Page 113 of Stormswept Colorado

Hayleigh propped her elbow on the table, leaning over. “Video call with Maisie. Shouldn’t you know that?”

“Ishouldknow that. You’re right.”

I pushed my chair back and stood, then held out my hand to Teller. “Want to come? We could call your nephew too.”

He arched an eyebrow, asking a silent question.You sure?

I nodded, so he got up with me. A murmuredawwwwent around the table.

“Be right back,” I called out as we left the room.

“We’ll get dessert going,” Hayleigh said. “If you take too long, we’ll eat it all.”

“They might be filling up on other things,” Ricky quipped.

Laughter followed us down the hall. I pulled Teller into my office. Not that I did a lot of “office” work here. But I kept important papers in the stylish desk I’d bought in Denmark during my last European tour.

The door snicked closed, and I held on to both of Teller’s hands. “Can I tell the O’Neals about us? Would you be okay with that?”

Teller laced our fingers. “Much more than okay. But, ah…” He looked sheepish. “They may not be surprised. Emma and Ashford, I mean.”

“Why?”

“Rumors have been going around about you and me since the wedding. Someone saw us kiss in the inn’s parking lot before you left Hartley.”

I clapped my hands over my mouth. “Everybody knows?”

“Noteverybody.”

“So, notallof Hart County, but everyone who was at the wedding and all their friends?” I asked sardonically. “Like Callum and Dixie and that guy with the ponytail who’s dating the woman from the market?”

“Jimmy and Rosie? Yep, they definitely know. Plus my officers, the fire department… Susan’s been giving me shit about it. I’ve never confirmed anything, but people think what they want to.”

I snorted a laugh. He’d mentioned earlier that his sister knew about us too. I guessed that made it easier. Fewer people to tell.

Though I wasn’t even sure what weshouldtell them. That we were dating? In a long-distance relationship?

Then my phone started ringing, and I pulled him toward the loveseat.

“Aunt Ayla!” Maisie exclaimed when we appeared on the screen. “And Uncle Teller. What’s he doing there?”

“He’s visiting me. Teller is…” I shot a glance at him. “My boyfriend.”

He twined our fingers together again.

Maisie erupted in giggles, and Ashford’s head popped into view behind her. “So we’re talking about this now?”

“You don’t know anything about it, Ford,” I protested, using Lori’s old nickname for him.

“Not anything I can mention in front of my daughter.”

“Daddy, it’s not your turn.” She pushed him out of view.

Maisie told me about her day, and we sang a song together as usual. Then she dashed off to brush her teeth, and Emma and Ashford popped on. They were curious. I could tell they both had a lot more questions than they were asking.

But I was grateful Emma kept the conversation light. She kept saying, “It’s fun to see you two together,” eyes sparkling.

“We didn’t expect you to take off for LA, Teller,” Ashford said, a slight accusation in his tone.

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