He’d already made up his mind. “But I like the couches.”
“It’s up to you. This is your house.”
“For now.”
She frowned as she turned to face him. “You’re not staying?”
Why did he like her concern when it came to the location of his living arrangements? “Would you miss me if I left?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Yes.”
He grinned, far more pleased than he should have been. “Yeah?”
“Of course.” She gave a gentle bump to his arm with her elbow. “You’re my beach buddy and dinner partner. And who would I cook with?”
He smiled again. “I don’t see myself going anywhere for a while, but I also can’t see myself staying forever.”
The crease in her brow returned. “Will you go back to New York?”
“No. I mean living here in the condo. I’m renting for now.”
“Me too.”
“I thought you owned,” he fibbed, knowing her financial situation as well as his own.
She shook her head.
“Who’s your landlord?”
“Dr. Huberty. Her tenant moved out a few days after I took the job at her office.”
“Perfect timing.”
“Agreed.”
He closed the book. “Wanna get out of here?”
“In a minute.” She surprised him with a hug. “Really, thanks for yesterday, Reed.”
Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her head to his chest with his hand. This was the Bella he’d missed yesterday—kind, sweet, affectionate. “You were in a tough spot.”
“I was, and you took care of me.” She eased away enough to hold his gaze but not break their connection. “I want to take you to Malcoms.”
“Malcoms?”
“The best burgers you’ll ever eat. It’s greasy—definitely guy food. And I’m buying.”
His fingers found their way into the ends of her hair. “Only if you want to.”
“You showered and washed me while I puked. Buying you dinner is the least I can do.”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal.” Although he’d paid the price for being a decent human being last night with several dreams about Bella and her silky underwear. “Friendship isn’t always pretty.”
She grinned. “No, it’s not. But I would do the same thing for you.”
“You would?”
She nodded. “In a heartbeat.”
And he knew she meant it. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She broke their connection, then took his hand. “Let’s go. I’m going to feed you.”
“You won’t hear me complain.” They walked out and he locked up. “Lucy, we’re going to the beach.”
Lucy ran to his truck and jumped in the back.
He and Bella laughed.
“I guess she knows the drill.” Bella stopped by the bed, shutting the tailgate. “Lie down, sweetie.”
Lucy did as she was asked.
Bella took her seat as Reed shut his door and turned over the engine.
He buckled his seat belt, waiting for Bella to do the same, then pulled out of the driveway and started toward the main road. “So, I’ve heard of these burgers now that I think about it. Everybody at the office swears by them.”
“Mmm. I can’t wait for you to try one. I’m kind of excited that you’re a Malcoms virgin—that I get to experience this with you for the first time.”
Laughing, he pulled out into traffic, making his way through rush hour. “A Malcoms virgin,” he repeated, shaking his head. Was there anyone more adorable than Bella?
She grinned. “It’s a pretty big moment and way better than any first sexual experience.”
“Yours wasn’t any good, huh?”
“It certainly wasn’t the sex of my dreams. What about you, Casanova?”
He tossed her a quick look, then focused on the traffic. “I’d probably be exaggerating if I told you I lasted longer than two minutes.”
She threw her head back, laughing.
Damn, she was beautiful with her eyes bright and the wind blowing through her hair. “They were two great minutes, though.”
“I bet.”
He’d wanted this when she’d been sick and helpless—her vivacity, the way they laughed together, the way he could be easy in her presence. “My ego demands that I brag about my current staying power and the fact that I’m a hell of a lot better in the sack now than I was several years ago.”
“Of course you are, Stud.” She sent him a playful wink.
He grinned, catching sight of the Malcoms sign a couple of blocks down the road. “Are you sure you want to eat there?”
“Definitely.”
“What about the whole ‘grease is bad for your complexion and your face is your billboard to the world’ thing?”
“I’m going to have grilled chicken.”
“Ah,” he said with a scowl. “That’s so boring, Bella.”
She shook her head, smiling. “They’re really good. I’ll let you try some…after I’m finished with a large majority of my sandwich. The last time you had a bite of my food, you practically ate the whole thing.”
“She’s still an over-exaggerator, folks,” he yelled out the window as cars rushed by.
She swatted at his arm. “I’m totally not. You ate most of my ice cream the other night.”
He huffed out a breath, feigning his insult. “Not even close.”
“You’re clearly bad with details.”
“I never forget a detail.” He went through another set of lights, just making the yellow before it turned red. “We’re almost there.”
“I know.” Grinning, she rubbed her hands together.
His phone started ringing, and he peeked at the readout. “It’s my mom.”
“Go ahead and answer.”
“Hello?”
“Reed, it’s Mom.”
They hadn’t spoken much since their ridiculous argument about his love life. “What’s up?”
“Are you working?”
“No, I changed assignments, so I’m pretty much locked into normal hours right now, which I like.” He looked over at Bella and smiled.
“That’s good to hear. I’m wondering if you might be able to do me a favor?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“My bridge group is meeting for an impromptu get-together. I’m hoping you might be able to come stay with Aunt Bonnie.”
“Right now?”
“I know it’s short notice…”
Mom rarely had a chance to get out on her own. She asked for favors even less. He sighed as he looked at Bella. “Mom, can you hold on?”
“Sure, honey.”
Bella sat up in her seat. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m going to have to take a rain check on dinner.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I need to give my mom a hand with my aunt.”
“Sure. We’ll go do that first. We can eat later.”
He shook his head. He didn’t want her coming with him. There would be questions—and his mother was bound to get the wrong idea. He never brought women home with him. No one had ever been important enough. And he was already struggling to keep Bella in the friend zone. The last thing he needed was to send his mother mixed signals when she was so desperate for a daughter-in-law and grandchildren. “I should probably take you home.”
She blinked, her eyes full of surprise. “Oh.”
“Reed,” Mom said. “Is that a woman?”
Ah, shit. “Yeah.”
“I didn’t realize I was interrupting a date.”
“I’m not on a date.”
“But you’re with a woman.”
“It happens occasionally.”
“Who is she?”
He rolled his eyes. “No one.”
“But you’re with a woman.”
“Mom, she’s no one. I’ll be over as soon as I can.”
“Reed—”
&nb
sp; “I’ll be over soon.” He hung up and stopped at the next set of lights. “Sorry to cut tonight short.”
“It’s fine.”
He could tell by her clipped tone that it wasn’t. “We can try again tomorrow.” He looked her way when she didn’t respond.
“Is your aunt sick?”
He pulled a u-ey and started back toward the condos. “She has dementia.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged away her apology. Regrets never changed anything. “My mom moved out here after my cousin died last year. Aunt Bonnie’s my dad’s sister-in-law, but Mom takes care of her. I try to give her a hand when I can.”
“We could take her to the beach—pack up a couple of chairs and get some fresh air. I would love to meet everyone.”
He shook his head again. “That’s not a good idea. She gets pretty confused. A lot of the time she doesn’t know who I am.” His phone rang again. Mom. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered as he answered. “Hello?”
“Honey, I’ve changed my mind. I’m staying in. You have fun.”
“I’m already on my way. I’m dropping Bella off and I’ll be over.”
“Bella. What a beautiful name.”
Damn, he wasn’t going to hear the end of this one for a long time. The fifty questions would start as soon as he walked through her door. “Mom—”
“Bring her with you.”
“Mom, I have to go. The traffic’s bad.” He hung up. “Jesus. Talk about getting the wrong idea.”
Bella sent him a small smile and looked out her window.
He stopped at the lights by their development, waiting his turn to go right. “We’ll try tomorrow?”
“I’m busy tomorrow.”
“Okay. Then Sunday.”
“I already have a commitment.”
Her voice had definitely gone cool. “Bella, I’m sorry.” He pulled up in front of her house.
“Don’t worry about it.” She got out.
“Bella—”
“I’ll see you around.” She walked to the back and put down the gate. “Lucy, come on.”
What the hell? “Bella,” he called through the open passenger side window as she started toward her house. He got out of the truck, hurrying after her. “What’s your deal?”
She whirled. “You’re the detective. I’ll let you figure it out.” She sent him a chilly smile and closed the distance between herself and her door.
He followed. “You’re really getting upset because I’m putting burgers and the beach on hold to help my mother?”
She gaped at him. “That’s what you think?”
He rubbed at the back of his neck, well aware that every time he opened his mouth, he was making this worse. “Clearly I don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I didn’t realize our friendship was such an embarrassment to you.” She jammed her key in the lock.
“What? It’s not. My mom thinks we’re dating.”
“Well, God forbid.”
“No. It’s not—”
She opened her door. “Good night, Reed.”
He snagged her by the arm before she could shut him out. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Ten minutes ago: yes. Now: no.”
He sighed. “Just get in the truck.”
Temper flashed in her eyes as she yanked away from him. “You get in the truck and drive away.”
“Christ, you’re stubborn.”
“Lucy, bite him,” she said primly, raising her chin as she held his gaze, but the heat was gone, replaced by a well-guarded vulnerability.
Lucy wagged her tail.
“We’re going to have to work on that command,” Bella added.
There was something here—something painful. Anger was often a balm for raw wounds. “I’m sorry.” He reached for her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. But you don’t know my mother.”
“You should appreciate your family.”
“I do. It’s just—if I bring you over there, she’s going to start thinking wedding bells and baby showers.”
“And then she’ll see that we’re just friends.”
“Do you want to come?”
“Not if you’re going to be uncomfortable having me there.”
There it was again—the lack of confidence he wasn’t aware she possessed. He’d genuinely hurt her. “No. I won’t be.” He lifted her knuckles to his lips. “I’m sorry, Bella. The last thing you are is an embarrassment to me. It’s not just my mom. Aunt Bonnie’s usually a little extra agitated at night. Sometimes people with dementia have more trouble in the evenings.”
Her eyes softened, and she brought his palm to her cheek.
He sighed, realizing his latest series of mistakes—inviting her to Aunt Bonnie’s place, kissing her soft skin, rushing after her and panicking a little when he’d thought she was kicking him to the curb, letting himself become more and more deeply involved.
“Should I leave Lucy? She’s a therapy dog, and dementia patients often respond well to animals.”
“So let’s bring her along.”
She smiled at him. “I’m sorry for overreacting.”
He shrugged. “The last few minutes probably weren’t either of our finest moments.”
She laughed and hugged him.
He returned her embrace and settled his cheek on top of her hair, cursing himself for a fool for ever believing he would walk away from this double life he was living unscathed. “We’re good?”
“We’re good.” She eased back. “Let’s go give your mom a hand.”
“I’m ready if you are.” He settled his arm around her shoulders, walked with her to the truck, and opened her door. Damn, he was in trouble.
~~~~
Bella stared out the window as Reed drove them toward his family home. She nibbled her bottom lip and closed her eyes with an inner cringe as she replayed the last several minutes of their evening together. Everything had started out fine: fun, jokes, laughter—typical stuff now that Reed had let his guard down. Shockingly, it was she who had almost ruined their night.
His words had surprised and hurt her—a small slap in the face when he told his mom that she was “no one.” Her knee-jerk reaction had been to push him away and pretend that it didn’t matter whether or not he wanted to introduce her to his mother and aunt. She could only be sorry for her nasty behavior and ashamed that her insecurities had gotten the better of her.
Sighing quietly, she watched the miles race by. She was supposed to be over all of this. Los Angeles had given her a freedom she’d never felt in Las Vegas—or not after her “best friend” Liza had broadcast to the student body of Stiles Preparatory Academy that her mother was a prostitute.
Not long after they arrived in Sin City, Kelly Colby had hung up her glittery pasties and platform heels to make a pretty penny as a high-end call girl. Mom had been choosy about her clients, only accepting handsome, wealthy businessmen who knew how to treat a beautiful woman right. Mom’s exception had been Liza’s married father—whom Bella and Liza had walked in on one unfortunate afternoon in the middle of their ninth-grade year.
From that moment on, the secret Bella had tried so hard to hide had become fodder for five hundred other students’ jokes: lewd pictures and notes with disgusting propositions shoved through the slots of her locker, whispers and disapproving stares from judgmental mothers afraid that their husbands would fall victim next. Her nightmare until she’d transferred out to a public school and tried to get lost in the crowds.
Eventually things had settled down. After some time, she’d found new friends, but she’d constantly looked over her shoulder, waiting for someone to recognize her as “the daughter of that whore.” Even after she’d moved out of her mother’s high-rise apartment on her eighteenth birthday, she’d worried, always hating to be judged and looked down upon for something she’d never had any control over. She loathed that Reed’s perceived slight had brought her back to that place where she’d questioned who she was and
wondered whether she was good enough in his eyes.
“We’re just about there.”
She sat up, paying closer attention to their surroundings when he turned down a quiet residential road, slowed again, and pulled into a well-maintained driveway. Grinning, she studied the adorable pale yellow ranch with vivid flowers planted in window boxes and lights blazing bright beyond the glass. It was hard to hang on to her melancholy mood when she stared at such a sweet, cheery scene. “Look at this. I love it, Reed. It’s so charming.”
“It’s my aunt’s place—was my cousin’s.”
Her smile vanished when she recognized the strain in his voice. “What happened to him?”
“He committed suicide. Shot himself.”
Her heart went out to him, unable to imagine such a horrid loss. “I’m sorry.”
He exhaled a long breath. “I wish I would’ve known he was struggling so much. I would have tried to help him. We were pretty close growing up. My uncle’s death really messed him up.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again, taking his hand and squeezing.
“Thanks.” He squeezed back and pulled away, reaching for the door handle.
“For tonight too,” she rushed on, grabbing hold of his wrist before he could get out. “My behavior—”
“I thought we decided we were okay.”
“We are. I just—”
“Don’t worry about it, Bella.” He slid a lock of her wavy hair through his fingers, sending her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it.”
She nodded, exhaling a quiet breath of her own as they both got out.
He met her at the back, letting down the gate for Lucy. “Come on out, Luce.”
Lucy jumped down, hurrying toward the bushes in the backyard.
“Lucy,” Bella called.
“She’s all right. She can’t hurt anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. Let her sniff around a little.”
The front door opened and a tall, pretty woman with shoulder-length brown hair stepped outside wearing jeans and a simple black top. “Honey, you didn’t have to come.” She stopped, blinking her blue eyes at Bella, her face lighting up with a smile. “Sweetheart, look at you.” She made a delighted sound in her throat as she wrapped Bella up in a warm hug. “Reed, she’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“Mom, this is Bella Colby, who happens to be pretty easy on the eyes.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, winking at her.
Deceiving Bella: Book Eleven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series Page 18
