Page 72 of Starcrossed Colorado

“What blond?”

“The woman you were with.”

“Callie? I told her about you. She wanted me to go after you.”

“She’sthe reason you came after me?” I started to push back from him, but he held on to me, not letting me move an inch.

“No. I came after you because I’ve been a complete dumbass.”

“You mean a D-word?”

He huffed a laugh. “Exactly. I’m sorry. It wasn’t a mistake, kissing you before. I should never have said that.”

My hands traced a path up his T-shirt from his stomach to his chest. “I had no interest in that guy at the brewery. There’s only one man I can’t stop thinking about. Even if he is a D-word sometimes.”

“So you don’t hate me?” His nose brushed mine.

“How could I possibly hate you? But we still need to talk.”

“We do. I have a lot to explain. If you’ll give me another chance.”

I whispered, “What do you think I’m doing right now?”

Ashford rested his forehead against mine, eyes closing. And it felt soright. The cold chill of the night air didn’t matter anymore. The unease I’d felt earlier. It all disappeared.

I wanted this man so much. He had the power to hurt me. Yet my whole heart told me to trust him.

When he pressed a kiss to my temple, it felt even better. Then he took my hand. “Come on. Let’s go home. I’ll tell you everything.”

EIGHTEEN

Emma

Stella boundedover when we opened the door to the apartment. I bent down to give her some love. “You would think I didn’t even walk her and feed her dinner.”

Ashford knelt beside me to rub Stella’s belly. “She hates being alone.”

“Yeah, she does. That’s why I try not to leave her too long.”

“If someone’s alone for a long time, they get used to it. Until eventually, they’re afraid ofnotbeing alone instead. Even if they’re really fucking lonely.”

I didn’t think we were talking about Stella anymore.

I reached for Ashford’s hand and laced our fingers.

We’d held hands the entire walk home, which had been the best feeling. Touching him was electric and exciting, every time, yet it made me feel grounded too. Like nothing bad could happen as long as he stayed beside me.

But we still had to talk, and I had no idea what to expect.

Ashford stood, pulling me up with him. “It’s a nice night. Should we go up to the roof?”

“I didn’t know there was anything up there.”

“I would’ve shown you before, but I don’t let Maisie up there. Too afraid she’ll fall. But I bet you’ll love it.”

We went to the kitchen window. Ashford pushed the frame up, revealing an old-fashioned metal fire escape with a ladder leading up to the roof, and another ladder that could lower down to the ground.

We climbed outside onto the rickety metal landing. “You sure this is safe?” I asked.

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