Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

I swallow hard as I stay locked in her gaze, watching as her tears fall.

“And I promise to help you replace those painful memories with only good ones. To continue to love you with every ounce of my being and to always remind you of how truly incredible you are. How proud I am of you.”

“Stella, I was weak back then. How could you say all that when—”

She squeezes my hand, her eyes pleading with mine. “Wes, you were a child, and no one protected you. Everything I say comes from my heart and is completely my truth. Believe me, trust in my words—and in my heart.”

I reach out, wiping her face, before I hold her jaw in mine. “I love you, Stella Brooks.”

She leans into my hand. “I love you.”

I clear my throat as she brings her hand up, holding her palm over my hand. “I’m sorry I closed you out again.”

“We are working on it.”

“We are.”

Stella’s eyes brighten a bit, and she gives me a small smile. “I’ll forgive you, but only because you haven’t called the cops on my sister for breaking in to your house.”

I smile back at her, bringing her closer to me so our lips can meet. I kiss her with everything inside me. All the pain may still be there, but I’m ignoring it because her lips are on mine. I love the man she sees in me, and she deserves that man because she has no problem giving her all to me. She may not have had any trauma in her life, but that doesn’t keep her from loving me despite mine. That’s the woman I want in my corner. The woman I want supporting me. Add in her batshit crazy sister, and she’s right. How can I let those people ruin this life I’ve worked so hard for? Fought for.

As we part, I press my nose into hers, sliding it along hers as I gaze into her eyes. “The Assassins didn’t make the play-offs. I’m bummed.”

“It’s okay. There is always next year,” she reminds me, kissing my nose. “My parents found out I quit school.”

“How?” I ask with a grimace.

“A letter came in with a refund check since my parents had paid next semester’s tuition already.”

“Damn. Did they get mad?”

“They started to, but Emery got us out of there by saying Asher and Ally got married.”

I shake my head. “That girl would kill for you.”

“It’s terrifying and pleasing all in one,” she says with a grin, and I cuddle her closer.

I love when she smiles. Shit, who am I kidding? I love everything about her. “How did I get so lucky to be with the most remarkable girl of my dreams?”

Her lips curve. “That didn’t start with an S. You’ve failed me.”

I laugh. “I’m sorry, my shocking Stella.”

She snorts. “I like that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, and I’ve told you this over and over again,” she says, her eyes dancing with mine. “It was the black eye. Total turn-on. Oh, and the tandem bike, which, by the way, you still haven’t bought us.”

Our laughter collides as I wrap her in my arms, falling back onto the bed, and our legs tangle together so perfectly. Our lips meet for only a second before she pulls back, asking, “Do you feel better?”

I don’t answer her for a moment. I wait for all the hurt they caused to rush back since I’m willing myself to think about it once more.

But it doesn’t.

All I feel is this all-consuming love for the gorgeous woman in my arms. “I feel loved.”

“That’s a given, and you should never not feel like that.”

I nod. “I know that now. Thank you.”

Stella sets me with a look. “Don’t thank me for something that is so easy to give you, Wes. I’m yours.”

My heart explodes in my chest as I hold her closer. “All mine?”

“All yours.”

She doesn’t even have to say the words; they’re in her eyes. Like a huge neon sign, flashing brightly to let me know the truth. As I gaze into her eyes, completely bewitched by them, I decide I don’t want to allow bad memories to ruin me anymore. I want to make new ones.

With my stupendous, sexy, splendid, superb, superlative, sensual, spicy, stimulating, surprising, stunning, shocking Stella.

My future.

Epilogue

Stella

I’m not sure why Shelli gave in to Aiden’s need for a strong name, but I do adore the name Roman Lucas.

As I hold my month-old nephew, I see only Shelli. He does have Aiden’s lips and maybe his eyes, but I might be wrong. I don’t know. I just know I love this little dude. I never thought being an aunt would be so awesome, but it is. I stroke his dark hair along his head, cooing at him, ignoring the busy room. I tend to do that when Roman is here.

“My God, Stella, these cupcakes are unreal.”