Deeper [The Underground 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) (19 page)

“Hi.” Stella smiled and dropped down to her haunches so she was eye level with the freckle-faced little girl.

“Hi, sweetie. What’s your name?”

“My name is Molly Sampson and I am six years old. I just lost my two front teeth last night and put it under my pillow and got one whole dollar. Can you believe it? My mommy says that the tooth fairy collects all the kids’ teeth to make teeth for the old people. Can you believe that? I think I am going to save my dollar until I have a whole bunch and can buy something really pretty for my mommy.”

Stella smiled as the little girl hardly took a breath as she spoke. The happiness in her little face lit up the entire vicinity. “I’m sure your mom will love that.”

Her big blue eyes got even wider and she looked over Stella’s shoulder. She leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You are going to see Mr. Tate?” Stella’s heart lurched at the Molly’s words.

“W–What?”

“Mr. Tate is super nice. He always gives me a lollipop or cookies when I see him. He helped me and my mommy because my daddy was a bad man.”

“Mr. Wessen would like to meet you, Miss—”

Stella stood and gave a smile to the little girl. “Vincent. Stella Vincent.” She turned and stared at the half-opened door that Margaret was holding open.

“Yes, well, Mr. Wessen always likes to meet all the new residents. He likes to introduce himself and explain Everclear.”

“Bye.” Stella looked down at Molly and lifted her hand in a little wave.

She slipped through the opening of the door and stared at Tate behind a large mahogany desk. His head was bent and he was on the phone. It was clear he had no idea she had entered. Margaret shut the door behind her and the click of the door shutting had him lifting his eyes and locking with hers. The shock and a cacophony of emotions spread across his face.

“I have to go.” He hung up the phone and stared at her for several long, terse moments. “Stella, what are you doing here?”

“I have no clue.” And she really didn’t. The office looked masculine and woodsy, with deep greens and rich brown accents. Wringing her hands in front of her she suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. It had been over a month since she had seen or spoken to Tate, but standing before him, even after remembering everything he said to her, had her feeling like they had not spent any time apart.

“You look well.” His eyes scanned over her and she felt the need to shift under his examination.

Clearing her throat she said, “So do you.” He leaned back in his chair and she walked the perimeter of the room, looking at the pictures that lined the thick, built-in bookshelves. The photos showed women and children standing in front of the cabin, working in gardens, even standing in a semicircle around Tate. He had a smile on his face, although it was small and almost hesitant, and he appeared happy.

“How did you find out about Everclear?” She turned and looked at him but didn’t have time to answer before he cocked an eyebrow and said, “Miles.” After she nodded she walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window and looked out.

“What is this place, Tate?” Although Margaret had told her enough for her to figure it out she wanted to hear what he had to say.

“If you’re here and spoke to Margaret then you already know what this place is.”

She turned her attention back to the window and watched as children played outside. Acres upon acres of lush fields and thick trees stretched out for as far as the eye could see. The laughter of the children could be heard through the glass and she smiled. Her heart warmed at the thought that Tate was a part of this, a part of helping out these people. The longer she looked at the children the more it became clear. When she turned back around she gasped at the fact he was right behind her, staring down at her with eyes filled with so much emotion they took her breath away.

“You built this place, didn’t you?” He nodded and took another step toward her. “You built this because of what happened to your mom.” It wasn’t a question and he didn’t verbally answer. He nodded again and lifted his hand. She watched as his fingers captured a lock of her hair and spun it around, as if he was mesmerized by the sight.

“Two years ago I built Everclear. I needed extra capital to make sure everything was in place, that I had all the resources to successfully provide a safe haven for the women and children that came here, so I partnered with Alfonso. I could have funded the project myself, but Alfonso is knowledgeable in these things and it has proved beneficial having him on my side during this process. That is what I was speaking to him about at the party. We plan on building another facility because Everclear is filling up and soon we won’t have any room. I don’t want to shut people out that need help.” He dropped her lock of hair and stared at her with his deep, amber-colored eyes. “I have always wanted to do this, but my past was shady and I didn’t want the people who sought out help from me to be frightened of me at the same time. That’s when I started cleaning up my act. Miles helps me here with maintenance and anything else when I can’t make it out. I may not have been able to erase my past, but I could try and make my future a little cleaner. Obviously I’m not perfect, but I am trying to be a better man.” He ran a hand over his hair and his gaze went over her shoulder. The sound of children’s laughter, although muted, filtered around them.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Like it would have made a difference, Stella? I’m still the same man that runs an illegal fighting ring under my club, that was still in juvie for killing a man. Would it have made a difference in your feelings toward me if I told you I built a home for abused and battered women and children?” She couldn’t believe what he was saying. He was so sure that his past had ruined any hope of him having a happy future.

“Of course it would have.” She took a step toward him because he had since moved back, as if he was running away. “I love you, Tate.” God, had she really told him that? He closed his eyes and a pained look crossed his face. Yeah, she should have kept her damn mouth shut. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—” He was in front of her in the next second, his mouth on hers. Her words were cut off by the feel of his lips moving along hers and his tongue slipping into her mouth. It had been so long and she had missed him terribly.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured against her mouth. “Say it again.”

“I love you, Tate Wessen.” He groaned and kissed her harder before pulling away. His hands framed her face and he locked eyes with her.

“I love you, too, Stella Vincent.” He dropped his forehead so it was resting against hers and closed his eyes. “I tried to forget you, to let you go because I know that is what’s best.” He opened his eyes and said, “But I’m addicted and can’t let you go. I can’t, Stella.”

After everything that had happened, that they had said to each other, those words that fell from Tate’s lips erased everything. She loved him and he her, and everything else didn’t matter. The fact that their worlds had been anything but ideal, that they had work on themselves to accomplish, they would get through it together.
That there
were bound to be things that tried to come between them should have frightened her away, but all she could feel was love and happiness. Here stood a man that had bared his soul to her, who had acted selflessly to ensure that the people who came to Everclear were safe and protected. That showed exactly what type of person he was. He was the person she loved with everything in her body and she was willing to take a chance on something that could be amazing.

Stella wiped sweat from her brow as she picked another strawberry and put it in her basket. At least twenty women and children surrounded her, all of them in good spirits as they picked their harvest of fruits and vegetables. The sun was bright above them but it felt damn good to be outside doing something productive.

“Katherine, can you take these into the kitchen while I start pulling the carrots and lettuce?”

“Sure thing.” The twenty-one-year-old girl grabbed the basket full of fruit and headed into the house.

“Stella, sweetie, look at this one!” She turned around and shielded her eyes from the blinding sun. Her father stood a few feet away holding up an extra-large carrot like it was going to win the blue ribbon. It had been three months since he was released from rehab with a clean bill of health. He was a different man, and now that he worked full-time for Tate building ten Everclear homes, he found a purpose. He hadn’t taken a drink of alcohol and she couldn’t have been prouder.

Miles bumped her shoulder and she grinned over at him. The normally pristine man had dirt smeared across his brow and beads of sweat dotting his forehead. “I hope you’re prepared to cook all this food that you’re making us pick, you slave driver.” He winked and made his way to where they were picking potatoes. Since first coming to Everclear and reconnecting with Tate, she had quit her crappy job and come to work for him. The fact that she was able to help people that really needed it brought her so much satisfaction she often found herself tearing up. Seeing these women and children knit themselves back together was so rewarding that she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist and a firm chest pressed against her back. The fresh and clean scent of Tate washed through her and she closed her eyes and absorbed his strength. His deep voice seeped through her. “Look at what you’ve done, baby.” She opened her eyes and looked around her. “Look at all the smiles and laughter. None of that would be present without you being here.” She knew it wasn’t all her, hell, without all of them working together none of this would be possible. She smiled and leaned into Tate. If someone had told her a year ago this was how her life could be, she would have told them to shut the fuck up.

“I love you like there is no tomorrow, Stella.” A smile formed on her lips and she turned in his arms and lifted up to kiss him.

“And I love you.” It was crazy the way things worked out, but there was nothing wrong with a little craziness in a person’s life.

THE END

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Who is Jenika Snow? She is the pseudonym of a mother, wife and nurse. She lives in the too hot northeast with her husband
and
their two daughters. Thankfully her husband shares her unusual sense of humor and naughty nature so finding material for her stories isn’t a problem.

Jenika started writing at a very young age. Her first story consisted of a young girl who traveled to an exotic island and found a magical doll. That story as long since disappeared, but other
s
have taken its place.

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