Page 26 of Stormswept Colorado (Hart County #3)

TWENTY-FOUR

Teller

I stormed over to the dresser and grabbed the flower arrangement, sending petals flying. After a quick inspection, I found a card with Ayla’s name, but no other message. Nothing to indicate who’d sent them.

“Could it have something to do with the wedding?” I asked. “Did Grace bring them in?”

“After she stayed here last night, she packed her things and left the key with me.”

I set the flowers by the door and took Ayla’s hand, guiding her to the sofa to sit. “Okay, then let’s call the front desk.” There was a hotel phone here on the side table.

She picked up the receiver and held it to her ear. I pulled her into my lap and draped my arms loosely around her.

“Hi, this is Ayla in room 203. There’s a flower arrangement here. Where did this come from? Do you know who sent it?”

“I’ll check on that for you,” the clerk downstairs said. I was close enough I could hear the voice, but couldn’t recognize it. “Just a moment.”

Ayla was trembling. I kissed her hair, and she rested her head between my neck and shoulder until a voice spoke on the other end of the line again .

“Ayla? This is Jessi. You had a question about the flowers?”

“Yeah.” She gripped the phone receiver in both hands. “Where’d they come from?”

“They arrived a few hours ago for you, just before the ceremony. Same florist who did the wedding flowers. I was shocked the delivery made it here with the snow. I had our security guys check them over and then sent them up to your room. Is there a problem?”

“I…I’m not sure. It just surprised me.” Ayla shared a glance with me.

“I’m so sorry. I would’ve asked you directly if you wanted them, but with the wedding?—”

“No, we were all busy. That’s alright. The security team looked them over?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t just pass something along to you. You probably get fans trying to send you weird things.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind Ayla’s ear. “Yeah,” she said. “But the card didn’t say who they’re from. If you could ask the florist, that would be great. Or I could have my assistant call, or…”

“I’m happy to. I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, Jessi.” Ayla set the hotel phone on its cradle. But at the same time, I was pulling my device from my pocket.

“Glad to hear they checked over the flowers, but I want to give the arrangement to River, just in case.”

“Just in case what?” She pressed her lips together.

“It’s an abundance of caution. That’s all.” I sent a text, and a few minutes later, River knocked on the door. Ayla stayed on the couch while I answered, holding the flower vase.

River was dressed casually, since he hadn’t attended the wedding. He eyed the flowers. “Landry, you shouldn’t have.”

I leveled a glare at him. I’d already explained in my message that the flowers could be from the stalker, so I wasn’t in the mood for his humor. “Just get them out of here, would you?” I muttered. “And see if there’s anything hidden in there.”

“Will do.” He took the flower arrangement in one arm, then pulled Ayla’s phone from his pocket.

“Please return this to Ms. Maxwell. And let her know I ran that reverse image search. Looks like a female tourist visiting the ski resort took the photo of Ayla on Main Street and uploaded it on social media. Still investigating, but I didn’t get any indication the original poster was tied to Biggest Fan.

I think Biggest Fan simply saw the photo and saved a copy. I’ll keep working.”

I nodded. “Thanks for the assistance.”

“That’s what we’re here for.”

I closed the door, returning to the sitting area. “You heard all that?” I set her phone on the table. The couch cushion dipped as I took my place beside her again.

“I did.” Her gaze was distant, her mind somewhere else. And I couldn’t blame her. That flower arrangement had poured ice water over the heat building between us earlier. And yeah, that was disappointing, but I was far more concerned with what she was feeling right now.

Ayla made me want to be selfish, but I couldn’t do that with her.

“What do you need?” I asked. “If you’d rather I head back to my own room, that’s okay.”

Emerald green flashed, her focus returning. “Are you kidding? You’d better not go anywhere. I thought you were mine tonight.”

“I am.” However she wanted me, I was on board.

“I was just thinking.” She bent her legs and folded them beneath her. “I appreciate Aiden and River helping me. And you especially. But I’m not the kind of girl to sit back and wait for other people to make things happen.”

“I have no doubt of that. But this is a different kind of situation. We could be dealing with a dangerous person. He went months with no contact, and suddenly it’s twice in a matter of days.”

“And I refuse to sit here and cower in fear. I spent too many years of my life afraid of my father. I won’t live that way. Not anymore.” With a sudden burst of energy, she grabbed her phone. “ I’m going to write back to that email. See if the guy responds and gives something away that we can use.”

“No, you are not .” I put my hand over hers. “That’s not a bad idea in theory, but let River handle it. He’s the computer expert. Or hell, I’ll write the creep back. You’re not subjecting yourself to that. You need to leave this to us.”

Her gaze was pure steel. “If I backed down every time a man said that to me, I wouldn’t have a career.

I’d be some pinup puppet without a brain or a voice of her own.

You’d better get used to that, Teller Landry.

Because I’m not changing. I’m not fading into the background. Not for anyone, including you.”

Damn . Alright then.

“I apologize.” I moved my hand, and she unlocked her phone. “Will you at least show me what you’re writing to that asshole?”

Ayla side-eyed me. “Yes.” She scooted closer, halfway in my lap again, as she opened her email app and started on a message. Her thumbs paused on the screen keyboard, and she took a deep breath. Preparing herself.

I decided to stay quiet for now and let her think. It was clear how important this was to her. Ayla was taking back her agency, and I’d been a fool to try to stop her.

So long as she didn’t walk into a far more dangerous situation later on. But she was smart. And I didn’t really have a right to boss her around, did I? No matter how much I cared about her safety. Whatever this was between us… I had no idea if it would last beyond tomorrow.

She wrote, I have a lot of fans. What makes you different?

Her finger hovered over the send button. “I can practically hear your brain working. Go ahead and say it.”

I dragged my tongue across my teeth, considering my words. I didn’t love this. Would the stalker take her message as a provocation? A challenge to do something more dramatic to grab her attention?

But the stalker probably wouldn’t be able to resist writing back to her question. Would Ayla really let me and River know when that happened?

I figured River would make sure he had access to monitor any such replies. The guy was a hacker. I didn’t know the specifics of all his skills, but from what I’d read between the lines, they were impressive.

And it made me feel slightly shitty that we might have access to Ayla’s email without her knowing. I would have to tell her.

Eventually.

“It’s good,” I said. “Short enough that he can read what he wants into it. Well done.”

“I don’t need your approval. But…I don’t mind it either.” She hit send and put the phone facedown on the table. A vicious smile played at her lips.

“Feel better?” I asked.

“Yes. I can’t wait for that asshole to write back.”

“It’s possible the stalker will escalate again. You’ll have security when you’re back in LA? Bryan’s going to be out of commission for a while with his concussion. Do you have someone else you can trust?”

“Bryan works for an agency. They provide security at my home in addition to driving me around.”

“So they’re all trained bodyguards at this agency?”

“Yep. That’s why I hired them.” She caressed my jawline, smiling. “It’s sweet how you’re fussing over me.”

“Just want to make sure you’ll be okay without me.”

A hint of uncertainty passed across her pretty eyes. Then it was gone. “I’ve managed up until now. But I’ll tell the agency I may have a stalker. I don’t want to share anything else about the messages. It’s too personal.”

“The wisest course would be to inform the LAPD and the local station where you live. So they know about the danger.”

But she shook her head. “The police might leak it to the media. I already have to deal with the paparazzi. More bodyguards means more restrictions. I don’t like feeling caged in. You know? I don’t like feeling watched and followed all the time, even though I am .”

“I get it,” I said softly, stroking her hair. “Not saying I understand what you face every day, but I get why you need to protect your freedom.”

Of course she didn’t like feeling trapped. That made perfect sense, especially considering her childhood.

Fury gathered in my chest as I remembered what she’d told me about the colonel.

How he’d made her sit alone in the basement as a kid and berated her through the door.

How screwed up was that? It made me sick that anyone had treated her that way, especially the man who should’ve cared for her the most.

Ayla moved so she was sitting on my lap, her back resting on my chest. She picked up my hands and crossed my arms over her body.

“I like when you cage me in though. I like…” Her voice faltered. Dropped low, like she was shy about saying this. “It feels completely different with you.”

I pushed my face against her hair. Tightened my grip on her. Ayla turned her head, and I kissed her a few times, slow and deep. Sucked on her lips while I squeezed my arms around her, feeling her sigh. Ayla relaxed against me, as if all the remaining tension was leaving her.

“When I get home to LA, I’ll give you the details on my security setup,” she murmured. “If you want. And if there’s a response to my email, I’ll send it to you and River.”

“Thanks. I’m relieved to know that. I just want to help. But for the rest of tonight, I’d rather not hear any other man’s name on your lips.”

She nodded languidly. “Yes, Teller.”

I growled again. “It gets me so hot when you say my name like that. You’re taking full advantage, aren’t you?”

Her lips quirked. She definitely knew.

The lights in her hotel room were low. Just a couple of lamps switched on in this room .

Then I glanced up and realized we were perfectly centered in the large mirror across from us on the wall.

How had I not noticed that before? Probably because I’d been entirely consumed with the woman on my lap.

Making sure she was okay after the fresh reminders of her stalker.

But she didn’t have to stress about that anymore. Not tonight, not with me.

The mirror gave me a new view of her. Of us . My cock jerked, and she must’ve felt it, because she squirmed in my lap.

Ayla’s eyes found mine in the mirror and widened slightly, like she’d just noticed the view as well. My arms were crossed over her like bonds, pinning her arms down. She looked small and precious. Stunning in that green dress that perfectly matched her irises.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” I said. “I don’t mean just on the surface. I mean every part of you. You’re the most breathtaking woman. It blows my mind that you’re here with me right now.”

“This is exactly where I want to be.”

I kept one arm cinched over her, but with the other, I trailed my fingers over her stomach and up between her breasts. The fabric of her dress was thin enough that I felt her soft skin beneath. The wild beat of her heart against her ribcage.

“When we were stuck in the storm, you said I could do anything I wanted to you. Is that still true?”

Her cleavage lifted as she inhaled. “Yes. Please, Teller.”

I cupped my hand over her breast. It seemed like her dress had a built-in bra of some kind, because there wasn’t anything else beneath. Just the sweet give of her body under my palm.

Using one finger, I tugged the scooped neckline down, exposing her breast. The nipple was already beaded, and I flicked it gently with my thumb. Playing with the rosy nub.

“ Yes .” Her head fell back against my shoulder, her spine arching. I dipped to kiss her neck.

My touch turned rougher as I tugged her neckline further. The fabric slipped down both shoulders. Both her breasts were naked now, lifting and falling and swaying slightly with her heavy breathing.

My gaze stayed fixed on us in the mirror. She was beyond gorgeous. A sensual work of art.

My cock protested at the restrictive confines of my pants, but this was going to be worth the wait.

I used both my thumbs to rub circles over her pink nipples. She turned her head again, seeking out my mouth and kissing me back with passionate fervor. When I tugged her peaks between my fingers, she gasped and looked at the mirror again. Her lips parted, expression dazed.

“We look amazing, don’t we?” I asked.

Her reflection smiled. “Want me to put on a show for you? Is that what you want?”

I dragged my nose across her temple, inhaling her honeyed scent. “You are incredibly good at that. But you don’t have to perform for me, Troublemaker. You’ve got all my attention already. This is a duet, and it’s for you as much as it’s for me.”