Bella chuckled as she drew away, any nerves she’d had about meeting his family immediately vanishing. “Mrs. McKinley—”
“Linda. You call me Linda.” She pulled her back for another quick embrace. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you. Reed never brings anyone home.”
“Never?”
Linda shook her head. “Not once.”
“Never,” Bella repeated, meeting his gaze as hers twinkled with mischief. “Well, I’m happy to be the first.”
“That makes two of us.” Linda smiled again. “How did you and Reed meet?”
“We’re neighbors.”
“What a great way to start a relationship.” Linda made another wistful sound as she clasped her hands, looking from Bella to Reed. “I can already tell you two are perfect for each other.”
Reed closed his eyes, letting his head hang. “Jesus, Mom.”
“What? A mother knows when she’s met the woman who’s going to help her son make beautiful grandbabies.”
As Reed muttered an expletive and pressed his fingers to his forehead, Bella laughed. “Thank you for welcoming me to your home, Linda.”
“I’m sorry I interrupted your evening, but now that you’re here, I’m glad I did. Come on inside…” Linda gasped as Lucy wandered over from around the corner of the house. “What on earth?”
“This is Lucy.”
Linda chuckled, giving Lucy a gentle pat. “She’s huge.”
“She’s big, but she’s very sweet. Lucy’s a certified therapy dog.”
“Bonnie’s just going to love her. Come with me, sweetie.” Linda wrapped her arm around Bella’s shoulders, leading her to the door with Reed and Lucy following behind. “She’s been in and out of it today, so we’ll have to see how this goes.”
They walked into a cozy living room decorated simply with southern California style in mind. A middle-aged woman with short blond hair rocked in a chair while she stared at the TV.
“Bonnie, we have company.”
Bonnie glanced over, her brown eyes meeting Bella’s through thick prescription lenses before they widened when she spotted Lucy. “Oh my.” She laughed. “Who is this big love?”
Lucy made a beeline to Bonnie, sitting down next to her, accepting the affection Bonnie gave lavishly with hugs and gentle petting to her side.
“That’s Lucy, and this is Reed’s girlfriend, Bella.”
Bonnie frowned. “Reed’s girlfriend?”
Reed opened his mouth and closed it again when Bella shook her head, assuring him with her subtle gesture that his mother’s assumptions didn’t bother her any. She crouched down next to Bonnie and smiled. “Reed told us all about you, Aunt Bonnie. We’ve been wanting to come say hi.”
“Well, I’m sure glad you did.” She hugged Lucy again. “She’s a good girl.”
Bella stroked Lucy’s back the way she knew her puppy liked best. “She’s very special.”
“How old is she?”
“One.”
“One?”
“Lucy’s still little.”
“Honey, there’s nothing little about her.”
Bella grinned. “She’s my baby.”
Bonnie chuckled, patting Bella’s hand. “Aren’t you a precious, precious woman?”
“Thank you.”
“Bonnie, I’m going to go play some cards with the girls down the road,” Linda said, walking over to the opposite side of Bonnie’s chair. “Reed and Bella are going to stay here with you.”
Concern replaced the pleasure in Bonnie’s eyes. “You’re going to leave me?”
“Just for a little bit.”
Bonnie gripped Linda’s arm. “Where are you going to go?”
“Just down the street.”
Bonnie rushed to her feet. “I can’t stay here alone.”
“I’ll only be gone for a little while. You’re going to stay with Reed.”
“Reed?”
“Hey, Aunt Bonnie.” Reed sent her a wave, keeping his distance over by the couch.
Bonnie stepped back, the calm, kind woman of moments ago now breathing hard and clinging to Linda. “I can’t—I don’t know him.”
Bella heard Reed’s quiet sigh as she gained her feet, stepping closer to Bonnie. “Aunt Bonnie, I love to do hair.” She cautiously touched her hand to Bonnie’s arm. “Do you think maybe I could do your hair while you pet Lucy?”
Bonnie tore her terrified gaze from Reed and focused on Bella. “I’m going to the beauty shop?”
“You are.” Bella nodded, sending Bonnie a reassuring smile. “The beauty shop right here in your own home.”
“Where should I sit?”
“How about right back in your chair? I know Lucy likes to keep close.”
“Okay.” Bonnie sat again.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll go get her brush and a few other things,” Linda whispered.
Bella looked at Reed, noting that his jaw was clenched and his arms crossed.
“I guess she doesn’t know me tonight,” he said.
What should she say? She’d never been in a situation like this before. “I guess not.”
“Here we go.” Linda came back with a brush, rollers, and other assorted hair items in a small basket. “I’m not exactly sure what you need.”
“I’ll make something work.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.” She took Bella’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Everything’s going to be fine here. Go have fun.”
“I will.” Linda gave her a hug, then walked over to her son. “She’s a keeper, Reed.”
“Bella’s a good friend.”
“Don’t say things like that.” She gave him a pat on his cheek. “You’ll break my heart.”
Smiling, he uncrossed his arms and wrapped them around his mother. “Go kick some butt at bridge.”
She hugged him back. “I’ll be about an hour—maybe two, but no longer than that.”
“I don’t want you worrying about the time.”
“That’s probably easier said than done. Bye.” She kissed Reed and closed the door behind her.
He sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck as he looked from the entryway to Bella. “Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
“Maybe some water.”
“Sure. Aunt Bonnie, do you want a drink?”
“No,” she snapped.
“I’ll be right back.” He walked off.
Bella stared after him. Why was he so cool and tense? She hadn’t seen him like this since they first met. Did he not get along with his family? His mother was wonderful and warm; his poor aunt a little lost, but they were here for him to cherish and love. Not everyone was so lucky. She focused on the woman in front of her, staring at the TV. “Aunt Bonnie, what should we do with your hair?”
“I don’t know.”
“How about some curls?”
“That might be nice.”
“I’ll set some rollers and you can take them out in the morning.”
“That’s just fine.”
Reed brought back a glass for her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Bella took the water and put it on the small table close to Bonnie, snagging him by the elbow before he could walk away. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, sliding his free hand through his hair, his jerky movements telling her a different story.
“Reed, what’s going on?”
“I didn’t realize how much worse things were getting.” He gestured to his aunt.
“I’m sorry. I hate that I keep saying that. I wish there was something I could do.”
“You’re doing it. I sure as hell can’t curl her hair.” He smiled.
She smiled back.
“I’m at the beauty shop?” Aunt Bonnie asked.
“You are.” Bella got to work on Bonnie’s hair, brushing for several minutes in soothing strokes as the TV blared with another game show and Reed sat in a chair, bobbing his leg up and down while he looked from the tele
vision to his watch. She was securing the last roller in place when Bonnie turned her head and looked at her nephew.
“Mason.”
Reed sat up.
“Mason, come on over here, honey.”
He looked at Bella as he stood. “Mason was my uncle.”
“Mason.” Bonnie reached out her hand for his.
Reed took hers.
“Come on down here now. Come look me in the eyes and let me see your handsome face.”
He settled on his knees in front of her.
“Did you have a good day at work?”
“I did.”
“Did you catch a bad guy or two?”
“I caught three.”
Bonnie grinned. “Do you remember when we met?”
“I do.”
“The song playing on the jukebox in that old diner while you bought me a Coke.”
He smiled. “‘My Girl’ by The Temptations.”
“‘I got sunshine,’” Bonnie started to sing and stopped. “‘I got sunshine,’” she said again, then blinked. “I don’t—I don’t know what’s next.”
“‘I got sunshine on a cloudy day,’” Reed sang in a surprisingly smooth voice, giving her hands a gentle squeeze.
Bonnie laughed. “That’s right. I remember now. ‘When it’s cold outside,’” she joined in.
Bella stared, her heart melting as Reed sang through the whole song. Last night he’d been tender and sweet, helping her when she felt awful. Now, this… It wasn’t every day a grown man was willing to shower his nauseated neighbor or serenade his ill aunt while pretending to be her dead husband.
Bonnie laughed again when they finished and cupped his cheeks. “Well, Reed, what on earth are you doing here?”
He grinned. “I came to see you.”
“Well, you’re a good boy.”
“Thanks.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s almost time for bed, Aunt Bonnie.”
“I know it is. And tomorrow I’m gonna have a pretty head of curls.” She touched her hand to the curlers.
“You are.” He kissed her cheek a second time and stood, looking at Bella. “She likes ‘My Girl.’”
Her pulse pounded as she nodded. Every day she discovered something new she liked about him and found more irresistible. “You’re a good man.” Closing the distance between them, she pressed her mouth to his and eased away.
He clenched his jaw and lifted his hand, hesitating before he slid his knuckles along her cheek. “Come here,” he said quietly, dangerously, tugging her closer and kissing her, drawing out the simple meeting of lips with a quick glide of his tongue.
“Oh, young love,” Bonnie said. “It’s always so nice to see young love.”
Bella didn’t know that this was love. This was certainly a strong, strong like. And this time, she didn’t shy away from the click she always tried to ignore.
“When’s the wedding?”
“Not for a while,” Reed said, never missing a beat or taking his eyes off Bella’s.
“I hope you’ll consider me for a bridesmaid,” Bonnie said.
“Of course,” Bella answered, slightly breathless from the intensity of his gaze.
“I should probably be heading off to bed.” Bonnie stood.
“I’ll—I can go with her.” Bella held his stare a moment longer and walked off, following Bonnie to her room with Lucy close behind.
Chapter Seventeen
Bella let the warm breeze caress her skin as Reed drove them home from Aunt Bonnie’s. It wasn’t particularly late—only nine. Dinner and a walk on the beach were still an option, especially on a Friday night, but Reed hadn’t mentioned any sort of desire to stop off at Malcoms for a burger. He hadn’t said much of anything since their little…kiss thing in his aunt’s living room. By the time she’d finished helping Bonnie settle into bed, Linda had come home. She’d spoken with Reed’s mother at length, answering several of her eager questions, but Reed had kept quiet, sitting on the couch, making it hard for her to concentrate every time their eyes met across the room.
Something had changed tonight. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what, but something was undeniably different between them. Maybe their relationship had been evolving all along. From the beginning, they’d assured one another that they weren’t each other’s type—and in many ways that was still true. They had different outlooks on life. Reed tended to be a little more cynical than she was, but somewhere along the way, his sense of humor and kindness had become more important.
In months past, she’d dabbled in dating, refusing to take the opposite sex too seriously. She’d convinced herself she wasn’t looking for anything long-term or for any major commitments, but for the first time in a long time, the idea of settling into something warm and cozy with the right man was appealing. Now she needed to figure out what Reed was thinking.
She slid him a glance, noting his rigid posture and hands gripping the steering wheel tight. Sighing, she sat up straight, hating the tense silence. “So, thanks for taking me with you.”
He looked her way, then back at the road. “Thanks for coming.”
She swiped several strands of her hair behind her ear, turning her body more in his direction, eager to keep their conversation going. “I had a good time.”
“I’m glad. Aunt Bonnie likes you.”
“She likes Lucy.”
He grinned and his shoulders relaxed. “She was digging you more than she was me—until she thought I was Uncle Mason.”
“She seems fairly young for such an advanced condition.”
“She is. Fifty-nine, I think. Or something right around there. Every time I see her, she’s a little worse.”
She wanted to reach for his hand, but didn’t, not quite sure where they stood. “That can’t be easy.”
“I’d say the hardest part is knowing Mom has to deal with it every day when Aunt Bonnie’s less and less the person she used to be.”
“Does she know about your cousin?”
“I’m not sure. Sometimes she might, but most of the time I don’t think so, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned.”
“It’s sad.”
“He did it in a hotel room in Utah when he was away on business—shot himself. Even though he was in a horrible place emotionally, he made sure she wouldn’t be the one to find him.”
“I’m so sorry, Reed.”
He jerked his shoulders. “My aunt’s had a lot of problems since my uncle died. She had a nervous breakdown after he was killed and never really came back from it. It was hard for the doctors to pinpoint what was going on for quite a while. At first they thought some of the memory loss and mood swings were a result of the trauma—until things kept getting worse. Neither Mom nor I knew how bad it was until we came out for Kurt’s funeral.”
“Kurt’s your cousin?”
He nodded. “Aunt Bonnie’s always been sort of off—a little fruity. Or at least, for as long as I can remember, but the dementia’s gotten pretty intense. I wish Kurt would have picked up the phone—told us what was going on.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help.”
He made a sound in his throat. “It’s a damn shame, because he was a great guy.”
She nodded her sympathy instead of apologizing again. “Your uncle was a cop?”
“Yeah. So was my dad. My grandfather was FBI.”
“Crime fighting runs in the family.”
“I guess it stopped with me.”
“Are you sorry you gave it up?”
“No. I miss police work—a lot of the stuff Joey and I used to do, but sometimes the universe sends signs that it’s time to throw in the towel.”
“Your blown cover?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded, wanting to tell him she was glad that the universe had sent him her way, but this didn’t seem like the right time. “I want to help your mother—set up a day for her to come over to the office and I’ll give her a facial. Probably my green tea treatment. It’s very soothing: ne
ck and shoulder massage and these great new under-eye gels that my clients are going crazy over. Maybe I’ll add some hot stones too.”
“I’m sure she would dig it.”
“I like her.”
“She definitely loves you. Now if I’ll only buy a ring and get down on one knee, her life will be complete.”
She laughed. “I thought she was eager for beautiful grandchildren.”
He winced. “She did mention that, huh?” He cringed again. “Sorry about that.”
She grinned. “I thought it was sweet.”
“I did warn you.”
“I’m flattered that she thinks I’m good enough for her son. Mothers can be touchy about those things.”
He eased off the gas and pulled into their neighborhood, maintaining a slower speed on the quiet streets. “She’ll meet us at the church tomorrow if we tell her to.”
She laughed. “I want to go over with you again.”
He turned into his driveway. “If tonight’s visit didn’t scare you off, who am I to stop you?”
She chuckled as she unbuckled her belt. “Not even a little.”
He shut off the engine and killed the lights. “How about we go over again in a couple of weeks?”
“Definitely. We can give your mom a break and let Aunt Bonnie love on Lucy. I can bring over some sample product and give her a little facial too.”
“Yeah, sure. They’re working on getting a part-time nurse to help.” He opened his door.
“I hope it works out.”
“I’ll just keep giving her a hand until it does.”
Following his lead, she opened her door and got out. “Do you want to come over? We can make sandwiches and watch the next episode of The Office.”
“Sounds good, but I think I’m going to pass tonight.”
She nodded, sensing the tension rushing back with her invitation. He always came over. Tonight was supposed to be like the last time—when they’d made that simple little mistake and kissed each other crazy on her couch. They’d brushed it off and carried on as if nothing had ever happened. That’s how this was supposed to go too. “All right.” She sent him a cautious smile and let Lucy out of the back. “I guess I’ll see you soon.”
“See ya.”
That was it? She felt herself frown as she stared after him, then started through the side yard toward her house. Stopping, she puffed out a breath and turned. “Reed?”
Deceiving Bella: Book Eleven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series Page 19
