Page 97 of Starcrossed Colorado

“Well, trust me,” Grace said, “everybody else in the world definitely knows who she is.”

“Unfortunately,” Ashford muttered.

Teller crossed his arms. “So you think that was someone from the media bothering Emma and Maisie earlier?”

“We’re getting to that part.” Ashford explained about Sheldon digging in our trash for dirt to sell to the tabloids, and then I recounted what had happened after Maisie and I left the park.

“He hurt you?” Teller asked.

I pushed up the arm of my sweatshirt. Bruises were forming around my elbow where the man had grabbed me.

Ashford bared his teeth, a growly sound rumbling from his throat. Not unlike Stella earlier, but a whole lot more threatening. He put his arm around my shoulders. “There has to be something you can do, chief.”

Teller rubbed his chin. “You said Dr. Carmichael was a witness. I’ll bet the reporter is staying in a hotel somewhere in the vicinity. I’ll have an officer call around and find out which one. I can get the sheriff’s department involved if need be.”

Elias sat forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Then again, if you arrest this guy, it’ll just provoke the media further.”

Ashford nodded. “Fair point. It might be better if we encourage the guy to leave town and not come back. I’m happy to make that clear.”

“No, I’ll convey the message,” Teller said sternly. “If that’s what you would prefer over pressing charges, Emma.”

“You make the call,” Ashford said softly to me.

It might’ve been satisfying to see the guy in jail after he had frightened Maisie. But that was pointless. It would only draw attention, making the media think we had something to hide. “I would rather he leave us alone.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Teller took out his cell phone and started typing something. A message to one of his officers, I assumed. “I’ll also have a word with Sheldon. He may not have done anything illegal. I’ll look into that. But I’m not going toput up with my citizens being harassed. If the tabloid media thinks they’re going to cause a circus in Silver Ridge over some celebrity, they will find themselves sorely mistaken.”

I believed him. He couldn’t be a day over forty, and from what I’d heard, he’d been a Green Beret instead of a SEAL, but Teller reminded me of my dad. A no-nonsense special forces guy. Decorated hero, reliable through-and-through, but in the right scenario, extremely scary.

“And what if Ayla Maxwell actually shows up here?” Grace asked.

Which was what we all had to be thinking.

The police chief frowned. “Then hopefully she’ll move on as soon as possible, and take her problems elsewhere. Because we certainly don’t want them.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Ashford

Teller stuck aroundfor a few more minutes, then left to head back to the station. He assured us he’d be in touch soon with whatever he found.

Hopefully, the reporter who’d harassed Emma and Maisie would be getting his ass out of town before morning. I doubted Teller would do anything out of line. He was the straight-and-narrow type. But he’d taken what happened seriously, and I was grateful for that.

After Teller took off, the rest of us sat around the table. Elias, Judson, Callum and Grace had stayed. “Thanks for being here,” I said. “It means a hell of a lot. I should’ve told you all a long time ago.”

I’d been sweating as I told them all about Lori’s sister. But I should’ve known they would be great about it. Though Elias and Callum would definitely give me shit for keeping my superstar sister-in-law a secret.

Callum shrugged. “Yeah, but we all know you’re the least likely to ask for help when you’re in trouble. So thanks for trusting us. I gotta say though, I’d be even more thankful if I can meet Ayla Maxwell in person. Think she’s single?”

The rest of us frowned at him.

“Oh come on, did you guys evenseethe outfit she wore to the Oscars last year?”

“It was a showstopper,” Emma agreed.

“Didn’t know you were so into fashion, Cal.” Grace gestured at his jeans and tee. “You think Ayla will be impressed by volunteer firefighter chic?”

“My style hasn’t failed me yet.” He pushed the sleeve of his shirt back and flexed his bicep.

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