Page 120 of Sterling Stone

Suddenly, the porch light flickers on and off. On and off.

Taxi pulls back, glares at the light, and tucks her head into my chest. I watch the lights flip again.

“What the . . .”

“I might have told Trudy about your porch light scenario. She caught me swooning over you one night after you left.”

“Swooning,” I chuckle, still watching the lights blink.

“I’d fallen against the door, a little dazed after you kissed me one night.”

I lean closer, curious. “Which night?”

“All of them,” she whispers, but as the light flickers once more—on, off, on, off—Taxi grumbles. “Guess I better go. I wonder what Trudy is even doing up so late.”

We made it here by midnight. Not a pumpkin in sight.

Suddenly, the front door opens, and a woman shouts, “Got you.”

Taxi lets out a scream.

The woman behind the screen door screams.

Then Taxi is out of my arms and through the door, hugging the other woman, rocking her side to side.

“Jolene Amaryllis Wallace, what are you doing here?” Taxi addresses the woman I now realize is her youngest sister.

“It’s a long story,” Jolene says, blowing out a breath. She’s just as beautiful as her sister but in a different way. More curves. Less curls.

Taxi glances back at me. “Jolene, this is Stone Sylver. Do you remember him?”

The younger woman holds out her hand. “Oh, I remember him. Had the biggest crush on you as a kid.”

“What?” Taxi says, snapping her head in her sister’s direction, practically growling.

“Thank you?” I hesitate, feeling my face heat.

“Stone and I were⁠—”

“Just kissing on the front stoop,” Jolene teases, leaning against the open front door and giving me a wink similar to her sister’s.

“I was going to say coming home from the Founder’s Day dance. How’s Aunt Trudy?” Taxi glances around her sister like she expects her aunt to be nearby.

“She was asleep when I got here. Scared the bejesus out of me.”

“You mean, you scared the bejesus out of her. You’ll give her another heart attack,” Taxi chides.

Jolene waves her hand like that isn’t possible, and I smile at the scrunched nose and pursed lips she gives me. “Not Trudy. Her heart is too strong.”

That’s what we’d all like to think. That love makes our hearts strong enough to withstand anything, but we’re only human. Other factors come into play where our bodies are concerned.

“Anyway, I’ll let you get back to it,” Jolene says, waving toward the front step but not making a move to close the front door or give Taxi and me more privacy.

Taxi looks at me, her expression apologetic.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I say, giving her a reassuring kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you,” she says, before glancing at her sister, and then back at me. She mouths, I’m sorry.