by Aliyah Burke
Following her quickly, Colt glared at the men. He would allow no one to disrespect her. Halting her at the door, he took her keys from her and pressed the button. “Wait in here until it warms up. I don’t want you to be cold,” he ordered softly.
Still more than a little embarrassed, Aspen waited by the door until she knew her car would be comfortably warm. Colt had gone back upstairs to change into whatever he was going to wear for hunting and Aspen didn’t wait for him to come back down. Nodding one last time at the men who still watched her, Aspen slipped through the door, ran to her car and went home.
When Colt came back down the stairs, he looked for her and felt a sharp pang of disappointment when he realized she had left. The men wisely kept their mouths shut as Colt grabbed his gun and whistled for his dogs to load up in the truck.
* * * *
She felt like a child sneaking in way past curfew as she climbed the steps to her house. Aspen shut the door behind her and heaved a huge sigh of relief. For some reason she expected to have someone giving her the third degree.
“You look like you are running from something, daughter,” Patrick Townsend’s voice shocked her eyes wide open.
“Daddy?” Aspen’s voice came out in a squeak. She hadn’t seen his vehicle anywhere.
Patrick rose from where he had been sitting on the couch to walk toward his daughter. He wore slacks and a turtleneck, looking as together as he always did. “Where’ve you been, pumpkin? Your mother and I tried to call you but we didn’t get an answer.” His sharp gaze roamed over her attire and he added with a quirk of an eyebrow. “Although, by your attire, I could easily guess where you were, and with whom.”
Standing tall, Aspen met her father’s gaze squarely. She may be embarrassed and she was, but damn it, she was a Townsend and they didn’t cower.
Her father chuckled. “I know. I don’t have any business asking you what you were doing. But I am still your father, pumpkin. Now, I am here to help you finish up the baking. Your mother said we needed to spend some more time together.” Pushing up his sleeves, he added, “So I’ll be in the kitchen; join me there when you are done getting cleaned up.”
Aspen did as she had been, not-so-subtly, told to do and went upstairs to shower and change. Once again clean and in her own clothes, she headed downstairs to meet her father in the kitchen. Patrick had already taken out the dough from the previous day and was busy rolling it out.
“How are you doing, pumpkin?” Patrick asked as she walked in the kitchen.
“I’m okay, Daddy. Why do you ask?” She grabbed a bowl and began to gather ingredients for the frosting she was going to make.
“We were just wondering how your Mr. Larkin felt about you going to California?”
The spoon cluttered against the side of the bowl. “How did you know about the California thing? And he’s not my Mr. Larkin.”
“A nice man named Erick Slaton called us to see if you were there, because he wanted to talk to you about the offer.” He looked at his child. “Why didn’t you tell us about the offer? Have you even told Colton about this?”
Pouring in the sugar, Aspen took a deep breath. “I really don’t know what I am going to do. I love the idea of going to work for them, but all of a sudden now, I just don’t know.”
“Colton?” Patrick wondered as he put the crust in the pan and cut off the excess.
“I could lie and say no, but what’s the point?” Aspen mixed the frosting. “I haven’t told him. I don’t know what to tell him, I don’t know what to tell myself. I can’t seem to come to a decision.”
“Have you made a list of the pros and cons?” Her father was a firm believer in lists.
“No, sir.” She walked to the cupboard and picked out the colors and the extra bowls that she needed to separate the frosting into. “I’m trying to work it out in my head.”
“You know a list is the way to go.” He walked over to the fridge, opened it, and took out the pie fillings.
“Would you be okay with me going?”
“Pumpkin, your mother and I will support whatever decision you make.” He set the pies to the side and began rolling out some more dough.
Turning on the oven, Aspen nodded. “I know. I am just so confused about what to do.”
Dropping a strong arm around his only surviving child, Patrick kissed her on the cheek. “Pumpkin, if you feel like you are called to go down there, then you should go. We will be fine. I know you want to stay near because of Ashton, but if you want to go, go.”
For a brief moment, Aspen relaxed against her father. She felt so safe with him near. “Thank you, Daddy. For understanding.” She kissed him in return. “I promise I will let you know as soon as I make a decision.”
“About your Colton as well,” he commanded.
“He’s not mine, Daddy.”
“I’m not so sure about that, pumpkin.” Patrick Townsend observed as he walked back over to work on the pies again.
Chapter Twelve
Tuesday afternoon, Aspen was back at her brother’s graveside. She had brought a blanket along with her this time and sat upon it as she arranged the flowers by his headstone.
“I miss you, Ashton. So much. Mom and Dad know about the offer of the job in California.” She tenderly touched the letters of his name.
“Excuse me,” a female’s voice intruded on her reunion.
Glancing up toward the voice, Aspen found herself looking into the face of a woman she didn’t recognize. “Yes?” she asked, not entirely pleased about the interruption.
“I’m so sorry for intruding on your time, but I really felt the need to introduce myself to you. I’m Kyssa.” The woman touched her heart. “Kyssa LaPorte.”
LaPorte. Aspen knew that name. She looked again at the woman before her. The blonde hair barely covered the scars across the left side of her face. Even though they had never met, Aspen knew deep in her gut that this was the woman her brother had given his life for.
Rising, Aspen held out her hand. “Aspen, Aspen Townsend.”
The delicate hand that settled into hers trembled. “I have never come to his grave, and I am so sorry about that.” The blue eyes blinked a few times, nervously. “Ten years and this is the first time I have come here and paid my respects.” She looked disgusted with herself.
“I am sure he understands.” Aspen tilted her head and said, “I would love to talk to you some more. My house isn’t far away. Would you like to stop by and talk?”
The tiny woman nodded. “I would really like that.”
“You can follow me.” Aspen dropped Kyssa’s hand and picked up the blanket. “Until later, Big Bro.” The two women walked in silence to their respective cars and drove to Aspen’s house.
Aspen set the plate of cookies and coffee down in front of her guest before she took a seat opposite her at the small table. Her light gaze focused on the woman who stirred in the sugar and cream into her drink.
Finally those blue eyes rose to meet Aspen’s. “I am so sorry for your loss,” Kyssa began. “I don’t know why I haven’t been by sooner. I guess I was scared that you would hate me for taking your brother away from you.”
Sipping her coffee, Aspen felt the sorrow pouring off the woman. “For a while, I know I did. But what he did was what Ashton was all about. Helping people without thought or concern for his own well being.”
Blue eyes grew empty as she was transported back in time. “I still remember that night like it was yesterday. I was walking from the theater to my car, dumb enough to take a shortcut instead of staying in the better-lit areas.” She paused for a bite of sugar cookie.
“Three men stepped out of the shadows, placing themselves in front of me. I could smell the alcohol seeping from their skin and clothes as they approached. I could see my car, I was so close. Skirting around them, I bolted for the safety of my car.”
Her hand trembled as she took another drink. Kyssa was staring off at a view only she could see. “I had pressed the button to unlock it a
nd as my hand was on the handle, one of them jerked me from behind, spinning me around to slam my back against the solid door.” Her voice shook with memory of the night.
“All of them had knives and they just started slashing at me. I shoved my purse at them, hoping it would appease them and they would leave. My coat was soon in tatters and they were slicing my body, my arms, my stomach, and my face.”
Tears welled up in Aspen’s eyes as she listened to the recounting of the events that led to her brother’s death. “When the lights fell upon us, my first thought was it was the police and I was saved. When I heard his voice yelling at them to leave me alone, I had hope again.
“Since the interruption, they let go of me and I slumped to the ground. I remember looking up and seeing a man standing over me, between me and my attackers. Those men attacked him as one.” Kyssa reached for Aspen’s hand. “It was obvious they had merely been toying with me, for they were vicious in their attack of him.”
Aspen’s tears overflowed and began running down her face. Her hand tightened on Kyssa’s. “One of the men had been knocked down and didn’t get up. One ran off as soon as the sirens were audible, but third was locked in a struggle with your brother. As soon as the lights from the emergency response vehicles showed up, he ran.”
Kyssa wiped away her own tears. “I saw my hero fall and I crawled over to him. Sticking out of his chest was a knife. He was alive, although barely. His beautiful eyes looked at me and he asked me if I was okay. I tried to stop the bleeding as the police ran up to us.” Kyssa closed her eyes at the memory.
Taking a deep breath, Kyssa forged on. “Your brother tried to comfort me, as if unmindful of his own injuries, and told me I reminded him of his sister, Aspen.” Azure eyes looked into and held brown. “His last words were of you and his love for you. I am so sorry I took him from you. So sorry,” she cried.
Aspen sat in silence holding tightly onto Kyssa’s hand. Tears ran freely down her face. I love you, too, Ashton. I love you, too. “Thank you for telling me,” Aspen said quietly.
Kyssa bit her lip and looked at her—her blue eyes shimmered from the tears she had shed. “I didn’t only come for that. I came to ask you something as well.”
“What?” Aspen dropped her hand and curled her shaking fingers around her coffee mug, grateful for the heat.
“I have since gotten married and we are expecting our first child.”
“Congratulations.”
Kyssa reached for Aspen’s hand again and covered it with both of hers. “We are having a boy and I wanted to ask if I could name my son after your brother? I would be so proud for my child to carry the name of the man who made it so I could marry and have my baby.”
Aspen’s heart overflowed with emotion. “Yes,” she agreed immediately. “I know Ashton would be honored by that and so am I.”
With a smile, Kyssa nodded. “Thank you.”
Squeezing her hand, Aspen sent her a wobbly smile. Her emotions were still skyrocketing from the story and the news that Kyssa’s baby was going to be named after Ashton. “No, thank you.”
With a glance at the wall clock, Kyssa cleared her throat. It was late and almost dark out. “I should get going. I don’t want to keep you from anything.” She finished the rest of her coffee and reached for another cookie. “These are wonderful cookies.”
Standing, Aspen headed for her cupboard. “Well, let me get you some to take with you.” She quickly filled a container with layers of the scrumptious cookies: sugar, peanut butter, and more. “Here you are.”
Kyssa took the cookies and the two women walked back to the front door. Aspen stood out on the front porch as Kyssa started her car and put the package inside. With a wave she smiled up to Aspen on the porch before she shut the door and ran back up the stairs and threw her arms around Aspen.
No words were needed as the women hugged. One last squeeze and Kyssa pulled away. Aspen met her gaze and they both nodded before Kyssa turned around and headed back to her car, neither of them paying attention to the Jeep that pulled into the drive.
One final wave and Kyssa climbed into her vehicle and drove away. Aspen closed her eyes against the tears and cold. Her pain faded a bit as she saw Colt climb out of his Jeep with his dogs and approach.
* * * *
Colt watched a woman he didn’t know hug Aspen and drive away. His eyes took in her figure. She wore a beige turtleneck sweater over a pair of blue jeans. But it was her face that caught his attention. It was full of sadness.
“Hey, baby,” he greeted her as he walked up her steps. Pulling her into his embrace, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. “You okay?”
“I will be,” Aspen answered in a soft voice.
Guiding her inside, Colt shut the door and watched her kneel down and hug Valor, her fingers digging into the plush coat. When she gazed up at him, he saw the tears hovering at the edge of her eyes. “Baby, what’s wrong? Who was that woman?”
Standing, Aspen allowed him to lead her to the couch. “That was Kyssa LaPorte…the woman Ashton died saving.”
“Oh, baby,” he crooned, gathering her in close to his hard body. Colt held her and rocked her the wave of tears ceased.
“She wanted to ask me if she could use Ashton’s name for her unborn child.” Aspen burrowed into Colt’s chest.
His mouth by her ear he murmured, “And you said?”
Her head nodded. “I know Ash would be proud to have his name carried on.”
“I know he would be, baby. I know he would be.”
The phone rang, separating the couple. Aspen reached for the receiver and spoke in a raspy voice, “Hello?”
Colt kissed her on the cheek, stood and walked to the kitchen for a drink.
Aspen joined him soon. “That was Mama. She wants us to come for dinner, so unless you have plans…”
“I would love to go to dinner with you at your parents’ house.” Colt drained his drink and put the cup in the dishwasher. “What time is dinner?”
An inferno blazed to life in Aspen’s gaze as she raked her eyes over his body. “Unfortunately, in the next fifteen minutes.”
Liquid metal ran over her body as his gaze answered hers with a glow of his own. “Don’t look at me like that, baby, or we will be late to your parents’ house.”
Her eyes settled at the juncture of his thighs, where a hard ridge sat pressed tightly against the confines of his jeans. “Can’t send you out like that, now can I?” she purred seductively as her fingers reached for the button.
“Aspen,” he groaned. “Don’t do this.”
The zipper was slowly lowered. “Don’t do what? Help relax you?” Her dark hands tugged his jeans down over his hips. She unfastened the button on the fly of his boxers and slid her hand inside, purring contentedly as she found what she had sought.
Pulling her hand back, Aspen exposed his hardened penis to the air and her lustful gaze. At the tip of the purplish head, she could see the drop of moisture lingering there. Her eyes blinked, once, languidly, as she went down on her knees and took him in her mouth.
“Aspen!” he emitted in a short bark. Colt grabbed hold of the countertop behind him as her mouth worked its magic on him.
A rumbling growl of contentment emerged from her throat as she sucked on her treat. Aspen licked his thick shaft with her tongue and swirled it about the head of his erection. Her fingers gripped the base as she feasted.
Colt trembled. He dug his fingers into the coolness of the counter as Aspen knelt before him. His eyes had rolled back into his head, as he relished the feel of her mouth on him.
Aspen drew harder and faster on him and smiled as she felt his hips begin to move. Suddenly his hands were fisted into her hair as he pumped deep into her waiting mouth.
“I’m almost there, baby,” he ground out in a guttural tone.
Aspen increased the tightness of her mouth as her hands dropped to hold onto his naked hips. Her eyes were closed in pleasure as she took all she could from the man before her.
“Almost,” he panted. “Oh, shit…here it comes, baby.” Colt shouted as he thrust deep into her mouth and shot his load of sperm into the back of her throat.
Her lips stayed latched onto him until she had milked everything she could from him. Then and only then did she open her eyes and release his penis. He was still hard and Aspen wanted to take it in her hand and do it all over again. She licked her lips as she imagined sucking on him again.
“We are going to be late,” Colt growled. “Come here.”
Scrambling back, Aspen grinned wickedly. “No, Colt. We have to get going.” She pointed at him. “Put your clothes back on.” As his eyes narrowed at her, she stood and ran upstairs to brush her teeth.
Coming out of the bathroom, Aspen froze as she saw Colt waiting for her in her bedroom. The fire in his eyes hadn’t cooled, if anything, it had gotten hotter. “You are a naughty woman, Aspen. But you are right, we need to go. I will show you what that did to me later on, though.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I think I know what it did to you. I was there.” She backed away as he took a menacing step toward her. “We have to go,” she squeaked out.
* * * *
Dinner was relaxed and fun. Aspen told her family of the visit she received and they were also honored by the request. The rest of the time, her parents interrogated Colt on his plans for the future.
Anytime Aspen tried to intervene on his behalf, he merely shook his head saying he didn’t mind answering their questions. All during dinner, his eyes burned with a heat for Aspen that she knew her parents were aware of. They were sitting across from one another and he played footsie with her through dinner as well.
After dinner, Aspen and her mother were in the kitchen cleaning up while Colt and her father were in the living room. “I’m sure he’s fine, Aspen,” Shoya said as she witnessed her daughter sneaking a peek into the living room for the umpteenth time.
“I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable, Mama.”
“Colt is a man who can take care of himself. Don’t worry.”