Page 94 of An Adventure For Aster

Colton’s head went back and forth. “I did. I didn’t want to end things with you. But I had to see what more was out there. I’m sure your mother told you I’m divorced.”

“She did. It has nothing to do with me,” she said.

“I thought maybe we could try again. I realized that you’re the one I loved. The only one. I’ve been searching for it for years and couldn’t find it. Maybe you were right and you can’t leave, but I had to in order to figure that out.”

“You’re too little too late,” she said and slammed the door in his face.

She put her back to the door and her hands over her face and cried.

Why did he have to come back into her life and say all the things she’d wanted to hear years ago? He’d made her feel like this horrible clingy person who was stuck in their own box and couldn’t find a way out.

But she wasn’t that person and never would be again.

Because she had a man she loved more than she ever knew was possible and he’d never do to her what Colton did.

He’d never blindside her like she’d been.

31

THE WAY SHE WAS

“Ican’t believe I’m getting married this month,” Ivy said, bouncing around the plant.

Aster glanced up from where he was looking at one of the sewing machines that was giving the seamstress issues.

He’d gotten back from vacation last week and worked on Friday and the whole weekend, moving these machines and setting up the new layout. The way that Poppy thought they’d work wasn’t as efficient as she’d hoped.

Laurel and Poppy had talked, even though Poppy was on maternity leave, and they decided to shift it around some more.

He didn’t care that much. It was what they paid him to do and it’s not like he didn’t have a great five days with Raine.

It was the most time he’d spent with anyone before, other than the men in the service. He wanted to be able to give that to her, knowing that in two weeks he was going to Texas to testify against Carrington’s abductors and helping Daphne pack up and then they’d drive back together.

Daphne was going to stay with him for a month or so while Reese was having some work done on the cabin to get it more modern.

Zane was doing it and he’d had other jobs lined up. Reese had done what he could in terms of paint and flooring, but he knew the kitchen and bathroom needed an overhaul.

His sister was going to be in for a surprise, as she didn’t know what was going on and had been told they were doing repairs, not updates.

But that also meant that he might not have as much alone time with Raine and didn’t want her to be upset over that. Not that he thought she would be.

“Are you going to say that every single day of the month?” he asked, looking at Ivy. “It’s only the first.”

“Maybe,” Ivy said, giggling. “It’s just so exciting. And wait until you see Raine in her dress.”

“I can’t wait,” he said. He hadn’t seen her really dressed up fancy once and was looking forward to it. But he also knew that he preferred her the way she was.

Down to earth and not fancy, like him.

“It’s going to be a blast,” Ivy said. “Wait until you see how much fun the wedding will be. I mean, you’ve been to the summer picnic and Christmas Party, but this is different.”

“I’m sure it’s going to be great,” he said. Aster wasn’t sure why he always got stuck in these “girl conversations” that he couldn’t care less about.

But it’s not like he was going to tell Ivy to scram.

“You’re just pacifying me,” Ivy said. “I know. Brooks does it all the time. I get it.”

“Glad you have that figured out,” he said, smirking.

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