Page 8 of Wild Dreams

"They'll be here if the prodigal son returns," Xan said.

Xan insinuated that Killian was the favorite, but I think it had more to do with him being absent since he was a teenager. He'd left home to train for the Olympics and rarely visited.

"You know Mom and Dad love you," Oliver said.

Xan was easy going and lovable. Eli was the responsible one who took over the ski resort. Oliver was the smart one, and Killian was the Olympic-level athlete. Each brother was exceptional. I'd always thought my job was important. But now that Eli and Scarlett were settling down, I was questioning everything.

Who would have thought that Scarlett would be the first St. Claire to get serious with someone? My parents held out hope for me to marry and have kids. Now that Scarlett was on that path, I should have felt relieved that it took the pressure off me. Instead, I felt unsettled, and I didn't like that feeling.

3

MARIGOLD

Istuck around after closing because the guys were still meeting upstairs. After that encounter with Chance, I was nervous to see him again. I should have snuck out to avoid him, but I had to lock up the library after they left.

I kept checking the clock, even though I could hear the one on the wall ticking away. The lights were dimmed, and everyone else had already gone home. I locked the front door because Chance was so concerned about my safety.

I could read here or at home just as easily. I was slowly working my way through the Battle of the Books selections for the year and typing up the questions for the school's librarians to distribute to their teams.

I tried to focus on the book, but I noticed I'd read the same paragraph three times before I leaned back in my chair. That's when I heard the thumping of feet on the steps and laughter.

The Wilde brothers were always teasing each other. For as long as I could remember, I was envious of the St. Claire and Wilde families. They didn't go home to empty houses after school. They didn't make and eat dinner by themselves each evening.

I shook my head, determined not to feel melancholy when my life was good. I'd always wanted to work in my hometown as a librarian. The only thing missing from my dream was a family. But I was working with Scarlett to make that a reality.

The guys came into view.

Xan spotted me and walked over to the counter as I gathered my things. "What are you still doing here?"

"Someone has to lock up."

Eli looked around. "I didn't realize the library was closed."

I shrugged. "It's not a big deal. I didn't mind waiting."

"You should have said that we went over time," Chance chided.

"I didn't mind. I was reading." Wow. Great way to show your crush that you have no life outside of work. I should have been talking about the hot date I missed by having to stay at work late. Would Chance care if I went on a date?

"You ready to head out?" Chance asked, his gaze roved over the space as if he was used to checking security everywhere he went.

"I am." I tucked the book I was reading into my bag. I didn't have a stack of books today.

The other guys moved toward the front door ahead of us, and Chance hung back.

"How was your meeting?" I asked, my heart fluttering. This ridiculous crush on Chance was growing the more time we spent together.

Chance's lips turned up. "It was good. Everyone but Xan read the book, and we had a good discussion. I think it helps that the book was more of a mystery. There was a lot to talk about."

I nodded. "That was a good one."

"Do you regularly read thrillers?" Chance asked me as we made our way past the displays of books and movies.

"Not often but, whenever I do, I enjoy them. The only problem is that they are hard to put down. I have to know what happened at the end."

The guys were loitering around the circulation desk.

"And then, when you get to the end, you have no idea what actually happened. Do authors do that on purpose?" Chance asked as he waited for me to unlock the door.

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