Page 33 of Starcrossed Colorado

I paused on the upstairs landing. I’d never been up here before. Ashford had emphasized that it washis homeonly about a million times, making clear that this area of the building was off limits.

Shifting the strap of my bag on my shoulder, I knocked firmly a few times. Voices and running footsteps came from inside.

The door burst open, revealing Maisie with a big grin, and Ashford right behind her. “Mais, you can’t just open the door like that. You have to check who it is.”

“But it’s Emma.” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me into the apartment. Zero hesitation there.

Ashford had to step out of the way, and I almost brushed up against him. Different T-shirt than this morning, this one even more snug around his muscles. If that was possible. His slim-cut pair of athletic pants hugged him in exactly the right places.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi.” Why did I sound so breathy?

“You made it on time.”

Ah, there it was. His personality. “Of course I did.”

“Emma, this is the kitchen,” Maisie said. “Over there is our living room. That’s where we watch TV.”

I snickered. “Oh, really?” There were framed family photos on the wall, different combinations of Ashford, Maisie, Callum, and Grace. Several showed Maisie with a pretty, golden-haired woman who had to be Lori.

“This way to my room.”

“Hold on. Your dad probably wants to give me some instructions before he needs to go.”

Ashford walked into the kitchen. “Emergency numbers are on the fridge. She can haveonebag of chips oronepack of cookies. Otherwise, there’s cut-up veggies and fruit for snacks.”

Maisie rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. Six going on sixteen.

“There’s Netflix for kids on the TV. Don’t put on anything else.”

“Oh darn. I had my heart set on HBO.”

He stared at me. “I assume that was a joke.”

I smiled and shrugged.

“Keep the door locked, and I’ll text when I’m on my way home. Should be three and a half hours or so.”

“I thought I’d take Maisie over to get Stella. She’s at Dixie’s house. And then we can head to the park for a while.”

“Is that another joke?”

Maisie jumped up and down. “Daddy, that sounds so fun. I want to see Stella and play at the park.”

“Mais, I don’t know…”

“I didn’t get to go this morning at camp ’cause it was raining. Pleeeease?”

I bit my lip, unsure if I’d stepped out of bounds by suggesting the park excursion. Ashford studied me. “You won’t let her out of your sight?”

“Not for a second. But if you prefer, we can stay here instead. There’s plenty we can do indoors, and I can get Stella from Dixie later.” Hopefully that wouldn’t cause any problems for Dixie’s bingo plans. She’d said dogs were welcome at the community center.

“Daddy,no,” Maisie whined.

“You can go to the park,” he said, though it looked like the words pained him. “Just be careful.”

“We will,” I promised.

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