Page 130 of Stormswept Colorado

“Amazing.” She laced her hand with her husband’s. “Never thought I could be this happy.”

Neither did I, I thought. Thank goodness I didn’t say it aloud. Teller and I were nowhere near ready to make that kind of commitment. But it was nice to think about.

He’d changed everything for me.

Grace and Dane showed up, both of them far less surprised to see me. Then Callum, Piper and Ollie. Everyone had brought food for the party. It was cold but sunny outside, warm enough for Teller to fire up the grill and make hot dogs and burgers for lunch while the kids played fetch with Stella.

We hung out with our families. Teller and I had our arms around each other, my head on his chest. The first time we weretogetherin front of them. I loved it.

“We’re out of potato salad.” I picked up the bowl. “I’ll be right back.”

“I can help,” Grace announced. She trailed behind me. Once we were in the kitchen, she perched a hand on her hip. “So, you and Teller are cute together. I can finally spill that he’s had a crush on you for ages.”

“What?” I paused with a spoon in the potato salad container. “Are you sure?”

She cackled. “It was obvious to those of us paying attention.”

I gave her a sardonic look, and she only laughed louder.

“Trust me, that man has been so into you for so long. Even if he didn’t know it himself. Thank goodness he figured it out.” She leaned in. “I would love to hear sometime how it all happened. Did it start with him arresting you? Was that your version of foreplay?”

I winked. “Someday, I just might tell you.”

Grace took the spoon from my hand and took over filling the salad bowl. “You know, my brothers and I grew up with the Landrys. Now that you and Teller are together, the uniting of our two families is just about official, since you’re pretty much an O’Neal.”

“Aww, thanks. I’m glad to be. It feels good to have both our families here. Seriously…I couldn’t have made it through the last couple years without all of you supporting me.”

“It was no hardship.” Her lips twisted, bright eyes turning sad behind her glasses. “The only person who’s missing is Grayden. The oldest O’Neal brother. And I’m still working on that.”

“Let me know if I can help.” I knew how hard it was to be estranged from a sibling. Grace had reconnected with her oldest brother recently, but Ashford and Callum weren’t so sure about doing the same.

“We’ll get there.” Grace pushed out abreath, shaking off the change in her mood. “For now, I’m thrilled that you’ll be around more. I assume so, anyway. Are you thinking of moving to Colorado? Even just part-time?”

I glanced toward the door. Everyone else was still laughing and having fun outside. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “We want to be together all the time, but it’s hard to figure out how that will actually work.”

She nodded sympathetically. “Dane moved to Silver Ridge to be with me, but his job is pretty mobile.”

“Dane still travels though, right? He goes back to New York a lot.”

“Sure. He does. I go with him when I can.”

Even if I made Silver Ridge my home base, I’d have to travel a lot. Would Teller want to come with me? But I didn’t see how he could if he continued serving as police chief.

“You’ll make it work,” Grace said. “I’m sure of it.”

“Let me borrow some of your hope and optimism?”

She laughed. “Ever since Dane and I fell in love, I’ve had plenty to go around.”

That night, after everyone went home, Teller and I crawled beneath the covers. Our families had promised not to blab to anyone about my presence in town. Of all of them, Maisie and Ollie were the most likely to let something slip. But they loved the idea of being spies, like they were helping me keep a secret identity or something.

Teller tilted my chin to kiss me. “You’re comfortable here? At my place?”

“Very.” I sighed as I relaxed into him.

During Ashford and Emma’s wedding weekend, I’d briefly imagined making a home in Silver Ridge. I’d dismissed that idea quickly. Thinking Teller and the O’Neals wouldn’t want to dealwith the problems my fame brought to their door. But now, I knew Teller wanted me here. Ashford and Emma had also reassured me.

Did I really want to move here permanently though? What about my life in Los Angeles? My house and kooky friends. The ocean.

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