Page 98 of Wild Love

"What are your plans? Have you thought about what you want to do now that you're living in Telluride?” Eli pulled out a container of grapes, cheese, and crackers, then opened the lid for us to snack.

I grabbed a few grapes. "Well, I don't have a place to live. So that's first on my list of things to do. Is my condo still available?"

"That’s reserved,” Eli said.

"I suppose that's to be expected." I had checked out of the lodge after all.

Eli smirked. "But I have room in my place."

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" I paused before grabbing another grape, needing to see his face.

"Unless you want to get your own place. I thought it would be nice if we moved in together. We spend most nights together anyway."

Warmth flooded my chest. "I'd love to move in with you. Now that my living arrangements are taken care of, I need to find a job."

"You own a theater."

I shook my head. "I still can't believe you bought me a theater."

"I’m going to look into the possibility of declaring it a historical site so that it can never be torn down."

"What a great idea."

"But what are your plans for it?"

"I'd like to continue with children's classes, but what if we did some adult ones too? Even if people don't want to be an actor, there are a lot of people who'd love the outlet that only performing can provide. I could lead classes and even host a performance a few times a year. It wouldn't be anything professional. But I think it could be good for the community."

"I do too. Do you think you could be happy here? I don't want to hold you back if you truly want to do something else or travel."

"I'm excited to own a theater." Before I'd come home, it was something I hadn’t imagined being possible for me, and Eli was the one who made my dream come true.

"The owners wanted someone to buy it who was into the theater and would preserve the building. They'd almost given up on finding anyone until I showed up. The only reason they considered my offer was because of you.”

"That's so sweet."

"They trusted that you'd preserve the theater and bring arts back to Telluride."

"It's a tall order, but I'm excited to try it. And we can travel together. I've never been to Europe, and you know how much I adore the beach."

"I actually won the Sanibel beach house vacation from the auction a few weeks ago. I'm wondering if you'd join me?"

"I'd love to." I sat between his legs, leaning against his chest. We had the rest of our lives to plan out, but for now, I was content being with him here like this, imagining our future together.

Marigold

"You have that book for me?" Chance stood in front of the children's counter of the library in his uniform.

His voice zapped through my body like an electric charge. "Chance."

He moved to sit on the counter, and my cheeks heated. Did he know the effect he had on me? I was on high alert anytime he was nearby, hyperaware of his every movement. I breathed in his scent, a combination of leather and the outdoors.

He cocked a brow with an amused expression. "You said you had a book reserved for me? You thought I'd like it."

My face flamed hotter as I fumbled around under the counter for the book I'd reserved for Chance St. Claire, my best friend's older brother. I'd carefully written his name on a Post it and affixed it to the cover of a thriller. I didn't enjoy thrillers, but I'd read it to ensure it would be a good read. "I already checked it out to you so no one would take it."

Chance winked at me as he accepted the book. "This better be good."

"Reading is such a subjective thing. But it got an average of four and a half stars on the review sites," I said, my words running together. As a police officer, he had better know when someone was nervous. If he were anyone else, I would have assumed it was the uniform that had me on high alert. I was a rule follower after all. But I'd crushed on Chance since I turned thirteen, before I even understood what the feels were, swirling in my stomach.

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