Page 54 of Protecting Chaos

Her heart tightened even more, and her breath hitched.

“Listen, if the girl doesn’t want to sell, she doesn’t have to sell,” Mad Dog said, moving to stand in front of her.

“I know him.” The words tumbled from her lips as her brows pitched. “It’s fine.”

“You sure?” Mad Dog asked. He was an older man, but he looked as though he could be hiding a shotgun within reach.

“I’m sure,” she said, touching his arm. “Could you give us a minute?”

“Sure. I’ll just take this into the back room and put it up,” Mad Dog said, eyeing Ashton. “She said it’s not for sale, mister.”

She waited until Mad Dog left the room. “What are you doing here, Ash?”

“Well, I was buying art, but it looks like that’s a bust,” Ashton said as he stepped farther into the gallery.

“How did you find me?” Her heart raced with the desire to run and kiss him. She was almost glad that he was there, even when she knew she shouldn’t be.

“I pulled in a lot of favors and tracked you from the airport. With the two layovers you took, I lost you on the security cameras. So, I called my cousin. She was all too happy to help.”

She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Tell Grant I’m not going back. Not yet.”

“Grant didn’t send me; he doesn’t even know where you are,” Ashton said as he closed the distance between them. “You aren’t a damsel in need of rescuing. I’m here because I want to be here, because you’re here and because I need to be here.”

“Need?”

“I screwed up leaving you before and again when I didn’t chase after you when you walked out the door. I’m not about to make that mistake again.”

“I’m creating a life here,” she said, even as her gut churned at the thought of him never being in it.

“Then we’ll create one together. Home isn’t a place, Stella. Home is in my heart, and in my case, that’s you.” He smiled down at her. “Did you know there isn’t a single detective in this town? I found out the hard way. So, how about you paint and I get to know the citizens? We’ll stay as long as you want.”

“You’d give up your career to be with me?” she asked skeptically.

“None of it matters without you. I’d give up everything for you.”

“Your friendship with my brother?” she asked.

He cupped her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. “Everything.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with the force of forever to show him how much he meant to her.

She slowed the kiss and eventually pulled away. “It took you long enough to come after me.”

“I tried to give you some space to get settled. Besides, I’ve got proof we belong together. How is this for proof?” His lips twisted into a grin, and he pulled out a folded paper from his pocket. He unfolded it. The picture was a hand-drawn sketch of Stella with Avery’s signature at the bottom.

“She told you her secret?” Stella asked.

“No, Stella. She told me yours.” Ashton kissed her again, like the man she’d always known he could be.

28

Stella

Ashton and Stella spent a full month being together, making promises, and just enjoying what it meant to be together. It solidified their resolve to make things work.

She’d talked him out of giving up his career, and he’d talked her into painting more than just scenes for tourists.

Stella had spent the entire day helping Mad Dog with some errands he’d been putting off and teaching a painting class he’d set up for some local kids. Teaching was just as much her passion as painting. No way could she turn him down.

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