Page 5 of Wild Love

"It doesn't have to mean anything. And don't call me that."

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and her breath hitched. It was completely out of character for me. I didn't do tender touches or slow seductions.

"What are you doing?"

I had no idea, but I wanted to touch her. I wanted to see if her skin was as soft as it looked. I wanted to explore her curves and her smart mouth. Everything about her was driving me wild.

The door opened, and I stepped back. Scarlett's hand fell to her side.

"Scarlett? You out here?" Chance's voice sounded across the deck.

I stepped farther into the shadows, knowing she wouldn't want him to know we were out here together.

Her heels clicked across the wood decking. "I'm coming."

"What are you doing out here?" Chance asked as she approached him.

"I was just getting some fresh air," her voice drifted off.

I needed a few minutes to recover from that conversation. I hadn't expected to have such a visceral reaction to Scarlett being home again. The attraction came out of nowhere. I wanted my best friend's younger sister, and I couldn't have her.

When I was alone again, I moved to the railing, curling my fingers around it.

I needed to get Scarlett St. Claire out of my system, and I couldn't do it in any of the usual ways. I couldn't touch her. I couldn't sink inside her sweet heat. She wasn't mine to possess.

But I sure as hell enjoyed goading her. It was so easy to get her riled up. Her pulse had been fluttering out of control.

Had she wanted me to touch her? Did she wonder what my lips would feel like against hers?

I couldn't go back inside. Not when every muscle in my body was pulled taut. Scarlett was a siren, but I wouldn't be answering her call anytime soon.

2

SCARLETT

Chance threw an arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side. It was a protective move, but I still felt unsettled. I used to be so confident with men, so sure of my power. But I'd been shaken recently. I was here to get a break from all of that. But I couldn't seem to escape the reminders.

Chance looked down at me, concern in his expression. "What were you doing outside? It's cold, and you're not wearing a jacket."

I hadn't noticed once Eli sauntered onto the deck and into the chair next to mine. I'd been able to appreciate the way he filled out his suit that came with an inherent confidence.

Eli Wilde knew his place in the world. He didn't have to search for it or wonder if he was doing the right thing. His purpose was running his family's ski resort.

Just the thought of being in one place for longer than a few months made me want to run.

Chance steered me toward the auction room where people were milling about. "You want to bid on any of the items in the auction?"

I didn't have any extra money for frivolous items. "Nothing stood out to me."

"I would have thought you'd enjoy the beach house." Eli nodded toward the first table.

"You thought wrong," I said flatly, hoping he'd let it go. I didn't have a steady job with pension and benefits. I made just enough to pay for the necessities. But not a home to come back to. That's why I occasionally stopped in Telluride in between jobs, but more often than not, I headed to the beach. It was my happy place.

Except this time, I didn't have a job to go back to. I'd made sure of that. But I couldn't tell him or my parents. It would be one more reason why they'd be disappointed in me.

Why couldn't I hold down a steady job? Why couldn't I pick a place to live? I was a source of distress for them.

We wandered the room with Chance stopping to talk to someone every few seconds. I fielded repeated questions about when I was leaving again and what was I doing now, as if no one understood my job.

---