Page 150 of Stormswept Colorado

“Reminds me of getting stuck in the snow with you.”

“Ilovebeing stuck with you.”

“Me too.” She laughed, a sound full of joy. Light and free for the first time in days. Such a relief to hear.

We still had rocky times ahead. She’d made an appointment with a therapist, probably the first of many. But for right now, we were good.

This storm brought just a couple inches of snow, but we made the most of the chill. I built a fire in the fireplace, while Ayla spread out a blanket so we could have brunch as a picnic in front of the hearth. Toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee. Glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice, which Dane and Grace had brought yesterday because they were fancy like that.

Then we cuddled, enjoying the warmth, and watched the snow glisten in the sun as the flakes melted outside our window.

“You have some other visitors who’d like to see you today,” I said, “if you feel up to it. They arrived yesterday but asked me to let them know when you seemed ready.”

Ayla’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t decide that for myself?”

“I’m asking you to decide right now.” I kissed her nose. “Don’t be grumpy. That’s my job.”

“Who wants to see me?”

“Cheryl and Bryan.”

Ayla’s eyes brightened. “Yeah? I texted with Cheryl. She wanted to see how I was doing. But she didn’t say she was heading to Colorado.”

“She checked in with me. She’ll be here at least a week. She wanted to give you whatever time you need before she came atyou with business stuff. It does seem like she cares,” I added, only slightly grumbly. “Like you’re not just an asset.”

Ayla’s fingers squeezed my side. “I guess you’re not the only one who’s protective of me.”

“I wouldn’t let her near you if I thought otherwise.” I’d had my doubts about Cheryl before. I’d warned her about putting Ayla’s needs first. She’d listened.

But Cheryl coming here meant another step closer to that unknown future. I just hoped that, in the end, Ayla would still want to share hers with me.

I made a phone call to Cheryl at the ski resort hotel, where she was staying. Bryan was in town as her driver, but I’d made sure he had a nice room at the resort too. Comped by Dane at my request. Geez, those favors were racking up.

Half an hour later, Bryan pulled up my driveway in a rental after passing through our security perimeter. Cheryl sat in the back of the vehicle.

That agency Ayla used had sent some guards to keep an eye on my property since Silver Ridge PD was already overtaxed. A necessary evil given the swell of media attention.

Oh, had I not mentioned that? Yeah. News had broken about Ayla’s kidnapping by a crazed stalker who’d murdered an executive from her label. Understandably, the story was getting worldwide attention. Reporters had descended on Silver Ridge yet again.

It was a very good thing I had the woods as a natural barrier around my property, but we’d still needed constant security patrols. The tabloids had even tried flying drones over my house.

But I’d managed to create a tiny bubble of normalcy here for Ayla, and that was what mattered to me.

Ayla was all smiles as she greeted Cheryl and Bryan. “Come in! Have you guys had lunch?”

She led Cheryl inside, while Bryan hung back with me. He grabbed my hand and held it, pulling me into a one-armed hug. “I’d say it’s good to see you, Teller, but I’ve been seeing plenty of you on every screen that I pass.”

“Fuck, please don’t remind me.”

In addition to the story about her stalker, my identity as Ayla’s boyfriend was out there too. It had been inevitable. I’d avoided looking at news and social media myself, but we’d had updates from friends and family.

“At least I can say it’s good to seeyou.” I clapped Bryan on the shoulder. “How’s Mikaela and Brody?”

Inside, the four of us chatted, keeping the conversation light at first. Then Ayla shared a little of what the last few days had been like, and there were lots of hugs. It helped when Bryan pulled up his latest pictures of his baby son on his phone. Yes, this was a working trip for him, but he was also here as Ayla’s friend. I was beyond grateful for that.

Cheryl was much more formal. I could tell she was antsy to talk business with Ayla. It was her job, after all, to manage the big picture of Ayla’s career. And that stood at a crossroads.

“Have you heard back from Ruxton Records about my request to nullify my contract?” Ayla finally asked.

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