Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 8

8

SCARLETT

I thought I'd stay a week, lead the children's theater class, then apply for theater jobs. But Marigold claimed she needed more time to create a sign-up for the event. She seemed sincere, so I couldn't be upset, even if I was feeling a little antsy about not having a plan.

Since I'd left Telluride after graduation, I'd always had a job, whether it was waitressing or working with a theater company. The break was taking some time to get used to.

This morning, Eli had insisted on going mountain biking. Going on this adventure with him was supposed to be my way of thanking him for the condo. It was the least I could do because this place was next-level. I'd never stayed anywhere nicer. We usually stayed in hotels that were more like hovels. I never had a kitchen to cook in, and the carpet was usually suspect. But here, I could relax and enjoy the amenities without worrying about paying for it.

I was positive Eli offered me the apartment to appease Chance. The security here was top-notch. No one was even allowed on the elevator unless we requested some kind of service. Chance didn't have to worry about me, and I got some space from my parents.

When I was around them, I felt guilty for not being the daughter they wanted me to be. I was positive they envisioned me married with a couple of kids by now so they could relate to their friends. Or at the very least, I'd have a job they could brag about. But I wasn't a doctor, a police officer, or even a librarian like Marigold.

I was an actress who traveled from town to town performing on a stage. I was a mystery to them.

By the time Eli knocked on the door, I was bundled up in leggings, boots, a fleece, and a hat and gloves. I didn't like to be cold or muddy, so this was going to be a test for me. I almost never worked out either, so I was worried about my endurance.

I opened the door, holding a to-go mug of coffee.

Eli scanned my outfit, finally pausing on the coffee mug. "You won't be needing that. You have a water bottle?"

"I do." I grabbed the one I'd filled this morning, swapping it out for the warm coffee. I wish I'd gotten up earlier so I could have finished it.

"You can drink coffee later. We have a mountain to ride." He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hallway, only waiting long enough for the door to close.

There was something about Eli saying the word ride that had my skin humming with desire. This man got to me like no one else did. His body exuded excitement as we rode the elevator to the lobby.

"You enjoy mountain biking before the sun comes up?" I asked him, my voice still raspy from sleep.

Eli nodded, a grin playing on his face. "It's the best time to go."

"I can't imagine why anyone would want to be awake at this hour," I mumbled, wishing I was tucked in my warm bed .

Eli grinned. "We're going to get to see the sunrise. I know the perfect spot."

I brightened slightly at that idea. "It would be better if I had my coffee to drink."

"You won't need it. The cold air and being out in nature will perk you right up."

I frowned. "You obviously don't know me very well. I only perk up after drinking coffee."

The elevator door swished open, and Eli leaned in close. "You haven't experienced anything like this."

His words tickled my ear, sending a tingle through my body. It felt like a promise for more. I had a feeling this man could deliver in the bedroom, and I was eager to experience that. Not so much the before-dawn bike ride.

No one was mingling in the lobby at this hour except for a few people with luggage, waiting on their ride to the airport. Eli greeted each one with a smile, saying he hoped they enjoyed their stay and would be back soon. Then he led me through the lodge to the back patio.

"Do you talk to everyone?" I'd observed him coming and going this past week while I hung out in the common areas reading a book or drinking hot chocolate, and he was always talking to someone.

"I want them to know that the owner cares enough to ask about their stay. If they're enjoying themselves, I want to know about it. But more importantly, if there's an issue I want to take care of it. I don't want them stewing and going home unhappy."

"I didn't realize how involved you were."

"I'm responsible for all these people having a good time." He stepped outside where two bikes rested on their kickstands on the patio. Helmets hung from the handlebars.

"This should fit." Eli didn't waste any time grabbing the black-with-pink-detail helmet and placing it on my head.

"Why black and pink?" I asked him. Had he been to my childhood bedroom? Something about that vision in my head had the area between my legs throbbing. How fun would it have been to sneak him up to my bedroom in the middle of the night?

"It suited you," Eli said, sending a shiver through my body.

Eli saw me in a way no one else did.

"I see you as both dark and light, good and a troublemaker."

I sat still while he buckled the strap under my chin. It felt intimate. Like he was taking care of me. That sensation was foreign to me.

When he was satisfied that the helmet was buckled properly, he put on his own.

"This should fit you. But get on, so I can adjust the seat if not."

I swung my leg over the bike, easily standing flat footed on the pavement.

"That looks good to me."

"Did you rent my bike through the lodge?" I assumed he kept bikes for those who wanted to mountain bike.

"We offer that as a service. But this one is new."

Eli was busy putting his helmet on and securing his bag to his bike.

"You bought me a new bike?" I was oblivious to the crisp air and the hum of the lift nearby.

"Hmm. You needed one." He easily swung his leg over the bike, squeezing his hands around the handle bars.

"You didn't have to buy me a new one. A rental would have been sufficient." I had no intention of riding again. This was a one-time deal. This outing probably satisfied Eli's promise to Chance to keep an eye on me.

It seemed over the top to me, but Chance had always been an overachiever. He probably wanted Eli to show me a good time so I'd stay.

It was dark, but the sky was starting to lighten .

"Let's go. We don't want to miss the sunrise. We'll be going uphill for this first part."

I held up my hand when it looked like he was going to take off. "Just so you know. I've never taken a spin class."

His eyes were bright with amusement. "This is nothing like a spin class. You're going to love it."

He pushed off, and I followed, wobbling at first, then finally getting the hang of it. He led me down a path.

"I checked this trail yesterday, and it should be clear of debris. But be careful; there could be patches of ice."

"Wonderful," I muttered. I was going to fall down the mountain after my tire slid on ice. It sounded terrifying.

"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye out," he called over his shoulder.

We began the slow climb up the mountain. My thighs were burning, and he stopped every so often to wait for me to catch up. My breath was coming in short pants, and my body ached from holding the bike tightly.

When Eli finally slid to a stop at a plateau, I sighed with gratitude. I stepped off the bike and rested it on the ground.

"You're going to want to see this." Eli gestured for me to follow him to a nearby boulder. There was a break in the trees where we could see the sun rising. It was a glowing ball of orange and red.

Eli sat so close behind me; I could feel his breath on my ear. "It's gorgeous, isn't it?"

I was at a loss for words. The view was breathtaking. It was almost worth losing sleep and my morning cup of coffee. But it was the fact that Eli moved his hand to my thigh and leaned in even closer that had my heart racing. "I've always been fascinated by the colors you see at sunrise and sunset. It's the most beautiful thing in the world."

I was having difficulty catching my breath. "I have to agree."

"Aren't you glad you woke up early for this? "

"Eh," I said stubbornly.

He wrapped an arm around me, squeezing me to him, and I think my heart stopped. "You're giving me a hard time. No one would want to miss this."

"I don't think anyone knows about it because they're still sleeping," I said cheekily.

"I like to come up here often to see the sunrise, but I get busy with work and my routine. It's a good reminder that there's something bigger out there than us."

"That's true." When had I ever stopped to admire the beauty of nature? I was so quick to move from place to place; I never stopped to appreciate where I was. Yet Eli did, even though he'd stayed in his hometown.

We sat quietly until the sun rose higher. Then he got out containers of fruit and small pancakes.

"These are still warm," I said as I held one of the pancakes in my hand.

"I got up early to make them." Eli's voice rumbled through my body.

"You woke up even earlier to cook pancakes for me?" I asked incredulously.

"I mean, they're for both of us, but yeah. Do you like them?"

I took a bite, enjoying the sweet flavor. "They're perfect." I couldn't remember a more satisfying morning. There was something about taking the time to go out in nature and enjoy it. I felt alive and energized.

Eventually, the air warmed up a bit, and Eli cleaned up our trash, putting it in his bag. He stood and held out his hand to me. "You ready to keep going? The way down is more difficult. You'll need to avoid tree roots and rocks. I don't want you to tumble down the mountain."

I brushed off my pants. "That doesn't sound reassuring."

"I'll call out any hazards I see. Just make sure you're watching where you're going. "

The way down was more precarious than the way up. I'd thought it would be easier, but my body was drawn taut, and my hands gripped the handle bars tightly.

As we moved down the mountain, my arms vibrated from the rocky terrain. I did my best to avoid any rocks or tree roots, but it took careful concentration.

I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until we got to the bottom.

Eli slid to a stop in front of me. "How was it?"

"Slightly terrifying," I admitted, eager to get off the bike and stretch my muscles. I hopped off the bike and collapsed on the ground.

Eli fell onto his back next to me, gazing at the sky. He was energized, content to be in nature.

"I was holding on for dear life." Sensing Eli was disappointed with my answer, I quickly added. "But the sunrise was worth it."

He grinned, and everything inside of me finally woke all the way up. "I told you."

"What's our next adventure?" I asked, wanting to keep that smile on his face.

"We should go rock climbing."

"Why?" I asked, unsure what the point was of scaling a mountain by hand and foot when we'd just done it on wheels.

"You'll get an added sense of accomplishment with each new adventure we go on."

I frowned at his confidence. "How do you know that's what's going to happen?"

"It makes you see things in a different way. You'll appreciate the world around you more."

"And that's what happens for everyone?" The slight breeze ruffled my hair, tickling my cheek.

Eli chuckled. "Not everyone. Some people hate the outdoors."

"How did you know I didn’t?" I still wasn’t sure about that .

"You're a free spirit. You're probably called to nature more than I am."

My blood was humming in my veins, and my skin was tingling with awareness. The cool air was refreshing and the sun warm on my face. "I can't say I've ever taken the time to appreciate nature like this."

"I hope you reconsider in the future. There's nothing better than spending time outdoors."

I wondered if it was the company I enjoyed more. Eli's excitement was contagious. His energy was like a shot of happiness for my morning. I wondered if this is what it would be like to wake up in bed each morning. Would he want to make love or get started with his day?

Eli hopped up and held a hand out to me. "Come on. I have breakfast ready for us."

I stood and brushed off my leggings. "You already made us pancakes."

"That was nothing. I worked up an appetite. I had eggs and more fruit prepared for us on the roof. There's even coffee."

"That sounds amazing." My butt was sore, and my thighs screamed in protest as we walked our bikes to the patio.

"I'll take care of these later. But if you ever want to ride on your own, this bike is yours."

"I can't believe you got me a bike." Didn't he realize I was only here for a short while?

"You needed one to ride, and we didn't have a rental that was your size."

"That was nice of you." Normally, I would think it was too much, but I was starting to see that Eli was a generous person. And his actions created a warm spot in my heart, reserved for him.

We headed to the rooftop where our breakfast was kept warm on hot plates. We sat at the table with a fire burning in the outside fireplace, and the heaters glowing. He even wrapped a blanket around my legs.

"Did you have a good morning?"

I ate my eggs and fruit while admiring the view of the mountains.

"Worth missing coffee for?"

"Actually, yes." I got another glimpse into what made Eli tick, and it made me feel closer to him.

I wondered why I didn't know more about myself. Other than I liked to move around a lot, and I enjoyed performing on a stage. Had I spent so much time proving I was different than everyone in my life that I didn't know who I was? That was an unsettling thought.

I sipped my coffee, content to watch the morning go by.

"What do you have planned for the rest of the day?" Eli asked me.

"Nothing actually. I might prepare the class I'm supposed to teach. It got pushed back so Marigold could do a proper sign-up for it."

"Are you nervous about teaching the kids?"

"Terrified."

Eli threw his head back and let out a loud guffaw.

I watched him with amusement. "I'm glad you find me amusing."

When he recovered, he said, "I never thought you were scared of anything. You were badass. You knew exactly what you wanted and went after it."

"I'm not sure about anything anymore. It feels more like I was running from everything: my childhood, this town, and my family."

Eli sobered. "It's never too late to figure out what you want."

I glanced over at him. "You're positive the lodge and the resort are what you want?"

"It was handed to me, but I've never thought about doing anything else. I was a little more carefree before I took over. But I don't miss that life. I prefer the routine, and I thrive in business."

"You're exactly where you're supposed to be."

"I wanted to take over the family business, and my siblings did too. I suspect Killian will retire here one day. Then we'll all be together."

I rested my head back to look at the fluffy white clouds. "I can't imagine living in one place my whole life."

"What about having a home?"

The thought made my chest ache. "I'm never in one place long enough."

"Do you want one?"

"I like traveling to see new places, but living out of a hotel isn't that attractive anymore. You're spoiling me with this condo."

He smirked. "That's the idea. Show you what you're missing."

I laughed. "I think it might be working. I'm starting to question everything I thought I knew about my life."

"You're in between productions?" Eli asked, and I hated to lie to him.

"I was done with the production I was working on and needed a break."

Eli frowned. "Did something happen?"

I thought about what I could say, and I settled for part of the truth. "It wasn't a good situation, and I wasn't happy."

"If something doesn't feel good, you should walk away."

He made it sound so easy. He wouldn't have let himself get into the same predicament. I was so involved in my role and the other cast members; I didn't realize that my boss was circling me, getting closer.

And I had to admit being here, right now, felt good. I was giving myself permission to let go for a bit. To figure out who I was and what I wanted.