“Uhm, you look…” I started, before running a hand down over my mouth and shaking away the haze of lust. “Fuck, Stella, you look stunning.”
Shyness overcame her as her blush deepened and her eyes darted down to her boots. It’s clear that compliments made her uncomfortable, but I just couldn’t help myself. She looked stunning and deserved to know it.
“I picked up a few new things from the boutique. Thank you again for paying. I’ll make sure I get that money back to you when I’ve gotten a really steady check.” She said demurely, smoothing out the skirt of her dress nervously.
I scoffed and stood up, swiping my hat off the counter and stalking towards her. With a slow and deliberate movement, Iused my index finger to lift her chin, ensuring our eyes locked in a direct gaze.
“Trouble, it was worth every fucking cent if I get to experience how beautiful you look and feel. You deserve to feel sexy and confident. I can see that you feel both in that outfit, and that’s all the payment I need.” Rubbing my thumb softly across her jawline before taking a step back and putting my hat on, I crooked my elbow in offering and smiled when Stella broke out of the haze my words had caused, chuckled and slid her arm through mine.
The heat from her touch coiled down from my arm all the way to my toes and back up to my dick. I sure as shit wasn’t immune to how beautiful Stella was, the last thing I ever wanted to do was make her feel uncomfortable in her own home, and this house was her home just as much as it was mine, but I couldn’t stop myself from complimenting her tonight.
Stella put up her pointer finger in a ‘wait just a second’ motion and walked into the living room to find Angie posted up on the couch. She grabbed a small black clutch off the coffee table and handed Angie a piece of paper with what I can only assume are the instructions should Charlie wake up.
There was one thing I was absolutely certain of, no matter the circumstances, Stella was a kick ass mom.
I listened as she prattled off the instructions listed on the sheet to include phone numbers for everyone in attendance at Jack’s, the local hospital, poison control, and because she couldn’t help herself, 9-1-1. Angie’s nod accompanied Stella’s words, a clear sign that she understood the anxiety Stella felt about leaving Charlie, even for such a brief period.
I padded into the living room and put my hand on thesmall of Stella’s back. She instantly went rigid, but after taking a second to realize who was touching her, relaxed.
“Stell, I promise you, she’s going to be perfectly safe. If it will make you feel better, I’ll have Angie text me once an hour to let us know Charlie is still sleeping, and we promised to have you back before midnight.” I reiterated, hoping to give her an ounce of courage to leave Charlie behind for only a couple hours of ‘self-care.’
She deserved a night out more than anyone I knew. After watching how she and Charlie functioned for the last month, I was in awe. She made it look effortless, though I knew it was anything but.
“Thanks again for helping Ang,” I said to the teen taking up residence on our couch. She waved me off and grabbed the remote from the end table.
“It’s really no big deal. I’ve got nothing going on and a couple of episodes of Jeopardy to catch up on,” she said with a smile. “Now you two, go! Have a good time.” she shooed us towards the door. I wasn’t sure if she was sixteen or sixty, but I was thankful for her help.
Stella and I made our way towards the door and I once again crooked my elbow in offering. A light chuckle escaped her lips, and with a delicate movement, she once more linked her arm through mine. We walked out to the truck, and I rounded the passenger side, opening the door for her to help her in.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said with another breathy chuckle. “I can surely open my own door.”
I held her hand as she put one foot on the running board and balanced precariously on those booties to step into the truck. My truck wasn’t as lifted as Wade’s, but its height was still enough to make it impossible for her to step in from theground. Once seated, I reached across her lap and buckled her seatbelt.
“I’m aware, Trouble, I don’t have to. I want to.” I said as I leaned back out of the cab, the hitch in her breath audible as I invaded her space. As I walked around to the driver’s side, I took a second to adjust my cock in my jeans. Tonight was about to be a long night if just being gentlemanly and buckling her into the truck was enough to give me a semi.
The ride was short and relaxed, neither of us feeling any pressure to make conversation; the comfortable silence was preferable to forcing small talk. It only took about fifteen minutes for us to pull into the bar.
I parked the truck next to Wade’s and hopped out, grabbing my hat off the dash on the way, popping it on my head. I rounded the front of the truck just as Stella pushed the passenger door open and put one of those sparkled booties on the running board.
I held my hand out in help and tried to keep my eyes from roaming over the creamy skin of her legs where her dress had ridden up on her thighs.
“Listen here, darlin’,” I drawled. “My Ma raised a damn gentleman and if you don’t let me open the door for you, I’m sure she’d haunt me from the other side.”
She hopped out of the cab of my truck and stood toe to toe with me, our boots barely grazing each other. Though she was small, only coming up to my shoulder, the intensity of her gaze from beneath those thick, black lashes made me feel about two feet tall.
“You listen here, Cowboy,” she said, poking a slender finger into my chest. “I’m glad your momma raised a gentleman. The world sure could use a few more of them, especially my world - but I can open my own doors and get my ownseatbelt. I don’t need a white knight in Wranglers and cowboy boots to save me. I will save my damn self.”
Her tone was fierce in her declaration of independence, and that semi I’d been able to squash on the way over here reared its head again. The confidence in her eyes, the way she carried herself—everything about a woman who knew what she wanted was undeniably sexy.
The last month of living in Firefly Cove had sure done wonders for Stella’s self-assurance. I smirked down at the little spitfire, tipped my hat back and dipped my head to settle my lips right next to her ear.
“Yes, ma’am,” I whispered, letting the tickle of my breath skate across the shell of her ear. I could see her visibly shiver as I took a step back and held a hand out for her to walk ahead towards the door.
“After you, Trouble,” I added with a wink. I watched as her cheeks were tinted with a rosy blush and in that moment, that particular shade of pink became my absolute favorite color.
ELEVEN
max
