Page 20 of Moonlit Colorado

I can’t think of anything better.

Except, of course, breakfast in bed and an uninhibited round of morning sex with Ms. Red. But since that wasn’t going to happen…

Ashford

Meet us at Silver Linings on Main. Half an hour? They have breakfast burritos.

Perfect. Breakfast is on me.

Which made me laugh as I thought of my first visit to Silver Linings and my ruined sweater. Those wide amber eyes behind her glasses. That blush. Hell. I wanted to find her. At the very least to ensure she’d made it safely home last night.

Maybe Ashford knew her. It wasn’t that big a town.

After putting on jeans and a long-sleeved Henley, I grabbed the gift bag I’d brought for Ashford’s daughter, then lined up for the shuttle that took hotel guests down to Main Street. The hotel had a Range Rover for me to use if I needed it, but this morning I preferred blending in and hearing what people were saying.

I was still thinking about what Ms. Red had said last night. That I didn’t know what the people of Silver Ridge were about. I wanted to find out. And the first step toward getting there was listening. Especially since Ms. Red herself wasn’t going to give me that insider scoop.

Taking a seat at the back of the shuttle and pulling my ball cap down, I watched the other guests file on from the corner of my eye. Some were VIPs from the party last night. Thankfully they didn’t recognize me. I overheard some comments about the party and the resort grounds, all of them vaguely positive. In other words, unhelpful.

Once we got to Main Street, I tipped the driver and stepped out into the sunshine. The town was bustling this Saturday morning, and the air was bracing and clean. It did make me feel better. I was about to see my closest friend for the first time in years, and that was something to celebrate.

I strolled toward Silver Linings with one hand in my jeans pocket and the small gift bag swinging at my side.

When I was about half a block away, I spotted Ashford, a pretty brunette, and a golden retriever cross the street. They tied the dog to a railing.

A grin broke over my expression like the sunrise.

By the time I reached the coffee shop, Ashford and Emma had already gone inside. The retriever’s tail wagged and she shuffled excitedly on her paws as I approached. “You must be Stella. I’ve heard all about you.” She barked happily, and I took a moment to rub her sides. “I can’t stay long, though. Gotta say hi to your owners.”

Once I got inside, Emma was looking over the used bookshelves while Ashford stood just behind her, their fingers casually tangled together. He glanced over as I walked toward them, his smile growing to match mine.

“Dane! Holy shit, you’re actually here. In the flesh.”

“I know. It’s taken way too long.” I pulled him into a backslapping hug, then flicked his bearded chin. “You look scruffy as hell.”

“You look tired as shit. How’s the hangover?”

“What hangover?” I hugged him again.

This. This was why I’d come to Silver Ridge. I’d obsessed enough about Ms. Red for one morning. I didn’t intend to think about my family woes either. For now, I was going to put everything else out of my mind and focus on my best friend.

“Dane, this is Emma.” Ashford put a hand on her back, looking down at her with the pure adoration of a guy who’d found exactly what he needed.

“You’re every bit as beautiful as Ashford described you.”

He smacked my arm. “Don’t hit on my fiancée.”

“Me? I would never.” I grinned mischievously.

“It’s great to finally meet you, Dane.” Emma opened her arms, so I gave her a hug too.

“Likewise. I would’ve sent you both tickets to the party last night if you hadn’t been in Hartley. But Ashford would rather go back to boot camp than attend a stuffy black-tie party full of strangers.”

Emma laughed. “It’s like you know him or something.”

“I would’ve braved the rich assholes if you’d wanted to go, baby,” Ashford said to her. Emma kissed him on the nose, and I felt a pang of longing that I played off by rolling my eyes.

Ashford had meaning in his life. Exactly what I was missing. Ashford was far richer than me when it came to the things that counted most.

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