Page 40 of Stormswept Colorado (Hart County #3)

THIRTY-FOUR

Teller

The moment my knuckles connected with Paul Ruxton’s chin, chaos erupted. People rushing into the room behind me, shouting.

But all I could see was Ayla.

She stared at me with wide, shocked eyes. “You’re really here? Teller. Oh my God. How? When?”

“Just now.” My cab had only pulled up to the address of the recording studio about five minutes ago. “I’ll explain everything later.” I caught her and hugged her when she launched herself into my arms. The sweet scent of caramel filled my nose like a drug.

Mine .

But just as quickly, she was wrenched away from me, and I found myself shoved against the wall. Some huge security guy yanked my arms behind my back.

Ayla’s manager Cheryl had followed me in, shaking her head. “Landry, I told you to wait. This isn’t helping.”

This was one of the more reckless things I’d ever done. Not just showing up in Los Angeles unannounced to visit one of the most famous singers in the world. But also, the part where I’d just rearranged a rich recording executive’s face .

“I’m bleeding,” Paul whined, cupping his split lip and sore jaw. “I want him arrested!”

Another security guard was trying to lead Ayla out of the room, but she scrambled away. “Then I want Paul arrested too,” she snapped. “For harassment and assault.”

I turned my head to glare at Paul. “You’re lucky you’re still breathing.”

“Everyone heard that, right? He’s threatening me .”

Cheryl waved her hands in the air. “Everyone, calm down . Before some paparazzo figures out what’s going on in here and news vans start forming a parade down Wilshire Boulevard. None of us needs that.”

A few minutes later, somebody led Paul away with a bag of ice on his face. Cheryl ushered me and Ayla down the hall and shoved us into a posh sitting area. “Both of you, wait here. Let me sort this out.”

“This is not Teller’s fault. He was defending me. Paul tried to kiss me last night, and today he was trying to intimidate me into staying quiet.”

“That’s what you wanted to discuss with me? Shit on a stick.” Cheryl dug her manicured fingers into her perfectly styled hair. “Just stay here and give me a chance to untangle the mess. Okay?”

We sat heavily on the couch, sinking into the cushions. Ayla leaned into me. She reached for my hand, examining my knuckles, which were swelling up. At least the skin hadn’t broken. I’d only gotten in one punch.

“Oh, Teller. I’ll go ask for some ice. They better not have used it all on Paul.”

“No, I’ll worry about my hand later. I need to hold you, sweetheart.”

“I need that too.” She buried her face against my chest. “I’m supposed to be the troublemaker, not you.”

I wrapped her in my arms and kissed her hair. “Yeah. But I’d do anything for you. ”

“Like suddenly teleporting almost a thousand miles right when I need you most?”

“You’d have dealt with Ruxton like you did last night.” Though of course, I hated that she’d had to face that without me. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

“I don’t. But I do need you. You have no idea what a relief it is to have you here. To be able to touch you.” Her thumb traced over the scar on my cheek.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea, based on what I’m feeling.”

“How did you get here? I could’ve sworn you were in your house in Silver Ridge when I went to sleep a few hours ago.”

“Really want me to explain it all now? Or do you want me to kiss you?”

Her soft lips formed a small O. “The second one, please.”

I took her mouth with firm strokes of my tongue, lips caressing. A play of hot and sweet. It had been a month and a half since I’d had the pleasure of kissing this incredible woman. Too long.

And it meant something different now. This kiss was a confirmation. A promise.

You’re mine, and I’m yours .

We got lost in each other’s kisses for a while. But then she dropped her head to my shoulder with a sigh, tucking her forehead against my neck. I smoothed my palm down her back. “After we spoke last night, I knew I had to come here. Had to see you.”

She hadn’t asked outright for me to do this. But she’d said she needed me. In that moment, nothing in this world would’ve kept me from her.

As soon as Ayla had fallen asleep, I swallowed my pride and made a call.

“ Landry ?” Dane had sounded groggy. “ What’s going on ?”

“ Is that Teller ?” Grace asked in the background.

“ Sorry to wake you and Grace .”

“ Nah, don’t worry about it. If you’re calling this late, I’m sure it’s urgent .”

“ It is. I need a favor . ”

I recounted that conversation to Ayla. How I packed a bag, called the station about needing to make an emergency trip, and jumped in my car.

She sat up, blinking at me. “You flew out here on Dane’s jet?”

I nodded. “I’m lucky the timing worked out, and the jet was already in Colorado with a crew available on short notice.

I would’ve driven to Grand Junction and flown coach, but that would’ve taken a lot of extra hours.

I had to get to you as soon as possible.

Would’ve done pretty much anything. Even given Knightly a get-out-of-jail-free card. I owe him now.”

Ayla smiled. “What do you think he’ll ask for in return?”

“So far, he’s made me promise to sit in the dunk tank at the summer fundraiser for the Silver Ridge Children’s Center.”

“You in the dunk tank? I’ll have to be there to witness it.”

“I hope so.”

“But what about work? Piper and Ollie? I know how important they are to you.”

I tucked a lock of blond hair behind her ear. “You’re important too. Piper knows where I am, and she knows how I feel about you, and she’s already given her blessing. It turns out I might’ve been overplaying my role as protective older brother.”

“ You ? No.”

Her sarcasm made me chuckle. “Only reason I didn’t call you this morning was in case something came up, and somehow I didn’t make it. Didn’t want to disappoint you.” I never wanted to disappoint her. Men in Ayla’s past had let her down. I refused to be one of them.

“You are full of surprises, Teller Landry.”

When we were talking last night, Ayla had mentioned that she would be in the Santa Monica recording studio today. I did some detective work while I was on the plane to find the address. Then took a cab from the airport straight here.

I’d spent several minutes standing on the sidewalk, wondering how the heck to get in. The studio was unmarked, like they didn’t want random people walking in from the street. Go figure . I’d been about to call Ayla and say I was right outside.

But then Cheryl had stepped out, lighting a cigarette and looking harried. Good thing I’d met her once back in Hart County.

Cheryl had recognized me too. Hadn’t exactly been happy to see me, but she agreed to escort me inside past the studio’s security. Told me to wait in the lobby until Ayla was available.

But of course, I hadn’t waited. I’d heard Ayla’s voice down the hall. So I followed the sound and barged in through an open doorway, seeing absolute red when I found Paul with his hands on her.

“They really don’t need you at the station?” Ayla asked. “You told me about the vandalisms going on.”

“That’s definitely on my mind, but Sheriff Douglas is heading a task force to pinpoint the suspect. It’s not all on me.” As Piper reminded me yesterday.

Ayla kissed my cheek. “How long can you stay?”

“A few days. Through the weekend.” Frustration bled into my voice, because I couldn’t stay for long, and I couldn’t pack her up and smuggle her back to Silver Ridge either.

I had to focus on the present. Be in the moment. Like those yoga videos always said.

Ayla put her arms around my neck. “Earlier, I told Cheryl that I needed the weekend to myself. I was planning to head to Silver Ridge to visit you . I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.”

Damn. We’d been thinking the same thing. That gave me hope, more than anything else she’d said lately, that I wasn’t fooling myself. That I actually had a shot at keeping a woman like her.

“Then I take it you’re free this weekend,” I said.

“I am.”

“What about today? Assuming I don’t get hauled away in cuffs for smacking Paul around. If that happens, I might need help with bail.” How the tables had turned .

“They’ll take you away over my dead body.” Her frown was adorable. Especially that little crease when she scrunched her nose. “I’ll stage a protest. They can arrest me too.”

“I believe it. I’ve seen firsthand how difficult you can be.”

“That’s not ever going to change.” She leaned in to nuzzle at my jaw, and I nuzzled back.

“Glad to hear it.” Because I wanted the real Ayla. Opinionated and authentic. Even if things got messy. Her talent bowled me over every time I heard one of her songs, but her passion was even more addictive.

I still barely understood how this had happened to me. Falling for her so hard and so fast, and having even a fraction of those feelings returned. But there was no turning back. Not for me. I planned to be in her life for a long while.

In fact, I had my sights set on forever.