Starcrossed Colorado (Hart County #1)

28. Emma

TWENTY-EIGHT

Emma

The Last Refuge Inn and Tavern was perched on a mountainside, with a view of Hartley’s commercial district in the valley below and panoramic vistas in the distance.

Yet it did nothing for my inspiration. The only melody running through my head was a lonesome one. Sad enough to break your heart. Even my journal hadn’t been helping.

I left the deck and went inside, where the staff was preparing for breakfast. My aunt Jessi bustled around giving directions, looking more beautiful than ever with a healthy blush in her cheeks and a small baby bump under her dress.

“Jessi, can I do anything?” I asked. Just like I had for the past couple of mornings. And just like the past two days, she gave me the same answer.

“Nope. Park yourself at one of the tables. I hope you’re hungry.”

I wasn’t hungry, exactly. But was I going to turn down any of Jessi or Aiden’s incredible cooking? No, I was not.

Grace had dropped me off at Jessi’s Diner on Main Street. From there, I had called my aunt and uncle to give me a ride here to Last Refuge. Jessi and Aiden owned the diner, but this place on Refuge Mountain was their pride and joy.

The main building that housed the restaurant had once been part of a ranch. It was a log-cabin style, with wide plank floors and open rafters. The hotel side was a more modern addition, but they’d kept the mountain cabin aesthetic, with warm colors, fireplaces, and lots of wood.

I’d been here last year for their wedding outside on the deck, overlooking that breathtaking view. But I didn’t know Jessi well, and the last couple of days with her had been nice. Just getting to hang out and get to know her. Uncle Aiden rarely came out of the kitchen, where he was head chef, but they had both made me feel welcome. I wasn’t technically a blood relation to either of them, since Aiden was my stepmom’s brother, but I didn’t feel any difference.

I was beyond thankful for them. They’d made special food for Stella. I’d taken her out first thing this morning to run in the woods, and now she was lounging back in my room. So spoiled.

I had no doubt that Jessi and Aiden had seen that article along with everyone else in my family, so there couldn’t be too much of a mystery about why I had suddenly turned up on their doorstep. But they hadn’t pushed me for explanations.

I still didn’t know what to say for myself. Just like I hadn’t known what to tell Ashford. I didn’t want him worrying about me.

Of course, being away from him had only emphasized the fact that I was head-over-heels in love with the man. And how selfish would it be to tell him that now? When he had so much else to deal with?

Anything I could do to help Ashford and Maisie, I would. Even if that meant staying away from them.

Jessi brought over a couple plates of biscuits and gravy. “Mind if I sit down and eat with you? I need to get off my feet, or Aiden will come out here and boss me around. I like to maintain the aura that I’m the one in charge around here.”

“I certainly wouldn’t mind the company.”

She slid into the seat across from me. “I bet. Seems like you have a lot on your mind. If you need a friendly ear to share the burden, you just let me know.”

“Thank you. I should’ve come here to visit sooner, not just when I needed to escape.”

“Don’t even mention it. When I came up with the idea for Last Refuge, that’s exactly what I wanted it to be. An escape, a very literal one. You know we take people in, right? Anyone who needs help. Especially women and children. We protect them.”

“I know. This place is amazing.” They also had a lot of security. Both a state-of-the-art system and several beefy guys patrolling the premises at all times. Even if a reporter figured out I was here, they wouldn’t get very far.

Jessi and Aiden were the best.

Plus, the food here was so dang good.

We both dug into breakfast. Someone had already poured me a cup of coffee, and I sipped it between bites. Maisie would’ve loved these fluffy biscuits. They had a hint of sage. She wasn’t always an adventurous eater, but when I could coax her into taking a taste…

Ugh, I had been doing that a lot. Letting my mind wander like it was still summer, and Maisie and Ashford were still a daily part of my life.

I wanted them to be. I just didn’t see how to make it happen.

“It’s true,” I blurted out.

Jessi looked up, her fork poised in front of her. “What’s true?”

I already wished I hadn’t said anything, but now that I had started, it would be better just to get it out. Even though my breakfast rebelled in my stomach.

“I did what that article said. Slept with a married man. I had no idea he was married, but there were probably signs I missed. I should have figured it out. I should’ve known better.”

I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug and stared into it. A distorted reflection of myself looked back from the surface.

Jessi put down her fork. Reached across the table and put her hand on my arm. “Emma, I am so sorry that happened to you. That man should be ashamed. I’m sure it’s hard for you to talk about, so I appreciate you telling me.”

I nodded, still feeling sick.

“Believe me when I say this, honey, because I found myself in bad situations too before Aiden came along. No matter what signs there may or may not have been, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Thanks.” I knew all of those things in theory, but that wasn’t the same as believing them. Hearing it from Jessi helped me get one step closer.

“What about the father and daughter mentioned in that article?” She bit her lip guiltily. “I tried to resist reading it, but that’s all people seem to be talking about around here. How Ayla Maxwell’s family lives over in Silver Ridge. All the family she has, from how that article made it sound.”

Another rush of longing hit me at the mention of the O’Neals.

“I was shocked about that too. When I first got to know Ashford and Maisie, I had no idea they were related to her. They’re both…” There I went, getting choked up again. “The article makes Ashford sound like the bad guy. But he’s not. Not even close.”

“Tell me about him.”

I started with meeting him at the beginning of my summer. How Ashford and I had to share a space. How I wound up living with them.

Falling for them.

Once I got to talking about Ashford and Maisie, I couldn’t stop. Even with all the heartache I felt, I was smiling. But that smile faded as I got to the end.

“I was only supposed to be in Silver Ridge for the summer. Until I could get things sorted out with transferring to a new music program. But then I fell in love with him. Fell in love with them both. And I feel like I’m torn in two different directions. Which is aside from the fact that I don’t even know how Ashford feels.”

“Was it his idea for you to come here after the story broke? Or yours?”

“Oh, definitely mine. He didn’t want me to leave. And he’s called and texted every day. He’s trying to be patient, but I know he wants me to come home.”

Home . Just saying that word twanged a chord in my heart.

She hummed. “That seems to be an indication of how he’s feeling about you.”

“Maybe.”

Jessi took another bite of biscuit. “There’s someone else who’s been calling. Madison and your dad.”

“They’ve been calling you too?”

“Only about five thousand times. They said you haven’t responded.”

“Just didn’t know yet what to say.”

“What you just told me explained it all. But if you could do me a favor and call them back, it would clear up my phone line. They know you’re safe, of course, but they just want to hear it from you.”

“I know. I will. I have several calls to make.”

“Want to make them in my office? I can sit with you.”

“No, I’m a big girl. I’ve got this.” But her offer somehow solidified my courage. Just knowing I had that support. She was going to be an incredible mom.

The moment I got back to my room, I called Ashford. And…

He didn’t answer.

“Dang it.” I plopped onto my mattress. Stella came over to check on me, so I scratched her behind the ears. “I guess that means I have to call Dad.” I made a whiny sound. Stella looked sympathetic.

Get it together , I told myself. You’ve got this .

I chickened out and called Madison’s phone instead of my dad’s. She answered on the first ring. “Emma! Hey, sweetheart.” Then she yelled, “Nash! Emma’s on the phone!”

I paced. A few seconds later, my dad’s deep voice spoke. “Em. Are you okay?”

“I’m at Last Refuge with Aiden and Jessi.” Deep breaths , I reminded myself.

“I know that, but that’s not what I meant. You say the word, and that so-called director who messed with you will find out what it’s like to have a SEAL sniper on his ass.”

I sputtered a laugh. “ Dad .”

“I’ll use a paintball gun. Not a real one. It’ll still hurt like a bitch, though.”

“The paint would be wasted on him.” I knew Dad wasn’t being serious. He’d been a sniper on the West Oaks SWAT team for many years now, and he rarely stepped a toe out of line. Unlike my uncles Aiden or Jake. But they were Madison’s siblings, not my dad’s. Those Shelbornes could be trouble.

“Em, I wish you’d told us,” Dad said, all joking gone. “We’re on your side. One-hundred percent. In case there was any doubt.”

I looked up at the ceiling, tears filling my eyes.

But before I could respond, Madison chimed in. “We’re definitely on your side, and we’ll support you if you really want to transfer schools. It’s your choice. But babe, you should consider going back. You were so excited when you got in. It’s not right for you to suffer because of what that man did. It’s not like you to run away.”

For a moment, I was speechless. Because she was right.

We talked a while longer. I told them about Ashford and Maisie and how I’d gotten closer to them this summer, though I left out the part about being in love. Too awkward.

“Jane Holt is going to help Ashford find a lawyer. I gave her his contact info.”

“That’s smart of you,” Madison said. “Tell my brother hi and ask him to call me sometime. Aiden’s the worst about keeping in touch. Even worse than you.”

“I love you both.”

“Love you too, Em,” Dad said. “No matter what.”

After we ended the call, I lay down on the bed. My nerves were still ragged. Yet it couldn’t have gone better. They’d said everything I needed to hear. I still needed to call my mom, but I needed a few minutes.

Stella stretched out right over my stomach. “Oof. You’re heavy.” I didn’t make her move, though. I ran my fingers through her soft fur. “Madison had a point. I did run away from grad school. I ran instead of staying and fighting for my place there.” A place I was no longer sure I wanted anyway.

But I’d done the same thing with Ashford. I ran because I thought it would be easier.

Could I go back and fix it? Fight for what was mine? Or had I already messed it up?

Less than an hour later, my room’s phone rang. “Emma,” Jessi said. “You need to come down to the lobby. Like, now .”

“Okay. But—” She hung up before I could finish asking what this was about. I looked over at Stella. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I guess I’d better hurry. Can’t upset the pregnant lady.”

I heard voices as I made my way down the stairs to the lobby. One of them made my breath catch. I rushed the rest of the way.

Ashford was here.

He was facing off against my uncle Aiden. Two bearded mountain men in jeans and dark T-shirts, thick arms crossed and wearing similar grumpy expressions. Jessi stood behind the reception desk, rolling her eyes and keeping out of the way.

“I know she’s staying here.”

“But we don’t give out information on our guests. No exceptions. I don’t care who you are.”

“I’m the guy who’s about to start shouting her name and disturbing all your guests unless?—”

“Ashford.” I hurried across the lobby. “I’m right here.”

But Uncle Aiden put out an arm to bar my way. “Are you sure about this guy, Emma? If he’s harassing you, I will remove him from the premises.”

“Aiden, stop,” Jessi muttered.

Ashford pushed Aiden’s arm out of the way. And then his arms were around me, lifting me up until my toes left the ground. I held on to him just as tightly.

“How did you find me?”

“A friend. Would’ve been easier if you’d told me where you were.”

He set me down and I brought my hands to either side of his face. We had a lot to talk about. But I was just so glad to see him and feel him. So relieved that he was here.

Then I realized we had a growing audience. Two of my uncle’s scary ex-military buddies, Trace and River, had turned up and were standing over by the reception desk. Trace looked just as grumpy as Uncle Aiden, but River was smirking like he enjoyed the show.

“Nothing to see here,” I said loudly. Then I grabbed Ashford’s hand. “We can go to my room.”

I headed toward the stairwell, but Ashford pulled me into a short hallway as we were about to pass it. The elevator. He pushed the button.

“What floor are you on?”

“Three.”

The moment the door opened, he pulled me inside the elevator car and crowded me against one wall. “I know I agreed to give you three days, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I asked Sheriff Douglas for help finding you. Took some convincing, but he agreed. Even called ahead here to vouch for me. But your uncle was being a stubborn asshole. He still wouldn’t let me see you.”

“They’re serious about security here. Aiden thought he was protecting me.”

“And I respect that. But protecting you should be my job. If you’ll let me.”

I stroked my hand down his bearded cheek. “I left because I didn’t want you worrying about me.”

“If you had any idea how I feel about you, then you would realize that statement makes absolutely no sense. Since you left, it was hard to think about anything but you.”

The scent of him surrounded me. In the soft light of the elevator, the amber flecks in his eyes glowed gold. The shadows beneath suggested he hadn’t slept, and his hair was messier than I’d ever seen it, but he was so beautiful to me.

“I couldn’t think of anything except you either. You and Maisie both.”

“Doesn’t that tell you where it is you belong?” Ashford’s lips brushed over mine, his tongue stroking at the seam. The kiss was sweet. Aching with longing. I held on to his strong shoulders, feeling like I would slide right to the ground otherwise.

I had missed this. Just two days away from him, yet it felt like ages. Like his kiss was breathing life back into me. Ashford’s lips moved to my jaw, then my neck. His teeth dragged lightly over the skin there. It felt like he was staking a claim.

He pulled back to look into my eyes again. “Emma, I love you. I’ve been in love with you for a while. But I was the idiot who didn’t see it, and once I realized it, I didn’t tell you. I’m not saying this isn’t complicated. I’m just asking for a chance to win you over.”

“That won’t be necessary.” My breath pushed out of my lungs. “I love you too. I was already packing my things to go back to Silver Ridge.”

He exhaled a curse. “That was easier than I’d expected.”

When we kissed again, we were both smiling.

The elevator doors opened. We looked over to find a white-haired couple standing just outside. We hadn’t pushed any buttons, so we were still there on the ground floor.

The woman grabbed the man’s arm and said, “See? I told you there’s something in the water here.”

I snickered. We stepped back to make room for them, and Ashford hit the button for three. But he didn’t step away from me, positioning me right in front of him with my back to his chest and his arms tight around me, like he couldn’t bear to have any more separation than that between us. The elderly woman kept sneaking smiles at me until they got off on the second floor.

The man stepped out with his cane. His wife winked and said, “Enjoy your stay. I certainly intend to.”

Then she pinched her husband’s butt on their way down the hall.

When the elevator doors closed, I spun around in Ashford’s arms and we collapsed against each other in helpless laughter.

He kissed me on the forehead. “Take me to your room.”

“Will you kiss me some more?”

“I certainly intend to.”