Page 13 of Wild Love

I followed her, waiting while she got her coat from the host, telling myself I was just fulfilling my duty to Chance. "I can drive you home if you want."

"You drive all the single women home?"

"Never, actually. I make sure they have a car." I was serious about safety on my property. I hired security to walk the parking lots and escort women to their cars. And I always paid for a car if they couldn't drive themselves.

"You're a real knight in shining armor."

I chuckled without any humor. "No one's ever said that before."

She pulled the coat tighter around herself. "Maybe they didn't see it."

I scoffed. "I don't let anyone close enough to make observations."

She pursed her red lips. "Isn't that interesting?"

Her cheeks were red from the cold.

I pulled up the app and ordered her a car. "It will be here in two minutes. I'll wait with you."

Scarlett scanned the driveway as if she could see the car arriving. "You don't have to."

"I want to."

Scarlett gave me a disgusted look. "Is this because you promised my brother you'd babysit me?"

"He asked me, yes. But I would do this regardless. And it's not babysitting."

She scrutinized me for a few seconds, then nodded. "I can see that about you. You're a good guy."

"Don't tell anyone. You'll ruin my bad-boy image."

"You mean the wild and reckless one you and your brothers had in high school? You really drew the girls in with that. It was genius." A smile spread over her face that sent my heart racing.

I wanted to say it wasn't drawing her in, but I'd promised myself I wouldn't get involved with her.

The car pulled up to the curb. I verified the license plate and the driver's name before opening the door for her.

"Thanks for the ride," Scarlett said with a smirk as she slid inside.

I shut the door, sensing she knew exactly what she was insinuating. Now all I could think about was her riding my cock. I wouldn't get that vision out of my head anytime soon. It was going to be a long night.

4

SCARLETT

Playing darts with Marigold the other night was a little stilted. We had to fend off male attention while we played. But we managed to ask each other a fewWhat are you doing now?questions. Neither of us mentioned the fact that I'd ghosted her the last few years.

The incident with Steve had me questioning my choice of friends. No one in the cast or production crew stood up for me.

I couldn't confide in my family or even Eli. Especially not when I was attracted to him. When I thanked him for the ride, his eyes had heated. I hoped he was imagining me riding his cock. It was fun to flirt with Eli, but it couldn't go anywhere.

The fact that he was off-limits made him more attractive. I loved a good challenge. If someone didn't think I should or would do something, I did it. It worked the opposite way too. That's why I never went to college, even though I was interested in a theater program.

My parents didn't have a lot of money and wouldn't want to waste it on a silly degree like theater.

I parked downtown, feeling content for the first time in a long while. Now that I was back, I could appreciate the quaint,small town nestled in the mountains. The peaks that bordered the town made it feel like a safe haven.

Marigold had suggested an Italian place for lunch, so I parked on the street. I found the restaurant and walked past the small outside eating area that was vacant now that it was cold. Inside, I blinked to adjust to the dimness.

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