Page 75 of Starcrossed Colorado

“Not even close. I still think she knows more about Lori’s death, but for her own reasons, she’ll never tell me.” He rubbed his face. “Ayla has the kind of money and power to destroy our lives if she wants to. Even if she means well, can you imagine paparazzi swarming all over Silver Ridge? Knocking on our door? Following us around?”

I shuddered. “Definitely not.”

“I don’t want Ayla giving Maisie expensive gifts or taking her to movie premieres or who knows what. That’s not the life I want for my kid. But it’s more than that. What if she demands visitation? Or worse? She could hire a team of lawyers to challenge me for custody of my own daughter.”

“But she has no legal rights compared to you. She’s not Maisie’s parent.”

“Would that matter if she gets in front of the right judge? How do I fight back against somebody with the resources she has? Someone like her could turn the whole world against me. She hasn’t told the media about us yet, but what’ll happen if she does?”

I couldn’t imagine the stress he’d been under all these years. Fearing that a celebrity could upend his life, and he’d have no way to fight back against it. For a man with multiple black belts, who’d made a career out of teaching people to defend themselves, that had to be terrifying.

“I have to protect Maisie from that,” he said. “The only way is keeping Ayla out of our lives. There’s only one other person I’ve told any of this, my Army buddy Dane, but I never told him Ayla’s specific identity. He said he’d front me the money to hire lawyers if it comes to that. I hope it doesn’t.”

“Wish I could do more to help. I want to smuggle you guys into protective custody. My uncle Jake works for the government. He could pull some strings.” I was only half kidding.

He smiled and pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair. “You’ve helped a lot just by being here.”

I was honored that he’d trusted me. “I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Ashford sat back to look at me, cupping my face with his palm. His thumb traced my cheekbone. “But it feels so good to tell you. I’ve been holding that in for a long damn time.”

We went back down to the apartment. Ashford descended the ladder first, then waited on the landing, grasping my hand to help me down as soon as I was in reach. We climbed through the window.

In the kitchen, he folded me into his arms. “I like you, Emma. Iwantyou. I can’t remember the last time I wanted anyone like this.”

“I want you too.” Shivers of anticipation ran across my skin. I wanted to feel his bare skin on mine, to feel him inside me. But this was perfect too. Just holding each other. Sharing comfort.

“Would you spend the night with me?” He rubbed his soft bearded cheek against my temple. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. But I’m dying to have you close. I want to hold you tonight.”

“Definitely.” I wanted that too, and I figured we should take advantage of Maisie being gone for the night. “My bed or yours?”

“Mine. I’ve been imagining you in my bed for a while. Already feels like you belong there.”

We separated to get ready. I went to my room, shutting the door and leaning back against it.

I had not expected that I’d spend tonight in Ashford’s bed. Thank goodness I had shaved my legs.

Stella jumped up from her bed where she’d been lounging and blinked at me. Almost like she was asking,Are you sure about this? I sat on the floor, nearly getting knocked over when she climbed into my lap. “I’m good, Stella. I promise.”

I still had some doubts. But not about Ashford. I never would’ve guessed his secret, but he was exactly the man he seemed to be. A really good one.

After some debate, I changed into a loose top without a bra and cotton shorts. Ashford wasn’t in the bathroom, so I quickly took care of business, brushing my teeth and washing my face.When I emerged, I found Ashford there in the hallway. He wore the same T-shirt as before but had traded his jeans for comfy pajama pants. His smile looked just as soft.

“Ready?” He held out his hand.

I slid mine into his grip, and he led me into his bedroom. The lights were low, and he’d already turned down the covers. He kissed my cheek as we stood beside the bed. “Get comfortable. I’m going to double check everything’s locked up.”

“Have you heard from Piper?”

He grinned. “Yeah, just texted with her. The kids finally went to bed after using Ollie’s new telescope in the backyard.”

“Perfect night for stargazing.”

He touched my chin affectionately. “Yep. It was. But the prettiest thing I saw wasn’t in the sky.”

“That’s very sweet, Mr. O’Neal.”

“Too much?”

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