Page 28 of Wild Promises

"I'll take it." I wanted to be respected. But I was still worried I couldn't pull it off. The years of being told I was immature and irresponsible had gotten to me. Whether it was ultimately true or not, I'd started to believe the narrative.

"We're going to have so much fun living together." Her voice was light and optimistic.

More like torture. I had to live with a woman I'd been crushing on for years and not make a move. It was so much harder being this close to her. Having her in my space, showering in my bathroom, and touching me whenever she felt the need.

It was going to take a ton of will power not to mess this up, kiss her, or say something that would reveal my true feelings. We needed to keep things platonic in order for this to work.

If I gave into my desires when it came to Tori, things would get messy. I wouldn't be able to prove to my brothers that I was getting my life together. If I fell for her and she didn't want me, everything else would fall apart. I wouldn't get to work at Wilde Ski Resort, and Tori would lose her bid to keep the practice.

For once, I needed to do the hard thing. I needed to keep things between me and Tori friendly. No matter how much I wanted to take it to the next level.

I'd messed up my life enough as it was; I couldn't do that to Tori's. She deserved everything she ever wanted.

8

TORI

Iwas used to having a roommate but not one that I was pretending not to be attracted to. I was already dating Hugh when we moved in together. And Xander was supposed to be a friend.

After work, one of us would cook dinner, and on weekends, we'd make something together, order in, or go out to eat. We'd fallen into a nice rhythm, but next week the potential buyers were coming in to tour Dad's practice and interview the employees. I needed to make a move on our plan to prove to my dad I was committed to staying in Telluride.

I didn't move across the country only to move again to another town with a hospital. This was the only small town I wanted to live in.

I'd picked up groceries to make Xander a special meal. I'd butter up him before asking him to take our relationship to the next level. Not a real one, of course. Our fake relationship. Why did I feel nervous?

I planned to make a small Thanksgiving feast. It was Thursday night, so there was football on, and I wanted to create the perfect atmosphere for what I had to ask him.

I'd gotten off work early enough to get the turkey in the oven. Then I got to work on the potatoes and mac and cheese. Once the potatoes were mashed, I put the mac and cheese dish into the oven, then threw the stuffing together.

I uncorked a white wine and poured myself a glass so that I would be relaxed when it was time for Xander to come home.

When the door finally opened, I heard him kicking the snow off his boots. It took a few minutes for him to take everything off.

He came into the kitchen in his Wilde Ski Resort fleece and sweats. He looked so good, his cheeks red from the cold and his body filling out the soft material. "What' s this?"

I tried to smile, but it wavered. Would he see through me? "I thought I'd make dinner."

"You didn't have to do that." But his voice was filled with appreciation.

I shrugged, not quite meeting his eyes. "I wanted to."

He came around the counter, bracing a hip against the island.

My heart stuttered as he leaned in close and kissed my cheek. The scruff of his beard abraded my skin as he pulled away, sending a tingle down my spine. This was new, and I wasn't sure what it meant.

He eased back and took a swig of my wine. When he lowered the glass, he poured more. "Is everything okay at work?"

I blinked away the vision of his throat working to swallow the wine. That shouldn't be sexy, especially when he was just a friend. "Potential buyers are coming in next week to tour the practice."

"You're worried your dad will love one of them."

I mentally shook my head. "I think they're going to give him a large number, and he's going to make a decision based on that and not whether this doctor is right for the practice or the town."

Xander grunted. "You're the one that should be taking over the practice. This whole thing is ridiculous."

He stood so close to me that I could smell the outdoors on him. It was way more attractive than I ever thought it would be. "My dad wants the money. He sees it as a way to fund his retirement."

"I'd give my business to one of my kids. No question. There wouldn't be a need for them to prove themselves." There was a bitterness in his voice.

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