Page 28 of Moonlit Colorado

It should’ve been me delivering flowers on Mom’s birthday. But now that I’d made it to Silver Ridge, I knew I couldn’t leave yet. No matter how bad a son that made me. “That means a lot. She loves you.”

“I love her too. She’s an incredible woman.”

She was, once, I thought, and then banished that cruel sentiment from my mind.

My mother was still the same woman I’d admired for my entire life. The people who loved her remembered how incredible she was.Iremembered.

* * *

Ashford and Emma lived in a huge blue stucco building that doubled as their place of business. He taught martial arts classes, while Emma offered music lessons. I texted that I was outside, and Emma came down to open the door for me. I’d driven the Range Rover this time instead of taking the hotel shuttle. I was carrying precious cargo.

“Whoa, what did you bring? That box is huge.”

“I told Ashford I’d bring the appetizers. Picked this up from the resort’s kitchen on my way out.”

Emma held the door wide for me. “Benefits of owning a hotel, right? My aunt and uncle own one too, in Hartley, except they also do most of the cooking.”

“I’d love to check it out sometime.”

“Definitely. So, are you going to be in Silver Ridge long-term? Or…”

“I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. But I’d like to make this an extended visit. Depending on how things are going back home.”

Emma nodded. “I hope you can stick around Colorado for a while. Ashford’s so thrilled that you’re here.”

It meant a lot to me to hear that. Especially coming from the woman who had changed so much in my friend’s life. Used to be, when I spoke to Ashford, he sounded like he was barely holding together as a single dad. After Emma came into his life, he wasn’t half as grumpy.

Therewas a couple who should be getting married. My brother and Bristol? Their engagement was more a business arrangement than anything else. They’d announced it out of the blue earlier in the year. I hadn’t even known they were dating.

I would be damned before I’d let my father try to push the same thing onto me and Ainsley.

We started up the stairs. “Maisie can’t stop talking about you,” Emma went on. “Get ready. She already has plans for you when you get upstairs.”

“I can’t wait. Uncle status, here I come.”

“You’ve made a big impression on her. I can say that much.”

At least I was getting things right with Maisie, if not with her aunt Grace.

After our run-in at the fall festival, I was determined to be on good behavior with her. No more propositioning Ashford’s little sister. I did have a habit of going after things I wanted, but I would never risk my friendship with Ashford unless I had serious intentions toward her. And Grace…she’d said it herself. We didn’t know each other. If I hurt her, Ashford wouldn’t forgive me. I wouldn’t forgive myself.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t beniceto her. That wasn’t a crime, was it?

“Grace and Callum are coming tonight?” I asked, very innocently.

“That’s the plan. Dixie is already here. Ready to bestow her wisdom upon you.”

“Good. I’m ready for it.”

Inside the apartment, Ashford was talking to an older woman with chin-length white hair. “Dane, get over here. Dixie, this is who I’ve been telling you about. Dane Knightly.”

I had to dip my chin to look down. The woman was tiny. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Haines.”

She squinted up at me. “So you’re the new owner of the resort. Ashford tells me you’re looking to connect with local business owners.”

I slid past her and set the box I was carrying on the kitchen counter. “I want the ski resort to be a thriving part of Silver Ridge. I think we could be doing a lot more for our local community.”

“Because it’s good for your bottom line?” Dixie asked.

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