Starcrossed Colorado (Hart County #1)

36. Ashford

THIRTY-SIX

Ashford

While Maisie was brushing her teeth, I got a text. The moment I saw who it was from, I snuck down the hall for some privacy to read it.

Ayla

About that favor you asked for. I have good news. Not final yet, and it’s a different opportunity from the one you wanted. But it could be life-changing for Emma’s career. Let me know when you want me to tell her.

I squeezed my phone in my fist, knowing what I wanted to say. Sorry Ayla, I was wrong. I changed my mind. Pretend I never asked.

I was such a selfish bastard.

Me

Thanks. Let’s wait until it’s final. I don’t want to get her hopes up unless this is for real.

My text was a cop-out. A way of avoiding the inevitable. But I just couldn’t upset the peace we’d found here in the past couple of days.

Ayla had never met Elias herself, but she’d been shocked to hear about what happened. The truth about Lori’s death had reopened her grief. And she was essentially dealing with it all by herself, which I hated. I’d offered to arrange for her to come to Judson’s, but she’d declined, saying that she didn’t want to risk the media finding her again.

She was comfortable at Last Refuge. In fact, she’d been raving about the food and the beautiful surroundings. That, along with several FaceTime sessions with Maisie, and it did sound like Ayla was getting the escape she needed.

And now, she was coming through on that favor I’d asked for. I was going to owe her for this one. Even though it would take Emma away from me.

You’re a good guy, Ashford , Ayla had said a few days ago.

Yeah, I was. It kinda sucked.

“There you are.” Emma walked down the hall. “Maisie’s ready for bed.”

Tucking my phone into my back pocket, I leaned down to kiss her. “Then I’d better help tuck her in.”

We went together into the game room. I read Maisie some more of her current book, then made sure she was comfy with a glass of water on a small nearby table. Emma and I would join her later, all three of us squeezing onto the king-size air mattress.

If anyone had asked, I would’ve claimed it was for Maisie and Emma’s benefit. But it was for me too. I needed my girls. Even Stella, who had been sleeping curled up at our feet.

“Go to sleep now,” I said. “Emma and I will come and join you soon.”

Maisie yawned. “Okay, Daddy.”

The first night, we’d all gone to bed at the same time. But last night and tonight, Maisie didn’t seem to mind going first. I was relieved she hadn’t been too scared for that. She knew Emma and I, along with her aunt and uncle and our friends, would be close.

Someday, I would sit her down and explain what really happened to her mom. Who Elias really was. But not for a very long time.

Emma and I retreated to the hallway, where we were out of sight. “Should we go upstairs and hang out with everyone?” she whispered.

“I’d rather stay right here and kiss you. I haven’t had enough of that.”

My fingers slid into her hair to cradle the back of her head, and my tongue licked teasingly into her mouth. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be more than a tease with so many people staying here and Emma still recovering. Not that I really needed more.

I just needed to touch her. Savor every moment that we had.

We stood in the hallway and kissed and touched until our lips were swollen. Then we both went to change and get ready for bed.

When we carefully lay down on either side of the mattress, Maisie was deep asleep, her lips parted as she dreamed. I kissed my daughter’s head, then reached over her to smooth Emma’s hair, my thumb tracing along Emma’s cheek.

I was so in love with her. Now more than ever.

But love wasn’t always enough.

So I had to memorize each moment and live off of those memories later on. Because there would never be anyone else like Emma Jennings for me.

Another week passed. When news broke about Elias Camden being Lori’s killer, there was another flurry of media interest. But the crush of attention finally stopped, eclipsed by some other celebrity controversy somewhere else.

I got back to work, and Emma started up her toddler music classes again to finish out her lease. We spent every single day together. I tried to somehow keep the sun from setting through sheer will.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen.

I spied on her through the one-way window as she sang and strummed her guitar. The babies made me smile as I thought of Maisie at that age. How cute she’d been, even with the mess and the late nights.

Yet time always moved forward.

Today was the day. Ayla had texted me earlier, letting me know she’d gotten the final word on that opportunity for Emma. After Emma’s class, I planned to pull her into my office and call Ayla so my sister-in-law could deliver the news.

Was she still my sister-in-law? I didn’t know how that all worked. I just knew she’d quickly started to feel like a real sister to me. Lori would’ve approved.

Ayla didn’t know she was engineering my heartbreak. But I’d asked her to do it. And if it made Emma happy, how could I regret that?

“Must feel good to be back.”

I glanced over to find Dixie beside me. Her frame was so slight that I hadn’t heard her come inside, even with those big gold sneakers she loved.

“It does. Thank goodness things have calmed down.”

“I saw the latest video Ayla Maxwell posted,” Dixie said.

“You’ve been following those?”

“Oh hon, who hasn’t?”

Ayla had been doing a series of video interviews with the editor of the Hartley Gazette, Genevieve Blake. Genevieve also happened to be the girlfriend of Sheriff Douglas and a friend of Emma’s aunt and uncle. Ayla had spoken openly about her struggles with the pressures of fame. A little about Lori’s death, keeping the details vague. She’d asked the public to give her family and friends privacy. For now, it seemed to be working.

There had also been a social media campaign to support Emma. I had no idea who had started it, but Ayla had reposted the videos to help them gain traction. There’d been a public outcry against Emma’s cheating ex in LA and an online petition urging his bosses to fire him for his behavior. Just yesterday, he’d resigned from his director position. His wife, the music professor, had announced she would file for divorce, and she’d even reached out to Emma via socials to ask Emma to return to school in Southern California.

Emma didn’t want to go back to that school. Not because she was ashamed, but because it would feel like going backward. But she’d told me she felt vindicated. I was glad too, because it meant I didn’t have to fly to California, track down the cheating asshole, and deal out a punishment of my own.

But it could’ve been a bonding experience for me and Nash, Emma’s dad.

“Did you hear about the boycott against Dr. Carmichael?” Dixie asked.

I grunted, scowling at the one-way glass. “I don’t even want to hear his name.”

We’d learned that Danny was the one who’d tipped off reporters about Lori being Ayla Maxwell’s sister. Years ago, Lori had let something slip at work. Danny had kept that secret in his pocket, and earlier this summer, he’d finally decided to sell the info because his dental office wasn’t making as much money as it used to.

Dixie sniffed. “The boycott wasn’t my idea. I’m staying out of it. Don’t want to penalize any of his staff, since it’s not their fault. But I have been organizing a donation fund for Elias’s ex-wife to cover any legal expenses she might have.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Elias had died without any heirs, and his ex Holly was working with lawyers to claim his assets, including his house and Flamethrower Burgers. It sounded like he’d intimidated her into accepting less than her share during their divorce, even though she’d worked hard to build the business with him.

Holly didn’t plan to move back to Silver Ridge. But I thought she deserved any proceeds from the sale of Elias’s assets. Lawyers were expensive though, and they would probably take a hefty chunk of the money.

Dixie reached up to pat my shoulder, making me feel like a kid though I towered over her. “I just want you to know that Silver Ridge is on your side. This town loves you and your family, Ashford. Nobody blames you for keeping the truth about Lori’s sister private.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

Dixie aimed a meaningful glance at the one-way window, where Emma was singing the goodbye song that ended every class. “The town loves Miss Jennings, too. We’d sure love to see her stay.”

So would I , I thought. But who said we always got what we wanted?

“Emma’s lease is almost up,” Dixie reminded me. As if I needed a reminder. “I stopped by today to offer some new terms. I just emailed them to you and Emma. I know this month hasn’t been easy for you with all the class cancelations, so I’ll throw in a discount on the first month of the new term. And an updated sign for the building. That piece of paper in the window for Emma’s music classes just isn’t cutting it.”

“Thanks, Dixie,” I said, jaw so tight it barely moved. “We’ll let you know.”

“Please do. Don’t let these lease terms pass you by, Ashford. Who knows when you’ll get a chance like this again?”

“Yep. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Think about it.” She gave me a stern glare on her way out.

The door to the classroom opened, and parents streamed into the lobby. Emma saw me and smiled as she grabbed the cleaning spray.

“Don’t worry about cleaning,” I said. “I can wipe down the mats later. Come to my office? I have something for you.”

Her smile turned mischievous. “ Oh . Do you?”

We made our way down the hall. Once my door was closed, Emma pulled me down to kiss her. “What do you have for me? Is it this?” She palmed my crotch, where my cock was quickly getting interested. But for once, I hadn’t pulled her into my office for that .

I kissed her again, reluctantly stepping back and leading her toward the desk. “Actually, it’s something else. Something Ayla and I have been working on.”

“Really? You and Ayla?”

I sat in the chair, guiding Emma to sit in my lap. “She’s expecting our call.”

I set up the video call on my computer. My stomach burned, and my pulse increased. My grip tightened on Emma’s hip where I was holding her.

Ayla’s face appeared. She looked far better rested than she’d been the night she showed up here unannounced.

After some greetings and small talk, Ayla got to the point.

“Emma, I know you really want to get your masters, and you could absolutely still do that. But I have another opportunity for you to consider. I work with a private music coach here in LA. She’s amazing. She’s helped me take my music to the next level, and she works with a lot of other big artists as well. Names you would definitely know. I’ve been in touch with her about you, and she’s willing to take you on for a paid internship. You can learn to do what she does. Teach the best in the business.”

“ Me ?” Emma shifted in my lap, glancing at me, then to the screen again. “Are you serious?”

“Ashford hoped I could get you into a new master’s program. But trust me, this could be even better. I don’t think I can stress enough what a unique opportunity this is. All the contacts you’ll make. You’d be near your family in West Oaks, too. Back home in SoCal.”

Emma’s mouth opened and closed, clearly speechless. “Yeah, I…I have to think about it. But thank you, Ayla. That is so kind of you.”

“I did pull some strings, but I hope you don’t see this as a favor. Those sing-a-longs we’ve been having with Maisie over video? You are incredibly talented. You have a real knack for teaching too. You’ve earned this.”

“Thank you,” Emma whispered.

“My coach needs a decision in the next week. Let me know, okay?”

Ayla signed off. For a long moment, there was silence. I squeezed Emma’s hip. “What do you think?”

“You did this for me?”

“I want you to have the best,” I said softly. “Ayla really delivered.”

“I do appreciate it. It’s an unbelievable opportunity. But do you think I should take it? Do you want me to take it?”

I touched her face, turning her to look at me. Even though her pretty blue eyes cut straight through my heart. “You deserve the world. And the moon and the stars too. LA seems to be full of those.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

My eyes stung. I pulled her closer and cradled her against me. If only I could hold her and never let go. “This summer has meant everything to me, and sometimes good things end. But you’d be going on to something even better.”

Her hands went to my shoulders and pushed, forcing my grip on her to loosen. “Wait a minute. Are you breaking up with me?”

“No. I mean, I don’t want to. But you’re twenty-three. You’ll be moving back to LA and hanging out with a bunch of celebrities. Do you really want to be saddled with some small-town guy in his mid-thirties with a kid?”

“I happen to love that guy and his kid. And this small town.” Her cheeks flushed red. “I can’t believe you’re saying this to me.”

“I love you too. But I’m being realistic. I don’t want to hold you back.”

“So you’ll happily wave goodbye to me, knowing it’s for the best.”

“Pretty much.”

“ Bullshit .”

“Which part?”

“I want to know what you really want. Can you honestly say you want me to go back to LA and live a life without you? You want me to meet some other guy.”

I tried to swallow down the bile in my throat. She went on.

“If you turn on the TV one day, and you see me at some award show on the arm of the hot lead singer of some band, you’ll just smile and be happy because?—”

“You really want to know what I want?”

“Please, Ashford,” she whispered. “Please tell me.”

I cupped the back of her neck and tugged her close again. Her arms folded against my chest. Our noses were inches apart, close enough I could fall into the endless blue of her eyes.

“I want you to have everything. And I would love the chance to give that to you. I want you to stay here with me and Maisie and wake up every morning next to me. I want to share my training room with your music classes. Stay up late stargazing on the roof at night. Kiss you and make love to you until we’re both exhausted, and then do it all again the next day. But only if you’re sure that’s enough for you. Because it would kill me if you settle for anything less than the happy ending you deserve.”

She blinked at me. “I want everything too. Everything with you . You’re my happy ending.”

The tip of my nose nudged hers. “Then stay.”

“All you had to do was ask me.”