“Look here, little lady, I’m doing just fine. I’m a fast healer.”
Bella raised a brow. “I’ma call and ask your mama about that.”
Lucas grinned and moved slow to sit. “Don’t you call my mother, young lady. Anyway, I escaped when that woman tried to give me a bath.”
“What?” Bella laughed. “What woman? You mean your nurse?”
Lucas looked up at her wide-eyed and with feigned fear. “You laugh, but that lady was way too excited about the possibility.”
Bella shook her head at her ridiculous fiancé. “You’ve had baths since you’ve been shot,” she pointed out.
Lucas nodded. “No, ma’am. I’ve had sponge baths and showers always by the other one.”
Bella glared at him through narrowed lids. “You mean the young one with the big ole titties?”
Lucas’ lips parted, gasping as if he were shocked. “I have never noticed that woman’s breasts. Bella, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Right,” Bella scoffed. “Of course, not.”
“Look here, woman. I don’t need some nurse to bathe me. I have a fiancée. I came here for a bath. And I am not leaving until I get one.”
“All right, bae,” Bella agreed with a giggle. “I got you.” Bella moved toward the bathroom to start the water, but she froze when Lucas caught her wrist.
“Hand me that remote before you go.”
She grabbed the remote from the nightstand and handed it to him on her way to the ensuite bathroom. Lucas turned on what sounded like the news. While putting towels in the warmer, Bella could hear that Victor was still leading in the polls despite the ridiculous accusations made by Taylor’s sister. She couldn’t imagine for one minute Donna doing anything to hurt her. And she would for no reason in the world turn on her sister. It was the way they’d been raised. Family was everything to them.
When the story turned to a possible serial killer in Chicago, Bella’s thoughts turned to Niyah. Her gut told her that her friend was lying about the case. But why? What could she possibly have to gain by fumbling the DNA evidence? Maybe if Bella didn’t know Niyah to be so clinically meticulous, she would have believed it had been something as simple as human error. Bella started the water, drowning out the sound of the television. First, she would focus on staying alive and keeping her family safe. Then, she would get to the bottom of Niyah’s mishandling of evidence.
With the water running, Bella left the bathroom and re-entered the bedroom. She dropped to her knees to take off Lucas’ shoes and laughed at his retro Jordan’s.
“What are you laughing at, little lady?”
Bella dropped her head and giggled. “You get engage to a black woman and all of a sudden, you’re rocking Jordans.”
“What?” Lucas scoffed through laughter. “I’ll have you know that I have been wearing Jordans since Jordan’s playing days.”
Bella’s lips pursed with skepticism. “Mm-mm. Bae, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in gym shoes. Or should I say sneakers?”
Lucas playfully poked the top of her. “Don’t make fun of me.”
Bella shook her head and pulled the socks and shoes from his feet. She stood and helped him stand. “Raise your arms.”
Because he was so tall, Lucas lowered himself while Bella stood on her toes to pull his T-shirt over his head. Bella’s breathing hitched at the sight of the heart-wrenching scar in the middle of his chest. Her head fell, and before she could help it, warm tears drizzled down her cheeks. Lucas had been shot directly in the center of his chest, less than an inch from his heart. He could have died.
“Oh, baby,” she whispered.
Hearing the fear in her voice, Lucas grabbed her hand and placed it over his scar. “I’m okay.” He slid his hands around her back and pulled her against him, so that her head was pressed against his chest. “You hear that.” Bella closed her eyes and focused on the beat of Lucas’ heart. In her head, she said a prayer, thanking God for not taking him. Because after having him in her life, she couldn’t fathom losing him.
Lucas kissed the top of her head and grabbed her shoulders. “That water is gonna run over.”
Bella shook away depressing thoughts of losing Lucas and wiped the tears from her face. She unbuttoned his jeans and slid them along with his boxers down his hips.
“See, now, that’s what I’m talking about,” Lucas teased.
“Shush,” Bella scolded. “You’re in no condition to perform.”
Lucas stepped out of his pants and chuckled. “But I am in the perfect condition to lay on my back and let you do all the work.”
