Page 134 of Smokey's Distraction
“Me too. I’m sorry for calling the police on you.” She tipped her head toward Tanner. “He was harassing and stalking me, but I didn’t know who it was.”
Mark held up his hand. “I understand. No explanation is needed. You don’t look so good. I better call an ambulance.”
Ashley started to protest, but a throbbing head, a cold sweat breaking out all over her body, and the overwhelming nausea stopped her. She kept drawing in deep breaths to steady herself, while images from her attack assaulted her mind.I can’t believe Jared was Tanner. I wonder if he followed me up here. He dyed his hair, and did something with his eyebrows.
“The ambulance is on its way, and so are the police,” Mark told her.
“Thank you.”And the guy I thought was the craziest turned out to be my savior. Who would’ve thought it?
“Gage and I will take care of things here. Don’t worry about anything but getting better.”
She smiled at him—or she thought she did—and closed her eyes, hoping that when she woke up, this would all have been a horrible nightmare.
* * *
Ashley wokeup to feathery kisses across her temple. The scent of leather, fresh air, and sunshine wrapped around her.Smokey!She tried to open her heavy lids, but it was too painful.
“Are you awake, darlin’?” His voice ran over her senses like a sea of warm honey.
Stabs of pain prevented her from opening her mouth. Instead, she put her hand on top of his.
“I rode as fast as I could, but I didn’t get there in time.” The anguish in his voice was hard to miss.
Shaking her headno,she squeezed his hand, feeling his soft lips lightly brush against her split ones.
“You’re going to be fine. I spoke to the doc, and he said you’ll be able to go home in about a week. Once you’re out, I’ll take care of you. When you’re stronger, we’ll ride this new trail I discovered in Telluride.”
She heard the tenderness in his voice, as well as the regret, and she loved him for it. She wanted to tell him that she loved him with all her heart, that she had found her home, and that it was safely in his arms. She loved Smokey with a fire that could never be extinguished, and it killed her that he was blaming himself for what happened to her. Once the pain subsided, Ashley would tell him how she felt.
“I missed you something terrible,” he said. “When Whitney called me, I hauled ass, but it was too late.”
Again, she shook her headno.
He chuckled. “All right, I get it.” He took both of her hands in his. “I want to tell you something I’ve been feeling for a while now.” He cleared his throat. “I love you, darlin’, and every time I see you, I want to hold you in my arms and never let go. You fill all the dark places in my heart. There’s no way I can imagine my life without you.” Small kisses peppered her hands.
Her body smiled all over. Slipping her hand from his, she pointed to herself, then to her heart, and then to him.
“Fuck, that’s awesome.”
Ashley felt his head against her shoulder, his warmth wrapping around her like a favorite blanket.
Smokey was home, and he loved her.
Even in pain, all was right again in her universe.
23
One monthlater
“So you’re not coming back?”Nicole said as disappointment laced her tone.
“No. My life is here with Smokey,” Ashley replied. “But we’ll still see each other. Denver isn’t that far, you know.”
“I know, but it won’t be the same. Is he taking good care of you?”
Ashley chuckled. “Like a mother hen.”
“I still can’t believe that Jared wanted to kill you. I almost went out with him.”
