Page 28 of Starcrossed Colorado

It’ll be fine, I told myself.

I grabbed a basket of toys and carried them to the big room to get ready for my first music class. I was spreading out the mats when Ashford walked in and stopped a few feet away from me. I didn’t look up.

“Want to yell at me some more?” I asked testily.

“Actually, I thought you might need this.”

I lifted my head. Ashford held out a steaming mug with the string of a teabag sticking out of it.

“You made me tea?”

“The water was boiling. Since I chased you away from the kitchen, I figured the least I could do was bring this to you.”

“You didn’t chase me away,” I mumbled, accepting the mug. The warmth of it glowed against my palms.

“No, I did.” He scratched his forehead. “Look. I’m sorry I was an asshole earlier. If you say you secured the latch, I believe you. And even if you forget sometime, it’s not the end of the world. I…shouldn’t have been a dick about it.”

Huh. This was a first.

I shrugged, taking a small sip of tea. “Apology accepted.”

“I brought this as well.” He held up a jacket in his other hand. “Spare raincoat. I can hang it on a hook by the door.”

“Thanks.”

I chewed my lip and considered what else to say. But Ashford took off, leaving me wondering if any of that had really happened.

After both of my parent-and-tot classes and a private lesson were over, I sat to wipe down the mats. Running footsteps descended the stairs and came into the lobby. I knew exactly who it was before she appeared.

“Hi Emma! Did you see the rainbow?”

I smiled. “I sure did. Wasn’t it pretty?”

Maisie was a little rainbow in her own right. She never failed to cheer me up when she was around. Funny that such a difficult man would have such a sweet daughter.

Except Ashfordhadmade me feel better earlier.

I was still frustrated with him. He’d been a pain in the butt since I’d arrived in Silver Ridge. But the summer would be far more pleasant if we found a way to get along. Was that possible?

I was ready and willing to find out.

“Can I help?” Maisie sat down next to me, picking up the spray bottle and holding it with both hands. When I nodded, she sprayed, and I wiped. We were a good team.

“What were you up to this rainy morning?” I asked her. “I was running late, so I missed seeing you.”

“I had summer camp. Instead of the park, we had to stay inside today and watch a movie. I liked it, though. It had a talking dog and cat. Then Daddy picked me up and we took Aunt Grace some soup for lunch.” Her little nose wrinkled. “The movie was fun, but I like the park better. Watching the chipmunks is my favorite.”

“Chipmunks are pretty cute.”

“I don’t like thunder and lightning. It’s too loud.”

“Stella would agree. Thunder scares her, and she jumps up in my bed to cuddle with me.”

“I would love if Stella jumped in my bed! Why were you late? Was it because Stella was scared?”

“Well, no. We had a small mishap at my apartment. But it was fine.”

“What’s a mishap?”

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