Stella"I'm here!" I yell as I throw my stuff down on my parents' couch. Even in my mid-twenties, that hasn't changed. It's what I did when I came home from school every day – kindergarten through twelfth grade – and what I do now every time I walk in."I love to hear those words out of your mouth every time you walk in," Mom says as she comes out of the kitchen, holding her arms open for me. "Since both you and Nick moved out, it's lonely around here.""No Mom, that's why Dad's here," I remind her."He's been working crazy hours lately with the implementation of what they hope will be the Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team. I've been hanging out with the girls, but I do miss you." She holds me tightly.I'm reminded that my mom is older, that even though she's in great shape, doesn't look like she's in her sixties, and still keeps a routine like someone thirty years younger than her, she's aging. I need to make time to spend with her. "I miss you too, things have just bee
StellaI'm nervous as Dad clears the table of the dinner dishes. My hands actually shake as I smooth the skirt of the dress I wear over my thighs. "Do we want some dessert?" I ask with what I know is more exuberance than is needed. "I got a chocolate cake at The Café today," Mom says from where she sits."Great, I'll make some coffee to go with it."The thing is, I need something to do with my hands, need something to keep me from blubbering like an idiot. If someone were to ask me why I'm so nervous, I can't really say. It just feels as if a big part of my life hangs in the balance of this outcome. "You don't have to be nervous," Dad tells me as he loads the dishwasher and I start the coffee pot."I shouldn't even be." I shake my head as I open the cake container, cutting us all pieces. "It means a lot to you." He finishes the dishwasher, before coming over to stand next to me. He leans with his back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "The things t
RansomThirty more minutes into this twelve-hour shift and I get to go home and see Stelle. Menace and I are making one last lap around town, before Nick comes on to relieve me, when I get behind a vehicle with expired tags. It's such a small mistake, most of the time it's because people either don't have the money to get it done, or they just overlook it. Most law enforcement will tell you though, this is how you sometimes catch the worst criminals. "You gonna stop him?" Menace asks as I see the expired date.It's my call and I'm completely aware of that. Even though Menace is my superior he will totally respect my decision. Something in my gut tells me to pull this car over, and I've always trusted my gut. Keying my radio, I give dispatch the plate number, let them know there are three occupants, and wait to see if anything comes back on the plate."Ransom, the car isn't reported as stolen, but the owner of this vehicle is showing a suspended license out of Birmingham and ha
StellaThis kiss is everything a kiss should be. Passionate, sweet, tingle-inducing. The sweep of his tongue against mine is enough to make me wet. He owns me without words. The pressure of his lips against mine, the feel of his body spreading my thighs, his fingers denting my flesh. Ransom Thompson owns me, and when he breaks the kiss, I'm panting, fisting his hair in between my fingers, grinding against him as I rest my back against the wall."Damn, Stelle." The deep timbre of his voice washes over me like a wave crashing against the shore, leaving the bubbles in the sand behind as it rolls back out. Goosebumps appear all over my skin, causing my nipples to peak, and a shiver to run completely through my body as I listen to that kiss-drunk voice of his. "I've wanted that kiss all day.""Me too, handsome, me too."His hands travel further around my thighs, holding on tightly as he turns us from the wall. "As badly as I want you right now, I really need a damn shower. I've been
Stella"Looks like you had a good night."A smile spreads across my face as I hear the voice behind me in the line at the Quick Mart. I left Ransom's with just enough time to grab some coffee and still be able to make it to the office on time. Taking a drink, I hope it cures some of the exhaustion I feel, thanks to my late night. Truth is, I wouldn't change it. It was hard leaving Ransom this morning. But it'll be worth it to see the guy behind me. Turning, I face my brother, Nick.What's weird is I never thought I'd have a brother. My parents were happy with me, and then having tried for years afterward, were content with me being an only child. Until, fate intervened, like it seems to do with the Keplers. I can still remember the day he came to live with us. He was so quiet, scared of everything, and called Dad, Sir. It took him months to get comfortable, but we never gave up. I can still remember the night Dad came home from his shift, him quietly telling Mom and me about t
Ransom"Wanna tell me why you wanted to hang tonight?" I ask Nick as we sit in the backyard, watching some brush I've removed from my fence-line burn. We're both nursing beers, but he hasn't been talking much. If I don't move it along, we may here until the sun comes up, and I may never figure out what the fuck is going on in his head. "Not that I mind, but it sounded urgent, and now that you're here, you haven't said ten words."Looking over, I watch as he drains his beer, crushes the can, and throws it in the fire. It's obvious he's conflicted, but he's not ready to talk about it yet. He cracks open another beer and has a seat next to me, letting his arms dangle between his legs. He sighs deeply, running a hand over his jaw. He hasn't shaved, which is unlike him. He isn't like me, a little lazy most of the week; he's more on the clean-shaven side. That is enough to worry me slightly about what is bothering him. "Kels made a move on me last night," he finally speaks, almost low
StellaR: What are you up to on this lovely day.Glancing out the window of the clinic, I have to laugh. It's been raining for the past two days, which has made it difficult for us to see each other. More wrecks means more hours, which means my man has been pulling some overtime, and that's drastically cut into my staying over. Even when he comes home it's very late, and both of us do need our sleep sometimes.S: Finishing up some reports I have to do, then I'm heading to pick up Molly and Levi for Kels. R: Are you watching those little hellraisers?S: LOL! No. I'm taking them over to the school for Ruby. I guess Caleb's working, and she's going to start packing on her room today. According to Kels the transition of the jobs can't come fast enough.R: Yeah, I had lunch with Caleb this afternoon, and he seems pretty excited about the possibilities this will open up for them as a family. It's gotta be hard.S: Being with people is hard, throwing in responsibilities makes i
StellaI'm playing with the paper of my straw wrapper as I wait for Nick to meet me at The Café. Miracle of all miracles we've made time for one another, just like we said we would. A week later than originally planned, but better late than never. He's running late, which isn't unusual for when we meet each other like this. He knows I'll wait, and I know I'll be waiting. It's our own little thing.Leigh comes over to the booth I'm sitting in, and I can't help but notice how Ransom has her smile. "Hey Stella, how's it going?""Not bad," I answer, nervously rubbing on the pearl studs in my ears. For some reason, I think this woman should be able to tell I've been sleeping with her son. "Just been busy. I'm going back to school," I announce to her, an edge of excitement in my voice.There had been a late drop out in the nursing program, and because my family is well-connected in the community, and Aunt Blaze is who she is, some strings had been pulled and I'd been accepted. "I