Page 47 of Stormswept Colorado (Hart County #3)

“Landry. You’re still here.”

“I am.” I stepped aside to let her pass. “Ayla will join us in a few.”

“And you’re standing sentinel at her door? I thought your job was chief of police in Silver Ridge. Ayla has enough bodyguards already.”

“Yet until I showed up, she didn’t have the protection she needed.” I wasn’t interested in a verbal sparring match. I preferred to speak plainly. “You’re supposed to be her manager. You should’ve protected her from a predator like Paul Ruxton.”

Her face flushed red. “I had no idea. I feel terrible about what happened. But Ayla didn’t even tell me she had a stalker. I only knew about the first incident, and she downplayed it. How was I supposed to?—”

“Not another word. Don’t you dare put this on her.”

Ayla was already in a vulnerable place right now. If she heard Cheryl blaming her for what happened? No. I would not allow it.

“When Ayla comes in here, you’re going to listen to everything she has to say. You’re going to do whatever she asks. And you’re going to use this bullshit with Paul Ruxton to get her out of her recording contract with Ruxton Records.”

Ayla had told me, during one of our late-night conversations, about that iron-clad contract. How much she wanted out of it, but she had to wait another year to renegotiate. Even Paul’s attempt to kiss her probably wouldn’t have been enough.

But after this stalker madness? Give me a break.

Cheryl tightened her jaw. “I can try, but?—”

“No buts. Work with her lawyers and make it happen. I know I seem like just a small-town cop, but I can make your life difficult if it comes to that. I love Ayla, and there are no limits to what I’d do for her.”

Cheryl edged away, eyeing me like I was a feral animal. But then she said, “Good. Ayla deserves that. I suppose I can learn to get along with you.”

“If you still have a job after Ayla decides what to do with you. Never forget that you work for her , not the other way around.”

Cheryl blanched, but she nodded.

When Ayla came in, she pulled me aside and quietly said she’d like to speak with Cheryl on her own.

“I get it,” I assured her. “Just let me know if you need anything.” I’d already said my piece to her manager. Ayla was a successful businesswoman without any of my help. I just wanted to make things a little easier for her if I could.

While she was busy, I went downstairs and sat on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Called the station to see what was going on, then texted with Piper.

“Hey, handsome.” Ayla stepped out onto the balcony. The sun was setting, lighting up the sky and the waves with vibrant oranges and reds.

“C’mere.” I patted my thigh, and she slid into my lap, her arms going around my neck. “How’d it go with Cheryl?” I asked.

“She promised to confront Paul. She even offered to go to the police, but I’m not sure about that. I don’t want to bring River into this. I just want Paul to admit what he did, and I want the label to fire him.”

“Do you think that’s likely?”

She sighed. “I don’t know. Since his father is the owner? Maybe not. I can still go to the media. But I told Cheryl that I’m definitely done with Ruxton Records. I want out of my contract, and I don’t care what she or my lawyers have to do to make it happen.”

“And what did she say?”

“She was surprisingly supportive. I’d expected a lecture about how difficult the legal battle could be, but she said it was as good as done. She also apologized that she hadn’t realized what Paul was doing.”

I fought a smile. “Good.”

“You said something to her, didn’t you?”

I barked a laugh. “Guilty. But not because I don’t trust you to handle your own career. You obviously can. I just care about you. I want you happy.”

She leaned in for a slow kiss. “Thank you for being in my corner. You told me you would be, way back on the day we got stuck in that snowstorm. You’re a man of your word.”

I was glad she thought so.

My fingers slid into her silky hair as we kissed again. The sun was sinking fast into the horizon. “Do you think I’m a fool for sticking with this job?” she asked, so quietly I almost couldn’t hear her. “After everything?”

She was thinking of the paparazzi attention. The way her value was judged based on her appearance and the money she brought in. The betrayals by friends and employees she trusted. And of course, the latest manipulations by Paul, not to mention his outright harassment and threats.

It would be too much for many people to deal with. Much less someone who felt things as intensely as she did.

I sat back enough that I could look her in the eyes.

“The strength you’ve had to find within yourself, every single day, to survive in this industry is unbelievable.

But you give something special to the world with every single song.

I truly believe that.” I didn’t even know how to convey how beautiful her music, her talent , was.

How much her art meant to so many people .

“Is it worth it, though?”

“That’s a decision only you can make for yourself.”

“I know. Doesn’t make it easier.” She sighed, looking out at the ocean. “I’ll go to Silver Ridge with you tomorrow. I’m going to take some time to think. And be with you. More than anything, I want to be with you.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. I can’t wait to take you home.”