Page 128 of Starcrossed Colorado

“I do too. I’m…” I pushed out an exhale. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for her the way she needed.” If only Lori had trusted me. If she’d come home and talked to me instead of going out that night. Same thoughts I’d had so many times.

“I wasn’t here either. But when I showed up in Silver Ridge the other night, you let me in. You let me meet Maisie. It means so much to me. I’m not going to forget that.”

“You’re Lori’s sister. It’s what she would’ve wanted. I’m glad you came.”

Ayla glanced over at me. It was dark in my truck cab, but I caught the curve of her smile.

This isn’t like the night Lori died, I reminded myself.

Everyone I loved was safe right now. Surrounded by friends. And soon, Ayla would be in a safe place as well. Hopefully getting the space and time she needed to deal with what she’d been going through. If it had been feasible, I would’ve invitedher to stay with us in Silver Ridge for longer. Because that was what family did.

Maybe we’d get that chance at some point, when her fame wasn’t such an obstacle.

“I wondered about something,” I said. “You mentioned there might be some way you could help Emma.”

Ayla looked over again. “Sure. Got any ideas?”

“I do, actually. She’s trying to get into a new music school. Any chance you could pull strings? You aretheAyla Maxwell, after all.”

“I do know people. And those people know people. But the best schools aren’t anywhere near here. Are you sure you want that?”

I wasn’t sure at all. I didn’t want Emma to go. I selfishly wanted her to stay in Silver Ridge with me and Maisie. I wanted to change that sign downstairs toO’Neal Music and Martial Arts, and how ridiculous was that?

But even more, I wanted Emma to reach her goals. Get her fancy graduate degree.

“I want all of Emma’s dreams to come true. Even if that takes her away from me.”

Ayla huffed a small laugh. “You’re a good guy, Ashford.”

“I guess I am.” Even if that sucked sometimes.

Good guys didn’t always get their happy endings.

We drove through the night, following my GPS to the coordinates Aiden had given me. A quiet stretch of road where no other drivers might spot us. An SUV with dark windows was already there.

When I pulled toward it, the SUV’s door opened, and Aiden stepped out. My headlights washed over him. Then another man emerged, Trace Novo.

Aiden had introduced his buddies to me at Last Refuge. When I hadn’t been creating a ruckus in their lobby, they’d been extremely nice guys.

I put my truck in park. Ayla grabbed my wrist. “Which one is Emma’s uncle?”

“That’s Aiden. Beard, short hair. The one with the longer hair is Trace, Aiden’s brother-in-law.” Then, to my surprise, a tall woman got out of their vehicle. “I don’t know her,” I said, “but if she’s here, that means Aiden trusts her.”

“But you didn’t tell me they’d have guns.” Ayla’s hand tightened on my arm.

“It’s just a precaution. They have military training.” And from the stories they’d shared with me earlier, they’d been through some dicey situations. Even in a sleepy place like Hart County.

“And my dad was a colonel,” Ayla reminded me. “I know most soldiers were nothing like him, but it still makes me nervous.”

Shit. I hadn’t anticipated this. Ayla’s father was the whole reason she had run away as a teenager and broken ties with Lori. “You remember how you and Lori met me, right? I was one of those soldiers on the base too.”

“I know. It doesn’t bother me when it’s you. But…” She exhaled. “I’m okay. I can do this.”

“You don’t have to. We can figure something else out.”

Instead of answering me, she opened the passenger door and jumped down. Keeping her chin high, Ayla marched over to the SUV.

I got out, grabbed Ayla’s bag where I’d stowed it in the backseat, and followed.

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