Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 11

11

ELI

S carlett was impressive with those kids. You could see her passion for acting come through, and she passed that same energy onto the kids. She encouraged them to come out of their shell and give their best performances.

I hadn't seen Scarlett much after her class. I wondered if she was still planning to leave or if she was considering staying for a while longer.

I had the expansion to plan, but it felt meaningless at the moment. What was I striving for? More money? More success? It felt flat to me.

The only bright spot was Scarlett, and I didn't want to explore that too closely. Then I'd have to admit that I liked my best friend's sister. And I didn't want to deal with that complication. I liked when I forgot about the details and enjoyed my time with her.

But this Saturday, she'd promised to go on our second adventure: rock climbing. I found a lower elevation that didn't have any snow and would be ideal for a beginner. I purchased the equipment we'd need for her and packed a picnic lunch.

I'd sent her flowers and breakfast the morning of her class. I could say I was doing something nice for a friend or fulfilling my promise to look out for her, but it was more than that. I felt like this was a seduction.

Did Scarlett see what I was doing? Or had she already written me off as her brother's friend?

It was reckless, but I hadn't felt so alive in years. Not even going on these excursions made me feel as energized as being with Scarlett and watching her do something new for the first time.

During the week, we’d texted about me picking her up for rock climbing, but otherwise, she hadn't started any conversations. I tried not to let that worry me. She was still living here; I'd heard her door opening and closing. But I hadn't seen her hanging around the common areas like the bar or restaurants. I'd been outside working on the expansion.

On Saturday morning, I knocked on her door bright and early. I came armed with coffee and pastries from a local shop.

When the door opened, Scarlett's eyes were sleepy, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She wore leggings, a hooded sweatshirt, and boots.

"Good morning." I lifted the bag of pastries and the tray of coffees, and Scarlett's eyes brightened. She grabbed them from me, spun, and headed toward the kitchen island.

I gestured toward the door. "I was hoping we could eat in the car."

Scarlett sipped the coffee while she pulled a pastry out of the bag. "I can do that."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Uh-huh," Scarlett said as she clutched the goodies and followed me outside. Then we were riding down the elevator in silence.

I waved to the employees at the front counter, and outside, my SUV was waiting for me. It was already running, so I slipped the valet a twenty and opened the door for Scarlett. "

"This is nice service."

"Ownership comes with a few perks," I said before closing the door and rounding the hood. Inside, I put the SUV in gear, then headed toward our destination.

Her forehead wrinkled. “Why do you do everything so early?"

"I prefer to get out early. It's a good way to beat the crowds."

"Hordes of people are clamoring to go rock climbing or mountain biking?" Scarlett asked dubiously.

I chuckled as I signaled a lane change. "In Telluride? Yes. You have your tourists and your locals who love being active."

"Hmm," Scarlett said.

"I'm going to get you to love the outdoors." I loved being outside: hiking, running, biking, whatever I could find. I enjoyed it all. But I'd never met a woman who did. Maybe I'd been looking in the wrong places.

Scarlett finished her pastry and sucked the icing off her finger.

That motion made everything inside me heat up. I fumbled around for a napkin and threw it in her lap.

"Sorry. I obviously have no manners," Scarlett said sheepishly.

"It's fine." What could I say? Suck on your fingers anytime? I enjoy the show. Jesus. I wouldn't survive much more time alone with her. "How was your week? I didn't see you after the library class."

Scarlett bobbed her head. "I've been busy."

"Have you been working on anything?" I wondered if she'd applied for a job, or was looking for a theater company to join. I tried not to let that bother me. She was always planning on leaving. This arrangement was temporary. Should I increase my efforts to show her how amazing Telluride was?

"Just considering my options. "

"And what are those?" I asked, enjoying the sight of the sun rising over the top of the mountain range.

"I could hook up with another theater group, take whatever part's available, or just work on sets until something opens up." Scarlett's gaze was on the window.

"There aren't any options nearby?" I was quick to ask.

"Even if the theater in Telluride was open, it's probably too small for what I do."

I thought it would be perfect for the kids though. I'd already looked into the business, and the owners were looking to sell. They'd closed years ago, hoping to sell it to someone who'd use it as a theater. When no one expressed interest, they decided to sell to the highest bidder.

I was tempted to buy the place and give it to Scarlett to run, but that would be crazy. She didn't want to stay, and what did I know about running a theater?

I had a tendency to go overboard for the people I cared about, and somewhere along the line, Scarlett had become part of that small circle. I liked to say it was because of Chance, but I wasn't so sure. I liked Scarlett.

I parked in the lot where the trail began. I grabbed the equipment and the bag, hefting it onto my shoulders. Then we hiked in the direction of the rock face I intended to climb. It was a nice, easy trek for a beginner.

"Are you enjoying being home?" I asked, trying to break the silence. It felt heavy between us this morning. I wondered what had changed.

"I suppose."

My heart sank. "That didn't sound promising."

Her forehead wrinkled. "It's just that I feel all this pressure to do what everyone wants."

"And what's that?" I asked, wondering if I'd done the same.

Her face screwed up as if it pained her to say it. "Stay. Teach classes. "

"You don't want to?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. I don't know why I thought she'd change her mind. No amount of sight-seeing would influence her.

She was huffing slightly as we hiked the incline. "I travel with a theater group. That's what I do."

"You wouldn't consider making a change? Maybe you could be happy doing something else?" Making connections with people.

Scarlett gave me a look. "It's all I've ever known. I can't change because it's what everyone else wants."

"I suppose not. I just wondered if you'd changed your mind on what you want," I said, remembering my question to her a couple of weeks ago. What did she want?

"I'm happy for now. Eventually, I'll get the urge to go, and I'll need to follow my instincts."

"But what if you don't get that urge?" I asked.

Scarlett laughed. "Don't get your hopes up."

I hefted the bag higher on my shoulders. "It's your brother and your parents that want you to stay. Marigold maybe. But not me."

"Oh, right. Just my family and friends. Not the parents that watched my theater class. The townspeople who think I'm hurting my parents by leaving."

"I guess you have to figure out what you want to do."

"I bet you've known since you were in fifth grade," Scarlett said.

"I knew I'd take over the lodge. That it was there for me if I wanted to run the business. But I could have done something else, and my parents would have been fine with that too."

Her gaze swung to me. "You didn't feel like it was your duty as the oldest?"

"Maybe. I don't know. But it's what I wanted, and I'm happy." Lately, I wasn't so sure about that. I'd fallen into a routine that used to be comforting but had become stale. I wondered if that's why Scarlett traveled so much.

We reached the bottom of the rock face, and I let my bag drop to the ground.

Scarlett looked up at the rock face. "This is it?"

I nodded, getting the equipment out. "Yup."

"It's straight up," she said apprehensively.

I pulled out the harnesses. "There are places to put your hands and feet. I'll show you."

"Are you sure this is safe? Don't I need to take some kind of course or something?" Her voice actually wavered.

I paused. "Scarlett St. Claire, are you scared to climb a rock?"

She placed her hands on her hips. "Absolutely not."

"Could have fooled me," I chided, hoping the challenge would trigger her courage.

She moved closer to me and pointed at the bag. "Rig me up, or whatever you do. I'm ready to make this rock my bitch."

"That's the Scarlett I remember. She was fearless. She didn't let anyone tell her what to do."

Her lips settled into a stubborn line. "I'm still that person."

"Sure." But a part of her had dimmed, and I wondered if it was the same reason she'd left her last production. Had something happened?

I set up the ropes, carbines, and the belay device before securing her in the harness, careful not to think about where I was touching. I finished as quickly as I could and handed her the helmet. "You just worry about climbing, and when you want to come down, it's an easy glide to the ground. You can't fall."

Scarlett's expression was uncertain.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her, my hand on her shoulder for reassurance.

Her gaze flitted to mine. "Yes."

"Then you'll be fine. I'll talk you through each step, and I'll be next to you the entire time. "

"What is the point of climbing a rock again?"

"The view at the top is nice, and I packed a picnic lunch. This is a tamer climb, but the view is still worth it." She'd get the adrenaline rush from the climb and become addicted to the sport. I was positive of that.

Scarlett nodded. "Yeah, okay. Let's do this."

"Did you talk to Chance about coming out with me?" I hadn't told her not to, but I had a feeling he wouldn't like it.

Scarlett frowned. "He'd worry it was dangerous."

"Even though he does the same activities?"

"He only worries about me, not himself."

"That's interesting."

"I think the word you're looking for is hypocritical." There was a bite to her words.

I chuckled. "I don't have a big brother that worries about me."

"You are the big brother who looks out for everyone else."

"I suppose I am." At some point, that had become my role. Dad could only keep track of so many kids while he was working. And I was tasked with keeping an eye on everyone. If they got hurt, I was the one who got in trouble. I was the responsible one, the one everyone could turn to for advice.

"Ready to conquer the wall?"

"Uh-huh," Scarlett said, her voice uncertain.

I didn't mention her obvious fear. I wanted her to feel empowered, not discouraged.

"You want to look for a good place to grip. I'd place your right hand here. Then left hand here." I reached over her to show her the indentations in the cliff.

She put her hand in the cleft. Then I showed her where she could put her feet. When she was on the wall, she looked at me. "Now what?"

My chest brushed against her back, and her hair tickled my chin. I breathed in her scent. "You look for your next move. See the indent to your right?"

She nodded.

"See if you can reach it."

I stood at her back to make her feel secure. I could grab her if she panicked.

She gripped the next ledge and heaved herself higher.

"Good." I secured anchors, keeping pace and throwing out suggestions when she was stuck, and encouragement when she was successful.

It was the best morning I'd had in I didn't know how long. I’d never brought a woman climbing before. No one I'd ever dated was interested in spending time outdoors. Even luxury cabins were too rustic for them.

Our dates consisted of charity or gala dinners, maybe a night at the club or bar. But with Scarlett, I had a feeling she'd love a good burger. This was a woman I could come home to at the end of the night and be myself with.

We continued climbing until we got to the top.

"You're going to want to pull yourself up and over."

Scarlett scoffed. "Just pull myself up, huh?"

"If you need a boost, I can give you one." I was beneath her at this point.

She scrambled over the rock face so quickly I didn't have a chance to give her a push. She knelt on the rock and looked down at me, a big grin on her face. "Are you coming?"

I shook my head. "You're something else; you know that?"

"That's what I've been told all my life." Scarlett said it lightly, but I had a feeling it held a heavy meaning for her.

I thought she was amazing. I wanted her to stay and see how great it was to have a support system, even though she was strong and independent.

I climbed up after her, then unhooked our gear. We sat on the flat surface and enjoyed the view of downtown .

Scarlett sighed. "This is gorgeous."

"I told you you'd love it." Pleasure unfurled in my chest.

"I can't believe I grew up here, and I've never seen this view before."

"You have to hike and climb to get the good views. You can't stay in town." When we were kids, she performed plays at the lodge but never joined us on our adventures.

She laughed softly. "I guess this is why everyone travels here."

"Colorado has amazing views and trails to hike. But there's nothing like Telluride. Every adventure is available to us."

Her forehead creased. "Are you saying I don't have to travel to see amazing things?"

"That's up to you to decide." I needed to show her how amazing Telluride could be, but I wouldn't pressure her like her family. I didn’t want to be an obligation. I wanted to be the person she desired to spend time with.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm running from something or looking for something, but I don't know what. When will I be truly content?"

I was a little surprised by her candor. "Only you can decide that. But maybe you won't find it if you're constantly moving around."

"You're saying I have to stay in one place?" she asked carefully.

"Isn't that what you're doing now?"

She blew out a breath. "I was hoping to figure out something while I was here, but no luck so far."

"You have to be open to it. If you're stuck in your old ways and thoughts, it will be hard to see things in a new way."

"Is that your master plan? Show me these amazing new things, and something will come to me? An answer about what I'm supposed to do with my life. "

I chuckled, hoping she hadn't caught onto my plan. "Something like that. Is it working?"

She smiled over at me. "I don't have clarity on my future, but I'm sure enjoying the present."

As long as no one expected anything from her in her personal life, she seemed content.

"You knew at a young age exactly what you wanted to do. I feel like I don't know myself at all."

"You probably do. You just haven't been paying attention."

She glanced at me. "How did you get so good at this stuff?"

"I think it's being the oldest. I have to deal with everyone's problems. I learned to navigate fights, disagreements. I learned a lot about myself along the way." I pulled out our picnic lunch: a couple of sandwiches, grapes, and waters.

"Why aren't you dating anyone? You seem kind of perfect. You always bring food, and you even delivered flowers. You're sweet."

"Yeah, don't let that get out. I kind of like my wild and reckless reputation."

There was a pause, and then she asked, "Does that extend to the bedroom?"

My head swiveled in her direction.

Her cheeks were pink. "Forget I asked that. I don't know what I was thinking."

"I like to think so. Do you like to get wild, Scarlett?" I couldn't bring myself to say her last name. It would remind me of her brother, and he had no part being in this conversation.

"I think we've established that I don't know who I am or what I want," she finally said.

"Mmm. I'd love to explore that with you."

She leaned over and smacked my leg.

"What was that for?"

"Are you flirting with me?"

I chuckled. "Maybe. Why? Would that be a problem? "

"My brother is your best friend."

I sobered. "Sometimes it's easy to forget that."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "You've been friends since childhood. I'll be gone in a few weeks. There's no point in starting anything that could cause trouble with Chance."

"We don't know that. Maybe it could be something worth fighting for."

"It's just a physical attraction. They always fizzle out."

I'd love to find out, but I didn't dare say that out loud. I wasn't sure that Scarlett was ready for what I wanted, but at least I knew she was interested in me even if it was only physical.