Page 29 of Starcrossed Colorado

“That’s when something goes wrong.”

Her little mouth made an O shape, and she nodded with understanding. “Daddy had one of those today too.”

Right on cue, Ashford’s deep voice rumbled through the wall. He was in his office. I couldn’t make out the words, but the man was not happy.

“Was it about the trash can?”

“No!” Maisie laughed like I’d said something hilarious. “It’s ’cause Aunt Grace is sick. She was supposed to watch me later, but she can’t now.”

Ah, the picture was starting to come together. “That’s why you took soup to her for lunch? Because she’s sick?”

“Yeah, of course.” Except when Maisie said that, it sounded likea course. “But now, Daddy can’t find a sitter for me.”

“When exactly does he need a sitter?”

“For this afternoon.” Maisie squirted the mats with cleaning solution again. Then she blinked a few times, glancing up at me through her long eyelashes. Puppy-dog eyes if I had ever seen them. And I was something of an expert.

“What areyoudoing later, Emma?”

“Mais, you don’t need to be in here,” Ashford said, surprising me and Maisie both.

He had one hand braced against the door frame. From my seat on the floor, he looked ridiculously tall. But even from down here, I could see the worry in his eyes.

“It’s okay. Maisie was helping me clean up.”

His daughter held up the squirt bottle of cleaner. “See?”

“Perfect. You can help me clean the kitchen when we get upstairs.” He hooked his thumb, gesturing for her to follow him.

Before either of them could go, I blurted, “I hear you need a sitter.”

I told myself this was just about Maisie. I did love spending time with her. But I was also thinking of that cup of tea Ashford had brought me earlier. His apology.

He rubbed a hand over his beard. “I’m teaching a law enforcement workshop at the Hart County Sheriff’s Office. It’s inHartley. Grace has a cold, and a couple other sitters I called can’t do it. But I’m going to ask Dixie.”

“She’s got bingo at the community center,” I said.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Daddy!”

“What? I saidtruck.”

“No you didn’t!”

He frowned and looked to the side. “If Dixie’s busy, I can try Callum.”

“But you’re mad at Uncle Callum.” Maisie crossed her arms, a mirror image of her dad. “You said you don’t want to talk to him because he’s a D-word.”

I lifted my eyebrows, wondering which D-word.

Ashford scratched his nose. “Thanks, Mais. Can we go before you share any more of my private business?”

“But Daddy, Emma could watch me. Pleeeease?”

I got up from the ground, brushing off my hands. “I could do it. I’m free the rest of the day.”

A bunch of different thoughts seemed to pass through his mind, like he was torn between yes and no. “You don’t have to bail me out.”

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