Page 56 of Wild Dreams

That was easily verifiable. It was more noticeable when I took time off.

"I can stop by later." My voice was low with promise.

Her eyes flared with desire. "Okay."

I raised a brow. "Yeah?"

She nodded, a small smile spreading over her face. "Yeah. I'd like that."

I never liked the idea of a woman waiting on me at home before, but now I was eager to return.

I kissed her one more time. "I'll be back."

She laughed as I jogged toward the car. Inside the cab, I waited for her to go inside and turn on the lights. What was I doing with this woman? I was breaking all my rules for her.

At the lodge, I went to the bar where Eli said they were hanging out. There was a table of appetizers and food. A bar with drinks. The party was open to the guests and anyone in town who didn't have a place to be on Thanksgiving night.

"You couldn't convince Marigold to come?" Eli asked me with an arm around Scarlett's shoulders.

"She was tired. Probably wanted a break from you."

Eli narrowed his eyes on me. "I'm completely lovable."

"That's me," Xander said as he walked by.

I nursed a soda, knowing I'd need to drive to Marigold's after I could make an excuse to get out of here.

I talked to everyone that came through because there were townspeople here for a hot meal, drinks, and conversation.

Eventually, I moved to the pool table where the Wildes were playing a half-hearted round-robin. There was more drinking and talking than actual playing.

"We hope the house will be built by the summer, and we can move in," Eli said.

"You won't miss the penthouse suite and private rooftop deck?" Xander asked.

"It's still ours. We can use it at any time, but it will be nice to have some privacy. Killian said he'll be home for the holidays this year, so he'll be using Scarlett's old condo."

I didn't want to think about what Eli and Scarlett had done on the private rooftop that I knew had a pool and a hot tub.

"It will be nice to have Killian home," Oliver said. "Joey's fascinated with him. He thinks he's some hero because he's in magazines and on TV."

"Only in the snowboarding world," Xander added.

"To Joey, he's the cool uncle. He can travel and be free, whereas I'm stuck in an office."

"You can go on vacation, Oliver," Eli reminded him.

"I don't need to leave here."

"You have a sitter tonight?" Eli asked Oliver.

"Yeah, Justine is watching him for me for a few hours."

Every once in a while, Oliver got a sitter so we could hang out. I wondered if he ever dated. He seemed tied to the lodge. Even on weekends, he worked with Joey playing on the floor of his office.

His gaze drifted toward a woman who was drinking alone at the bar.

If he had affairs with the guests who passed through, I wouldn't be surprised. He probably didn't want to parade women in front of Joey.

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