Taylor flopped down next to her friend. “Bella, you ain’t thought about no man since you and Dean split up. Why? Are you still in love with Dean? Because, if you—”
“I’m not in love with Dean, Tay,” Bella interrupted in a frustrated tone. “I just don’t want your soon-to-be brother-in-law.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes as if she were trying to see into Bella’s brain. “You still got a thing against dating white guys, don’t you?”
Bella rolled her eyes, wishing that Taylor would just let it go and mind her own business. She stood from the loveseat and walked toward the door. “I gotta go. Gotta get back to the station,” Bella muttered as she left the room.
She stepped into the hall, and of course, she found herself face to face with Lucas Creed. Her steps halted, and her heart pounded erratically in her chest. Lucas Creed was knee-buckling fine. His hair was dark like Victor’s and his eyes were green just like his, but whereas his older brother was politically polished, Lucas was rough around the edges. He had a major I-don’t-give-a-fuck air about him.
Lucas was tall and solid. Beyond his black V-neck, Bella could see that he had the form of a man that spent time in the gym religiously. His thick, chin-length hair bounced freely around his handsome face, and his full lips encased perfect white teeth.
Lucas was watching Bella in a way that made her nervous. She had seen a lot in her thirty-six years on earth, and there wasn’t much that made her nervous.
“Detective, it’s good to see you again.”
Ooh!
His voice was like cool silk, rubbing against her warm naked skin. Bella cleared her throat and forced herself to behave like she would if she weren’t standing in front of Adonis.
“Nice to see you, Mr. Creed,” she muttered as she walked past him.
Lucas grabbed her arm. Bella’s breath hitched when a current ofsomethingtraveled throughout her entire body. She pulled out of his grasp and glared up at him.
“May I walk you out?” he asked before Bella could chastise him.
“Why?”
“I’d like a word.”
“Alright.” Bella sighed.
Together, they continued down the hall. Bella simply could not understand why she was so uncomfortable. It’s not like she had never been around a good-looking man before. They rounded the corner and entered the large living room. After they crossed the foyer, Bella turned to Lucas. She was immediately startled by how close he was standing to her.
Bella cleared her throat nervously and asked, “Mr. Creed, what did you want to discuss?”
Bella's heart raced when he slapped her with a disarming grin. “I’m going to call you Bella because it defines you. So, I’d like it if you would call me Lucas.”
His voice, his scent, his nearness caused Bella to quiver. “Fine,” was all she could manage.
“I’d like you to have dinner with me.”
“I don’t think so.”
Lucas’ brows bunched. Bella imagined that a man like him wasn’t at all accustomed to being rejected. The thought empowered Bella enough to regain some semblance of control of herself.
“Why, Bella? Do you not think that I’m attractive?”
Bella reached for the doorknob, but Lucas covered her hand. Any bit of control that she thought that she’d regained suddenly fled.
He pulled her to face him. “I asked you a question, Beauty.”
Bella looked up, and despite staring into his hypnotic, green eyes, she managed to strengthen her resolve. “I’m just not interested, Mr. Creed.”
With that said, Bella escaped his grasp, opened the door, and left the penthouse. Once she was in the hall, she wondered if she had just won something or lost something.
