Chapter 7

7

MARIGOLD

I stayed up way too late thinking about my unexpected evening with Chance. He occasionally stopped in to talk about books or even about his sister when we were working together to convince her to stay in Telluride. But he'd never offered to pick up pizza and come to my house.

His offer to tune my bike was nice. I'd never gone on a bike ride with a date before, and no one I'd ever dated had offered to fix anything.

I usually attempted to fix anything that was broken myself, hire someone to fix whatever I couldn't, or bought new. I wasn't particularly handy and neither were my parents. Not that either of them was around or would have offered to help if they were in town.

Then there was that moment next to my car when he leaned in close. It felt like something a date would do. He was so close; I could have pulled him against me with a finger in his belt loop. But I resisted.

I justified it to myself by saying he was offering to help me like any friend would have done. But it didn't feel friendly. My entire body tingled with awareness, and my heart raced.

I'd had to spin away, to break the moment. It was overwhelming, especially when I was convinced I was the only one thinking it meant anything.

Then he'd come over, eaten pizza and talked books on the floor of my living room. I'd had so many dates tell me I was boring because I enjoyed simple pleasures. An evening at home. A good book on a rainy day. A walk around the neighborhood. I didn't need fancy or expensive.

It seemed that Chance was similar. It was too bad he didn't want to be in a committed relationship. So far, we seemed compatible, and the chemistry was electric.

We were meeting early, so I set my alarm for six and jumped in the shower as soon as it went off. I took my time drying my hair even though it would be a tangled mess from the wind after our ride. Then I whipped up eggs with tomatoes and onions, wrapping them in tortillas . I covered the burritos in tin foil to keep them warm, then poured two to-go cups of coffee for us. By the time Chance rang the doorbell, I was more awake.

I pulled on a fleece jacket before I opened the door. "Good morning."

"Morning, Mari."

I loved when he called me that. He was the only one who ever shortened my name. I left the door open as I pulled on a green puffer jacket, then headed to the kitchen to grab my bag of food and the drinks.

"Are you ready to go?"

"I made some egg burritos for us to eat on the way, and coffee."

Chance's eyes flashed. "I could kiss you right now. How are you not already taken? You're like the perfect woman."

My cheeks heated. "I don't know about that."

His gaze dropped to the bag. "I'm starving. Can I eat one now?"

"Sure." I dug one out and handed it to him.

"Can you open the garage? I'll throw the bike in the back." He ate the burrito in two bites. "That was delicious."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "How can you taste it when you eat so fast?"

"Trust me. I can. I'm used to eating quick on the job."

I shook my head as we headed into the garage. Chance maneuvered my bike into the back next to his. I closed the door, then climbed into his passenger-side seat.

The cab smelled like Chance: leather and the outdoors. He turned on the engine, adjusting the heat to high, tilting the vents toward me.

I appreciated the gesture. Chance knew how to take care of a woman, which immediately made me think of how he'd be in bed. But I had no business having thoughts about dirty Chance.

I unwrapped another burrito and handed it to Chance. He ate that one just as fast. I ate mine a bit more slowly, savoring the flavors and enjoying the first few sips of coffee. It really was the perfect morning.

I was up early, eating a good breakfast, and admiring the sunrise on the drive to the trail. In the parking lot, we threw out our trash, then got our things ready to ride. He'd brought water bottles and a few snacks.

We rode down the short dirt trail to where it veered off in several different directions. I took the one for the lake. It was long but flat. We rode side by side for a while because there were very few bikers and runners up this early. As it got busier, Chance moved behind me.

Midmorning, I stopped at a spot with several boulders. "This seemed like a good place to rest for a minute."

Chance sat next to me, handing me a fresh water bottle and a container of granola. "I was ready for one."

"Did you make this?"

"I pack it for work every day."

"It's good." It had nuts, chocolate, raisins, and some kind of seeds. The perfect amount of salty and sweet. "I guess this isn't exactly mountain biking with the guys."

"This is nice too." He appeared to be genuine. "I don't have to be competitive in everything I do."

"Just around the Wilde boys?"

Chance chuckled. "It seems that way. I think when you have so many brothers, it's inevitable. Even Oliver is competitive. He just uses numbers to prove his point."

"I've always envied those with big families and lots of siblings. I wonder if my life would have been different had I had a sibling. Maybe my parents would have been around more." I'd always suspected they were able to check out of parenthood because I was so responsible. If I'd gotten into trouble at school, or needed help academically then they would have been forced to be present.

"If you'd had lots of siblings, you wouldn't be the person you are today. Independent and strong."

"You think so?" It floored me that he thought I was powerful. I'd always felt a bit weak because I was still hurt over my parents' inattention.

"I've known you all my life. You're the toughest person I know."

"You have to have seen a lot in your line of work."

"The things we survive aren't always obvious. I saw how your parents' absence hurt you and how much you enjoyed being at our house."

"Your parents saved me. I don't know what I would have done without them." I would have been alone even more. Scarlett's friendship meant a lot to me.

"I'm glad my family could be there for you."

I stood up and gathered our trash. "On that note, we should keep going."

Chance nodded. "This snack is only going to get me so far. I'll need to eat lunch soon."

"Isn't that your tradition, a big steak dinner after outings?" I asked as we got on our bikes and pushed off at a more leisurely pace this time.

"We work hard. Play harder. Plus it gives us a chance to talk and reconnect. I assume that part is more for the brothers. But I've always felt like a part of their family."

"You're like one of the brothers."

"They treat their cousin Walker like a brother too. Ever since his parents died, they took him in."

Why hadn't my parents done the same? It was the same pain that resurfaced over and over again. I wasn't good enough. Instead of dwelling on those feelings, I pedaled harder, pulling away from Chance.

He said he understood what my life was like and what I went through, but I wasn't so sure he did. How could he when his life was so different? Not only did he have his family, but he'd been adopted into the Wildes' too. His life was full. That was the reason he didn't feel the need to meet someone and fall in love. He already had everything he needed.

I was the one who was deficient, always looking for something to fulfill me. How many times had I told myself that happiness comes from within? I didn't need other people's love to feel complete. It was a hard concept to let go of though.

We cycled the rest of the way in silence with me pedaling in the front. The path was busier now, so we had to maneuver carefully around families with kids and those who were walking or jogging.

By the time we got to the end, I was sweating and dying for a drink. I pulled off to the side and grabbed the water bottle. I drank my fill, then squirted some on my face. The combination of the liquid and the cool air chilled my body.

When I wiped the drops from my eyes, Chance was looking at me with a strange expression on his face. He probably felt bad for me. And as a police officer, he was trained to help others. If he sensed I was a damsel in distress, his instincts would kick in. I didn't want that.

Chance cleared his throat. "You have plans after this?"

"I'm grabbing a drink with Scarlett.”

"It seems like that at times." When we reached the tailgate, Chance put our bikes inside.

Chance held the passenger side door open for me. "You ready to head back?"

I climbed inside. "I'm sure you have a busy day today."

"I'll probably check in with work." Chance inclined his head before he shut the door, closing me inside the cab.

I watched people biking and walking on the paths. Was it a bad idea to spend more time with Chance? It was only making me long for what I couldn't have. I needed to refocus on finding someone new to date. Someone who didn't know my back story, wouldn't feel sorry for me, or assume I was boring because I was the town librarian and enjoyed reading.

At least I'd gotten out today and done something. Usually, I spent Saturdays, cleaning my house and making dinner plans for the week.

"Did Oakley get adopted?" Chance asked.

"The application for him didn't pan out. He's cute and everyone wants him, but it doesn't mean they're ready to be a dog owner."

"You'd be a good one."

"I've been wondering if I could hire someone to take him out during the day."

"I know a teenager down the street from you. He's looking to earn some money."

I rested my head back on the seat. "Is this one of the kids who's gotten into trouble before?" I remembered his dad tried to help the kids who had run-ins with the law. He thought if he could show them that he cared, that they'd choose a different path.

"You know me well. He was hanging out with some friends who were trespassing. He hasn't gotten into any trouble since. I set his family up with services from the county."

"That's kind of amazing."

Chance smiled. "I like helping people."

He was the perfect guy. He was the reason why I was having trouble looking for anyone else.

"Pierson has been mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. I'll ask if he wouldn't mind walking dogs."

"That would be great. Thank you."

Chance glanced over at me as he drove. "Does this mean you're seriously thinking about adopting Oakley?"

"I need to make some changes."

"And you think a dog will be that something new?"

"I've always wanted a companion. And I'm in a place financially to afford one. I'm done waiting for a partner. If I want something, I'm going to go out and get it."

Chance grinned. "Good for you."

"This is just the start of the new Marigold. No one will say I'm boring anymore." I wasn't sure a dog would do the trick. But it would get me out more in the neighborhood, and everyone loved dogs. I'd have more opportunities to meet someone.

"You want me to drive you to the shelter? Oakley won't be around for long."

"I already talked to the head of the rescue. She said he's mine if I want him."

"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go get him."

"Are you serious?" My heart rate picked up. Could I do something spontaneous? It sounded crazy, so unlike me. But I had researched this. I had the money.

"What do we need to do, get the dog, then the supplies?"

"I haven't bought anything yet. But I have a list on my phone of things I need."

Chance flashed me a smile. "You're prepared. I like it."

I studied his face to see if he was being sarcastic. He seemed genuine. Most guys were annoyed when I showed up to an outing with an itinerary or list of things to do. I was told it made the experience stilted and not fun. I wanted to avoid that characterization at all costs. "I try to be."

Chance looked over at me with affection. "I'm the same way. I probably overthink things."

I'd always thought we were the opposite. I was sunnier, and he was strict and gruff. But now I suspected we had more in common than I thought.

"Let's get your dog."

I touched his elbow. "Don't you need to go to work?"

Chance shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not scheduled. I just always go in."

"I don't want to get in the way of your job."

Chance glanced over at me. "I'm told I'm more relaxed when I take more time off."

My forehead wrinkled. "Oh? Who said that?"

"My assistant, Carol. She said the more I work, the more of a bear I become."

"I'm sure that's true for everyone. You need a break."

"I'm choosing to spend it with you, and you need a dog."

My heart warmed. I couldn't believe I was finally going to get a dog. I'd thought about it, planned for it. But nothing compared to the jitteriness I felt as we pulled up to the building. "I hope no one adopted him."

This time, I didn't wait for Chance to come around. I opened the door and hopped out.

Chance grinned as he pushed open the door for the rescue. Inside, it smelled like animals and dog food.

"Marigold, what are you doing here? I didn't think you were scheduled to work," a woman with the name tag Penny said. "Are you here for Oakley?"

Marigold nodded. "It's time."

"Yay! I was hoping you'd change your mind. Another family applied for him today, but I said he had one more prospect: you."

"I'd like to take him home today." Home. That felt good to say. I'd have another pet to take care of, to love, to fill my home with noise and maybe even messiness.

Penny led us through the door to the back and down the long hallway to the kennels of dogs. She stopped at Oakley's. She unlocked the metal box, and he flew out, skidding to a stop in front of me. I couldn't help but pick him up and cuddle him to me. "Did you miss me?"

"He loves everyone, but he has a soft spot for you. That's how I knew you were the one for him."

I cuddled his soft fur. "I think you're right."

Penny helped me fill out the paperwork. I wrote a check. Then we headed to the pet store to get everything we needed.

Chance talked baby talk to him and was constantly petting him. I was starting to think that Chance was the one who wanted a dog.

We stopped to pick up sandwiches to go, and then headed to my home to get Oakley settled. I let him sniff the grass while Chance snagged my keys and carried everything inside.

Eventually, Oakley lost interest in the yard and wanted to follow Chance, so I let him inside. I unhooked his leash, and he darted around, skidding on the wood floor when he changed directions, searching for Chance.

For the first time in a long time, I was excited about the future. I was confident I was heading in the right direction. The only problem was that I'd vowed to spend less time with Chance, and he was assembling a dog crate in my living room.