Page 38 of Stormswept Colorado (Hart County #3)

Her frown turned vicious. “I kneed him in the balls and told him I’d cut them off if he ever touches me again.”

“Good. That’s my Troublemaker. Are you almost home?”

She glanced at the window. “Yeah. I want to lock all the doors and just be with you, however we can.”

She was tearing my heart out.

I stayed on the call with Ayla as she reached her house. Heard her talking to Bryan and the other security guard on duty. Then she went inside, making sure everything was locked up and all her curtains were closed. I wished I could be there doing all of that for her.

Especially as she stood in her kitchen making a mug of herbal tea. “I wish I could make that for you,” I said.

“Yeah?” She smiled weakly. Her eyes were glazed.

“If I were there, I would draw you a bath and bring your tea when it was ready. Then afterward, I would carry you to bed and hold you and kiss you.”

“That would be perfect.”

“Do you want to change clothes? Put on something more comfortable?”

She nodded.

“Go do that. I’ll be right here. And when you’re back, your tea will probably be ready.”

“Okay.” Ayla disappeared to change into comfier clothes. She left her phone on her kitchen island.

I took the opportunity to glance at the screenshot she’d sent. Another creepy-as-hell message from Biggest Fan and a photo of her. Probably to prove he was “ always watching .” Asshole.

The photo had been taken on a public street, at least. Could’ve been downloaded from a paparazzi site .

I sent a quick text to River.

Can you run a reverse image search on the photo attached in the latest stalker email? See if this one is publicly available?

River

Already done. It came from a tabloid site. He claims he’s watching her, but all he’s doing is following things other people have posted online.

“You’re frowning,” Ayla said, once she’d returned to the kitchen. She picked up her phone, and her face filled my screen again. “Were you looking at the new email from the stalker?”

“I just did. I was texting River. Do you wanna talk about that? Or would you rather wait and deal with it tomorrow? It’s your call.”

She sipped from her mug. “Tomorrow. I want to spend the rest of tonight feeling good. You always make things better.”

I was so damn glad to hear it. Ayla was plenty strong enough to handle her problems herself, and it was a privilege to know she was letting me help.

“Should we go to the bookstore together?” I asked. “You can pick something out.”

“That is the absolute best idea. It’s a date.”

Ayla carried her mug and the phone into her living room, where she put some relaxing music on her stereo.

I moved to my couch, dimming the lamps.

Her living room was absolutely covered in stacks of books. The tables, the floor, the other side of the couch. I hadn’t thought that part through, but she didn’t seem to mind.

On the video, she showed me each one. Flipping the pages of the ones she liked and reading the descriptions. I loved seeing the smile on her beautiful face.

Ayla set aside another hardcover. “Thank you again. Can’t believe you did this for me.” I could tell her worries still sat heavily on her heart, but at least she’d relaxed some.

“You’re welcome. Have you picked a favorite?”

“More like fifteen. Which do you like?”

I shrugged. “Probably something non-fiction.”

“Let’s find one. I’ll give it to you when I see you next.”

We talked about the books for a while longer. Then she said, “This is the best date I’ve ever been on, and we’re not even in the same state.”

“Just wish I could give you a proper kiss goodnight.”

Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip. “It’s getting late, and it’s an hour later for you than it is for me. I don’t want to keep you up. You have work in the morning. You’ve been staying up late with me all the time.”

“I don’t sleep even when we’re not up talking. You’re the one who should be exhausted from how much you’ve been running through my head.”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “That line was terrible. So clichéd.”

“Made you laugh, though. That was my goal.”

She pushed books out of the way to lie on her side on her couch, just like I was lying on mine. “But please tell me you’re not serious, Teller. I don’t want you losing sleep over me.”

“You want me to lie?” I propped my head on my hand. “I told you before that I think about you constantly. It’s only getting worse. I miss you. Every minute.”

She groaned. “I think about you all the time too.” Her lashes fluttered, her gaze heating. Two emerald-green flames. “I think about the things we did together in my hotel room.”

“Do you?”

“I have a vibrator. A big one. I make myself come and pretend it’s you.”

Fuuuuck. Now that was a change of subject.

I’d definitely be lying if I claimed sex wasn’t on my mind. Her sweet little body underneath me. How she’d tasted. I was desperate to be inside her again. Get her begging with my tongue, then bounce her on my cock.

Grrr .

But I’d been holding back the filthier parts of my mind lately in favor of romancing her. We’d had a lot of sex during our one weekend together, and I didn’t ever want her thinking I viewed her as an object.

If my girl was needy, though, I couldn’t deprive her.

“You want to show me?” I asked.

She nodded, biting her lower lip again.

“Then take me to your bedroom, sweetheart,” I rumbled.