Page 74 of Wild Promises

"I feel like I've been in love with her for half my life. When she said she was moving back, I figured it was finally my time." It was close to the truth. I just hadn't told Tori any of that.

"You'll figure it out," Eli said with confidence as he tipped the waiter, and we got up to leave.

I was glad that Eli had confidence in this situation because I didn't. I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing by keeping my feelings from Tori. I just knew I didn't want to ruin what we had going. It was the first good relationship I'd ever had witha woman. The first time I'd been honest with myself about my emotions. I'd have to tell Tori eventually but not today.

21

TORI

Ididn't like the next buyer, Creighton Chase, who toured the practice. He'd had this slickness to him, and it had nothing to do with his gelled hair or private-school upbringing. He reminded me of a used-car salesman.

Creighton had gotten a little too close when I talked to him in my office, and he found ways to touch me. Out of respect for my father, who was giddy with the possibility of selling the practice, I hadn't said anything.

I wouldn't interfere with my dad's decision. Or at least, not any more than I already had by pretending to be with Xander. So far, that plan was failing spectacularly.

At the end of the day, Dad called me into his office. "What did you think of Dr. Chase?"

I sat across from him, wondering what I should say. "What did you think of him? You're opinion matters more than mine."

"He said all the right things," Dad said thoughtfully.

"He said what we wanted to hear, but I'm not sure he meant any of it."

"He wants to live in a small town, but he's only ever lived in cities. He wants to build the practice, but he's only ever sold the ones he's bought in the past."

"The one good thing is that he might keep me on." If his desire to be close to me was any indication.

"You still want to keep working here, right?"

"That's why I came home," I said with a bright smile.

Dad leveled me with a concerned look. "Are you sure you're okay with me selling the practice to someone else?"

"I understand the position I put you in. I went back on my word, and you made other plans. I'm not going to interfere."

Dad's forehead creased. "What will you do if the new owner doesn't let you stay on?"

"I'll have to find something else." I couldn't even think about leaving Telluride.

"You'd work at a hospital in Colorado?" Dad asked.

"That's what my experience has been, so it would be easier for me to find a job in that setting. They're always looking for doctors." Small practices were harder to break into. Not something I ever worried about before because my father happened to own one.

"You'll need to move to find something."

My outlook was grim. "I don't want to, but if I can't find a job in town?—"

Dad's voice lifted. "But you're happy with Xander? You want to build a life with him?"

I nodded before I had a chance to think about it. If it was up to me, I'd be doing exactly that. But I hadn't told Xander how I felt about him, and I had no way of knowing if he felt the same.

Dad steepled his hands.

"Don't worry about my plans. You have to do what's right for you."

I only wanted to show him that I planned to stay, which I'd already done with my relationship with Xander. "Xander and I are going to look at a few houses this week."

"How will that work if you'll need a new job?"

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