Page 100 of Wild Love

The clock indicated closing was five minutes ago. "I don't mind."

"I don't think it's safe. Especially if you're tucked into the children's area and can't see the front door."

"You don't have to worry about me," I said just as Chance stepped in front of me to push open the door. There was a homeless man at the corner of the building. He stopped by every evening, probably because I always remembered to carry food for him.

I moved toward him, pulling out the cheese and crackers I'd saved from my lunch and a bottle of water. "Here you go."

Darren held out two hands to accept the package. "I appreciate that, ma'am."

I frowned at his shabbier-than-usual state. "Are you staying in the shelter tonight? It's getting cold already."

"I'll make my way over there eventually."

"The doors close at nine," I reminded him gently.

"Thank you." His eyes darted toward Chance. "I'll do that."

I frowned when he disappeared into the alleyway. "Darren usually sticks around to talk to me. I think you spooked him."

"You always stop to talk to homeless men?" Chance asked as I led the way to my small SUV.

I'd bought one with four-wheel drive. It was practical for the area. "Darren has been hanging around the library for a while. Sandra doesn't like him to come inside, so I take food out to him."

His forehead wrinkled. "Do you know anything about him?"

"His wife left him about ten years ago, after he lost his job. He hasn't been able to find one since. And you know how it is. You have to have an address to apply for one, or at least contact information. The longer you stay on the streets, the harder it is to get out. I told him about the county programs, but he's too proud to accept help. I can only get him into the shelters because it gets dangerously cold here at night."

"It's not safe to be alone with people like that. You don't know what they're capable of. He's hungry and desperate and might need money for drugs or alcohol."

"I guess I'm willing to take the risk." I couldn't walk past someone who was hungry and cold and do nothing.

"Aren't you worried for your safety?" Chance asked when we reached my SUV.

"I'm not worried about Darren. We're friends." I clicked the locks and took the books from him, setting them in the back seat.

When I turned back to him, he was scanning the empty lot. "I don't like you walking out here alone at night."

"There's plenty of light." I made sure the lights were always working in the lot.

"It would be easy for someone to follow your routine, knowing you're the last to leave, and hide in wait for you."

A shiver ran through my body. "This is Telluride. There hasn't been any crime like that?—"

"There's a first time for everything." He opened the front door for me and gestured for me to get inside. "Turn on the car."

He wanted me to be warm and safe. He was always so nice to me and Scarlett growing up. He never acted like we were too young, and he always looked out for us. When I was younger, it made me long for an older brother of my own. Later, it morphed into something different, something more like hero worship. But Chance would never look at me as anyone more than his sister's friend. He had a strict code of rules he lived by. One that apparently didn't permit him to have serious relationships.

I turned on the engine, adjusting the temperature to high.

Chance leaned on the roof of the car so that his head was inside the vehicle. I couldn't breathe; he was so close. "I wanted to thank you for what you did to convince Scarlett to move here."

"I wanted her to stay as much as anyone. But I'm fairly sure Eli was the hook." Scarlett was my best friend and now Eli's girlfriend. She'd traveled with a theater group since graduation. She'd recently returned home when she lost her job, and I convinced her to direct a children's play. When she got another job offer, I worked on an unconventional plan with Chance and Eli to get her to stay.

Chance shook his head. "I still can't believe my best friend is dating my sister when I asked him to protect her."

"Are you really upset? I thought you'd be happy she was staying in town and building a life here."

"I am happy. It just took me by surprise. I didn't realize that Eli wanted to settle down. Then the next thing I knew he was in love with my sister."

---