“I think my hand might be broken.”
“Keep us covered,” he said to Skylar as he shoved his weapon away and picked Bella up. “Tell them to get us an ambulance.”
“We’re coming out the back entrance,” Skylar relayed. “Have paramedics ready.”
“Let’s get out of here.” He kissed her again. “Keep your head down. Bury your face right against my neck. The press has to be on this by now. I don’t want anyone seeing you.”
She nodded, clinging to him, breathing him in, feeling his tough body protecting hers as they left the building, walking out into the chaos of flashing lights, police vehicles, and dozens of men and women swarming the scene while helicopters flew overhead. “I want to go home.”
“We’re going to the hospital first.” He stepped up into the back of the ambulance and sat down on the bed, refusing to let her go.
She gripped him tighter, realizing he was shaking too. “You saved me.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t leaving without you.”
The doors closed, and they were whisked off to the emergency room.
Chapter Sixty-One
Reed backed up alongside the house and stopped just before the truck’s tires could roll over the new sod they were still babying. He killed the engine and got out, dropping the gate for Lucy. “Down you go, Luce.”
Lucy wasted no time booking it over to the huge tree in the corner of the yard where she spent most of her time circling the trunk, waiting for her new friends to tease her mercilessly from the tall branches above.
Chuckling, he shook his head and grabbed Bella’s presents from the bed. Their new home was mostly finished. The construction crews had packed up and rolled out over a week ago. Now it was time for a few finishing touches. He walked past the pretty patio space where he and Bella had eaten their lunch earlier and set down the bushes he’d purchased at the local nursery, scanning the planting instructions when he typically would have guessed. But some things were worth an extra couple of minutes—and this was one of them. He reached for the shovel and stopped when his phone alerted him to a text. Snagging his phone from his pocket, he read Skylar’s text.
Transfer’s complete.
He nodded, instinctively glancing east in the direction of Alfeo Caparelli’s tiny, isolated prison cell at the Federal Supermax in Colorado. No one had been more surprised than Reed when La Cosa Nostra’s most notorious boss pled guilty to the multiple charges brought against him. Thanks to Vincent Pescoe’s excellent memory and damning videotaped testimony, his older brother would spend the rest of his life right where he belonged. With Matty dead and the internal executions of the organization’s most influential men, the Caparelli crime family was finished—and Bella’s identity was safe. DA Morris’s secretary would serve some time for aiding and abetting the mob, and after Skylar’s interrogation room “chat” with the terrified woman, Reed had no doubt Secretary Shawna would keep Bella’s identity to herself. He tossed his gaze to the bright blue sky on the gorgeous California afternoon, certain that Vinny was looking down with a smile. His phone dinged again, bringing him back to attention and another text from Skylar.
Tell Bella I’ll pick up dessert at the store. The cookies are a bust. Now that the fire department’s gone, I’m going to work for a while.
I’ll let her know, he replied, grinning as he shoved his phone away. Skylar was all moved in at his old place—and she sucked in the kitchen. Twice in the last six weeks, fire trucks had rolled up to her front door. Apparently, three times now. And Bella had only given her two basic cooking lessons.
He picked up the shovel and started digging, loving that his biggest worry was Skylar burning down her house. Even his assignment with Sadie was wrapping up with a promising break in her stalking case. He stomped his work boot down on the blade and stopped, listening to the birdsong in the quiet neighborhood while he stared at the glistening windows and solid wooden doors on his and Bella’s new place, still in awe that this was his life. A stunning woman tinkering around inside, an adorable dog pacing back and forth by the tree, and this amazing home they got to call their own. “Not too shabby,” he muttered and got back to his task, eager to finish up and guide Bella outside to show her the latest surprise he knew she was going to love.
~~~~
Bella glided her roller over the final patch of wall space still in need of pale yellow paint and grinned. She went after the spot again for good measure and stepped back, scrutinizing the way the color she and Reed had finally selected played so well with the pretty crown molding and beautiful bamboo flooring in the sunny dining room. “Absolutely perfect.”
Tomorrow the new rug would arrive. Then they could accept delivery for the gorgeous maple table-and-chair set she and Wren had picked out weeks ago. She set the roller back on the tray, imagining that Linda and Aunt Bonnie were going to be impressed with the progress—not that they hadn’t stopped by yesterday and multiple times during the last month and a half. And neither she nor Reed had minded. They had welcomed all the help they could get with their new place, especially when her cast wasn’t going anywhere for at least another fourteen days.
She glanced at the pale purple plaster encasing her hand and dismissed the minor annoyance. She was alive, and thanks to the miracle work of Dr. Huberty and a few corrective laser treatments, her face had healed without any permanent scaring. But she didn’t want to think about that. Today was too wonderful to focus on a time she wished to forget. Instead, she gave her attention to the boxes in the living room and the new curtain rods that needed hanging.
Lucy sent up a frantic din in the backyard, and Bella rolled her eyes. “Those poor squirrels.” Chuckling, she walked through the kitchen and outside, stopping on the patio when she spotted Reed sitting back on his haunches while he worked on something in the corner. “What are you doing over there, handsome?”
He looked over his shoulder. “This is where the garden’s going, right?”
“Yes, but I thought we were waiting until next year to start that project.”
“We are. But that doesn’t mean we can’t add a couple of touches right now.”
Curious, she headed his way.
He glanced over his shoulder again. “Hold up there, nosy. Turn around before you ruin the surprise.”
Laughing, she turned away. “I’m not sure I can handle the suspense.”
“Give it your best shot.” He brushed off his hands with a couple of solid claps and walked to stand in front of her, locking his wrists around her waist. “Hey, beautiful.”
She smiled, loving that he wore his ball cap backward with his T-shirt and jeans. “You’re back from running your errands.”
“I am.”
“Where’d you go?”
He grinned. “Here and there.”
“No clues?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
She nipped his chin. “That’s not very nice.”
He pulled her closer. “What have you been up to for the last little while?”
She hooked her arms around the back of his neck. “I finished the dining room.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She stroked her fingers along his skin. “We’re almost finished. I can hardly believe it.”
“The place looks amazing. You were right.”
She looked back at the pretty pots of verbena and new landscaping complimenting the creamy almond exterior paint and pressure-washed brick. “I love that we did this together—you and me and all of our family and friends.”
“Speaking of friends, Skylar wanted me to let you know that she’s picking up dessert at the store.”
She laughed. “The cookies didn’t work out?”
He shook his head. “The fire department stopped by again.”
She threw her head back, laughing harder. “I’m not ready to give up on her yet.” She nuzzled her cheek against his chest, forever treasuring his masculine scent. “Emilia’s aunt called while you were gone. The girls are besid
e themselves with excitement about the barbecue next weekend, but Aunt Peggy’s worried about Emilia’s wheelchair.”
He shrugged. “I’m not. We’ll make it work.”
“That’s what I said.” She kissed him. “Apparently Emilia’s still sleeping with the teddy bear you brought her. And they had to dry the bouquet. It’s in a vase on the dresser by her bed.”
He grinned. “What can I say? I’ve got an eye for flowers.”
She smiled, thinking of the pretty carnations on their new granite countertop in the kitchen. “Yes, you do.”
“So, Joe and Mel decided they’re going to fly in after all. He sent me a text while I was out.”
She beamed, thrilled that they were going to have a full house for their first party. “It’ll be great.”
“Tell me that after we listen to him bitch about his ribs for forty-eight hours straight. Even Mel’s starting to lose her patience, and that woman’s a saint.”
“We can put up with it. He helped save my life.”
Some of the joy left his eyes. “Alfeo made the transfer to Colorado today.”
“Good, but I don’t want to talk about him. I’ll be happy never to think of him.”
“So, we won’t.”
“Sounds good.”
“How about we move things along to your surprise?”
She fluttered her lashes. “Yes, please.”
“Close your eyes.”
She did.
He turned her around and guided her forward. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Definitely.”
He took her hand, lacing their fingers. “Okay.”
She opened her eyes and pressed her cast to her chest as her heart melted. “Reed. Raspberry bushes.”
He gave her fingers a squeeze. “Raspberry bushes.”
She threw her arms around him. “I love them.”
“The woman at the nursery says they’ll need a couple years to grow before we’ll have enough for jam, but I figure we have to start somewhere.”
“You’re the best.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a noisy kiss to his lips. “I love you so much.”
He played his fingers through her hair. “I love you too.”
She sighed. “We have raspberry bushes.”
“And strawberry plants.” He gestured to the items still in the back of the truck.
“Strawberries too?”
“I thought we could add to the tradition. I want our kids growing up remembering that they helped their mom and dad make raspberry and strawberry jam.”
She blinked as her eyes filled, constantly thankful that this wonderful man was her partner. “I love that idea.”
He hooked his thumbs through the loops on her short shorts. “Tonight’s our first night in the new house.”
She wiggled her brow. “I know.”
“I was thinking that after Skylar heads home, we could take the bike over to the beach.”
“Mmm. Yes.”
“You know, when I looked at the calendar this morning, I noticed that the moon’s supposed to be full tonight.” He glanced up to their new bedroom windows.
She snagged her lip with her teeth, understanding exactly what he was suggesting. “I’m still on the pill.”
“So maybe you stop taking it and we’ll start practicing for the next moon.”
Her heart pounded with joy. “Really?”
He nodded. “And since we’re about to get serious about baby-making, we should probably get married.”
“Reed,” she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I want to marry you, Bella. Nothing about my life has been the same since you walked into it. I’m ready for weddings and kids running around in the yard—our future. Everything. As long as I get to share all of it with you.”
“Yes. Let’s get married. Let’s make babies.”
He cradled her cheeks in his palms and kissed her, taking her deeper with gentle glides of his tongue. “What do you say we head upstairs?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Come on, Lucy.” He picked Bella up and walked toward their new home. “So, how much notice would we have to give if we wanted to cancel dinner with a good friend?”
She grinned as she stared into his bold blue gaze, letting Lucy in before she locked them inside. “I think if we called right now, we’d be okay.”
“Consider it done.” He hustled up the curved staircase to the master bedroom and kicked the door closed. “We can do dinner tomorrow. I’m planning on snacking on you tonight.” He growled, nipping at her neck, as they collapsed onto the bed and he pressed her into the mattress.
Her laughter echoed through the big, beautiful room while the sun shined bright through their brand-new picture windows.
The End
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Thank you for reading Deceiving Bella. What did you think of Reed and Bella’s story? Did you love it, like it, or maybe even hate it? Honest reviews are vital to authors. Please consider taking a moment to share your thoughts on Amazon, Goodreads, or the vendor you purchased the book from. Thank you!
I’ll see you again soon when we catch up with another installment of the Bodyguards of L.A. County series.
Until next time,
~Cate
Also By Cate Beauman
Bodyguards of L.A. County Series
Morgan’s Hunter
Falling For Sarah
Hailey’s Truth
Forever Alexa
Waiting For Wren
Justice For Abby
Saving Sophie
Reagan’s Redemption
Answers For Julie
Finding Lyla
About The Author
Cate Beauman is the author of the international best-selling series The Bodyguards of L.A. County. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their Saint Bernards, Bear and Jack.
www.catebeauman.com
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www.goodreads.com/catebeauman
Follow Cate on Twitter: @CateBeauman
Deceiving Bella: Book Eleven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series Page 66
