Page 33 of Wild Dreams

Scarlett nodded. "When we were kids. I noticed how you acted around him. All silly and giggly."

I swallowed hard. I'd thought that was a secret I'd hold onto forever.

"I'm only saying this because I don't want you to get hurt. Chance isn't looking for anything serious. He's vowed never to be in a relationship or get married. He doesn't want to lead anyone on, so if you still have a little crush on him, I'd let it go."

"You don't honestly believe that he can't get married because he's the town's sheriff?" I asked, remembering what he'd said to me.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "I don't see things the same way he does. I don't remember Mom being particularly upset about Dad working, but I was younger. Maybe he saw things I didn't. I wasn't exactly focused on my parents' reactions to things that weren't about me back then. I was a selfish teenager who only cared about herself." Scarlett ducked her head as if she was ashamed.

"I wouldn't say that."

"Whatever he observed between my parents made him draw this conclusion. He's never wavered from it. Have you ever seen him date anyone since high school?"

"I assumed he dated women out of town so he wouldn't have to deal with a messy fallout."

"I'm sure that's part of it. But he also feels like he can't have what Eli and I have. That he'd hurt whoever he dated. He couldn't meet their expectations. He's married to his job."

She wasn't saying anything I hadn't already known. "I know."

"I don't know what's going on between you two, and you don't have to tell me. I just worry about you."

That was what I needed to hear to finally push me past this crush and onto more serious possibilities. "Will you help me set up a dating profile?"

"Of course." Scarlett scooted her chair closer. I wanted it to be as honest and as transparent as possible. I was looking for a serious relationship, and I was a librarian. I was hoping to eliminate anyone looking for a hookup.

"It's perfect," Scarlett declared when I hit Save.

I set the phone down as if it could bite me. "I'm so nervous. What if I don't get any interest?"

Scarlett waved a hand. "I wouldn't worry about that. There's more men on those things than women."

"How do you know?" I didn't remember her ever talking about apps.

"I tried one out a time or two. When I was lonely and in a new town. It was hard to meet people outside of bars."

I remembered her saying the only free time they had was late at night after a show.

"I don't want to meet someone at a bar. I prefer a night in." I'd even put that in my profile. I probably sounded like an old maid.

"Don't sell yourself short. You're beautiful, engaging, and caring. Any man would be lucky to have you."

"You're sweet, but you're also my best friend. You have to say that."

"I can be honest." She gestured at me. "You're the complete package."

"Only for a man who wants to get married. Most men our age have a bit more time before they have to settle down. Biologically there is no limit for them."

"That's not a problem. Adjust your preferred age range to older. You might meet more divorcees and single dads, but that's not an issue for you, is it? Those guys are more mature andhave probably been through something meaningful. They know what's important in life and hopefully learned a thing or two from their first marriage."

"I can do that." I didn't care so much about age. Just that we were on the same page. I had visions of guys reaching out to me, but Chance's face always appeared.

Why couldn't I get him out of my mind? He had been nothing but friendly toward me. If I saw a flash of heat in his eyes, I was sure I was projecting my feelings onto him.

Scarlett leaned closer. "Have you thought about which play we should perform next?"

The first play had been my work,The Enchanted Forest.The title wasn't original, but then again, I was writing plays for children as a way to stretch my writing muscles. I hadn't expected anyone to actually want to perform them.

"That night we were trying to decide, Chance and I thought the castle one would be cool. But I think we should do a holiday one next. It's that time of year, and we can always do the castle one in the spring."

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