."

I hated the idea of her leaving again. "We should probably plan your first adventure."

Her face screwed up. "Ugh. I'm not athletic. You're going to be disappointed."

"The point of an adventure is to get an adrenaline spike and to have fun. You don't have to be athletic."

"Only if you don't want to die."

I threw my head back and barked out a laugh. When I sobered, I said, "I'll make sure you're safe."

"I thought the point was to take a risk. You know, remove the guard rails." She waved her hand in the air.

I wanted to ignore her brother and my promise to him. If she wasn't my friend's sister, I'd already have her on my lap, and I'd be peeling those tights off. But that wasn't our reality. "I hate to disappoint you. But it's an excuse to get my brothers and friends together. We have fun, and then eat dinner.”

"The rumors about you aren't even true, are they? You're not reckless or wild." Her tone was teasing.

"I don't pay much attention to what people say."

My employee appeared with bags of food. "You want me to set it up for you on the table?"

I handed him cash. "I can get it. Have a good night."

"You too, sir." He disappeared, and I put the containers on the table.

Scarlett stood by my side. "What did you have in mind for an adventure?"

I got out the plates and silverware. "What's sounds interesting to you?"

"I'm hopeless at anything on the slopes, but maybe biking would be okay. I like to rent a bike wherever I go and explore the rail trails."

"This isn't like that. It's hilly."

"I can handle it," Scarlett said, surprising me a little. I loved that she continued to do that.

"I'm sure you can. I'll get you a bike and a helmet." I'd already ordered them, and it was due to arrive any day.

"I can pay you back."

I sat down and opened my container of Thai food. "I didn't get anything too spicy."

Scarlett opened the chicken Pad Thai and dug in. I loved a woman who wasn't afraid to eat in front of a man. Not that I'd gone on many dates, but I'd been paired with women at various charity events. They were always on their best behavior, picking at their salad. I never knew if I was seeing the real person beneath the makeup, flashy dresses, and designer shoes.

She looked up at me, then touched her lips, drawing my attention to them. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was appreciating a woman who likes to eat."

She looked down at her container of food. "I eat when I'm hungry. When I'm acting, I tend to forget."

"I'd still like to see you in action."

She pursed her lips. "So you keep saying."

"Maybe I can drop by that kid's class you're teaching," I suggested lightly.

Scarlett lowered her fork and shook her head. "Please don't. It's nerve-racking enough."

I stilled. "Scarlett St. Claire is scared of a few kids?"

She pointed her fork at me. "Repeat that, and you'll regret it."

I chuckled. "What are you afraid of?"

She poked her fork in the noodles, probably hunting for the chicken. "That I won't be good enough? That I won't have anything to teach them. I don't have anything interesting to say."

"Are you boring when you're acting and singing on stage?" I asked, forcing myself to focus on my food and not her. If I wasn't careful, she was going to figure out that I found everything about her fascinating. I'd never been with someone who was creative.

Scarlett was contemplative for a few seconds. "It's hard to judge yourself, but most people say that I'm engaging on stage."

I touched her thigh. "See? You'll do fine. Just transfer that to the class."

"You want me to act with the kids?" Scarlett asked, not even mentioning the fact that my hand was on her thigh. The warmth seeped through my skin, and I wanted to move it higher, see if she was hotter between her legs .

I shrugged. "Why not? Fake it till you make it."

Her forehead wrinkled. "I don't know."

"What do you love about your job?"

"I love that everything fades away when I'm on that stage. I'm another person. One who gets to sing and dance for a living. I'm so energized afterward."

She was so animated talking about her job. I could only imagine how she was on the stage. It was a sight I knew I had to see.

Unfortunately, our local theater had been closed for years. Would she ever settle down in one place, or did she prefer to travel?

We finished our food and pushed it away.

Scarlett looked over at the pool and hot tub. "I kind of want to get in the hot tub. But I didn't bring a suit."

"Wear your bra and panties." There was something about saying those words to Scarlett. It felt naughty.

Her face flush, she said cheekily, "I think I will."

I stood to clean up our trash while she wandered over to the hot tub, turning the jets and lights on. Then she reached for her shirt, and I had to look away. I didn't need more skin to feed my nightly visions of her.

Chance wouldn't consider what I was doing protecting his sister. I let the guilt slide through me, and then I let it go.

By the time I dared to look over at the hot tub, she was under the water, her skin flushed and her head resting back, her eyes closed. She was gorgeous.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked, hesitant to disturb her peace. Is this how she looked in the tub?

She opened her eyes slowly, a hint of challenge in them. "It's your place."

I held her gaze as I pulled the shirt over my head, then unbuttoned my jeans, lowering the zipper. I had to will my dick not to get hard. With her appraising gaze now on my chest and lower, it was difficult.

I shoved my jeans down, enjoying her perusal of my black briefs.

Don't get hard.

I threw my clothes on a nearby chair. "How's the water?"

"Hot," she said, not taking her eyes off my body.

It was the biggest compliment she could have given me. I stepped in and sat next to her on the bench.

She wore a flesh-colored bra, and I wish I could see beneath the water. Were her nipples visible?

"You take care of your body," Scarlett said simply.

"I work out."

She raised a brow. "Do you get up early and go to the gym?"

"At five. Before I go to work."

Her finger traveled over my forearm. "You're not wild. You're carefully controlled. You probably need someone to remind you how to let go."

I laughed to hide my desire. I wanted her to touch me lower, to see the effect she was having on me. "And who might that be?"

She removed her hand and slipped further away. "I'm sure you can have any woman you want."

"You make me sound like an ass."

She raised a brow.

"I'm not like that." I'd never been bothered by what anyone thought of me before. It never mattered.

She splashed the water in my direction.

"Hey. I'm not."

I lunged forward, somehow locating her wrist under the water, and pulled her to me. Her legs straddled my thighs, and her pussy rested on top of my dick. I nearly groaned out loud. "Are you the person who can make me lose control?"

Scarlett smirked as if she wasn't affected by my dick rubbing against her pussy. "Definitely not." Then she stepped out, the water sluicing over her body. I shifted so that I could see her ass on display. She wore a flesh-colored thong to match the bra. She looked over her shoulder at me as she wrapped herself in a towel.

When she was covered, she turned to face me. "Name the day and place. I'll go mountain biking."

"That would be great," I managed to say as she bent over to gather her clothes. Then she was gone.

I shifted my dick in my briefs. This woman was going to be my downfall. I always followed the rules and protected my family. But I'd never broken a promise to a friend. I was supposed to protect Scarlett, not think of all the ways I could dirty her up.

Chance would never forgive me for the thoughts I was having and inviting his sister to get mostly naked in the hot tub. He'd think I was taking advantage of her, but Scarlett was more than capable of taking care of herself.

She reminded me how I was before I took over the resort. I was carefree and fun. I hadn't realized how stifled I'd become in my routine. I worked out, ate breakfast, then worked. Occasionally, I hung out with my brothers and Chance. I couldn't remember the last time I'd spent an evening with a woman. But I'd sought out Scarlett twice. I couldn't say it was to fulfill my promise to Chance. It was for selfish reasons. I liked spending time with her.

Guilt filled my chest. I wanted to fulfill my promise to Chance; I could convince Scarlett to stay. I'd need to plan a good adventure. I rationalized it to myself that it was for Chance and their family. This wasn't for me. I didn't need Scarlett to stay, not when I couldn't have her.