Page 83 of Starcrossed Colorado

“Just thinking about how much fun I’ve had today.”

“Me too. Daddy is smiling a lot, and that makes me happy.”

I locked eyes with Ashford, my heart doing a dance in my chest. “I like when he’s smiling too.”

We sneaked more kisses while doing the dishes. Then Maisie brought in her favorite board game, a Disney-themed version of Monopoly that I’d played with her only two dozen times before. Give or take a few.

“Can we play this? Please?”

“If Emma wants to.”

“I’d love to. You set it up, Maisie-doodle, while your dad and I finish loading the dishwasher.”

Ashford leaned over to murmur in my ear. “Sorry. This is probably not the most exciting date you’ve ever been on.”

“I disagree. I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.”

I took a quick shower while he was getting Maisie ready for bed. Ashford hadn’t minded earlier that I was sweaty, but I did. I had hopes for tonight, and I wanted to be ready.

In my room, I changed into a pair of leggings and my favorite oversized sleep shirt, a vintage Pixies concert tee. Through the wall, I heard Ashford and Maisie talking, and it made me grin. I loved that bedtime was a special ritual for them. He never missed it if he could help it.

His voice changed to a steady, soothing tone. It was time for her bedtime story. The past few days, Ashford had been reading herThe Mouse and the Motorcycle.

I sat on my futon and grabbed my journal, jotting down what had happened today. Aside from the brief mishap in the creek, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect summer date.

I’d been relieved that Ashford didn’t want to keep us a secret. I’d had enough of that in my past. We hadn’t defined our relationship, but I didn’t need labels either. We were exclusive. That was enough. I just needed to feel like he was proud to be with me, even if we kept things quiet around Maisie.

I hadn’t known them very long, yet our connection felt natural. It was so tempting to think of us as a unit. But my pen stopped, hovering above my journal page.

I had to rein myself in. I couldn’t latch on to ideas that were simply impossible.

Ashford appeared at my open door. “Hey, Maisie asked if you would tuck her in.”

Happy flutters cascaded in my belly. I closed my journal and set it aside. “Of course. I would love that.” It was the first time she had ever asked me to participate in bedtime.

I went into Maisie’s room with Ashford right behind me. The lights were turned low. Her bedside lampshade featured cut-out shapes to splash bright shooting stars and fairies on her walls and ceiling.

Maisie held her arms out. “Can you hug me good night?”

“Absolutely.” I bent down to hug her, then pulled up her blankets and tucked them around her. My heart felt too big for my rib cage.

“Can Stella sleep in here with me?”

“No,” Ashford said, gentle yet firm. “I already told you that.”

“What about one more story?”

“Maisie, I already read you five chapters.”

She blinked those big green eyes innocently. “But Emma didn’t read anything.”

I looked at him, blinking my eyes the same way.

“Fine. One.”

Maisie picked a different book, this one about a mermaid. From the way Ashford laughed and crossed his arms, I guessed he had read this one many times before as well.

As I turned the pages and read her the story, Maisie’s eyes started to droop. Then she yawned, and her eyes stayed closed.

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