Page 27

disturb

Ayla

The next morning, I head out early, so early in fact, that Christian is still asleep in bed when I leave. I pop over to Cian’s to grab Eleanor. He hugs me and gives me a kiss on my beanie-clad head while giving Ellie’s fur a fluff. “Take care of Auntie Ayla,” he says to her. If he only knew.

We head to Estes Park with Fitz trailing me in his SUV. It’s a heck of a haul, especially with the snow on the ground and in the dark, but it’s worth it. It’s one of my favorite places in Colorado. I’d be lying to say I didn’t choose this location because it has the added bonus of annoying Fitz.

I’m sure my husband knew about my appointment with Joanie yesterday because Fitzgerald Young, otherwise known as my shadow, spent ninety minutes outside my therapist’s office. I’d bet Christian also knew I was safely home by one after hitting my favorite greasy burger joint on Colorado Boulevard.

Predawn dark, snow falling, a windchill in the single digits, and a good two-hour drive… That’s my middle finger to Fitz for not telling me he was following me for weeks on end.

After this, I’ll let it go. That whole “accept the things you can’t control” bullshit. Besides, a day in Estes Park is always a good day.

I park and let Eleanor out to relieve herself and sniff the ground while I grab my gear and thermos. I wait because there’s no need for Fitz to walk several dozen yards behind me.

“Let’s go,” I offer to the canine at my feet and to the man behind her.

We strike out along a clear path and walk in silence.

The only sounds are the crunching of boots and our exhales in the otherwise undisturbed early morning until I reach the spot that I hope will provide a gorgeous frame for the sunrise as it greets the mountains.

The air is crisp, and the puffs of my exhales rise with their steam as I set up the tripod and level it with the still-dark horizon. The movement reminds me. “Fitz, you mentioned you have my gear.”

“I do.”

“Should I be afraid of what condition it’s in?”

“The tripods are unusable. The legs on them snapped and bent with your tumble. The bag of gear is okay. It was never unpacked. There were two cameras that went over. I retrieved them but I don’t think they’re usable.”

“The old thirty-five millimeter?”

“Smashed lens, dented body. I don’t know much about cameras, but I can’t imagine you would look twice at it at a garage sale.”

Damn. That was my favorite.

“And the SLR is the same?”

“Yes, ma’am?—”

“Call me Ayla. Please.”

“No can do, ma’am, but I appreciate the gesture.”

“Isn’t it weird calling me ma’am? We’ve got to be close to the same age.”

“You’re forgetting I was in the Army.”

“Not with that posture, I’m not.” I offer him a genuine smile. “You didn’t pitch the two cameras, did you?”

“No, ma’am. They’re at the house with the rest of your supplies from that day. The tripods are the only thing that were trashed.”

“Thank you, Fitz. I appreciate you going out of your way for my things. ”

His head bows once in acceptance.

It doesn’t take fifteen minutes of waiting and the stars lose their brilliant shimmer as the sky begins to lighten. Eleanor spins in slow circles and settles in at my feet. Fitz retreats a few steps and stands sentinel as if the sun itself may come down from its orbit and threaten me.

Its rays dance and bounce off the snow-capped mountains and the iced-over trees like lasers at a concert. I set one camera up to snap every ten seconds until the card is full. The shots will be beautiful, and they’ll certainly sell, even if they’re a bit generic.

The other camera I play with the settings and change the focal points.

A silver icicle hanging from tree branches stretching across my field of vision.

The warm yellows bouncing off the snow at a peak.

The purples hiding in the shadows of icy scrub.

The blues of night dissolving into the western sky as an eagle takes flight from a tall evergreen, the bright white mountaintops the perfect backdrop as he soars.

That’s the money shot. Assuming the aperture was right, that one alone will be worth waking up at an ungodly hour and trekking all this way.

I’d have done it anyway. Estes Park is just that magical, but to get something out of the deal this spectacular makes it even better.

I grab my phone, note the date and drop a pin so I have the location, snag a shot or two of Eleanor who’s quickly become my favorite shooting buddy.

Making a few quick edits in my photo app, I send Cian a pic of his girl with the caption Colorado Dog Asleep on the Job.

My phone has a whole Eleanor folder of her on our adventures.

I send one each time with a caption. Come to think of it, if he’s willing, I have a whole series I could sell.

Maybe we could do something for the shelter where he adopted her.

Me: I have an idea. Remind me about it when we catch up.

Me: Also, let’s catch up. We keep missing each other except when I dognap Ellie.

Cian: Do you know what time it is?

Me: Time to rise and shine and greet the day.

Cian: {Engaging do not disturb feature}

Me: Disturb.

Me: Disturb.

Me: Disturb.

Cian: Brat.

Me: You love me anyway.

Cian: That I do. Now, go away.

I return to my equipment and spend the rest of the hour playing with angles as the sun swallows the shadows.

“Fitz, how long have you worked for Christian?”

“Almost two years.”

That’s it? I look over my shoulder as I break down my equipment to haul it back to the car.

“Elaborate please.”

“I started in corporate security working for Ren. He was Army, too, and didn’t need a Ranger working as a bouncer, so he transitioned me.”

“Real question, why do I need a Ranger as a bouncer? Or why do we?”

“I’m not free to say, ma’am.”

“I’m one half of my marriage. I live in the same home. You left a warm bed at three this morning to shadow me in the frigid cold. Why is a Ranger my personal security?”

“You and Mr. Barone have received threats. Usually Mr. Barone and mostly in regard to his business.”

“Mostly?’

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Which means occasionally—” I let the sentence trail off.

I hoist my bag over my shoulder and lift the tripods under one arm while I reach for the blanket Eleanor has been sleeping on.

When I’m upright and squarely facing my overly qualified tail, I ask the question that’s been niggling in my brain.

I point to my head. “Was this an accident? Or was this more?”

“I don’t know, ma’am.”

“But if you had to guess. With all of your experience and training…”

“I can’t imagine you tripped, Mrs. Barone. Not with where your body landed.”

What the fuck.

I hold his gaze until emotion overwhelms me. “Thank you, Fitz. I appreciate your honesty.”

He does that deep nod that says more than a simple yes .

“May I buy you breakfast?”

“Ma’am?”

“Breakfast. It’s the meal in the morning after you wake up. Usually paired with coffee.”

For the first time ever, he cracks a smile.

After breakfast, I make my way down the mountain and return Eleanor to her dad. Fitz remains in the black SUV on the street.

“What’s this idea of yours, sis?”

“What do you think of doing a fundraiser for Eleanor’s shelter? Or for a non-profit that helps rescue animals?”

“I don’t think of it at all, to be honest.”

“I have shots of our girl?—”

“My girl.”

“As I was saying, I have photos of our girl on our adventures.”

“Mine,” he mumbles under his breath.

“Lots of them.” I continue as if he hasn’t just interrupted me. “We could auction them off for charity. Or use them in a promo material to sell for proceeds. I’m guessing Lauren could manage connecting me with my website people. Maybe start a Pictagram account and use images to solicit sponsors.”

“Hold up.” He lifts a hand between us. “I’m not interested in managing a celebrity dog.”

“She won’t become too good for you, Cian. She’s not a diva. But she’s photogenic and not in the way some people claim to have beautiful animals and lovely children when they’re average. She’s special and the camera loves her.”

“You love her.”

“And she loves me, and it shows in the images.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” I place a kiss to his unshaved cheek, before turning to my girl. “Love you Ellie-baby. Be good for your spare human.”

The growl behind me draws a laugh from deep in my belly.