“Yeah, I’m like my dad.”
“Just less scary?”
I grin. “I can be scary.”
“I’m sure,” he says, a small chuckle leaving his lips. “Listen, I’m not perfect, not even kinda, but my body and my heart are worth the risk. Or, at least, I think so. I didn’t take getting close with you lightly. I knew what I would be asking. Again, I know you don’t know what is going on with me or even have a clue, but believe me, I don’t have any intentions of hurting you or betraying you or anything along those lines.”
I cup his jaw, my heart beating so hard it hurts. My skin prickles, and chills run up my spine. “No one is perfect, Wes. Everyone is a risk. Relationships are a risk,” I say softly, holding his gaze. “My mom once told me the biggest risk of her life was taking my dad back. Yeah, it was all a misunderstanding—he never cheated on my mom, but she thought he had. When he came back into her life, he wasn’t the man she had known. He had grown, he had changed, and she would tell me the fear of the unknown, the fear of his past coming to bite her, was terrifying but the risk was worth the reward.” His hand comes up, moving my hair out of my face and behind my ear. “You think I haven’t noticed that you aren’t the guy from Aiden’s wedding? You think I don’t see the change, the growth? Because I do. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting in your lap right now, begging you, urging you, not to believe a word that woman said to you. I don’t need to know your past to see that you could be my future, Wesley.”
His fingers bite into my back as he leans his forehead into my chin, and I can feel his heart beating frantically in his chest. When he tips his head back, his eyes meeting mine, I’m breathless at the light shining in them. He wants so desperately to be “good enough” for me, but he already is. I know he is. “Be my girlfriend, Stella,” he demands. “I know we said we’d wait for Aiden and all that, but I don’t want to. I want that label, that claim, now. I want you. Completely.”
I lean my nose into his, our eyes locked together as our breath matches in cadence. Surely, he sees the answer in my eyes, but just in case, against his lips, I say, “Wes, I am already yours.”
Chapter Nineteen
Wes
I have to say, I’ve done a good job surrounding myself with people who support me. Boon and Aiden have no clue about my past, and they didn’t even ask, just reassured me. Elli and Noelle fired someone for me. Then there is Stella, who, without knowing anything, put her heart out there for me to know she has my back. It’s insane to think that I went from having no support whatsoever from people who knew what happened, to now having people who don’t care what happened, only care about me. I haven’t felt like this since I lost my mom, but I have to say, it’s the best feeling in the world.
I glance over at Stella. Her hand is in mine as she texts with her other one. Dinner was fantastic, really good, but the company was better. Stella is exquisite, and I know she’s completely out of my league. She looks like a million bucks, belonging on the cover of Vogue rather than sitting in my truck. I love how her hair is full and long along her shoulders, and the dress she has on is unbelievable. Tight along her hips, short at her thighs, showing her gorgeous legs. She may not have big breasts, but I have to say, I love the valley they make on her chest. Just fucking stunning.
“Okay. Audrey knows we’ll be going to the shop.”
“Cool,” I say, holding her hand tightly. I almost feel like if I let go, she’ll disappear. I’ve never felt like this about someone. My past girlfriends—or hell, lovers—never made me feel safe the way Stella does. Like she said, this may be new, but fuck if it doesn’t feel right. I follow the directions she gives me, and when we arrive at Audrey Jane’s, I’m impressed by the look of the place. I was expecting a normal-looking building, but this place looks like an upscale restaurant.
“Go ahead and park in the back,” she suggests as she looks through her purse. I do as she asks, and when I park, I shut off the truck and get out to help her out. Once I open her door, she takes my hand, and I steady her since her heels are so high. She smiles a thanks, not letting go of my hand as she leads me toward the building. “I helped design this place. It’s amazing.”