Page 101 of Stormswept Colorado

“It’s brutal,” I finished.

“Teller,” Piper whispered. “No, it’s not. It’s wonderful.”

“How do you figure that? I don’t know how to make this work. Aside from Ayla, everything else that matters to me is here. Especially you and Ollie. This could impact you both.”

Piper cursed. “Please tell me you aren’t sacrificing your own chance at love because of me. I don’t want that. It’s not your fault my ex was a shitty husband and father.”

“I know. But I would never abandon you either.”

“It’s not just you and me. How can you not realize that? It never has been. We’ve always had Ashford and Callum and Grace. And now, Emma and Dane. Judson and Dixie and Rosie. Plus so many other people who love us in this town.”

“I do know that, but?—“

“No. Stop right there. You’ve been my hero for a long time. Ollie’s too. Your whole life has been about sacrificing what you need and putting other people first. But it’s your turn now. If you love Ayla, then get out there and go after her.”

I huffed a laugh. “You don’t think I’m foolish, hoping someone like her will end up with a small-town guy like me?”

Ayla was incandescent. The kind of person everyone wanted to get close to, but she burned brighter than them all.

Who was I to think I could hold on to her?

“You don’t have to give her the whole entire world,” Piper said. “You just have to give her yours.”

I was back on the yoga mat and trying to get my thoughts in order when Ayla finally called. She was using a secure video call app that River had recommended.

I answered with a big smile already painted across my face. But when I saw her expression, the rest of the world disappeared and all my attention narrowed to her.

“What happened?”

She was in the backseat of her usual car. I recognized the lux interior and the leather seat. Light and shadow played across her skin. She wore the same outfit from earlier, but her hair was disheveled, and she looked distraught. Skin too pale, eyes too wide.

“It was a bad night. I’m not even sure where to start.”

“Are you safe right now?”

“Bryan is driving me home. I have the privacy screen up so you and I can talk.” She took a shaky breath. “I don’t want to talk to anyone but you.”

“Sweetheart.” Something furious buzzed under my skin. “Let’s start withwho did this. If someone did something to hurt or upset you, then I should know who I need to destroy.”

Ayla rubbed her eyes, lips curving. “It makes me feel a little better to laugh. Thank you.”

“I’m not kidding.”

She inhaled, yellow light pulsing over her face as they drove.

“Was it Paul?”

A nod, eyes to the side.

It took all my training and willpower not to reveal the nuclear explosion detonating inside me.

I had to stay calm. It wouldn’t help her if I started flipping out.

“What did he do?”

Because I had to decide whether to just maim him or outright kill him. In that moment, I probably would have. Not ideal for a law-upholding chief of police. But that was what Ayla did to me. Turned around all the assumptions I’d made about myself.

And I suddenly realized that I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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