Spectrum (Stone Society #14) - Faith Gibson Page 0,43

house, attempting to kidnap her, then shooting at Zeke, he was arrested on multiple counts and currently sat in jail where he would stay, hopefully for a long time. Stella put it out of her mind and focused on getting to know Zeke as well as Cyrus and Thomas.

Cyrus got control of his beast while Thomas remained at his sister’s house, visiting daily with Stella. The two became fast friends as they took walks along the water with Nonna. After a couple weeks, Cyrus and Thomas were finally together with Zeke acting as chaperone. When Cyrus had his shifter under control, he and Stella left the two men alone and went back to Stella’s house for a few days where they packed all her belongings. Stella put her house up for sale since they didn’t need it. They planned to use the money to purchase their first project. Before they got busy flipping a property, they were going to enjoy each other while nestled in what Zeke called their cabin.

The cabin was larger than the beach house, but to her, it felt more like home. The small town nearby was filled with friendly people, stunning scenery, and the best down-home cooking Stella ever tasted. Stella bought several cookbooks so she could replicate the meals they had while eating out. Zeke proved to be an excellent cook, and between them, they created some stellar dishes. Fried chicken with biscuits and gravy was Stella’s favorite. They worked off all the calories later in bed. In her previous relationships, Stella could take or leave sex. With Zeke? She was insatiable.

Speaking of her husband, Zeke was on the phone with his brother. Cyrus and Thomas had returned to Montana, and according to Cyrus, Thomas had taken to ranch life like he had been born to it. Even though he could work from anywhere, Thomas sold his business so he could focus on helping Cyrus and the elder Gillespies. As an apology of sorts from Jonas, he sent Tamian to Cyrus’s place and his parents’ ranch to “speak” to all the animals. When Stella asked Zeke about Tamian, he admitted he hadn’t been aware of his cousin’s ability to talk to animals. He also didn’t know how Jonas was aware of Cyrus’s trip back home, but he chalked it up to Julian being involved somehow.

“That’s wonderful news, Brother. Congratulations. Of course Stella and I will be there.” Stella already knew Cyrus had proposed. Thomas texted her almost every day, filling her in on life on the ranch. She was excited about visiting Montana and seeing the couple again.

She and Zeke had gotten married in a little chapel in New Gatlinburg the first Saturday after they arrived in Tennessee. They had been walking around the tourist town, stopping in all the shops, sampling everything from fudge to flavored moonshine, of which Stella was a fan. They had passed by more than one chapel when Zeke mentioned there was no waiting period. A few hours later, they came home with matching wedding bands and several mason jars filled with different varieties of moonshine, and every night after one of their home-cooked meals, Stella sipped the tasty alcohol.

Stella glanced down at the stunning band which matched her promise ring. Zeke admitted to purchasing the rings at the same jeweler before they left California. When he asked if she wanted to wait until her mom could be there with them, Stella told him no. Sheila had her own life now with Dr. Crabtree, and Stella prayed he would be the man who finally stuck around.

After Zeke hung up with Cyrus, Stella went to him where he sat on the sofa and straddled his lap. Curling her arms around his neck, she leaned in for a kiss. “I take it we’re going to Montana?”

“Yes, but you already knew that.” Zeke nuzzled Stella’s neck, kissing the spot just below her ear that drove her crazy.

“Thomas told me Cyrus proposed.” Stella gripped Zeke’s hair, tugging his head back so she could see his eyes.

“What? I can’t kiss my wife?”

“Not like that. You know what that spot does to me.”

Zeke grinned. “But you’re the one who straddled my lap knowing what that spot does to me.”

Oh yes, Stella knew, but she couldn’t help herself. “How long do we have?” she asked, wiggling her butt over his erection.

In one of his faster-than-should-be-possible moves, Zeke had Stella flat of her back on the sofa with his weight on top of her. Her legs spread automatically,