Page 67 of Stormswept Colorado

Ashford and Maisie’s happiness, after the loss they’d endured, was miraculous. But Teller was something of a miracle too. A week ago, I would’ve thought he was the least likely man to understand me and say exactly what I needed to hear in this moment.

Maybe I should’ve had doubts about how close we’d grown over just a few short days. But instead, I wanted to sink into it. Sink intohim.

Just enjoy it for the last several hours we had before my plane would take off tomorrow.

TWENTY-THREE

Ayla

After the ceremony,it was time for photos.

Ashford and Emma had saved the pictures for afterward, since Emma hadn’t wanted him to see her dress. A little touch of traditionalism that Piper, Grace, and I agreed was adorable.

“We need one with the Lonely Harts club,” Piper announced after the many portraits of the combined O’Neal and Jennings family were done.

“Do we really?” Ashford muttered, and Emma playfully teased him about being grumpy at his own wedding.

I’d heard plenty about the Lonely Harts club during my prior visits to Silver Ridge. Piper had started it as a joking play on the spelling of Hart County. Thelonelypart wasn’t accurate anymore for several of the members. But still, Ashford, Emma, and Grace gamely stood in front of the windows, with Callum, Piper, and their friend Judson Lawrence gathering around them.

“Ayla, get in here,” Piper said. “Teller, you too.”

Her brother shook his head. “I’ve never been a part of this weird club of yours.”

Ashford arched a brow. “If I have to do this, so do you, man.”

I stood next to Judson, and Teller squeezed in behind me. “Now I feel left out,” Dane complained. We all waved him over, then posed while the photographer took at least a dozen shots.

Teller’s hand found my hip. I leaned back against him.

Then his palm trailed downward until it rested on my ass through the fabric of my dress, while I tried not to react in a way the camera would see.

My heart rate had tripled. My thighs clenched together, and I struggled to catch my breath like I’d just run up Refuge Mountain instead of calmly standing here. And my cardio was top-notch. Had to be to sing and dance for hours on end during my concerts.

Moving slowly, I put my hand behind my back and found the inner seam along Teller’s pants. Followed it up his inside thigh. He made a half-coughing, half-choking sound.

“You okay, Tell?” Ashford asked.

“Mmhmm. Fine.” But he widened his legs a little, letting me tease upward along his pants seam while he rhythmically squeezed my butt cheek. My pinky brushed against his bulge.

Lord.

Finally the photographer announced we were finished. “Are we eating soon?” Callum asked, loosening his tie.

I was hungry too.Starving. But not for dinner. I glanced back, catching Teller’s eye. His stare was hard and ratcheted my pulse by a few more beats per minute.

He clasped his hands in front of his crotch.

A tiny wrecking ball crashed into me. “Aunt Ayla, did you see me dropping the flower petals? I stepped in time with the music, just like you showed me.”

“I know. You were amazing.” I shook off the haze that Teller had induced in my brain. We were in the middle of a wedding reception, surrounded by our families.

But last night, he’d said tomorrow. And that was now today.

If you spend the night with anyone this trip, it’ll be me.

At some point, I had to get that man alone for an extended stretch of time, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could wait.

I made it through the buffet. The Last Refuge Innlived up to its reputation for outstanding cuisine. Then it was cake and toasts and happy laughter as we all celebrated with the bride and groom.

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