Deceiving Bella: Book Eleven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series

by Beauman, Cate

  “Sounds fun.”

  “I agree. But I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

  “Ditto that. Am I taking you out for dinner or are we staying in?”

  “We’re staying in. I have a dress for you to peel off me. It’s hanging in the closet, waiting patiently.”

  He chuckled. “That’s right. Did you have fun?”

  “I did. A great time, actually. Jed was there, so we hung out for a while.”

  “I’m glad he could keep you company.”

  “He’s a nice guy, but he’s not you.” She yawned. “Sorry.”

  “It sounds like I should let you go.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Get some sleep, Bella.”

  She yawned again. “Okay.”

  “Is Luke still next door?”

  “I’m pretty sure I saw his car. I wasn’t paying all that much attention. I was more interested in a shower and getting into bed.”

  “I like knowing one of the guys is next door.”

  “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. Besides, I have my fierce companion snoring away just a couple feet from me.”

  “Right. Have fun with Faith.”

  “I will. See you this afternoon.” She wanted to tell him she loved him, but when she finally gave him the words, she planned to be looking him in the eye. “Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  She put the phone back on the side table, shut off the light, and pulled Reed’s pillow closer, breathing in the scent of the man she missed like crazy, and fell asleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Reed sat next to Vinny in the preboarding area at Teterboro Airport, waiting for Collin to deal with the final maintenance checks for their flight. They were in Jersey—a solid hour’s drive from Brooklyn and the violence in Bensonhurst—but he wanted them in the air, where he could finally relax a little bit. The ongoing rain showers were making for a chilly, overcast morning, but Collin didn’t seem concerned, so he wasn’t either. Soon they would be soaring well above the cloud cover, leaving the mid-Atlantic region behind. He glanced at his watch, estimating that they had another twenty minutes here on the ground. Then he looked at Vinny sipping the tea he’d forced on him, gauging his coloring, which wasn’t entirely horrible, especially after yesterday’s seemingly endless ATV adventure. If his instincts were right, Vinny was tired, but he was having the time of his life.

  “Son of a bitch.” Vinny shuddered, resting the paper cup on his thigh. “I don’t know why you couldn’t have gotten me a coffee like I asked.”

  “That’s better for you.” He gestured to the chamomile drink.

  “Like it matters.”

  “It matters to your daughter.” His phone started ringing, and he grinned at Bella’s beautiful face filling his screen. “Speaking of.”

  Vinny grumbled.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he answered. “You’re up early.”

  “Yeah. Lucy’s bladder doesn’t care much that I didn’t get to bed on time.”

  He grinned again. “Sorry to hear that.”

  “I’ll survive. Were you able to get some sleep?”

  Mostly he’d lain awake, replaying his conversation with Bruno, hoping that his informant was going to deliver something useful for their case sooner rather than later. “A little.” He looked at Vinny when he started coughing.

  “You’ll sleep better tonight. I’m planning on wearing you out.”

  Reed stood, walking to the window, distancing himself from Vinny as he continued hacking up a lung. “I appreciate your willingness to help me out like that.”

  She laughed. “Whatever it takes. Good grief. Who is that?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Uh, just another passenger waiting to board.”

  “Well, they sound awful. Make sure you keep your distance. We don’t want you getting sick.”

  He couldn’t exactly tell Bella that he wasn’t worried about catching what Vinny had. “Will do.”

  Vinny cleared his throat, giving him a thumbs-up as his coughing fit settled down.

  Reed nodded, turning away.

  “I thought I would let you know that I made the paper. Jed texted me a couple minutes ago.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “The “Life and Style” pages,” she said in a snooty tone.

  He smiled. “LA Times?”

  “But of course.”

  “Let’s see here.” He took his seat again and dug out his laptop from its case. “You don’t mind if I check out the sports headlines first, do you?”

  “Football scores can wait.”

  He chuckled as he typed in the Times’ web address. “It’s not football season.”

  “Oh.”

  The smile froze on his face as he stared at Bella and Jed grinning, standing cheek to cheek. Christ, she was an absolute stunner. And Jed didn’t look half-bad himself.

  “Did you find it?”

  “Yeah.” He read the caption. Jed Hoffman and his date Isabella Colby enjoy a dance at Lily Brand and Abigail Quinn’s annual Stowers House fundraising event. His gaze kept wandering back to the word date. “You look amazing. That dress is…”

  “Pretty daring.”

  “Incredibly sexy.” Clinging red fabric and teasing glimpses of sensational breasts. “Lots of skin.” And Jed had been touching her. He scanned the other pictures from the night, spotting one more of Bella standing by Abby and Sophie with Jed by her side as they all smiled in a group shot. And Jed had his arm around her naked shoulders, touching her again. “It looks like you had a great time.”

  “I did.”

  “You were easily the most beautiful woman there.”

  “Aw, thank you. Oh.”

  He frowned at the surprise in her voice. “What?”

  “I didn’t realize—I’m just reading the caption. Jed certainly wasn’t my date.”

  “It’s not a big deal.” But he didn’t like it, especially when he should have been there. He wasn’t often jealous. He’d never considered himself the type, but he definitely was right now.

  “It was just a dance. I told Jed I was very much taken.”

  “Damn straight.”

  She chuckled. “Well, I should go. Lucy and I have a very busy day of basking in our fame.”

  He smiled. “Enjoy it.”

  “We’re going to start off with a bowl of cereal—or kibble, in Lucy’s case. Then we’re going to pick up Faith and bring her over to Sarah and Ethan’s, where I’ll more than likely be covered in drool and/or spit-up within the first half hour.”

  “Sounds impressive. You do famous well.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. Today sounds perfect.”

  Collin started their way, giving him and Vinny a nod. “My flight’s about to board.”

  “Great. I’ll see you this afternoon, handsome.”

  “Okay. Bye.” He hung up and looked at Vinny. “Are you going to be okay for the flight?”

  “I’m fine. Got some of this sick-ass tea down the wrong tube.” He gestured to his cup. “We can throw this out before we leave.”

  “Bella would want you drinking it.”

  “I’m pretty sure she’s not here right now.”

  “Call her. If she tries to call you while we’re in the air and can’t get ahold of you, she’ll head up to Reseda.”

  “I never call her this early.”

  “Make an exception. Tell her you saw her in the paper.” He turned the computer Vinny’s way.

  Vinny raised his brow as he looked from the screen to Reed and back. “Well, well. Are you being replaced?”

  His nostrils flared. “No, I’m not being replaced. They’re friends.”

  “Looks cozy.” Vinny’s eyes glittered with gleeful fun as they met his.

  Reed shrugged, trying to ignore Vinny’s jabs. “I guess, but I doubt she’ll be thinking about him when I take her to bed tonight.” He barely held back his own grin when Vinny’s disappeared.

  “A father doesn’t
want to hear stuff like that.”

  “Call her.”

  “Fine. I’ll call her.” Vinny dialed Bella’s number, mumbling something about how fathers didn’t like thinking about their beautiful daughters having sex.

  Reed listened to snatches of Vinny and Bella’s quick conversation, staring at Bella snuggled up with Jed once more, then shut off his laptop for the long flight home.

  ~~~~

  Bella grinned as she pulled into her driveway, staring at Reed’s truck parked in his own. “Reed’s home.”

  Lucy’s ears perked up.

  “I know. It’s pretty great, huh?” She shut off the engine and got out, hurrying around to Lucy’s side to open the door.

  Lucy bolted from the car and trotted up the walkway, whining when she reached the doorway.

  “Give me a second, silly. You have four legs. I only have two.” Chuckling, she picked up her pace, just as eager to greet Reed as their puppy. “Should we go say hi?”

  Lucy wagged her tail.

  “Come on, then.” She tested the doorknob, found that it turned in her hand, and walked inside, grinning again when Reed crouched down in his favorite pair of jeans and a ratty sleeveless T-shirt, petting an excited Lucy.

  “Hey, girl.” He gave her a solid rub on her sides, accepting several kisses on his cheek. “How’s my girl? Did you help Bella babysit today?”

  “She played with her doggy pals Bear and Reece. She’ll be comatose until Monday.”

  “Sounds intense.” He gave Lucy another firm pat and gained his feet, staring at her. “Hi.”

  Her heart rate kicked up several notches, reading perfectly well the hungry desire burning in his eyes. “Hi.” She let her purse fall to the floor and launched herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. “You have no idea how excited I am to see you.”

  He hoisted her farther up with his hands on her ass. “Probably about as excited as I am to see you.” He captured her mouth, immediately playing his tongue against hers.

  She whimpered, meeting him stroke for stroke. “I missed you,” she gasped out as he went after her jaw and neck.

  “I missed you too.”

  She ran her fingers through his damp hair. “Your hair’s wet.”

  “I took a shower. Couch?”

  “Wherever. Just now.”

  He collapsed with her onto the cushions. “Naked sex?”

  “Any kind of sex.” She fought with his jeans as he struggled with hers.

  “I like your dresses better. Easier access.”

  She tugged his pants down his hips. “Babysitting in a dress doesn’t typically work out very well. Let me.” She freed one of her legs from the snug denim.

  “You forgot your panties.” He yanked them to one side. “Good thing we can work around them.” He shoved himself inside her.

  She moaned, absorbing the sharp rush of pleasure, and let her head fall back against the pillow. “God, I missed you.”

  “Forty-eight hours is practically a lifetime.”

  “Yes.” She slid her palms under his shirt, tracing her fingers up his spine, then clutching at his shoulders, needing to touch him everywhere. “You feel so good. You always feel so good inside me.”

  He groaned.

  Her hands wandered down to his ass, gripping his muscled cheeks, thrusting him forward. “Hard. Fast.”

  He clenched his jaw as his eyes flashed. “You’ve got it.” He pumped like a madman.

  She gasped as the throbbing built with every thrust, holding his gaze as heat rushed to her center, then exploded through her core. She tensed with the waves of overwhelming sensations and cried out. “Faster.”

  He yanked up her hips, pulling her into an arch, and pounded away, until she called his name and he erupted inside her. He collapsed forward, pressing her into the cushions as he steamed out hot, unsteady breaths next to her ear. “God, Bella. God, Bella,” he said again.

  She closed her eyes and smiled, trailing her fingers up his sweaty back. “That was an excellent way to say hello.”

  He lifted his head, smiling. “I thought I was going to peel you out of that red dress.”

  “Mmm.” She kissed him and snagged his lower lip with her teeth. “You can. Later. After we have dinner.”

  He chuckled. “You are one sexy woman.”

  She grinned. “You make me feel sexy.”

  “That’s not hard to do.” His smiled dimmed as he adjusted his weight so he could brush the hair back from her forehead. “I missed you. Really missed you.” He kissed her sweetly, drawing out the tender moment.

  She sighed as he drew back, perfectly content in his arms. “I missed you too.”

  “When I’m not with you, I want to be. I shouldn’t have to travel anymore for a while.”

  “Good.” She hugged him. “I like it better when you’re here.”

  “That makes two of us.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I want you again.”

  “Whenever you’re ready.” She let her eyes flutter closed and opened them when he began to move slowly.

  He smiled. “How’s this?”

  She smiled back. “Great. Perfect. Welcome home.”

  “I don’t want to be anywhere else.” He captured her mouth again, tenderly, clasping their fingers, taking her on another exquisite journey.

  ~~~~

  Reed pulled himself free of Bella and rolled to his back, out of breath after they’d just destroyed each other again. “I’m starting to think you’re trying to kill me.”

  She laughed as she turned on her side and walked her fingers up his stomach, taking a couple of steadying breaths of her own. “I told you I was going to wear you out.”

  “Yes, you did.” He tugged her against him, hooking his arm around her waist as she settled her head on his shoulder. “You’re doing a hell of a job.” They’d been going at it for hours, stopping for dinner on the porch and a couple of episodes of The Office. Then they’d taken a sexy shower and ended up in bed for the rest of the evening. He had yet to get her in and out of that little red dress, but there was always later. “Thank God tomorrow’s Sunday. I’m going to need the day to recover.”

  She grinned, tracing his pecs. “You can sleep while I go see my dad. I still can’t believe they released him without calling me first.”

  He’d settled Vinny in at his house right around one thirty, then headed out to the store to stock his fridge with the juices and soups he seemed to like before heading back to the Palisades. They’d decided that Vinny should call Bella at four and let her know he was home from the hospital and resting. “It sounds like they didn’t need to keep him any longer. He had a little pep to him, right?”

  “He did, but I still would have appreciated a call.”

  “Everything worked out.” He kissed her forehead, choosing to focus on the fact that they were together right now instead of his latest series of lies. “I’ll come with you. We’ll go to Reseda together.”

  “You need to rest.”

  He shook his head. “I need to be with you.”

  Her eyes went soft. “How can I argue with that?” She lifted her head and kissed him. “Why don’t you shut your eyes?”

  He sighed, truly relaxed for the first time since early Thursday morning. “Sounds good.” He pulled up the covers and tugged her closer, wanting to feel her soft skin against his. “I missed lying like this.”

  “Me too.”

  He reached up and shut off the light. “Night, Bella.”

  “Night.”

  He closed his eyes and hugged her tighter, ready to give in to exhaustion. His eyes flew open again when he heard his phone alert to a new text on the downstairs coffee table. “You know, Lucy had a lot of water before bed. Maybe I should take her out one last time.”

  Bella moaned her protest. “I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Something was up. If someone was texting just shy of midnight, something was going on. “I don’t want to have to get up once I’m asleep.”

&nbs
p; Bella sat up on her elbow. “I’ll keep the bed warm.”

  “I’ll be right back.” He stood, grabbing fresh boxers from his drawer, not quite certain where the pair he’d been wearing earlier ended up. “Come on, Lucy. Let’s go potty.”

  Lucy didn’t move.

  “See? I think she’s fine.”

  He shook his head. “You’ll both thank me later when we all sleep through the night. Come on, Lucy.”

  Lucy reluctantly got up and started down the hall.

  “We’ll be quick.” He followed the sulking puppy downstairs, grabbing his phone on the way to the French doors, reading Skylar’s text as he stepped outside.

  Updates whenever you’re ready.

  He selected her number, waiting through one ring, then two as he closed the door and looked around, making sure he was alone.

  “The lab boys are working late tonight,” she said instead of answering with a hello. “We have some preliminaries on the two bodies we pulled in today.”

  They’d had another good day in the fields. The stress and worry of taking Vinny to New York had been worth it now that they were seeing results.

  “Body number one had no identification, but his jewelry should make for an easy preliminary ID once we show it to potential family members. He’s fairly well-preserved. His hands were severed. Gunshot wound to the forehead.”

  Reed leaned against the porch railing, tracking Lucy’s movements in the small yard with his eyes. “To the forehead?”

  “To the forehead,” she confirmed. “Forensic anthropologist is calling the wound a through-and-through.”

  He crossed his arms, holding the phone with his shoulder. “So no bullet.”

  “No bullet. Unfortunately, things look pretty much the same with victim number two.”

  He huffed out a breath. “Damn it.”

  “We were able to identify him, though.”

  “Who is it?”

  “New York license says he’s Felice Dioli.”

  “You found Big Felice?”

  “Looks like it. They’ll run DNA for confirmation, but anthropology is confident it’s him.”

  “I guess that’s something.”

  “I have a few full days in the field, but I’m going to make Vinny those recordings either tomorrow or Monday morning at the latest.”