Page 78 of Wild Love

Chance sat in the chair across from my desk. "You're really in love with my sister?"

I nodded miserably, mimicking his actions.

He lifted his head to meet my gaze. "How does she feel about you?"

"She hasn't said one way or the other, but I think she likes me. I don't know if it's enough to overcome her wanderlust."

He grimaced. "You shouldn't want to change her."

I stood, running a hand through my hair, and paced in front of the windows. "Your sister is so amazing. I'd never want to quell her spirit. But I wanted her to give Telluride a real chance. That's why I bought the theater."

"Youbought the theater?" Chance asked, and his tone was deceptively calm.

"I didn't want it to be sold and renovated into a bar. It was the only way to save it, and I wanted her to experience what it was like to direct. I thought maybe it would convince her to stay."

"You thought a theater would do the trick after everything we've done over the years?"

"Your love pushed her away, and I can't figure out why. It's almost as if she believes that she's not worthy of it. But you two had a great childhood growing up. Why would she feel unlovable?"

"I think it's because she doesn't feel like she fits in. She's always rebelled against expectations for whatever the norm was: going to college, coming home, and settling down. She craves something different, and that meant never staying in one place for long." The look he gave me was sympathetic because I was destined for heartbreak.

The naive part of me wanted my love to be enough, but I knew it wouldn't be.

"You think that you'll be different. That you can convince her to stay when no one else has."

"She has the theater and the kids. She loves directing that play."

"But what does she have? She doesn't own the theater. You do. She doesn't even get paid for her position. It's volunteer. Eventually, she's going to need a paying job. The condo was nice for now, but she'll grow to resent that too."

I gripped the back of my neck. That was entirely true but I wanted to talk to Scarlett about the ownership of the theater before I discussed it with her brother. "You're right. I'm in a shit situation. But have I screwed up between us?"

Chance sighed. "I'm not happy about it. But I'm more worried you're going to get hurt."

"Are you sure I haven't ruined our friendship?"

"You love my sister. I don't like it. But you're the one destined for pain."

"I went behind your back. I said I'd protect her when I was the one she needed protection from."

Chance let out a humorless bark. "You're the one who needs protection from my sister. She destroys everything in her path, causing pain when she leaves. It's just what she does."

Now I was irritated. "I don't like that characterization. And it doesn't help that you and your parents think that about her."

Chance held up a hand. "Relax. I didn't mean anything by it."

I resumed pacing, my movements jerky. "Maybe you're the reason why she leaves. You and your parents. She can never live up to your expectations."

"I've thought about that."

"Just let her be. She's not wrong to want something else."

Chance stood and ran a hand through his hair. "I've been stuck in this mold for so long. The perfect son. The best police officer I can be, now the sheriff. The entire community looks up to me. I have to follow the rules, do what's expected, and it's always been that way. Scarlett was younger, the wild one, the one who could get away with everything. I had to be what my parents expected."

"Are you saying you don't want to be sheriff?" It was always assumed he'd take over for his father one day, and now that he had, everyone was pleased with the transition. I hadn't realized that he was unhappy.

"I don't know what's going on. I'm feeling restless. And now you're telling me you've fallen in love with Scarlett and you want her to stay."

"I want to marry her."

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