Page 60 of Wild Love

I let out a breath. "I like this girl?—"

He smiled wider. "I knew it."

I sighed. "But she's a runner."

He nodded. "Ah. I think I know who you're talking about."

There was only one new girl in town, and it was the hometown girl with a knack for leaving. "Please don't say anything."

He made the sign of an X over his heart. "I don't want to tell Chance you're fucking his sister."

I shoved his shoulder. "Watch your mouth."

"Let me get this straight. You're sleeping with your best friend's younger sister, and you don't want to call it fucking?"

My throat tightened at his insinuation. "That's right."

Mac whistled. "You got it bad. I'm glad I was never in your position. I just had to deal with Natalie’s ex-husband.”

Mac renovated Natalie's inn when she moved home after her divorce. He quickly fell in love with her and her daughter. I remembered Natalie’s ex-husband wasn’t that involved with Delaney when they first moved here. But that Mac was happy to step in and be the father-figure she needed.

I rolled my shoulders back. "It wasn't the best decision."

Mac shrugged. "If she's the one, what can you do?"

That made me feel slightly better. To me, she felt like the one. I'd never been more interested in a woman before, and our chemistry was off the charts. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"She keeps it quiet, and you maintain your friendship with Chance."

I followed Mac into the first cabin that already had walls and a roof. The framing was done, and I could easily see which room was the kitchen versus the living room. "What if I want more?"

"I felt like that was how it was with Natalie at first. She wasn't quite ready to move on, and I was more than ready to move forward with the woman and daughter who'd be my family and my future."

"I can see her in my future, but if she doesn't want to live here?—"

He met my gaze. "There's nothing you can do. Just make sure you tell her how you feel first. You don't want her wondering and using that as an excuse to leave. You don't want any missed communication between you two. Be honest."

"I can do that." But what if it pushed her away sooner?

Mac focused on the blueprints. "Now, you want to talk build?"

"Yes." I shoved my hands in my pockets while Mac walked me through the progress. We always ended with the diagram of the property complete with the lodge, slopes, and cabins.

"I'm excited about the work you've done so far, and the timeline."

"It's your dream. Happy to make it come true."

Was the expansion of the ski resort my dream? For so long, I wanted to solidify my family's legacy, but now? I was starting to think there was more to life than that. Scarlett's expression this morning as she gazed at the sunrise came to mind.

She was beautiful and passionate about everything. And I think she ran for a far different reason than she thought. She was scared to develop true feelings for someone. She wanted to belong but didn't want roots at the same time. She was an intriguing combination, and I wanted her for myself.

I hoped that what I had to offer her was enough. Would she always run, or would she finally see everything she had to offer?

She was so much more than what the town gossips said about her. She wasn't different. She wasn't wrong for wanting to be creative. She could settle here and be happy. Or at least thatwas my wish for her. There was always the possibility that asking her to stay was stifling who she was at her core.

Mac braced his hands on the box. "Have you thought about building yourself a house on the property?"

I frowned. "Why would I do that?"

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