Page 103 of Stormswept Colorado

River

Already done. It came from a tabloid site. He claims he’s watching her, but all he’s doing is following things other people have posted online.

“You’re frowning,” Ayla said, once she’d returned to the kitchen. She picked up her phone, and her face filled my screen again. “Were you looking at the new email from the stalker?”

“I just did. I was texting River. Do you wanna talk about that? Or would you rather wait and deal with it tomorrow? It’s your call.”

She sipped from her mug. “Tomorrow. I want to spend the rest of tonight feeling good. You always make things better.”

I was so damn glad to hear it. Ayla was plenty strong enough to handle her problems herself, and it was a privilege to know she was letting me help.

“Should we go to the bookstore together?” I asked. “You can pick something out.”

“That is the absolutebestidea. It’s a date.”

Ayla carried her mug and the phone into her living room, where she put some relaxing music on her stereo.

I moved to my couch, dimming the lamps.

Her living room was absolutely covered in stacks of books. The tables, the floor, the other side of the couch. I hadn’t thought that part through, but she didn’t seem to mind.

On the video, she showed me each one. Flipping the pages of the ones she liked and reading the descriptions. I loved seeing the smile on her beautiful face.

Ayla set aside another hardcover. “Thank you again. Can’tbelieve you did this for me.” I could tell her worries still sat heavily on her heart, but at least she’d relaxed some.

“You’re welcome. Have you picked a favorite?”

“More like fifteen. Which doyoulike?”

I shrugged. “Probably something non-fiction.”

“Let’s find one. I’ll give it to you when I see you next.”

We talked about the books for a while longer. Then she said, “This is the best date I’ve ever been on, and we’re not even in the same state.”

“Just wish I could give you a proper kiss goodnight.”

Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip. “It’s getting late, and it’s an hour later for you than it is for me. I don’t want to keep you up. You have work in the morning. You’ve been staying up late with me all the time.”

“I don’t sleep even when we’re not up talking. You’re the one who should be exhausted from how much you’ve been running through my head.”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “That line was terrible. So clichéd.”

“Made you laugh, though. That was my goal.”

She pushed books out of the way to lie on her side on her couch, just like I was lying on mine. “But please tell me you’re not serious, Teller. I don’t want you losing sleep over me.”

“You want me to lie?” I propped my head on my hand. “I told you before that I think about you constantly. It’s only getting worse. I miss you. Every minute.”

She groaned. “I think about you all the time too.” Her lashes fluttered, her gaze heating. Two emerald-green flames. “I think about the things we did together in my hotel room.”

“Do you?”

“I have a vibrator. Abigone. I make myself come and pretend it’s you.”

Fuuuuck. Now that was a change of subject.

I’d definitely be lying if I claimed sex wasn’t on my mind. Her sweet little body underneath me. How she’d tasted. I wasdesperate to be inside her again. Get her begging with my tongue, then bounce her on my cock.

---