Page 21 of Stormswept Colorado (Hart County #3)

NINETEEN

Ayla

The inside of the Last Refuge Inn was just as quaint as the outside. Lots of wood and warm, homey accents. Black and white historical photos adorned the walls. The place smelled like cinnamon and pine.

Over a year and a half ago, when I ran from all the pressures of my life and came to Ashford for help, he’d set me up here at Last Refuge for a few weeks to rest and recuperate in total privacy.

No paparazzi, no media. Nobody but Ashford and Emma and their families had known where I was.

The Last Refuge property also featured high-level security because they often housed women who were fleeing from abusive situations.

It had been exactly what I needed. The people here in Hartley had been incredibly gracious to me. So this place would always have a soft spot in my heart.

Yet Teller’s embrace had felt pretty warm and inviting, too.

Grace ushered me to a sitting area in front of a roaring fireplace, her arm around my shoulders. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Don’t worry about checking in. We’ve got everything handled. Figured you would be exhausted by the time you made it here.”

Piper appeared holding a mug. She placed it in my hands.

“Hot toddy. I’m guessing you need this. I hope my brother wasn’t too much of a bear to deal with.

” Her gaze darted to the coat draped around me.

I’d gotten rid of the space blanket hours ago when we switched to Susan’s vehicle, but I hadn’t taken off Teller’s jacket for one minute. I didn’t want to now.

But his sister and Grace were watching me, and it was already toasty in here. I unbuttoned the coat and slipped it off, resisting the urge to press the collar to my nose the way I’d done a few times in the car.

“Teller and I got along pretty well, actually.”

If getting along included making out like fiends, fogging up the windows, and dry humping like a couple of horned-up teenagers.

Except I’d never been that turned on before in my life, especially not with some boy when I was in high school.

Teller was a fully grown man in all the ways, judging by what I’d felt in his pants when I was wantonly gyrating my hips.

Okay, now I was overheating.

I took a sip of hot toddy, but that didn’t help with the flush to my skin.

Teller and Callum joined us, setting down our bags over to one side. Teller held out my coat. “It’s dry now.”

“Thanks.” Our hands brushed as I took my coat, and I was probably supposed to give his Silver Ridge PD coat back now. That would be normal. Even though I kinda wanted to curl up with it like a blanket before I went to sleep tonight.

Unless Teller was in my bed already. Keeping me warm himself.

Flutters shivered through my stomach.

I realized I was just standing there looking at him, and he was looking at me, and everyone else was observing this obvious tension. So I held out his coat. “I appreciate the loaner.”

“Anytime.”

“So, what’s the coat switch about?” Piper asked, grinning. “Sounds like a story.”

“A story?” Dane strode toward us, holding a couple more mugs balanced in one hand, a bottle of rum in the other. “I’m up for a story.” He passed a mug to Teller. The second mug he gave to Grace, followed by a kiss.

Teller nodded at me, gesturing for me to go ahead, and I almost got lost in the wintergreen of his eyes again.

“Well, after we got stuck—” I began.

“Hold on,” Callum interrupted. “You said something before about going off the road.”

“We almost hit an elk.”

There was a collective groan from all the Silver Ridge locals.

We all sat down. I squeezed onto a couch with Grace and Dane, while Teller was on a couch next to Piper with Callum perched on the arm. Nice and cozy, everyone sipping rum-spiked hot toddies, and I pushed aside my annoyance at Teller being so far away.

I told them how we’d narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a thousand pound animal, and then how I had desperately needed a bathroom. “Teller got out and dug me this little snow shelter to do my business in.”

There was laughter all around.

After some prodding by his sister, Teller added to the story, explaining that I slipped beneath the snow on my way back to the SUV. “And then we just tried to stay warm and stay patient until Susan Nichols turned up with Earl and the tow truck,” he finished.

I nodded, perhaps too emphatically. “Yep. That’s pretty much the whole thing.”

Don’t look at him , I told myself. It was mortifying to think of both our families knowing about what else we’d gotten up to in that backseat. Probably because I wanted to do it again, right now, and a whole lot more. If the rest of them found out, they’d never let us hear the end of it.

Remember how you and Teller Landry had the hots for each other over the wedding weekend ? Just because you were trapped together for a couple hours in that storm ?

It was more than that. We had a connection. I’d shared things with Teller that I hadn’t told anyone. He’d held me as I cried. Made me feel so cared for, so safe.

He kept insisting he wanted to help me with my potential stalker too, and that was a whole other issue. One that I could think about tomorrow.

But Teller and I couldn’t be more than a weekend fling. Not realistically.

“How was dinner with Emma’s family?” I asked.

“So much fun,” Grace gushed. “Emma’s little siblings are best friends with Maisie, and Ollie bonded with them too. We missed you, though. It’s too bad you couldn’t come with us this morning. Would’ve saved all that drama.”

Dane affectionately pushed Grace’s glasses up her nose. “But then they wouldn’t have the story.”

I glanced at Teller, which was a mistake. His look was soft and knowing, cutting straight to the heart of me.

“Ashford’s having daddy-daughter time with Maisie tonight,” Grace went on, “and Emma’s staying with her mom and stepdad.”

“And the other guests from Silver Ridge?” Teller asked. “Did people make it alright? With the pass closed, I’m sure there are some disappointed folks who couldn’t get here.” His default gruffness was in place, but his concern for everyone in his town showed through.

Callum grabbed the rum bottle and topped up his mug. “Actually, most everyone made it. Once the news about the storm spread, they got out of Dodge real quick this morning and got over the pass before the closure. No mishaps.”

“Except for you, Landry,” Dane said with a laugh. Teller frowned at him, and why did I suddenly find that so adorable?

Piper and Grace launched into an excited recitation of everything that would happen tomorrow. We were going to have brunch with Emma, her mom, and stepmom first thing. Girls only. Then it would be nails and hair, followed by helping Emma get ready .

“And the guys are doing their own male-bonding extravaganza,” Piper added. “They have big plans.”

“Not sure I signed up for that,” Teller grumped.

I looked over at the men to see Callum subtly shake his head at Teller, like he was saying, Don’t worry about it .

I set my half-empty mug on the little table between us. “Then maybe we should turn in early.”

Grace clapped her hands. “You’re right. We have so much to do tomorrow. Let’s head up. You and I are on the second floor.”

Crap, I had forgotten all about how Grace and I were sharing a room tonight. So we could enjoy the excitement and be completely focused on Emma tomorrow, and of course on Maisie too when Ashford turned her over.

Wedding festivities, yay .

Which was the whole reason I had come this weekend, not to sneak off and get naked with the police chief. There would be none of that tonight. No matter how much I wanted the man.

It was sweet how Grace wanted to make me a part of everything. I’d told her, Treat me like a normal person. I don’t need anything fancy or special . If only I’d been more of a diva, demanding my own suite with a Jacuzzi, a bowl full of condoms, and soundproofing.

But tomorrow, Grace would be back with Dane. And very happy about it, considering the way she was kissing him goodbye.

“Okay.” Grace threaded her arm with mine and led me toward the elevator. “Shall we? Dane, could you carry Ayla’s bags?”

“I’ve got it,” a different deep voice said, and my heart lifted when I saw Teller right behind us carrying my things. He stepped into the elevator with Grace and me, and she hit the button for two.

She smiled at him. “Thanks, Teller. Very thoughtful of you.”

“I promised Ayla I’d get her to the inn. Just finishing the job.”

Ugh, he was so close yet so far away. And as usual, he took up the bulk of the small elevator car .

I loved Grace, I really did, but I’d never wanted her to leave me alone more than I did right now .

The elevator doors opened on the second floor.

Teller trailed after us. Grace sent a smirk my way, which I pretended not to notice.

“Night, Teller,” she said brightly after unlocking the door.

“See you tomorrow. I’m going to head right in and brush my teeth, so you two can say goodnight, or… whatever.”

My face burned. So Grace had picked up on the vibes between us. The tension in the elevator had not just affected me. Or maybe it had been the coat swap. But I wasn’t going to admit to anything .

The bathroom door snicked closed, and I turned to Teller in the doorway. He’d set down my luggage just inside, but then he’d stepped back to the other side of the threshold.

“Thanks for getting me here,” I said.

“My pleasure.” He leaned against the door frame. At some point, he’d undone the top few buttons of his navy uniform shirt, which only reminded me of what he’d said in the SUV. Put your hands here on my skin. Get them warm .

Would Grace definitely notice if I sneaked out tonight? Maybe she was a deep sleeper. I really was tired though. I’d probably fall asleep in his arms, which didn’t sound like such a bad thing.

“Tomorrow,” he murmured softly, as if he knew just what I was thinking. “If you want.”

“I want.”

He reached out and cupped the back of my neck. Drew me in. But instead of bringing his lips to my mouth, he kissed my forehead, letting that contact linger. Like the last thing he wanted was to pull away.

But eventually, he did. “Night, Troublemaker.”

“Goodnight, Teller.”

“Be good.”

“And if I’m not?”

He touched his fingertip to my lips, a silent promise, before dropping his hand. He stood there in the hall until I’d shut the door. Then I peeked through the peephole and saw his shoulders and chest move with a heavy exhale before he finally turned to go.

Tomorrow.

When I turned to open my bag and find my pajamas, I noticed that his coat was there, tucked underneath mine. He’d left it for me. My stomach swooped with pleasure.

I picked up his coat, pushed my face into the lining, and inhaled.