Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 20

20

ELI

I wanted to give Scarlett time. I hoped she'd see things differently. But I wasn't so sure that would happen. In Scarlett's eyes, I'd betrayed her, and I couldn't blame her for feeling that way. I wasn't upfront with her.

I wanted to get to know her without her knowing I'd bought her a theater. But in the end, I wanted her to stay. The worst motivation in her book.

Should I let her go? Or try one more time to get her to see my side? I loved her and wanted to be with her, but I wouldn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do. That was true love. I had to let her go and hope she'd come back to me.

I just hated it.

I called Chance and asked him to meet me at the diner for breakfast.

He was already in uniform, talking to the hostess, when I arrived. He laughed, and I kind of wanted to smash something. How was he so happy when my life was imploding?

He saw me and straightened. "Rough night?"

"Something like that," I mumbled, not sure it was a good idea to seek advice from Scarlett's brother .

"Right this way," the hostess said as we followed her to the last booth. She handed us the menus and disappeared.

I wanted something greasy. I figured out my order, then set the menu aside.

Chance perused the menu while I drummed my fingers on the table impatiently. Finally, he put it aside. "What's your deal?"

"I fucked up."

Chance's eyes widened as the waitress poured coffee into our waiting mugs. She must have caught the irritation coming off me. "I'll give you a few minutes."

Once she walked away, Chance said, "Are we talking about my sister?"

I nodded. "I bought the theater."

"You're the one who bought it? Everyone was speculating that it was an out-of-towner who loved the theater."

"I bought it so that Scarlett would have a space to perform. I hoped she'd fall in love with directing and want to stay."

Chance laughed. "You can't get Scarlett to stay. That's not how she operates."

"I was hoping she'd realize it on her own. I also didn't want the theater turned into another restaurant and bar."

"We have enough of those in town. I'm guessing she found out about your little purchase, and she isn't happy."

"The realtor approached her with another buyer, hoping Scarlett would talk to me about selling."

Chance winced. "Ouch."

"Scarlett felt betrayed because I didn't run it by her first. But we weren't together then."

"You could have told her at any time."

"I planned to. I just knew she wouldn't like it. I was avoiding this." I waved a hand.

Chance shook his head. "Is she leaving now?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "She got a job offer. I should have known this was going to happen." But what could I have done? Let the theater be turned into something else? I wanted to preserve a piece of the town's history.

"How did she leave things?" Chance rested his elbows on the table.

"She needed to think. But it sounded like we were over, and she's probably going to take the job in Tennessee. She mentioned something about her old boss giving her trouble, throwing his weight around, and me not being any different. Did she talk to you about that?"

He scowled. "She didn't. If she was in trouble, she should have told me. When is she planning to leave?"

"She wants to finish the performance on Friday. Then I think she'll leave after that."

Chance looked out the window. "So you have a few days."

"A few days for what?" I wasn't sure what my next move was or if I should even make one.

His gaze swung to me. "I don't know, but I think you have to do something. You can't just let her walk away. Scarlett's in fight-or-flight mode right now, and she's preprogrammed for flight."

"But what can I do? She'll view anything as me manipulating her into staying."

Chance shook his head. "Show her you're okay with her leaving. If that's the case."

"I don't want to change who she is. I hope she'll come back to me." The question was, how could I do that?

Marigold stopped at the end of our table. "Can I talk to you?"

But she was already sliding into Chance's side, and he moved over for her.

The waitress arrived. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Coffee, please, and the biggest stack of pancakes you've got." Marigold placed her elbows on the table like she meant business .

Chance raised his brow. "I took you more for a yogurt and granola girl."

"You obviously don't know me at all," Marigold said sassily.

I chuckled, and Chance glared at me.

Chance cleared his throat. "What's going on?"

Marigold looked from Chance to me. "Scarlett is leaving again."

I nodded miserably, knowing that Marigold was going to give me hell for it. "It's all my fault."

Marigold let out a breath. "She is the most frustrating human being I've ever met."

I exchanged a confused look with Chance. I thought she was here to defend her friend.

Marigold held up her hand to me. "Let me just say that I think buying the theater was the sweetest gesture ever."

I scoffed. "Scarlett doesn't seem to think so."

"Buying Scarlett a theater is like buying me a bookstore or a library. It's the sure way to our heart," Marigold said

"A bookstore? But what if a man can't afford to buy their woman a building?" Chance asked.

"We're getting off topic," and then I turned my attention to Marigold. "That's not how Scarlett sees it."

Her forehead wrinkled. "She's so stubborn. She can't see how much we love and care for her. She sees everything we do as a manipulation, a way to get her to stay."

"Are you on my side?" I wanted to make sure, but this entire exchange was unexpected.

Marigold tipped her head to the side. "Do you want her back?"

"I love her." My heart ached with the idea that she was leaving, might never come back, and it was all my fault.

Marigold's shoulders lowered. "We have to show her how much we love her but that we're willing to let her go. Maybe she'll see how much she misses this place and everything it represents."

"What do you have in mind?" Chance asked.

"We could throw her a going-away party after the play is done. The key is that we have to let her go. Let her do her own thing. Hopefully, she realizes how much she loved it here and decides to come back."

"That's a big if." I wasn't so sure the gamble would pay off. "What if she's gone for years? What if she stays away because of me?"

Chance rubbed his chin. "We have to do more than a going-away party. That's not enough."

The table fell silent for a few seconds while we thought about it.

Finally, I said, "I can talk to Mac about blueprints for my house. I could act as if I'm moving forward with my plans."

Marigold brightened. "Oh, good idea."

"So we show her what she's missing by leaving town—her family, friends, and connection to the community—but without a guilt trip," Chance said thoughtfully.

Marigold grimaced. "I know it's going to be difficult. But I think it's worth a shot."

I shrugged. "Why not? We have nothing to lose."

The waitress stopped by with our food.

"I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything. Once I heard about the theater, I had to talk to Scarlett. But she was impossible." Marigold waved a hand before grabbing her fork and cutting into her pancakes. She took a huge bite. "Mmm. These are amazing."

I did the same with my food. I was hungry, and if we were going to stop the biggest flight risk from running, we needed fuel.

W e spent the rest of the week helping Scarlett with the rehearsal and planning her going-away party. Afterward, I tried to decide what my dream house would look like. I took Scarlett's tastes in mind. She'd want a hot tub, a pool, and a soaking tub in the master. Maybe even a room where she could sing and dance.

The thought of her dancing and singing with our kids made my heart ache even more. I had to trust that Marigold was onto something with her idea.

It was Scarlett who'd walked away from me. She thought I was manipulating her, which sucked. I wanted another chance to explain, but she had to be willing to listen. And right now, she wasn't. I didn't have a better idea.

Chance talked to his parents, and they were on board with our plan. The party was scheduled for immediately after the performance on Friday. Marigold said Scarlett was planning to fly to Tennessee on Saturday to start work on the new production.

I hated the idea of letting her get on that plane, but I didn't have a choice. Otherwise, I'd be the man she accused me of being. One who kept her in a cage. I wouldn't do that to her.

Marigold thought Scarlett would miss Telluride this time around. That she'd been part of something bigger than before: the play and our relationship. It was a risk, but I was willing to take it in the absence of any other ideas.

When there was a knock on the door Thursday night, my heart skipped a beat. Was Scarlett finally willing to talk like adults, or was she giving me back my key?

I opened the door with my heart lodged somewhere in my throat. "Scarlett. Come in."

"You wear glasses?"

"When I'm looking at tiny print." I gestured at the dining room table where the blueprints were laid out .

She slipped past me, looking way too good in a white tank and green sweats. Her feet were bare, her toenails painted pink. Her face was clear of makeup, and her hair was piled on her head, the ends slightly damp as if she'd just taken a bath.

I tried not to think about her naked in the tub while she crossed to the dining-room table where blueprints were spread out.

"What are you working on?" She looked at one of the pages, then lifted her gaze to mine.

"I'm building a house. Just picking out what I want it to look like."

She picked up one blueprint. "This one has five bedrooms."

"Yeah, I want to fill it with kids one day." I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face.

"You want kids?" she asked as she moved to another sheet, the first floor.

It was something we hadn't discussed before. "Two or three. But I'd talk it over with my partner first."

Her eyes widened slightly as if she hadn't considered that I might want to have that family with someone else. It sucked to keep up this charade, but Marigold swore it would work.

"A pool. Hot tub."

"I don't want to lose the amenities I have here. I even added a home gym." I reached across the table, brushing against her chest, tapping the spot in the basement. "Right here."

"I thought you weren't ready to settle down.”

I smiled at her. "The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. This condo is more for a bachelor lifestyle. I’m tired of it.”

She raised a brow. "Oh. I didn't realize."

"I have to thank you, Scarlett. Being together helped me see what I wanted."

Her cheeks flushed pink .

"I hope you found that to be true too. I believe everyone comes into our lives for a reason."

"I helped you figure out what you want in your life?"

I let out a breath. "It's the greatest gift you could have given me."

Scarlett pursed her lips. "I can't say the same."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon." I shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "You're younger than me."

When she was quiet, still purusing the blueprints, I asked, "Did you need something? Mac wanted me to get back to him on this tomorrow."

Her gaze flew to meet mine. "You're building soon?"

"He's going to do it along with the cabin project. It makes sense while he's already on the property."

"Right." Then she smiled and moved toward the door. "Well, it was good seeing you."

"Did you need to talk about something?" I asked, opening the door for her.

"I just wanted to see how you're doing."

I leaned into the door frame, forcing myself to keep it light. "I'm focused on the future. Staying positive. You know how it is."

Scarlett nodded, licking her lips. "Yeah."

"Is everything good to go for the performance tomorrow night?"

"I'm sure something will come up tomorrow, but for now, it is."

"I'll be there. Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," she said with a smile as she stepped into the hallway.

"Have a good night." Then I forced myself to close the door without waiting for her response.

I plopped onto the couch and texted Chance and Marigold jointly.

Eli: Marigold, I hope you know what you're doing.

Marigold: Why? What happened?

Eli: Scarlett was here.

Marigold: Oh? What did she want?

Eli: She never said. I wonder if she was going to apologize before she saw the blueprints.

Marigold: Did you stick to the plan?

Eli: I told her I was building a house and wanted kids.

Marigold. Eek! That's perfect. What did she say?

Eli: Nothing really. She didn't bring up our fight or apologize. I'm wondering if I should have said something about it.

Marigold: No! You did the right thing. You have to show her that you're cool with her doing her thing.

Eli: Shouldn't I tell her I love her and beg her to stay?

Chance: I think we have to trust that Marigold knows what she’s doing. When did you become such a wuss?

Eli: Just wait until you meet the woman who brings you to your knees.

Chance: Ha…Funny.

Marigold: Focus. Eli, you did the right thing. Scarlett's probably questioning her entire life right now. Now onto Phase 2.

Chance: Didn't know we had phases.

Marigold: Every good plan has phases.

Chance: You're kind of scary.

Marigold: There's a lot you don't know about me.

Christ. These two were worse than my parents when they bickered.

Marigold: Phase 2 is the going-away party. Your parents are on board. The food will be catered. Everyone in the town is invited and has been instructed not to ask Scarlett to stay or ask her when she's coming back. They'll wish her well.

I blew out a breath.

Eli: That's easy enough.

Marigold: You can't cave, Eli.

Chance: Yeah, Eli. Don't cave.

Before I could even respond to Chance's teasing, Marigold jumped in.

Marigold: You have to stay strong too, Chance.

Chance: I will.

Marigold: Both of you better have your game faces on tomorrow night. We love Scarlett. And this is what's best for her.

Eli: It's all tough love coming from me.

Chance: Me too.

Marigold: Good. Keep it that way.

I clicked out of our joint chat and sent Chance a private message.

Eli: Who knew Marigold was such a slave driver?

Chance: She's determined when she has a cause.

Eli: At least she's giving you more shit than me.

Chance: How do you figure?

Eli: She keeps saying how you don't know her at all. She's obviously irritated with you.

Chance: You're the one who's got to keep it together tomorrow.

Eli: I've got this. Scarlett was just in my condo, and I didn't touch her.

Chance: You know you're talking to me about my sister, right?

I ran a hand through my hair.

Eli: Sorry. I wasn't thinking.

Chance: When this is all over...

Eli: I'm not sure it's going to work out in my favor.

Chance: I hope you're wrong. It kills my parents when she's gone.

Eli: I'll do my best.

Chance: I don't like you dating my sister, but if you're the reason she stays…I'll forgive you…eventually.

I barked out a laugh.

Eli: So gracious.

Chance: Get your beauty sleep. You're going to need it.

I threw my phone on the cushion next to me. I slunk down until my head was resting against the back of the couch. Was I doing the right thing?

I didn't feel right about letting Scarlett walk out of here thinking I was okay with moving on without her. Because I wasn't. I hated the idea.

But I trusted that Marigold was onto something. This had to work. A life without Scarlett was inconceivable.

My phone flashed with an incoming message.

Marigold: Bring your A-game tomorrow.

If I didn't, I'd lose the most important person in my life. I wasn't willing to go down without a fight. It just wasn't the one I was expecting.

If this didn't work, I'd be moving into a huge house by myself. And despite what I told Scarlett, I had no intentions of moving on with anyone else.

Scarlett was the love of my life.