Chapter Lucas
LUCAS
Lucas looked around the dining room and was surprised to find that Victor and Taylor had already arrived. Since he had been running late, he had rushed through the restaurant, not at all noticing Victor’s Secret Security detail. Normally, the agents were impossible to miss.
A server approached with a tray of champagne-filled flutes. “Would you like champagne?” she offered the three of them.
Xander accepted a glass.
Bella didn’t much like champagne.
“Not for us, thank you,” Lucas politely refused.
The server smiled and made her way to Victor and Taylor. Lucas scanned the room and spotted a bar in the corner. He planned for a quick greeting with his family before making his way to a glass of scotch.
Lucas took note of the elegant decor of the private dining area.
Alinea was Lucas’ favorite restaurant, and he loved a good rock band.
However, he couldn’t help but worry about the cost. Bella was a city detective.
She wasn’t poor by any means. But dinner and an open bar for twenty, in addition to the live band, had to be extremely costly.
Bella didn’t like spending his money, but she’d assured him that as soon as they said, “I do,” she planned to stay in his pocket.
Lucas hooked his arm around Bella’s waist and pulled her near a wall. She looked up at him with bewilderment. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Lucas felt his face twist into a frown. “My love, I thank you for giving me this birthday dinner.”
Bella smiled at him. “You’re welcome. The menu has been pre-planned, but if you want, you can order off the main menu.”
“Yes, love. Thank you. But…”
Bella’s brows wrinkled with confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Lucas pushed his fingers through her hair and cupped the back of her head. “Honey, I’m concerned about the money. This dinner must be costing you a fortune.”
Bella grabbed his hand and pulled it from her head. “Um... umm, Lucas. I told you, don’t count my money,” she scolded with a raised brow. “If I couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t have planned it.”
Lucas dropped his head in acquiescence. “Okay, sweetheart.”
Bella stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. After a sweet kiss, she said, “It's your birthday. Come on. Let’s turn up.”
She turned and walked toward the dinner table just as Lincoln entered the dining room with their parents.
Lucas stood near the wall and enjoyed the view of his woman’s perfect ass as she walked across the room.
Bella’s beauty was unmatched. She was the woman of his dreams; sexy without effort, not to mention, strong, classy, and resilient.
Although, in a perfect world, she wouldn’t need to be so resilient.
If he had his way, Bella would leave the police department and pursue a less dangerous occupation.
“Stop staring at my sister’s ass, nasty.”
Lucas turned to the sound of Donatella’s voice and was immediately stunned by her appearance. “Wow,” he marveled with a gasp.
Donna frowned. With a hand on her hip, she asked, “Wow, what?”
Lucas grabbed a strand of her long, black hair, which was uncharacteristic of Donatella. It was in stark contrast to the pixie cut or bob she usually sported. For the first time, she looked characteristically Native-American. “You look just like your sister.”
Donna folded her arms. “We are twins,” she reminded him of the obvious with a smirk.
“No shit,” Lucas muttered, throwing an arm over her shoulder. “You working undercover or something?”
“You guessed it, brother-in-law.”
“Yeah, I figured because everyone knows you don’t like a lot of hair. Come on. Let’s get a drink.”
"I’m down. If I’m gonna have to bowl through the Secret Service for a seat at the table, I’m gon’ need a drink.”
Lucas laughed. It seemed she was just as frustrated with Victor’s security detail as the rest of the women in their family. “You’ll get used to it,” he assured.
When they made it to the bar, Donna ordered tequila and Lucas ordered a scotch on the rocks. Once the bartender completed their drink orders, Lucas grabbed the tumbler and turned to Donna. “Tell me about this case that requires you to walk around looking like my fiancée.”
Donna chuckled. “I'll have you know, sir, that I am the oldest. Therefore, your fiancé looks like me.”
“Whatever,” Lucas dismissed. “What’s the case?”
Donna shoved his shoulder. “You know I can't tell you that.”
“Why? Who am I gonna tell?”
“Nobody,” she said before walking away.
“Nobody cares!” Lucas shouted at her back just as his younger brother approached.
“What are you shouting about?” Xander questioned while waving the bartender over.
“Nothing,” Lucas shot back with a chortle. “What’s up, baby brother?”
“You!” Xander responded, slapping him on the back. “Happy Birthday, old man! Forty looks good on you.”
Lucas leaned against the bar and frowned. “Yeah, and if you’re lucky, it’ll look good on you too next year.”
“Next year,” Xander stressed.
“It’ll come faster than you think, little brother,” Lucas muttered before taking a generous sip of scotch.
“What can I get for you, sir?” the bartender asked Xander.”
“I’ll have what he’s having.”
Prepared to congregate with his family and friends, Lucas pushed off the bar. But his steps halted at the sight of his little brother’s crush entering the dining room. He prompted him to turn around with a nudge.
“What? I almost spilled my--” His words were clipped at the sight of Bella’s friend, Dr. Niyah Reed.
From the first moment he’d laid eyes on her in Victor’s penthouse, he was smitten.
Since the planning of his and Bella’s wedding often had them in the same room, Lucas was shocked that Xander had made very little progress in his pursuit of her.
It was unusual because he was tall with a strong build and a good head of hair.
The icy, blue eyes he’d inherited from their mother alone usually kept the women coming.
But according to Xander, the pretty doctor wasn’t giving him the time of day.
“Nah, I give up,” Xander grumbled.
Niyah was standing in the doorway, seemingly looking for a familiar face.
When she spotted Bella, she smiled and walked toward her.
She was wearing heels that made her appear considerably taller than the five feet and six inches that Lucas guessed she was.
The stylish blue dress was hugging her curves perfectly.
The doctor was definitely a showstopper.
Lucas turned to Xander with a scowl. “I give up,” he mocked. “You’re a disgrace. Get your ass over there and talk to that woman! You’re embarrassing your brothers, ruining our good name.”
Xander laughed and finished his drink. He sat the glass on the bar and fixed his tie. “All right, but I’ll have you know that this woman is slowly chipping away at my self-esteem.”
Lucas chuckled and slapped his little brother on the back. “Come on. I’ll walk with you, give you some backup.”