Lucas finished his wine and slid his glass to Bella for a refill.
“Rosemary is a pain in the ass,” he declared.
Bella laughed and walked over to the fridge. She opened it, praying that there was something inside that didn’t need defrosting. She was hungry, but she didn’t feel like preparing a gourmet meal.
“Why do you say that?”
“Bella, the woman is bored. My housekeeper and I are her only source of entertainment. When I get home from work, she’s right at the door, waiting for me to give her the play by play of my day. And, Alissa, my poor housekeeper can’t keep the woman out of her personal life.”
“Damn!” Bella chuckled.
“And, to top it off, she’s continually badgering me aboutyou.”
Bella peeped from around the refrigerator door.
“Me? What does she want to know about me?”
“Well, not just you,” he corrected. “Us.”
Bella closed the fridge, irritated that she hadn’t gone to the grocery store. She returned to the island and grabbed her wine. Hopefully, she could get full from alcohol.
“What about us?” Bella asked.
Lucas smiled and shrugged. “I’ve known Rosemary for a long time. Before Taylor came along, she was the sister that we’d never had. For a long time, she’s been on me to settle down.”
Bella smiled. She didn’t know Rosemary at all, but judging by the way Victor and Lucas talked about her, she wasn’t a bad person. She did have an air of privilege and entitlement. But shewasprivileged. So, was her attitude really her fault? What Bella did know was that the woman’s presence was creating a problem for her friend.
“Lucas, what does that have to do with me?”
“Well, Belladonna, Rosemary believes that you and I are meant to be,” Lucas reported with a grin.
“Is that so? And she believes thisbecause?”
“Girl, a blind mute can sense how I feel about you.”
Bella chuckled. “That is so politically incorrect,” Bella admonished.
Lucas smiled and lifted the glass to his lips. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not the politician in the family.”
Bella laughed. And, even though she was tempted, she avoided asking him how he felt about her. As a matter of fact, she’d made it point not to discuss the night that they’d shared. After their mind-blowing sexual encounter, she’d fallen asleep on the living room floor. But, the next morning, she woke up in her bed, with Lucas doing the most incredible things to her with his very talented mouth. After another round, Bella made them a breakfast that consisted of toast and coffee. Bella kept the conversation casual until it was time for her to go to work. They hadn’t spoken since until Lucas showed up at the hospital.
Lucas placed his glass on the countertop and stood straight.
“Bella?” he called, hesitantly. His tone was concerning.
“What’s up?”
“Can I have your phone number?”
Bella was surprised by his request. The man had licked every part of her body and he didn’t even have her phone number. Their shit was ass-backward, Bella mused.
“Sure.” Bella chuckled.
“Good. You can have mine too,” Lucas responded with a boyish grin.
“Okay.”
Lucas walked around the island and pulled Bella close to him. Bella looked up into his sparkling green eyes and rested her hands on his well-developed biceps. Lucas leaned down and pressed his soft lips to hers. He gave her a quick, gentle kiss that made Bella melt against him. He pulled back and looked her in the eye.
