For some reason, he pulled Bella behind him, as if shielding her from danger. Bella shook her head and chuckled softly. In so many ways, Lucas reminded her of his brother. There were plenty of times when she’d observed Victor’s overprotective behavior toward Taylor. It was so unnecessary. If anyone could protect themselves, it was Taylor. She was as tough as nails. But none of that mattered to her man. He hovered none the less. And his baby brother was displaying the very same characteristics.
“Lucas Creed, is it your intention to walk right past your mother without so much as a hello?”
Lucas froze. And before Bella could help it, she walked, smack into his back. She yelped as she bounced off his solid back and struggled to regain her footing. Lucas reached out and grabbed her elbow, just as a crazy handsome, more mature Lucas lookalike grabbed her other elbow.
“Bella, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Lucas asked, looking her up and down.
“Yeah…yes.” Bella chuckled. “I’m good.” She looked up at the man holding her elbow and smiled. “Hello,” she greeted with a grateful smile.
“Hello,” he replied as he released her elbow. “You sure that you’re okay?”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“I rescued you too,” Lucas mumbled.
Bella muffled her laughter and turned to Lucas and Victor’s mother. She remembered seeing her at the hospital when Taylor was shot. Lucas held his hand out toward the handsome couple.
“Bella, I’d like you to meet my parents. My dad, Victor Creed Senior, and my mom, Dr. Tabitha Creed. Mom and Dad, meet Belladonna Devereaux.”
“Hello, Senator and Dr. Creed. It’s nice to meet you.”
“My goodness, child, you are gorgeous. And what a beautiful name,” Tabitha gushed.
Had Bella been a few shades lighter, she wouldn’t have been able to hide the fact that she was blushing. And, since she was named after a poison, Bella smiled at the fact that Lucas’ mom referred to her name as beautiful.
“Thank you, ma’am. You’re beautiful too,” Bella replied honestly.
Tabitha Creed furrowed her brows as she stared at Bella. Bella smiled nervously. She was beginning to feel a bit self-conscious.
Apparently, noticing Bella’s discomfort, Tabitha smiled and said, “I’ve seen you before. You’re the detective from the hospital. If I’m not mistaken, you were in charge of the investigation into Taylor’s shooting.”
Bella nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’m still investigating it.”
Tabitha’s frown was an indicant of her confusion. “I thought that boy was murdered in the hospital.”
“Yes, ma’am he was. But now, I’m looking for the person who murderedhim.”
Tabitha pursed her lips and ran her fingers through her red hair. “Hopefully, to give ‘em a medal,” Tabitha scoffed.
“Not exactly.” Bella chuckled.
Lucas placed his hand in the small of Bella’s back. “How about we give the shop talk a rest, Mom? Thisisa party.”
Victor Senior placed his arm around his wife and kissed the side of her face. “Come on, beautiful. Let me buy you a drink.” His voice was deep and melodious, and judging by his wife’s reaction, it’d had the desired effect.
Dr. Creed nearly swooned. Her lashes fluttered as she raised her face, allowing him access to her lips. The two kissed as if their love affair was brand new. In a way, the Creeds reminded Bella of her own parents. Their love was something that Bella was longing for when she’d married Dean. But, for her, it just wasn’t meant to be."
Bella turned back to Victoria, but the woman had disappeared. “She’s gone,” she whispered to Lucas.
Lucas and Bella scanned the room, but she’d vanished completely.
“It was probably nothing,” Lucas reassured.
But Bella wasn’t completely convinced that it was nothing. She’d learned a long time ago to trust her instincts, and her instincts were telling her that she needed to at least try to find out who the woman was. Later, Bella would pull the restaurant’s surveillance video.
“Mom and Dad, will you excuse us?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Tabitha responded. “It was so nice to meet you, Belladonna.”
