Page 46 of Wild Dreams

At home, I went for a run, showered for a second time, ate a quick lunch, then headed over to Marigold's place. It was weird to be here so often in the last twenty-four hours. It made me feel like this was the start of something.

It was an unusual circumstance. I couldn't have anticipated that Oakley would get sick, that our emotions would be all over the place, and it would be easy for us to gravitate toward each other.

Even if we hadn't had sex, I would have invited her over to my family's house. I didn't want her to spend the holiday alone.

My family was important to Marigold. If we dated and broke up, she might lose them. It could even strain her relationship with Scarlett. I couldn't have that.

Our relationship wasn't good for anyone. Satisfied I was thinking logically again, I knocked on her door.

A few seconds later, she opened the door in jeans and a fall-looking sweater. Her hair was shining like she'd recently brushed it, and her lips were enticingly glossy.

I couldn't resist backing her into the space, taking the pie from her hands and placing it on a nearby table. Then kissing her like I'd been imagining all morning.

We didn't have the wake-up sex I wanted or even the intimacy. But I could steal this moment before we went to my parents' house.

When I finally pulled away, her lips were swollen. "What was that for?"

"That was the morning kiss we should have had." I snagged the pie she'd been holding, and she scooped up Oakley. "You made this?"

"I ordered it for myself earlier in the week, and I didn't want to come empty-handed."

I guided her to my truck. "You know you don't have to bring anything."

Marigold shrugged under my touch. "It's the polite thing to do."

What would it take for Marigold to feel like she was a part of my family and not just a charity case? I knew she felt that way, and I hated it.

Marigold petted Oakley who was sitting contently in her lap. "What do your parents think about you inviting me?"

I glanced over at her to gauge her reaction. "That I invited a family friend over for Thanksgiving dinner."

"You didn't tell them anything about us?"

I came to a stop at a stop sign. "Why would I?"

Marigold blanched at that statement. "I just thought?—"

"What if we have a falling out? That could hurt your relationship with Scarlett and the rest of my family."

Marigold frowned. "I hadn't thought about that."

"You know we're not a good idea."

"I thought you didn't have any regrets?" she asked softly.

"I don't regret anything. I just don't see how we have a future."

"This has nothing to do with your vow to remain single for your job?"

I gripped the wheel tighter. "That's part of it. I don't want the town in my business, and then what happens when we break up?"

"You assume we'd break up?"

"There's no guarantee that anything will work out." My mom stuck it out with my dad, but I wondered if she'd ever thought about divorce. A life where she wouldn't have to worry about him coming home late or leaving early to go to work.

My parents' house was too close to Marigold's and we arrived before I could make Marigold see how bad of an idea we were. I put the truck in Park behind Eli's SUV. "We have to act like nothing happened."

Marigold nodded. "Of course."

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