Spectrum (Stone Society #14) - Faith Gibson Page 0,23

dreamily. Whether her expression was from the pain meds or the mate bond, he didn’t know.

“Hey, Cyrus. I’m sorry I left you hanging. I know you didn’t come with me to sit in a hotel.”

“Nah, don’t worry about me. How’s Stella?”

Zeke stepped into the stairwell and relayed everything.

“Damn, Brother. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“It kind of is. If you hadn’t come to visit, you’d have been here with your female,” Cyrus stated, almost as though he had read Zeke’s mind.

“No, that is all on her attacker. But what’s done is done. Stella will be okay in a few days. I’m taking her to my beach house. You’re welcome to come with us. There’s plenty of room, and I’d like to spend more time getting to know you.”

“Yeah? I’ve never been to the beach. If you’re sure, I’d love to take you up on your offer.”

Zeke realized he wanted that a lot. He wanted to be alone with Stella, but he wouldn’t be able to claim her until after she was feeling better. Plus, he still had to tell her the truth.

“Absolutely. We won’t be going home until tomorrow at the earliest, so if you’d like to go ahead and take the rental, I can give you the keys as well as the security code. You’ll be more comfortable there than in a hotel.”

“Sure, I’d love that. Is there anything you need me to bring you?”

“Actually, there is.” Zeke told Cyrus the one thing he wanted his brother to pick up for him, thanked him, then headed back to Stella’s room.

Chapter Six

“Please tell me you were both joking about being engaged,” Sheila said as soon as the door closed.

Stella wished they hadn’t been kidding, and wasn’t that crazy? And what was even crazier was the dream she had where Zeke told her about being some kind of shapeshifter. How the two of them were fated mates, destined to be together for a long time. Stella wasn’t one to remember her dreams, but she remembered that one. She blamed it on the drugs.

“It was the only way Zeke could get in last night.”

Shelia brushed a strand of hair behind her own ear. “I need to call the office and ask off for next week. Anson said you need to rest for the next few days.”

“Anson?”

“Dr. Crabtree.” Her mom blushed and walked over to stare out the window.

“Is he hot?” Stella asked. She was fading, but she didn’t want to fall asleep again until Zeke returned.

“What? Who?” Sheila grabbed Stella’s cup and took it to the bathroom. When she returned, she refilled it with fresh water.

Stella grinned. “Anson. Who else?”

“He’s, well yes, but… Anyway, he said you can go home tomorrow barring any setbacks today.”

“She’ll be coming home with me,” Zeke announced as he entered the room. “I’m taking Stella to my beach house. I think she needs to put some distance between her and Calhoun while she heals.”

Stella knew Sheila would protest, but there was nothing more Stella wanted than to go with Zeke. “Thank you, Zeke. I appreciate the offer. I need to call Kerri Barnett and see if she’s the one covering my classes this week.”

“Stella—”

“No, Mom. This is what I want. Besides, you used all your vacation time for our trip.” Stella yawned, and her head throbbed. “Please hand me my phone so I can call Kerri, then I need a nap.”

Sheila did as asked, but she wasn’t happy with Stella’s decision. Things with Zeke were moving at Mach speed, but she didn’t care. She trusted him. The way she knew Bradley wasn’t right for her, Stella knew Zeke was. She had already planned on visiting him in New Oceanside during winter break, but now she got to do that a week earlier. Kerri admitted Bradley had called her in to sub, then Stella briefly explained what happened.

“Everything okay with your brother?” Stella was trying hard to stay awake. She wanted nothing more than to talk to Zeke.

“Yes. When I found out what happened, he offered to come with me. He’ll be here in a little while to get the key to the beach house, and then he’s going to drive there this afternoon instead of staying in a hotel.”

“Stella, I don’t like this.” Shelia had no trouble speaking her mind, and it often embarrassed Stella. “You’re going home with not one but two strangers.”

“Mom, Zeke isn’t a stranger. I’ve never given you reason not to trust me. I’m a good judge of character, and I was planning on