Chapter 12

12

CHANCE

L ast night, I stayed awake for as long as I could. One of my favorite movies was playing in the background, but the highlight of my evening was holding Marigold in my arms. I couldn't believe I'd given into my greatest desire and had sex with my sister's friend.

We would have to see each other at family events and around town, but I couldn't regret my decision. It was the single best night of my life.

It felt like I'd been holding back, and I finally let myself have something amazing. Marigold was an indulgence, a temporary insanity.

I loved everything about our evening together, including falling asleep on the couch. When I woke, I hoped to find her still in my arms, warm and sturdy against my chest.

Instead, I smelled eggs and bacon. I stretched, my neck kinked from sleeping in one position all night. The fire was burning again and the TV turned off. I eased to a seated position, feeling a little disoriented. I never slept at a woman's place. It led them to think it was more than sex. But I had no regrets about still being in Marigold's living room.

"Oh." Marigold walked in. "You're naked."

I ran a hand through my hair, making no effort to cover myself. "That's how we fell asleep last night."

Marigold smiled, and her cheeks turned pink. "I made breakfast. I have to go pick up Oakley soon."

I stood and stretched. When I opened my eyes, Marigold's gaze was following a trail down the center of my body. "I love where your mind is, but we have an appointment this morning." I moved toward her, pulling her into my arms. Her hair was damp from a shower, and she wore jeans and a green sweater. "I was hoping you'd still be in my arms when we woke."

"I wasn't sure?—"

I eased back to see her face. "You weren't sure about us?"

Marigold shook her head slowly. "You don't like commitment, attachments, strings?—"

"You knew that, and you had sex with me anyway?"

She nodded as a slow smile spread over her face. "I have no regrets."

I growled, pulling her back against my chest. "Neither do I." She felt right in my arms, like she was always meant to be here.

She eventually tapped me on my pec. "We have places to be. Get dressed."

I sighed. This was not how I wanted the morning to go. But like all babies, Oakley came first.

Marigold turned to walk away, and I couldn't resist slapping her ass. She frowned over her shoulder at me. "Hey. Watch it."

"You liked it." When she just laughed, I grabbed my clothes and headed upstairs to find the master bath. I needed a shower, then coffee.

I felt satisfied but not completely sated. I wasn't done with Marigold. I needed more of her. I quickly scrubbed my body, pleased she had bar soap instead of some fruity-smelling body wash. I liked being in her space, but I didn't want to smell like her in front of my family today. Those were questions I wouldn't want to be answering.

I shampooed my hair and forced myself to get out of the steamy water. My stomach rumbled. I was supposed to pick her up after lunch to take her to my house. How could I act like nothing had changed between us?

She had work to catch up on, and I should feel guilty that I was interrupting her time. But I couldn't remember a morning when I'd been happier to start the day. And it had nothing to do with work.

I cleaned up the towels, ensuring the bathroom looked like it had before I showered, then followed the smell of bacon to the kitchen.

"Oh, good. You're done. We need to eat and go. They said they are only there until nine this morning for those picking up sick pets. I don't want him to be there all weekend." She handed me a plate and a fork, and I immediately began shoveling the food in my mouth.

"You're a good cook."

"Thanks. I usually cook for myself." She shrugged, then poured a to-go cup of coffee for me.

I scraped the plate clean, wishing we had time to talk over our coffee, but Oakley was waiting on us, and I knew Marigold was anxious to see him. "You ate already?"

She averted her gaze. "While you were in the shower."

"You like me in your space?" I asked her, my voice gruff.

Her gaze met mine. "Is it bad if I say yes?"

I set the plate on the counter, hooking an arm around her shoulders. "Always say how you feel. I want to hear it."

Her palm touched my chest when she looked up at me. "That's nice to hear."

In her house, we could be ourselves. But we'd need to pretend we weren't anything more than friends in front of my family. I didn't want to think about that just yet.

"You ready to get going?" I let go of her, and put my plate in the dishwasher.

Marigold nodded, and we headed outside to my truck. I wondered if anyone would notice I'd parked at her house all night. I hadn't thought about that.

Marigold was quiet as we drove the short distance to the vet's office. I should have asked how she was doing after last night. But there was hardly time for that.

We parked in the mostly empty lot, then knocked on the door. The office was only open for clients whose dogs were sick and kept overnight.

A tech unlocked the door and let us in. "You're here for Oakley?"

"That's right. I called this morning," Marigold said as we followed the girl to the back where the kennels were.

"Oakley was our only patient last night. He did great. We didn't see any signs of toxicity." She opened his kennel, and Oakley burst out, skidding to a stop at our feet where his butt continued to wiggle with excitement.

Marigold scooped him up and held him close to her chest. He licked her face, and she smiled.

"You already filled out the paperwork and paid for the visit, so you're free to go."

"Thank you," Marigold murmured as I guided her to the front door and into the cool air. I got them settled into the cab of the truck. The streets were quiet this morning since it was a holiday.

Usually, I'd be checking in at work before I took a few hours off with my family. I'd never spent time with a woman on a holiday before. But it was nice to wake up with Marigold and help her with Oakley. It felt like something a couple would do, and although I'd avoided it my entire life, I was enjoying my time with her.

At home, Marigold let him roam the yard under her watchful eye.

"He's going to be okay."

"I know. I think it will just take me a while to relax about it."

"You had a scare."

When she brought him inside, she poured coffee for us.

"I'm sure you have some work you'd like to get done."

"Right. The play." It was like she'd forgotten about it.

I didn't want to come between her and her responsibilities. "I'll pick you up at one."

"That sounds great." She walked me to the door, and I crouched down to say goodbye to Oakley.

"You behave."

He wiggled and licked my hand. I don't think he had any idea how much he scared both of us yesterday. When I straightened, I smiled down at Marigold. "Get a lot of writing done, and I'll see you soon."

I kissed her softly on the lips, then forced myself to walk out. I should be able to leave without any issues. I shouldn't need to stay all day or even all weekend. It was just a hookup. Except that term didn't seem to fit.

This morning, I felt like a different person, but I refused to think about what it meant. Today was for family. As much as I was looking forward to having Marigold at my parents' house, we couldn't touch each other or let on that anything had changed in our relationship.

Instead, we'd have to watch Eli and Scarlett's love fest and pretend that we were merely acquaintances.

A t home, I went for a run, showered for a second time, ate a quick lunch, then headed over to Marigold's place. It was weird to be here so often in the last twenty-four hours. It made me feel like this was the start of something.

It was an unusual circumstance. I couldn't have anticipated that Oakley would get sick, that our emotions would be all over the place, and it would be easy for us to gravitate toward each other.

Even if we hadn't had sex, I would have invited her over to my family's house. I didn't want her to spend the holiday alone.

My family was important to Marigold. If we dated and broke up, she might lose them. It could even strain her relationship with Scarlett. I couldn't have that.

Our relationship wasn't good for anyone. Satisfied I was thinking logically again, I knocked on her door.

A few seconds later, she opened the door in jeans and a fall-looking sweater. Her hair was shining like she'd recently brushed it, and her lips were enticingly glossy.

I couldn't resist backing her into the space, taking the pie from her hands and placing it on a nearby table. Then kissing her like I'd been imagining all morning.

We didn't have the wake-up sex I wanted or even the intimacy. But I could steal this moment before we went to my parents' house.

When I finally pulled away, her lips were swollen. "What was that for?"

"That was the morning kiss we should have had." I snagged the pie she'd been holding, and she scooped up Oakley. "You made this?"

"I ordered it for myself earlier in the week, and I didn't want to come empty-handed."

I guided her to my truck. "You know you don't have to bring anything."

Marigold shrugged under my touch. "It's the polite thing to do."

What would it take for Marigold to feel like she was a part of my family and not just a charity case? I knew she felt that way, and I hated it.

Marigold petted Oakley who was sitting contently in her lap. "What do your parents think about you inviting me?"

I glanced over at her to gauge her reaction. "That I invited a family friend over for Thanksgiving dinner."

"You didn't tell them anything about us?"

I came to a stop at a stop sign. "Why would I?"

Marigold blanched at that statement. "I just thought?—"

"What if we have a falling out? That could hurt your relationship with Scarlett and the rest of my family."

Marigold frowned. "I hadn't thought about that."

"You know we're not a good idea."

"I thought you didn't have any regrets?" she asked softly.

"I don't regret anything. I just don't see how we have a future."

"This has nothing to do with your vow to remain single for your job?"

I gripped the wheel tighter. "That's part of it. I don't want the town in my business, and then what happens when we break up?"

"You assume we'd break up?"

"There's no guarantee that anything will work out." My mom stuck it out with my dad, but I wondered if she'd ever thought about divorce. A life where she wouldn't have to worry about him coming home late or leaving early to go to work.

My parents' house was too close to Marigold's and we arrived before I could make Marigold see how bad of an idea we were. I put the truck in Park behind Eli's SUV. "We have to act like nothing happened."

Marigold nodded. "Of course."

I hated the distance I saw in her eyes, but we didn't have a choice. Neither of us were ready for the fallout last night would cause with my family. "Do you need to be home at a particular time?"

"My parents said they'd call to wish me a happy Thanksgiving at some point, but I don't plan my day around them."

Odds are they wouldn't call. "If you need to go home early, just let me know."

"Of course." Marigold's body was stiff, her gaze closed off.

I'd screwed up. But I thought I was thinking about this logically. No matter how nice last night felt for both of us. It was a dream world. One that wasn't real.

She pulled the handle and hopped out before I could help her, grabbing Oakley and letting him sniff the grass.

I grabbed the pie. Then I knocked on the door.

Dad answered. "Marigold. So glad you could make it."

"Thanks for having me," she said as she hugged him, then slipped inside.

Dad slapped my shoulder. "Good job getting her to come. She usually says she has plans. Your mom thinks she spends the holiday alone."

"I think so too."

I went inside, hanging my jacket on the hook by the door. There was football playing on the TV in the living room, and Marigold was talking to my mom in the kitchen.

I headed into the living room to avoid Marigold. She wasn't happy with me right now, and I wasn't sure I could fix it.

Eli sat on one of the end chairs with Scarlett perched on his thigh.

I pulled to a stop in front of them. "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing you two together."

Scarlett rolled her eyes as she stood and hugged me. "Get over it."

I hugged her tight, then leaned over to shake Eli's hand. "Glad you could make it."

"It's nice to be here too. It feels like we're family. Something I think we were always meant to be."

Scarlett beamed at him as she sat back in his lap, her arm around his shoulders. They kissed, and I averted my gaze.

That made me pause. Eli felt like he was always meant to be part of our family?

Marigold walked in, leaning down to hug Scarlett, then Eli.

"Glad you could make it," Eli said to her.

"I worked on the play. It should be done by Monday."

"No worries. We can start with what you have next week," Scarlett said.

"Don't you want to read the entire thing? What if it's terrible?"

Scarlett laughed. "I'm sure it will be great."

Marigold sat on the couch across from them, looking stiff and uncomfortable. Not to arouse suspicion, I sat on the other end chair. It was overstuffed and comfortable. I looked at the screen, not really watching the game.

"Have you gotten any hits yet?" Scarlett asked Marigold.

Hits? What were they talking about?

"Honestly? I haven't even checked." Marigold rolled her phone over to see the screen.

Scarlett sat next to her. "Let me see." She scrolled to some app and opened it.

I tried not to pay attention, but it was impossible not to.

"Scarlett convinced Marigold to sign up for some dating app. I told her it wasn't necessary. There's plenty of eligible men right here in Telluride," Eli said to me.

"None that we haven't gone to high school with," Scarlett said.

I wondered if last night derailed her plans.

"You have so many matches. Oh, this guy is hot."

"Assuming that's his real picture," I couldn't help but interject.

Eli laughed. "Right? I bet that stuff is all fake."

Scarlett scowled at him. "Some men are looking for a real relationship and are honest on their profile." Then she said to Marigold, "I'd talk to this guy. He says he's a firefighter in town. Firefighters are hot and protective."

I frowned. Police officers were hot and protective. "Those are the traits you're looking for?"

Marigold looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"Hot, protective, nice." Scarlett ticked off the traits.

"Are you looking for a boyfriend or is Marigold?" I snapped at her.

Eli kicked my chair. "Stop being an ass. Let them have their fun. Scarlett's already taken."

Dating men on an app was fun? It sounded horrible to me. You have to vet their pictures, dissect every word in their profile, then message them, all the time wondering if they were being genuine or not. I was much better at assessing people in person. It was a habit of the job.

Besides, I already knew Marigold was an amazing person. What was the point of trying to find someone on some stupid app?

Then it hit me. I'd told Marigold we had no future. I'd given her permission to date other people. I'd fucked up. I should have said we were temporary at the very least. Why did my brain have to take over? My body was on board with a secret relationship if that was the only way I could have her.

The idea that it wouldn't be fair to her drifted on the edge of my consciousness, but I pushed it away. I was feeling selfish right now, and I didn't want her dating other men.