Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Stella felt her eye twitch involuntarily. "You can stop with the 'mom' thing now."

Talking about family ties always made her head spin like a merry-go-round.

Susanna sighed. "Think of it as the last bit of kindness you owe her. Just help her out this one last time." Stella was speechless. Kindness? She hadn't realized the word could be twisted into something like this.

They continued chatting on the phone for a while longer before finally hanging up.

...

When Stella walked out of the coffee bar, she saw Finley still lingering around. Just the sight of him made her head throb, and she wanted nothing more than to avoid another word from him.

She tried to sidestep, but Finley caught on. "Hey, Star, I need to talk to you!"

Stella picked up her pace. Listening to Finley was the last thing she wanted to do.

But Finley was persistent and caught up with her. "Listen, you stubborn girl, I'm doing this for your own good."

Stella's eye twitched again. Really, buddy? Wasn't he just trying to throw her under the bus?

Finley shoved a box into her hands. "Here, take this."

"What is this?"

Stella glanced at the box. She hadn't seen anything like it before, but reading the description made her brain explode with embarrassment.

Finley had given her... condoms?

Stella was flustered. "Seriously, what are you thinking?"

he worried Ronald would

use

was at a loss

her

but you're also a man, for heaven's

Finley was puzzled.

someone, shouldn't it be Ronald?" Why was

why girls back in Ferrowland steered clear of him. Handsome and a skilled doctor, sure But with that mouth and

trud Give it to

get me killed?

I'm

Stella sighed, "Uh..."

on, "Uh? Does that mean

"Thank

for years, and I'm just

at a

have you

the embarrassment of the pink

confused look, Finley

Stella stammered, "I haven't!"

house since returning from Spring Hill. Could her luck

"Oh no, this

him off. "Who hits

"More than you'd think. If it's meant to happen, it usually does on

headache forming. How could Finley be so