Page 146 of Sterling Stone

His smile grows slowly, like a lazy river. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“I told you seeing all your murals was my new bucket list.”

“You’re my bucket list,” I admit before placing my hand over his badge.

He glances down at my thin fingers over the star.

“I . . .” I pause, meeting his eyes. “Tallulah Alexander, do solemnly swear . . .” I smile slowly. “To protect your heart. Honor your love. And chase away the demons.”

His brows lift, knowing we both have them. Our personal bad guys that need to go. No more locking them up inside us, but releasing the past.

Stone sets his hand on the roof of his truck and the other comes to my chest, drawing a star over my left breast.

“I, Stone Sylver, do solemnly swear . . .” He pauses, arching a brow like he’s thinking. “To always be a safe place for you. To be your home. And to love you with all my heart.” He flattens his palm over my chest.

“Jesus, just get married already,” one of his brothers says behind him.

Stone does respond, giving that one-finger salute I’d gotten earlier when I was driving. Someone chuckles, and Stone softly chuffs as well.

“Someday,” he says, keeping his eyes on me.

I lean back, awkwardly patting the space for the driver’s seat. “I’ve been saving this seat for someone.”

“Oh yeah?” Stone arches a brow.

“Been waiting a long time for someone to fill it.”

“Ready to have it filled?” Stone teases.

“Someday.” I smile. “Hopefully, soon.”

He tips his head back and laughs, the sound easy and loud, and filling a space in my heart.

The one I’ve been holding, waiting for him.

48

[Stone]

My family turned Simon’s return into a party of sorts, but by noon, I was shooing everyone out. Simon and Trudy looked exhausted. Taxi and Jolene as well.

Earlier, I’d caught the tail end of a conversation between them.

“I’m leaving,” Jolene said.

“Already?” Taxi says, surprised but also not surprised.

“Soon,” Jolene says. “Tanzania.”

“Really?” Taxi arched a brow. “Is that the story you’re going with?”

Jolene shrugged. “It’s better than being alone.”

Taxi opened her mouth, then shut it. She reached for her sister’s shoulders. “You do you,” she said softly. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

“You’re really staying?” Jolene questioned.