Page 109 of Stormswept Colorado

Her soft lips formed a small O. “The second one, please.”

I took her mouth with firm strokes of my tongue, lips caressing. A play of hot and sweet. It had been a month and a half since I’d had the pleasure of kissing this incredible woman. Too long.

And it meant something different now. This kiss was a confirmation. A promise.

You’re mine, and I’m yours.

We got lost in each other’s kisses for a while. But then she dropped her head to my shoulder with a sigh, tucking her forehead against my neck. I smoothed my palm down her back. “After we spoke last night, I knew I had to come here. Had to see you.”

She hadn’t asked outright for me to do this. But she’d said she needed me. In that moment, nothing in this world would’ve kept me from her.

As soon as Ayla had fallen asleep, I swallowed my pride and made a call.

“Landry?” Dane had sounded groggy. “What’s going on?”

“Is that Teller?” Grace asked in the background.

“Sorry to wake you and Grace.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. If you’re calling this late, I’m sure it’s urgent.”

“It is. I need a favor.”

I recounted that conversation to Ayla. How I packed a bag, called the station about needing to make an emergency trip, and jumped in my car.

She sat up, blinking at me. “You flew out here on Dane’s jet?”

I nodded. “I’m lucky the timing worked out, and the jet was already in Colorado with a crew available on short notice. I would’ve driven to Grand Junction and flown coach, but that would’ve taken a lot of extra hours. I had to get to you as soon as possible. Would’ve done pretty much anything. Even given Knightly a get-out-of-jail-free card. I owe him now.”

Ayla smiled. “What do you think he’ll ask for in return?”

“So far, he’s made me promise to sit in the dunk tank at the summer fundraiser for the Silver Ridge Children’s Center.”

“You in the dunk tank? I’ll have to be there to witness it.”

“I hope so.”

“But what about work? Piper and Ollie? I know how important they are to you.”

I tucked a lock of blond hair behind her ear. “You’re important too. Piper knows where I am, and she knows how I feel about you, and she’s already given her blessing. It turns out I might’ve been overplaying my role as protective older brother.”

“You? No.”

Her sarcasm made me chuckle. “Only reason I didn’t call you this morning was in case something came up, and somehow I didn’t make it. Didn’t want to disappoint you.” I never wanted to disappoint her. Men in Ayla’s past had let her down. I refused to be one of them.

“You are full of surprises, Teller Landry.”

When we were talking last night, Ayla had mentioned that she would be in the Santa Monica recording studio today. I did some detective work while I was on the plane to find the address. Then took a cab from the airport straight here.

I’d spent several minutes standing on the sidewalk, wondering how the heck to get in. The studio was unmarked, like they didn’t want random people walking in from the street.Go figure. I’d been about to call Ayla and say I was right outside.

But then Cheryl had stepped out, lighting a cigarette and looking harried. Good thing I’d met her once back in Hart County.

Cheryl had recognized me too. Hadn’t exactly been happy to see me, but she agreed to escort me inside past the studio’s security. Told me to wait in the lobby until Ayla was available.

But of course, I hadn’t waited. I’d heard Ayla’s voice down the hall. So I followed the sound and barged in through an open doorway, seeing absoluteredwhen I found Paul with his hands on her.

“They really don’t need you at the station?” Ayla asked. “You told me about the vandalisms going on.”

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