Page 30 of Stormswept Colorado

Ayla walked closer, her soft features coming into view. She had her long coat back on, along with the same cowboy boots from earlier, and a beanie on her head that she’d probably borrowed from Emma.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she turned her face to the sky and inhaled. “Wow. The sky is so clear. All those stars. Hard to believe there’s a storm coming in a couple days.”

I breathed in. “Smells like snow.”

“But not like it’s going to snownow, right? I thought it wasn’t coming until Saturday.”

“True, but forecasts change. Plenty of other unexpected things have happened since today started.” Reaching down, I grabbed the extra blanket we’d brought up earlier. “Here. You’re shivering.”

“You don’t need it?”

Ollie had one blanket wrapped around him, and he was keeping me warm. “Nah, I’ve got my own personal furnace right here.”

After draping the blanket around her shoulders, Ayla sat in the chair beside me.

We were both quiet, glancing sidelong at one another. Like we were each waiting for the other to speak first.

Earlier, I’d convinced Ollie to eat a couple of chicken tacos with guacamole. Then we’d joined in while everyone played a trivia game. It got raucous, especially after Piper pulled out the Malibu rum.

Ayla had been there in the living room, and I’d given her space. Hadn’t wanted to force an interaction, given everything that happened earlier. And given what Callum had told me.

I’d been constantly aware of her, though. Like I could feel her gravitational pull.

But then the kids had gotten bored, so I took Maisie and Ollie up here for some stargazing through Maisie’s telescope. Half an hour ago, Ashford called Maisie down to get ready for bed, and since then, I’d been wondering how long I could sit with Ollie like this before my shoulder started giving me too much trouble.

“I assume Maisie’s in bed?” I asked.

“Yep. I said goodnight.” Ayla snuggled deeper into the blanket. “Thought I’d grab a few minutes of quiet. It’s nice.”

“It is.” I forced myself to look away from her. I was staring.

“Ollie must really trust you. Letting you hold him like that while he sleeps.”

“Or he’s beyond exhausted from going nonstop all day. He used to be cuddly when he was littler. Lately he’s been trying toact like the thirteen-year-olds down the street. Skateboards and baggy jeans. He asked Piper to buy him hair gel the other day.”

Ayla barked a laugh, hand flying to cover her mouth. “Oh my gosh. I feel the same about Maisie. They grow up too fast. Plenty of kids her age already have phones and social media. She’s still a little girl now, but I dread the day I show up with a new toy and she scoffs at me.”

“I get it. I never want Ollie to close himself off to affection based on what boys aresupposedto do.”

She tilted her head, turning those expressive eyes on me like she was curious. “I guess it’s good he has you.”

“I hope so.”

My own father had definitely viewed things differently. If I’d reached out for my dad to hold me when I was older than four, my dad would’ve pushed me away. I could count the number of times he’d ever hugged me on one hand.

And dammit, that had me thinking about Ayla’s father again. What she might have gone through.

“I’ve never seen you out of uniform before,” she said.

“Contrary to rumors, it’s not surgically attached.”

“You’re funnier than I expected. I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor.”

I looked up at the star-filled sky. “Despite my current reputation as the biggest boy scout in Silver Ridge, I was a hellion as a little kid. My kindergarten teacher’s worst nightmare. I refused to be tamed.”

“Really. So Ollie takes after you?”

I turned and gave her a sardonic look.

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