Chapter 14

14

CHANCE

I was concerned when I saw the word Mom on Marigold's cell phone screen. I wasn't so sure that contact with her parents was a positive experience.

When she didn't return in a few minutes, I put the last dish in the dishwasher and headed toward the closed door of the office. I didn't hear any conversation, so I knocked lightly.

Marigold had been sitting at the desk, slightly slumped. But when I knocked, she perked up and a smile spread over her face.

I opened the door. "Are you off the phone?"

Marigold stood. "They wanted to wish me a happy Thanksgiving."

I scanned her face searching for any sign of distress. "Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Marigold dipped her head slightly, and her hair covered her expression.

"You have a complicated relationship with your parents."

She walked around the desk. "You could say that."

"It's okay to have mixed feelings about someone who's never really been there for you. It's also okay to let go of the idea that they weren't the parents you wanted."

Marigold let out a shaky breath. "That's for sure."

"But you can move on and create a family for yourself."

Marigold paused in front of me. "That's what I was just thinking. I don't need them."

"But you do need someone, and I hope you think of my family as yours."

Something flashed across her face, irritation, maybe? "You know I do."

I wasn't so sure about that if she'd spent the last few years by herself. But from now on, I'd make sure she was always invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas. No one should be alone on the holidays. "You still have their house in town?"

"I'm tasked with keeping it in working order, but they almost never visit."

"You should talk to them about selling the house. Why should you be responsible for maintaining the place that they rarely visit?" It felt like she was still waiting for them to come home, and that couldn't be a good feeling for her.

Marigold looked away. "That's not a bad idea."

"What do you say about some pie?" I asked her, throwing an arm over her shoulders and steering her toward the living room.

She rested her hand on her stomach. "I don't think I can eat any more."

I looked down at her with a rueful grin. "Mom will be offended if you don't at least try."

Marigold poked me in the belly. "I’m the one who brought the pie.”

We entered the living room where Scarlett was setting up charades. "You're just in time."

Scarlett caught my concerned gaze. I knew she'd be on the same page with getting Marigold's mind off whatever happened on that call. Her parents weren't intentionally mean; they were just neglectful, completely oblivious to their child's needs.

If Marigold were mine, I'd never make her feel like an afterthought. I sucked in a breath at the thought of her being mine. But it was one more reason why I wasn't the man for her. I couldn't give her what she needed. She should date a nine-to-five kind of guy who'd be home with her every weeknight and on the weekends. Who'd be there for their kids.

I wouldn't be any better than her parents. I wouldn't do that to her, no matter how much I wanted her for myself.

We sat on the couch, preparing for a game of charades since my parents were still in the kitchen cleaning up.

I expected Eli and Scarlett to do well since they were already a couple. They should be able to read each other's minds with how much time they spent together. I was surprised when they struggled with their first card.

Scarlett finally threw up her hands. "What is wrong with you? It was a bear."

"How is this a bear?" Eli asked as he mimicked her hand motions in the air.

Scarlett groaned and then flopped on the couch. "You're literally impossible."

Eli gave her a pointed look. "I think it's time to question those acting skills."

"Yeah, you two should have an advantage with Scarlett's acting ability," Marigold said as she stood and read the next card.

"Are you ready?" Eli asked, and at her nod, he turned over the timer. "Go."

Marigold promptly began mimicking licking her hand.

I snapped my fingers. "Oh, cat."

She smiled, and then jogged in place for the second word.

"Runner."

She motioned with her hand that I was on the right track and kept jogging in place at a faster clip.

"Running."

"Yes!" Marigold said as she glanced at the card for the next prompt. Her arms went out to the side and she ran around the room.

"Airplane?"

Marigold clapped. "Yes! That's it."

"Unbelievable," Scarlett mumbled.

Eli stood up and grabbed another card from the box. "How are they better than us? They're not dating."

"We're more in touch with each other," I teased.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes on us. "And why would that be?"

"Just because you have your tongue down each other's throats doesn't mean you talk to each other," Marigold said.

"We talk," Scarlett said, but her voice was uncertain.

"Sure, you do. How many times do you end up in bed before you finish that conversation?" Marigold pressed.

Scarlett thought about it for a few seconds and looked helplessly at Eli.

"She's got you there," Eli said, his voice filled with pride.

Scarlett and Eli did just as poorly the second time, and we got two out of three before the timer went off.

Pam entered the room. "Anyone ready for pie?"

"Yes," Eli said. "Anything to stop playing this game. We're terrible at it."

After pie, Marigold said she was stuffed and too tired to go to the Wildes' party. I offered to take her home since I was her ride.

At her house, I put the truck in Park.

"Thanks for inviting me. But don't feel like you have to in the future. I'm just fine on my own."

"There's an open invitation for you."

"That's sweet of you. But honestly, I'm fine."

I walked her to the door, holding the box of leftovers Mom had prepared for her while she wrangled Oakley. "You want me to stop by later?" I wasn't ready for the evening to be over.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, do you? I'll just get addicted to all this." She gestured in my general direction.

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Her face blushed. "You know, your prowess in bed."

My mouth opened, then closed, and I stepped closer to her. "My prowess in bed?" I think my dick was already getting hard at her depiction of our night together.

Her gaze narrowed on me. "Yeah, you know what I'm talking about."

Suddenly, I didn't want to go to a party. I wanted to stay right here with her and show her how good I could be. I braced my free hand on the siding behind her head and went in for a searing kiss. I wanted her to feel my lips on hers the rest of the night. I wanted her to be thinking about me, filling her, moving over her.

When I finally pulled back, her eyes were glossy.

"I don't want to leave."

She shoved me with a hand on my shoulder. "You have to, or they'll think something's going on between us."

I raised a brow, considering my options. "I could say I'm working."

Marigold rolled her eyes. "They'll know you're not."

That was easily verifiable. It was more noticeable when I took time off.

"I can stop by later." My voice was low with promise.

Her eyes flared with desire. "Okay."

I raised a brow. "Yeah?"

She nodded, a small smile spreading over her face. "Yeah. I'd like that."

I never liked the idea of a woman waiting on me at home before, but now I was eager to return.

I kissed her one more time. "I'll be back."

She laughed as I jogged toward the car. Inside the cab, I waited for her to go inside and turn on the lights. What was I doing with this woman? I was breaking all my rules for her.

At the lodge, I went to the bar where Eli said they were hanging out. There was a table of appetizers and food. A bar with drinks. The party was open to the guests and anyone in town who didn't have a place to be on Thanksgiving night.

"You couldn't convince Marigold to come?" Eli asked me with an arm around Scarlett's shoulders.

"She was tired. Probably wanted a break from you."

Eli narrowed his eyes on me. "I'm completely lovable."

"That's me," Xander said as he walked by.

I nursed a soda, knowing I'd need to drive to Marigold's after I could make an excuse to get out of here.

I talked to everyone that came through because there were townspeople here for a hot meal, drinks, and conversation.

Eventually, I moved to the pool table where the Wildes were playing a half-hearted round-robin. There was more drinking and talking than actual playing.

"We hope the house will be built by the summer, and we can move in," Eli said.

"You won't miss the penthouse suite and private rooftop deck?" Xander asked.

"It's still ours. We can use it at any time, but it will be nice to have some privacy. Killian said he'll be home for the holidays this year, so he'll be using Scarlett's old condo."

I didn't want to think about what Eli and Scarlett had done on the private rooftop that I knew had a pool and a hot tub.

"It will be nice to have Killian home," Oliver said. "Joey's fascinated with him. He thinks he's some hero because he's in magazines and on TV."

"Only in the snowboarding world," Xander added.

"To Joey, he's the cool uncle. He can travel and be free, whereas I'm stuck in an office."

"You can go on vacation, Oliver," Eli reminded him.

"I don't need to leave here."

"You have a sitter tonight?" Eli asked Oliver.

"Yeah, Justine is watching him for me for a few hours."

Every once in a while, Oliver got a sitter so we could hang out. I wondered if he ever dated. He seemed tied to the lodge. Even on weekends, he worked with Joey playing on the floor of his office.

His gaze drifted toward a woman who was drinking alone at the bar.

If he had affairs with the guests who passed through, I wouldn't be surprised. He probably didn't want to parade women in front of Joey.

A short while later, the woman left, probably to head to her room alone, and a few minutes later, Oliver begged off, saying he didn't want to stay out late.

I took that as my cue to leave as well. I walked out with Oliver.

Right before we walked outside, he patted his pockets. "I left my car keys in the office."

He could be absent-minded, so I didn't think anything of it. "I have to get home."

Relief flooded his face. "See you later."

I called out a happy Thanksgiving to a couple entering the lodge as I headed toward my truck. I was excited to go to Marigold's, even though I knew it wasn't the best idea. One of us was going to get hurt or want something more. Was it possible we could indulge for a weekend, then go back to being friends? I held onto that possibility.

Marigold didn't fit into my plans for the future. But it was hard to remember that when she answered the door in silky lingerie.

My mouth was dry, and I was almost positive my heart paused for a second before picking up speed.

With a sexy smirk, she snagged my wrist and tugged me inside. She closed and locked the door while I took in the lace that teased the curve of her ass and the silky pink material. Her nipples were hard points, the edge of her top flirting with her belly button.

She felt like a present that was too good to be true.

The only word registering in my brain was mine . She was mine for the night. Nothing would come between us. Yet there was a sense of urgency, that it couldn't last. That I might be called into work at any second.

I gripped her hip, groaning at the silky material underneath my palms. "Do you know how gorgeous you are?" I dipped my head, cupping the back of her head and nibbling her neck. "How irresistible?" I kissed my way up her neck to her jaw.

She didn't respond, but her entire body had softened. She was putty in my hands. I could do whatever I wanted to her. She was ripe for me.

"You taste so good," I murmured right before I kissed her. The memory of her pussy on my lips spurred me on. I loved what she was wearing, but she was even more beautiful when she was naked.

My hand glided under her top, encountering miles of soft skin. Her breasts were bare, and I cupped one globe. I wanted more.

I parted her legs with my thigh, and she sighed into my mouth.

I'd never get enough of her reaction to me. She responded so beautifully to anything I did. She made me feel like a king. "I want to make you feel so good."

She smiled. "You're really good at the dirty talk."

"I'm just getting started." I lifted her top so that her breasts were bared to me. They were perky and full, her nipples hard peaks, practically begging for my touch. I'd never wanted anyone more.

She pulled the top the rest of the way over her head because my lips were already latched onto her nipple. She undulated her pussy over my thigh. I knew it wasn't enough. I wanted to tease her until she was desperate for more. I wanted her to cry out my name.

I devoted attention to one nipple, then the other, before kissing my way down her naval to the edge of her silky shorts. I hooked my fingers in the waistband and tugged it down with me as I sank to my knees.

She was bare underneath.

I was marginally aware that Marigold kicked them aside. Nothing could have diverted my attention from her body. "I want to taste you again."

"Mmm. I want that too."

Who knew that Marigold had a passionate side? Everyone assumed she was the strait-laced librarian. Only I got to see the woman underneath. I loved the idea that she only let go with me.

She was leaning against the door, so I hooked her leg over my shoulder, and cupped her ass so I could tilt her hips exactly where I wanted them. She was mine for the tasting.

I breathed air over her sensitive clit, and her thighs trembled. She drew in a shaky breath and curled her fingers in my hair.

Her touch anchored me in this moment. Nothing mattered except giving her pleasure. There wasn't a world of people outside expecting me to do anything. It was just her and me and our out-of-control chemistry. When I finally licked her, her body tightened.

"You make me feel so good."

I smiled against her pussy. It was my goal at the moment. Make her scream my name.

I alternated sucking on her clit and using my finger to pump inside her. In no time at all, she was strung tight and ready to go off.

"I need you to come for me."

Her eyes darkened with need, and I used a second finger to fill her. She threw her head back and let go. Her walls spasmed around my fingers, and it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. Marigold lost in pleasure.

When she came down, I carefully removed my fingers, making sure she was watching before I sucked them clean.

She made a tiny noise in the back of her throat.

I stood, lifting her into my arms. "We need a bed for what I want to do with you."

Her hands stroked my hair; her mouth nibbled a trail down my neck. She was driving me crazy already, and I wasn't even inside her yet.

I set her carefully on the bed, making quick work of my clothes while she watched me with a hungry gaze. Her desire was only temporarily sated; she needed my cock.

I gripped my cock and stroked.

Her forehead wrinkled. "I want to taste you."

"I don't think we have time for that today. I can't wait to be inside you." I moved over her, my cock already nudging her entrance, erasing her protests.

Her lower lip protruded as if she was pouting about not getting to suck me, and that had me harder than ever.

She moved her hips, and the tip slipped inside. It felt amazing. Too good. Then I stilled. "I forgot protection."

I scrambled off the bed, not wanting to wait one more second to be inside her. Not when we were so close already. I grabbed a condom, ripped the wrapper, and smoothed it down my dick. Then I moved back into position. It wouldn't feel as good as if we'd gone without, but I wasn't ready for that step.

This was a one-time deal or at least a weekend fling. Condoms were mandatory. I had a feeling if I went without, I'd be baring more than just my cock. I'd be laying open my soul.

I slid inside her in one thrust and paused, enjoying the feel of her walls pressing against me and the look of awe in her gaze.

"You like my cock filling you up."

If anything, her eyes darkened. She licked her lips and said, "I do."

"Who knew you were such a dirty girl?" I said, my voice rough. Marigold was the quintessential good girl, but seeing her hair wild on the pillow under her head, and her fingers twisting in the comforter… She was on edge for me.

Then I began to move with slow, even thrusts. I lowered myself so I could kiss her.

I'd never get this woman out of my system. She'd already ruined me for anyone else. And she was the one woman I couldn't have.