by Faith Gibson
One of her kids, as in she had at least two. If there were children, then there was a father somewhere. Someone as stunning as Stella wouldn’t have remained single, but the thought of his mate being intimate with another male set his beast on edge, even if it wasn’t fair for either his beast or him to begrudge the female happiness. If she was accepting a rain check, she had to be single. Zeke hadn’t spent much time in Stella’s presence, but she didn’t come across as the cheating type. Either she was divorced or widowed. Those were the only two options he would accept. As soon as he returned from Montana, he would find out.
Zeke: I look forward to seeing you again. I’ll call you when I get back. Until then, take care of yourself.
Stella’s reply was a smiley face emoji with hearts around it. Zeke wasn’t an emoji kind of male, but seeing that particular one made his heart beat a little faster.
Stella wanted to recall the stupid emoji. Zeke didn’t respond after she sent it, and he probably found it childish. Oh well. It was out there. At least he knew she was interested, but now she had to wait several days for him to get back to Cali. At least her week would fly by. Instead of taking vacation with her mother during the holiday break, they had gone two weeks prior, and Stella had one more week of school. Leaving her tenth graders with a substitute for one day wasn’t an issue, but having been gone over a week meant chaos had probably ensued, as was evident by the latest email. Kids were master manipulators, especially teens. She had learned that in her first year teaching Sophomore English. In her ten years of being an educator, Stella had learned all their tricks.
Stella’s inbox had more than one message from students regarding the assignment given by the substitute. Kerri Barnett was a capable teacher. The older woman had taught high school for almost thirty years before her first grandchild came along. At that point, she decided to retire. She didn’t need Stella telling her how to lead the class, but as with all substitutes, Stella left a detailed outline of what she expected the students to learn in her absence. So the emails from the students had her rolling her eyes before responding with, “Yes, you have to do the report,” and, “No, you can’t do it over winter break if you want it to count.”
Sheila asked Stella to stay for lunch, and reluctantly, she agreed. Stella wanted to get home where she could think about Ezekiel. Having spent the last ten days with her mother was more than enough bonding time, but Sheila was on divorce number two, thus the trip to Egypt. Stella didn’t blame her mother for the number of husbands she had accumulated. Wanting to be loved was something everyone dreamed about, but Sheila’s luck with men was shitty at best. Stella’s father passed away before she was born, and Sheila had started dating again when Stella was two. Stella didn’t remember Zeke’s father, and the fact that her mom had gone out with the man was beyond strange.
Stella poured lemonade while Sheila made their sandwiches. Her mom had been unusually quiet since running into Zeke. Stella hadn’t been kidding when she told the handsome blond her mother talked about his father all the time. Sheila felt like he was the one who got away, but she didn’t know why after only two dates.
Sheila set their plates on the table, then took her seat. “You always asked me what Ezekiel looked like. Now you know. If you stood them side by side, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. I always thought after he never called again, it was because I had a kid. He was fine on the first date, but after he met you… It was strange. As soon as we got in the car to go eat, he said he didn’t feel good. The man did look green, so maybe he was telling the truth.”
“If I am the reason, then I’m sorry, but since he had his own child, I don’t see why you having one as well would have mattered.” Stella wanted her mom to find a man worthy, but if she were being honest, she was glad Zeke’s dad hadn’t stuck around. If he had, she and Zeke would possibly have been stepsiblings. There was something about the man that called to her like none had before. Maybe it was from watching her mom go through several men without finding the one to go the distance, but Stella was particular. She had been on plenty of dates. And yes, she’d had a couple short-term relationships, but she never found the one who would fulfil all her dreams and desires. Never found the man she’d dreamed about ever since she was a little girl.
“He never mentioned a child, but it’s possible Zeke Jr. lived with the mother at the time. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Stella wanted to believe that reason was because she and Zeke were destined to be together. She believed in karma and fate. Believed the stars aligned at precisely the right time for certain occasions because what were the odds the two of them returned from the same place on the same flight?
Stella’s phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat thinking it was Zeke. When she looked at the caller ID, she groaned, then hit ignore.
Chapter Two
Stella slumped against the door as soon as she closed it, dropping her bags to the floor. Ten days with her mother was about five too many. She loved Sheila, but when her mom was depressed, fun wasn’t in her vocabulary no matter if they were in an exotic location. Before she could get past the laundry room, her doorbell rang. Groaning, Stella went to see who it was. When she spotted her next-door neighbor through the peephole, Stella leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. Mrs. Goss was nice enough, but why the hell was she bringing Stella flowers?
“Mrs. Goss,” Stella greeted when she opened the door.
“Hello, dear. These came for you this morning, and I told the nice man I’d keep them until you got home. I told him you were supposed to be back earlier, and when you didn’t get home this morning, I got worried something happened to you. I thought about calling, but, well, I didn’t want to bother you if you were at the hospital. Here.” The older woman shoved the roses at Stella. “I didn’t peek at the card, but I assumed they were from the handsome man delivering them. Since they’re roses, you probably know who he was. I didn’t know you had a man friend in your life.” Mrs. Goss looked over Stella’s shoulder, probably searching for her nonexistent man friend.
Stella blocked the doorway lest the woman try to barge in. It wouldn’t be the first time she had. “Nope. No man friend. Thank you for bringing these. I’ll talk to you later once I’ve had the chance to unpack.”
“Aren’t you going to check the card?”
Not with you standing here. “I’ll do that later. Again, thank you.” She shut the door in the woman’s face, because if she hadn’t, Mrs. Goss would have stood there all day. Stella took the flowers to the kitchen and stared at them. If they were delivered that morning, they wouldn’t be from Zeke. He didn’t know her address. That left only one person. Stella sighed and pulled the card from the plastic stick.
Welcome home, Beautiful. I missed you and can’t wait to see you Monday.
Yours, Bradley
Ugh! Stella ripped the card in two, then tossed it along with the flowers, vase and all, into the trash. She turned to go to the laundry room, but her conscience wouldn’t allow her to leave the glass in the bin, so she pulled the flowers out of the garbage, pulled them from the vase, then tossed the roses back in, smushing them down for good measure. She poured the water out of the vase, then wiped it out with a paper towel before shoving the glass in the cabinet where she kept random items like a plastic tea pitcher, bottles of rum and vodka, an empty cookie tin, and packing tape.
Two weeks away from the man hadn’t been nearly enough. If Stella could get through the next week, she would have another reprieve from his relentless pursuit. Maybe Zeke would come home sooner than expected, and Stella could tell Bradley she had a boyfriend, whether it was true or not. Although the last time she said she was seeing someone, Bradley hadn’t taken the news well.
With both suitcases empty and the washing machine full, Stella turned up the thermostat, ran through the shower, then dressed in sweats, a hoodie, and thick socks while waiting for her house to heat up. Plopping down on the sofa, she turned on the TV and pulled up the shows she h
ad recorded while she’d been in Egypt. When the first show ended, Stella couldn’t remember a single thing about it. She’d spent the last hour thinking about Zeke. Pausing the recording, Stella went to the laundry room, tossed the wet clothes in the dryer, then started another load.
Returning to the sofa, she restarted the show. About ten minutes in, her phone rang. Stella contemplated not getting up, but if it were Zeke and she missed the call, she would kick her own ass. It wasn’t Zeke, but it was her mother.
“Miss me already?” Stella joked, but her mother had been unusually quiet after they ate lunch. No, it was after she told her mom about Zeke texting.
“I always miss you.” Sheila cleared her throat. “I got to thinking after you left. I know you believe in all that mystical stuff, so maybe the reason Ezekiel and I didn’t work out is so you and his son could one day meet and have a shot. I saw the way he looked at you, and I have to tell you, no man has ever looked at me that way. Not even your father. When Zeke saw you, his whole demeanor changed, like you two were the only people in the airport. And when you got his texts? You lit up the same way. I might not believe in the stars aligning and all that hoodoo, but I do believe when you have instant chemistry, it means something.”
Stella had those same thoughts, and she wanted to see if there was something there. “And you’re okay with it? It won’t be weird for you?”
“He’s not my Ezekiel. If he were, then yes, that would be weird for me. But it’s been thirty years, and it was only two dates. I want you to be happy, and I think Zeke could do that for you.”
Stella thought he could too.
Zeke thanked the agent and went outside to retrieve his rental. After navigating out of the airport, he headed north. He planned to stay with his brother, but if things went sideways with Cyrus, Zeke would need a room for the duration. He wasn’t leaving Montana until Cyrus had the truth and had all his questions answered. And there would be so many questions. Zeke could write a how-to manual at this point. He kept in touch with all his siblings he’d met over the years, even if through a quick email or text. Some had new lives and families and weren’t interested in anything more than an informal relationship. Others, like Lilly and Dane, became part of his life. Maybe that had more to do with Tessa having been their watcher. His niece was a force of nature, and anyone who met her loved her. Maybe Zeke should have sent her to talk to Cyrus.
New Evaro was a quick four-mile drive from New Missoula. It took longer to get out of the airport than it did to travel to Cyrus’s place. Zeke had made this particular trip several times but had never approached his brother. Now he wished he had. The sun had set while Zeke was in the air, and the two-lane road leading to Cyrus’s property was desolate. Zeke pulled into the long driveway, thankful there wasn’t a gate.
The house was dark when Zeke arrived. Cyrus’s truck wasn’t in the driveway, so he turned around and drove past Cyrus’s parents’ ranch. He stopped on the road and peered toward their home where he found Cyrus’s truck. Zeke couldn’t confront Cyrus there, and since he had no idea how long his brother would be, he made his way back to the hotel. He had really hoped to get the conversation started because the sooner Cyrus was aware he was Gargoyle, the sooner Zeke could return to California and get to know his mate. He had plenty of time to kill, so Zeke stopped off at a diner he had bypassed on his other trips to watch over Cyrus. It was late, so the place was empty except for a couple of older men sitting at the counter talking to the waitress across from them.
“Sit anywhere,” the woman said.
Zeke took one of the empty booths next to the window and picked up the laminated menu wedged between the condiments.
Maggie, according to her name tag, strolled over holding a coffee pot. She appeared to be in her late forties with blonde hair that didn’t come from a bottle. Her blue eyes were framed with a few lines, but other than that, her skin was smooth. She wore minimal makeup, and what lipstick she’d applied earlier had faded. Maggie picked up his empty mug and filled it without asking. “Haven’t seen you in here before. You visiting someone?”
“Yes, my cousin. Can I get a large water?” Zeke wasn’t about to tell Maggie he was Cyrus’s brother.
“Sure. Who’s your cousin? I know everyone in these parts.” She didn’t make a move to go after his water, and the two men were turned his way. Maybe stopping there had been a bad idea.
“Cyrus Gillespie.”
Maggie’s smile fell, and one of the men groaned. “Here we go,” he muttered.
“Cyrus doesn’t have any cousins.” Maggie’s friendly demeanor turned icy. Everything Zeke knew of his brother told him Cyrus was a good man. He took care of his parents who were both getting on in years.
“We’re distant cousins on his father’s side.”
“Look at the man, Maggie. Even I can see the resemblance from over here,” one of the men said.
“I’ll just get that water.” Maggie returned with his water, sans ice or a straw. “Are you going to order food or just take up space?”
“I’ll have the steak, medium rare, scrambled eggs with cheese, and an order of hash browns please.”
Maggie scribbled his order on her pad and took it to the window between the front of the diner and the kitchen. She returned to her spot across from the men, glaring at both of them.
“Come on, Mags. Cyrus is good people. Just because he—”
“Stop right there, Earl. I won’t listen to you tell me how good he is. I know him a lot better than you do.” Maggie crossed her arms, daring Earl to argue.
Okay, maybe Zeke didn’t know his brother as well as he thought. Then again, he wasn’t going to let this woman’s opinion skew his own. The two men went back to sipping their coffees, and Maggie glared at Zeke. He ignored her by looking out the window at the mountains in the distance.
When the waitress brought his order, the eggs were over easy. Zeke cut into his steak, which was well done, and there were no hash browns. “This isn’t…” Zeke didn’t bother complaining. He grabbed the ketchup and squeezed a puddle onto his plate. He recognized pettiness when he saw it. Whatever happened between Maggie and Cyrus bled into the woman’s treatment of his relatives. He hoped she didn’t treat Cyrus’s parents this way. But they probably didn’t visit the diner knowing the bad blood between their son and this woman.
Two more men came in and seated themselves on the opposite side of the room. While Maggie was talking to them, the men at the counter whispered between themselves.
“She really needs to let that go. It was twenty years ago.”
“True, but she gave that man five years and expected a ring.”
“It’s not like he left her for someone else. He’s not dated since he broke things off with her.”
“If you ask me, the man’s queer. Why else would he live alone with his dogs after having a good woman looking out for him?”
The friends halted their conversation when Maggie went behind the counter to place the newcomers’ order and gather their drinks. Their water included ice, Zeke noticed. The steak, although well done, had a good flavor and the ketchup wasn’t needed. The eggs he left sitting because Zeke hated runny eggs. He thought about the men’s conversation as he ate his food. Was his brother gay? If he was, that didn’t bother Zeke, but it would make sense why he hadn’t dated since he broke up with Maggie. Or maybe Cyrus had known on some level that Maggie wasn’t his mate. Zeke would be sure to ask Cyrus about it whenever they had their talk.
Zeke didn’t bother asking for drink refills. He tossed enough cash on the table to cover the tab along with a good tip, even though Maggie didn’t deserve one. It wasn’t Zeke’s fault what happened all those years ago. When he rose, the two men nodded his way, but the waitress didn’t acknowledge him.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Maggie.” Zeke didn’t wait for a response. He strolled out of the diner vowing to never return. If his conversation with his brother was successful, Zeke wouldn’t need to find somewhere else to eat. He wou
ld dine with Cyrus in his home.
The hotel he frequented was older, yet it had been remodeled since the last time he stayed there. Zeke had expected bright oranges and yellows, but the room was painted a light gray, and the bedding was stark white, more in line with upscale hotels. The bathroom had been updated too. Zeke didn’t bother unpacking. It wasn’t like jeans and flannel got that wrinkled inside his duffel.
Zeke picked up the remote and turned on the TV for background noise. After sitting against the headboard, he scrolled through the few texts he had traded with Stella. Zeke wished he’d taken a picture of his mate. Not that her beauty wasn’t seared into his brain. He wondered at her heritage. Did she and Sheila have Egyptian blood flowing through them? He hadn’t been kidding when he told her she could pass for Nefertari. His mate was exotic, and he had been blessed when the fates chose her for him. He wondered what their children would look like. Would they take after their mother with her dark hair and eyes? Would they be blond-headed with blue eyes like Zeke? Or would they be a mixture of the two? As long as they were healthy, Zeke didn’t care who they took after. Then again, her looks weren’t what was important. It was her inner goodness that called to him. No, he didn’t know Stella, but the fates wouldn’t give him someone who didn’t have a good heart.
It was then Zeke remembered Stella already had kids. He hadn’t actually forgotten, but he’d put it out of his mind. Where had they stayed while Stella had been on her trip? Probably with their father. Instead of texting Stella, Zeke opened the search engine on his phone and did some digging. He wished he’d brought his laptop, but he hadn’t planned on having much downtime. Now that he’d met Julian Stone, Zeke knew he could reach out to the male for computer help, but Julian was still in Egypt with the others. Even Tessa was a whiz when it came to searching. Zeke had contacted his cousin more than once for assistance over the past few years. Since she, too, was still in Cairo, he had to search on his own.