Page 83 of Wild Desire

He wrapped his arms around my neck. "You're going to visit us, right?"

"Of course. I'll be back before you know it." Except I'd seen the schedule, and it was brutal. One race after the other. Jeremy said I needed to capitalize on the rehab story. I was getting more interest from the larger brands who wanted to sponsor me. Apparently, they loved comeback stories when they worked out.

"I told you he was coming back," Joey said to his dad.

"I'm sure he will when he can." Oliver took Joey from my arms, and I missed the warmth and weight of him. What would it be like if I had kids? Would I be content working at the resort and teaching my children the skills I'd learned growing up?

Was it time to hang up my board? Even if I wanted to, I had obligations. Contracts to fulfill. My life wasn't my own, but I'dnever minded before. Now the thought of living how I was before I was injured made it hard to breathe.

Everyone wanted to talk to me, and the lingering question was when I'd be back. I didn't have an answer for them.

Mom cooked a huge spread of food, so we ate and talked. The longer the conversation went on around me, the more I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to miss this. My brothers would have more kids, and they wouldn't even know who I was.

And then there was Noelle. The woman I never saw coming. She surprised me every time she was in my life, and I didn't want to go through my days without her. She'd become the air I breathed, the nectar I needed to thrive.

I wasn't sure what would happen to me if I was so far away from her, and I didn't want to find out.

When we were cleaning up lunch, my phone buzzed. "I have to take this. It's my agent."

I moved out of the kitchen, seeking a quiet room. "Hey. What's up?"

"I got you on a private plane leaving in two hours."

My stomach sunk. "What? Why?"

"You know radio stations like to interview you in the early morning."

"I could do the next day."

"You're already booked." Jeremy's words were clipped.

I ran a hand through my hair. "I was hoping I could leave tomorrow." Or not at all.

"I need you here."

I let my head fall back, the tension swirling in my chest. "Okay."

"See you soon." He clicked off, having gotten what he wanted. Me on a plane coming to him. Shouldn't I be the one calling the shots? I was sick of being told what to do.

21

NOELLE

When Killian returned to the kitchen after his phone call, I knew from the crestfallen expression on his face that he was leaving. We wouldn't have our nighttime snowboarding session. I wouldn't get one more night with him.

I breathed through the searing pain. I should have suspected something like this would happen. Jeremy's calls and messages had gotten more pressure filled this week. Apparently, Killian Wilde's comeback was big news in the snowboarding world.

"I have to leave."

"I thought we could do a bonfire tonight," Roland said.

Killian's expression fell. "I'm sorry. Jeremy scheduled a flight for me tonight."

"Didn't he know you were spending time with your family?" Clara asked.

"He doesn't bother to keep track of what's going on with me personally," Killian said.

"Maybe he should."

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