Wild Promises (The Wilde Brothers #4)

Chapter 5

5

XANDER

T ori was covered from head to toe in a jacket and snow gear, but she'd never looked more beautiful. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and her eyes bright. But there were lines around her eyes as if she were tired or even stressed.

"I thought I'd come home and everything would be the same. I'd work for Dad and take over the practice when he retired, but he has other plans."

"What are you talking about?" I'd assumed her parents would be ecstatic for her to be home, and everything would fall into place like it was supposed to.

"Dad made other plans for the practice. He's trying to sell it, so he can use the proceeds for his retirement."

"I'm sorry." I hadn't even considered that something like this would happen, but it made sense.

"I'm sure Dad doesn't believe I'll stay, no matter what I say."

"I'm starting to think that action is the only thing that works when people don't trust your motives."

Tori frowned. "What do you mean?"

Flurries fell around us, giving the night a dreamlike quality.

I cleared my throat. "I had a business meeting with my brothers. They're unhappy with my perceived dedication to the family business. They don't think I'm invested enough. They even threatened to let me go."

Tori leaned in close, resting her hand on my forearm. "Your brothers are going to fire you?"

"That's what they said."

Her brow furrowed. "What do they need you to do?"

"They want me to help out with the business decisions, but that's not really my thing. I'm just a ski instructor?—"

Tori squeezed my arm. "You could never be just that."

"I'm really good with people. They trust me. I think that's why I get so many requests for lessons. My schedule is full in the winter, and we're slowly building our offseason offerings too."

"That's great, Xander."

"Not if my brothers don't see it. They think they can hire any instructor to replace me."

Tori frowned. "No one else will care about the business like you and your brothers."

"That's what I tried to say, but they didn't believe me. They think I'm not committed to anything. I don't know how to prove myself to them."

"Haven't you been committed to the resort? You've worked there since you were a kid."

"Apparently that's not enough. They mentioned how I've never been in a serious relationship with a woman."

"You haven't?" Tori asked.

"Not with anyone who I'd take home to meet the family. It always fizzles out within a few months. I think it's possible women are disappointed in the real me."

Tori tipped her head back and laughed.

"What's so funny?" I'd poured my heart out to her, and all she could do was laugh at me?

"Why would anyone ever be disappointed in you? You're sweet, caring, protective. Unless you've changed over the years?"

"Women have said I'm emotionally stunted or something."

Tori grinned. "Most men are."

"Are you bashing men because you're just coming off a breakup?" I asked lightly, but she quickly sobered and I regretted my words.

"Not at all. But I think it's difficult for men. Hugh was different. He?—"

"You don't have to tell me what happened." Even though I was dying to know.

Tori shook her head. "I walked in on him fucking a nurse in the hospital. I was going to surprise him with dinner."

"That fucker."

"When I confronted him, he smirked and said this is expected when you date a surgeon. Isn't that what I wanted? The thing is, I'm a doctor. I don't care about status or what it meant that he was a surgeon. I liked that we had a similar schedule, we understood each other, and we could talk about similar things. I wasn't in it to marry a doctor."

"He expected you to be okay with him cheating?"

She nodded slowly. "He didn't see why things had to change. I worked at that hospital. How many people knew he was fucking nurses in the break rooms? I wouldn't have stayed with anyone who was cheating on me, but that created a toxic culture that I didn't want to deal with."

My gut was churning for her. What a jerk. "Good for you."

"Anyone would have walked away."

I shook my head. "Not everyone. I bet there are people in it for the doctor's paycheck."

"We kept things separate. My name wasn't even on the lease, so it was easy to break ties. The thing is, I've been paying down my student loans, not saving to buy Dad's practice."

"I'm sorry, Tori. I know how much you wanted to come home and work there."

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't left?—"

I pulled her to me, and even though I couldn't feel her body through the layers of thick clothes, I enjoyed having her in my arms. "We don't have to figure out our lives now."

Tori lifted her head. "There's still time to salvage what's left of my dream?"

"I'd like to think so. I'm not going to back off because my brothers don't believe in me. I'm going to prove them wrong."

"I wonder if that's what it would take for my dad to believe in me again. I need to prove that I'm here to stay."

We were quiet for a few seconds, admiring the lights of the lodge and downtown.

"When my brothers mentioned that I never commit to anything or anyone, that really hit me hard."

"It's never good to hear your truth said out loud. But what if we went along with the marriage pact? We date, get engaged. Prove to everyone that we're here to stay and we're committed to working the family businesses?"

"If we're together, it adds more credence to our plans. We'll look more committed."

"Both of us are planning to stay, but this will cement the idea in everyone's head." I wasn't sure people would believe that I was good enough for someone like Tori. I didn't believe I was good enough. How was anyone else going to buy it?

"I really think it could work."

"Do we tell people about the pact?"

" They'll think we're being silly. I want my parents to take me seriously."

"We probably shouldn’t mention it then." What about the fact that I'd always liked Tori? This would give me an opportunity to be close to her. But what if I fell in love with her? What if I realized the truth: I only ever wanted her?

"You don't think it's too soon after my breakup?"

"I've heard rumors about what happened. I think you need to set everyone straight. Tell them the real story. Then it will stop."

"I think you might be right."

"We've always been friends. It makes sense we'd start hanging out again when you returned. One thing led to another, and then bam—" I slapped my gloved hands together. It didn't have the effect I was going for though.

Tori laughed. "And bam, what? We fall in love? Is that the story?"

"It happens all the time in those romance movies." The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. Then my brain tripped over her statement about falling in love.

She cocked her head to the side. "What do you know about them?"

I sat on the rock. The sharp edges were digging into my butt. "I watch them occasionally."

Tori gave me a look. "You watch romance movies?"

"They're usually funny, and everyone is so nice to each other."

Tori laughed, shaking her head. "I can't believe this."

"Why do you think I'm such a ladies' man?" I asked, pulling out the charm.

"Are you telling me you watch these shows to get ideas on how to treat women?" Tori asked, shifting so she was facing me and not the view.

I pursed my lips. Why was I telling her my secrets? "It can't hurt."

Tori moved her gaze from me to the town below. "Oh, my god. Why has no other man ever thought of that?"

"I think a lot about how I relate to people. It's always come easily to me, and I like to be better if I can." I was never this open with anyone besides Tori. I hadn't realized how pent-up I'd been since she left.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me. "That's kind of amazing."

Warmth filled my chest. I never thought too much of my people skills, not until my brothers started attacking my contributions to the business. But the more I thought about it, the more I suspected they didn't understand how good I was at my job. I wasn't replaceable or expendable. I was vital to the running of the resort, and I was going to prove it to them. If I had to pretend to be with my best friend, then so be it. Being with Tori wasn't a hardship.

Tori refocused on me. "Do you think I could move in with my fake boyfriend?"

I nodded. "Sure."

"Are you serious?" Her voice was incredulous.

"We could say you're moving in as a friend so you don't have to live with your parents, then one thing leads to the other."

"That's believable," she murmured.

"Then we'll have more opportunities to spend time together and fall in love." This plan was quickly spiraling out of control. I wasn't sure that I was even in the driver's seat anymore. It was like the story wrote itself, and I already knew the ending. The stand-in hero ends up with a broken heart while the heroine moves on to the real one.

"That does sound like a movie. But where does the comedy come in?" Tori leaned her hands on the rock, looking more relaxed than I'd seen her since she met me at the picnic table.

"I'm the one who's going to be a fumbling idiot in this relationship. I'll make lots of mistakes." I wasn't even sure I knew how to be in a relationship. I'd never lived with anyone.

"Maybe your character watches romance movies and tries to replicate what the heroes do, but it never works," Tori teased.

"Yeah, something like that." I couldn't be the man for her. No one would really believe it. But for her sake, I hoped I played the part well enough for her father to reconsider selling the practice.

Tori climbed off the rock, brushing the snow off her pants. "Show me the rest of the trail."

I led the way back to the regular path, easily gliding through the snow. The lights I'd added to the path were pretty, an idea I'd probably gotten from one of the many holiday movies that were shown on TV this time of the year. I just hoped it didn't get back to my brothers that I watched sappy romance movies in my spare time. I'd never hear the end of it.

I wasn't the ladies' man I made myself out to be. I let everyone assume I was taking all these women home because it was easy and expected. But in reality, I treated women with respect and tried to meet someone who could be the one. I wanted to settle down and get married one day. I just worried I wouldn't find anyone who'd ever measure up to Tori.

I couldn't replace a best friend, and maybe that's where I'd gone wrong from the beginning. I kept searching for someone who could be a friend first, and it never worked out.

We were the only ones on this path this late at night, and it was peaceful as we meandered through the woods at a leisurely pace. I'd always felt close to nature when I was out here like this, but sharing it with Tori was even better.

When we finally made it to the bottom, Tori yawned.

"I'd ask if you wanted to go again but?—"

Tori shook her head. "I'm not as young as I used to be, and working all week has been exhausting, even if it was fulfilling."

"You're happy working with your dad?"

"It's everything I've ever wanted. I can have relationships with patients and get to know them on another level. I'm really excited for the possibilities." Then her face fell.

She was probably worried about the implications of her father selling the practice.

"If he sells, the new doctor might not hire me on. I'd have to find another job.”

I rested a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry about what hasn't happened yet. Besides, we have a whole plan we need to implement."

She smiled. "When do you want me to move in?"

"I'll clear my junk out of the spare room. Then you can move in."

"My things are scheduled to arrive on Sunday."

"That's plenty of time."

"You'll help me move in? If so, I'll tell the trucks to go to your place." Then she frowned. "Wait. Where do you live?"

"I have an apartment over a shop. It's not much, and I'm thinking it might be better if I bought something.” That would show my brothers I was committed to something. I pulled the address up online so I could show her the street view.

"That's nice."

"It's a deli, but they also sell fresh donuts in the morning. They're amazing, and I'm going to get fat because of them."

"If you're thinking about buying a place, should I wait to move in?"

I shook my head. I was excited to have her with me. "You can help me find the perfect place."

Tori sighed. "This is all moving so fast."

"Are you having second thoughts?" I asked her.

Her gaze swung to mine. "I can't live with my parents. My room is exactly the same: pink comforter and boy-band posters."

"Wow." It didn't surprise me though. Her parents doted on her, and she was an only child.

"I need my own place with space."

"You'll have more with me, but we'll need to look into getting a house sooner rather than later. It's small for two people."

"As long as you don't have a curfew for me. Speaking of which, I told my parents I'd be home by ten."

I winced. "Yikes. You weren't kidding."

She gave me a look. "Now you know why I need my own place."

"We're rescuing you from your parents on Sunday. Do you have anything that needs to be moved from their house?"

"I just have a suitcase. Everything else is coming on the moving truck."

"Is there anything else you need help with?" I asked her.

"I need to buy a car. I've never had to because I never needed one before."

"I've got you covered. What are you thinking about?"

"Something that goes in the snow. Probably an SUV."

"You’re in luck. I have a second vehicle, an SUV that I don’t use. We'll move in together, you can use my spare vehicle, and then we’ll get a new house."

"Don't you feel like we're moving fast?"

"We are, but I feel good about it."

"I do too." Then Tori hugged me, and it brought back all the memories of us cuddling together as teens. Back then, it never failed to send a rush of warmth through my body. Did she feel anything when she touched me?

When she pulled back, she looked more relaxed than when she arrived.

I was pleased that I was able to come up with a viable solution for both of our problems. "This has to work."

Her brow furrowed. "Otherwise, we'll both be looking for new jobs."

I couldn't imagine working anywhere else. "Don't worry, Tori. We've got this."

"You always had my back growing up. I missed it. I've missed us."

"Me too." My throat was dry as we took off our gear, and I walked her to her rental in the lot.

When we stopped at the driver's side door, she said, "I'm excited for this plan of ours."

She wasn't worried that it could go wrong? That it could all blow up in our faces? The voice in the back of my head reminded me that she didn't like me the way I liked her. She viewed me as a childhood friend. Nothing more.

She was coming off a breakup, and this fake relationship of ours would stop the gossip going around town about her ex. It was a way for her to move on and prove herself to her father. She wasn't secretly hoping her best friend would see her as something more.

There was no way this was going to work out in my favor, but I was powerless to stop it.