Page 48 of Wild Dreams

Scarlett sat next to her. "Let me see." She scrolled to some app and opened it.

I tried not to pay attention, but it was impossible not to.

"Scarlett convinced Marigold to sign up for some dating app. I told her it wasn't necessary. There's plenty of eligible men right here in Telluride," Eli said to me.

"None that we haven't gone to high school with," Scarlett said.

I wondered if last night derailed her plans.

"You have so many matches. Oh, this guy is hot."

"Assuming that's his real picture," I couldn't help but interject.

Eli laughed. "Right? I bet that stuff is all fake."

Scarlett scowled at him. "Some men are looking for a real relationship and are honest on their profile." Then she said to Marigold, "I'd talk to this guy. He says he's a firefighter in town. Firefighters are hot and protective."

I frowned. Police officers were hot and protective. "Those are the traits you're looking for?"

Marigold looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"Hot, protective, nice." Scarlett ticked off the traits.

"Are you looking for a boyfriend or is Marigold?" I snapped at her.

Eli kicked my chair. "Stop being an ass. Let them have their fun. Scarlett's already taken."

Dating men on an app was fun? It sounded horrible to me. You have to vet their pictures, dissect every word in their profile, then message them, all the time wondering if they were being genuine or not. I was much better at assessing people in person. It was a habit of the job.

Besides, I already knew Marigold was an amazing person. What was the point of trying to find someone on some stupid app?

Then it hit me. I'd told Marigold we had no future. I'd given her permission to date other people. I'd fucked up. I should have said we were temporary at the very least. Why did my brain haveto take over? My body was on board with a secret relationship if that was the only way I could have her.

The idea that it wouldn't be fair to her drifted on the edge of my consciousness, but I pushed it away. I was feeling selfish right now, and I didn't want her dating other men.

13

MARIGOLD

While Scarlett scrolled through the matches on the dating app she'd talked me into, Chance was glowering from his seat. He'd just told me in the truck that last night was a one-off, and there wasn't a future for us. But he was mad about me dating someone else?

"Let me see." I plucked the phone out of Scarlett's hands, scrolling down. "These two?"

"Aren't they hot? This one is the firefighter, and if you're more interested in a suit kind of guy, this one." She pointed at the two pictures.

The firefighter was shirtless in a gym working out, and the second man wore a suit at a bar with friends.

I quickly read through both profiles. "They are attractive. And they say they're looking to settle down."

"Perfect," Scarlett said with a smile.

Chance scoffed. "Like they're going to be honest that they're just looking for a hookup."

"I'm really good at weeding through the lies when I meet with them in person." My fingers hovered over the Match button. If I clicked it, they'd be allowed to contact me. I would be saying I was single. Right now, I felt very much attached to someone else.

"Is that safe?" Chance said with his jaw clenched.

"I know how to vet someone. I'll be fine." It wasn't like I hadn't dated before. None of them had been particularly exciting endeavors. But Chance had helped me see what was possible, and now I wanted that for myself. This time, I'd be more selective, looking for someone I shared chemistry with and who respected me. The only problem was, I didn't feel ready to say yes when my heart was longing for someone else who apparently didn't want me.

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