Page 44 of Starcrossed Colorado

I’d melted into him like a sad blob of drippy candle wax. There was probably snot on his shirt. I hiccuped, knowing I should move but really, really not wanting to.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I thought you left.”

“I saw someone hanging around near your building. He was wearing a blue rain slicker. I tried to confront him, and he ran off.”

This night kept getting worse. “The creep from the park? Did you see what the person looked like?”

“The hood of his jacket was up. I tried calling your phone. You didn’t answer. That’s why I came inside. I wanted to check on you.”

“I didn’t hear it. The cell reception’s not great in here, and the wi-fi is iffy. But thank you.” The thought of that creep following me home was scary. But the feeling didn’t fully register. My emotions were already pretty busy at the moment.

I managed to peek up at Ashford. He looked down at me with a crease between his brows, tenderness in his intense, dark eyes.

My palm was pressed to one muscular pec just above his rapidly beating heart. My own heart lurched, a nervous thrill moving lower into my belly.

It had been a while since a man had held me this close. Especially one who was comforting me like he actually cared.

And my body chose this moment to register just how incredibly, irresistibly sexy Ashford O’Neal was.

I had to look like a disaster right now. Skin blotchy from crying, eyes bloodshot. Also sweaty. Couldn’t forget that. Probably smelled bad. I wiped at my face.

“Have you checked on Maisie?” I asked.

“I was just thinking about it. I’m sure Piper’s got her, and they’re fine. But I’ll text.”

I extricated myself, already feeling colder after leaving that comfy position. “I need to go talk to Sheldon about the leak.”I should’ve already done that, instead of breaking down and crying. But I was grateful that Ashford didn’t point it out.

He jotted a text on his phone. “Hold on a sec. I’ll come with you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know. But I think I should.”

I didn’t have it in me to argue. Once again, Ashford was stepping in because he thought I couldn’t handle myself. Was he wrong, though? I hadn’t even been able to find myself a decent apartment. Or remember to pack a raincoat.

He finished his text and got up, stowing his phone in the pocket of his athletic pants. “Come on.” Ashford reached for my hand and pulled me toward the door.

“Stay,” I told Stella. “We’ll be right back.”

Ashford held my hand all the way downstairs. When we reached Sheldon’s door, the one with a plaque labeledProperty Manager, Ashford rapped on the wood with his knuckles. The sounds of a TV came from inside.

“I’m familiar with Sheldon,” Ashford said. “He was in Callum’s year at school. He’s a weaselly little jerk.”

“Trust me, I know. When I was here this morning to complain about the leak, he stared at my chest like my boobs were doing the talking.”

Ashford’s eyes flashed dangerously just as Sheldon’s door opened.

“Yeah?”

Ashford crowded the other man in the doorway. “Is it true that Emma told you this morning about the leak in her ceiling?”

“Uh, yeah. But?—”

“Sounds like you didn’t listen to her.”

“I—”

Ashford cut him off again. “No.” He hadn’t touched Sheldon, but the pure menace in his expression made it seem like hemight. “You’re going to shut your mouth so Emma can speak. And this time, you’re going to listen. With respect. Or we’re going to have a problem. Got it?”

---