CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
L uke was starting to rethink his genius plan. Waiting outside a dodgy motel for hours wasn’t the best idea. He discovered that when he was approached by a woman, who, let’s just say, was renting her room by the hour. But he had no choice. This was where Bella was staying according to Cat, who, he’d since learned, had all their locations on her phone. Mr. Dragon Tattoo at the front desk had also confirmed it, and after some convincing, had directed him to room twelve, but there was no answer. So there he stood, waiting.
For how long though?
That was a good question. He’d been there three hours already and there was no sign of her. Where was she? For someone who claimed to have no friends and no life outside of Marco, she sure as hell was making the most of her Saturday night.
Then a godawful thought popped into his head: What if she was with another man?
No. She couldn’t be. Right?
Oh how he hoped that wasn’t the case. It had only been six days. As soon as he’d pulled his head out of his ass, he’d gone about getting time off work before spending two days driving out there. He was trusting his gut. Trusting that she felt the same way about him as he did about her. She was just scared.
Scared, he could work with. He’d realized something this week. He and Bella were the same. So afraid their shitty childhood would catch up with them, they did the only thing they knew, they ran. Bella had made it further across the world, of course, but he’d definitely mastered the art of running without having to leave town.
Checking his watch again, he let out a sigh. It was ten. If she was out with friends, then it was possible she wouldn’t be back for a few more hours.
God-fucking-damnit.
Just as he was contemplating renting his own room, a car pulled up. A blue Prius. This was it. It was go time.
Straightening up, he took a deep breath and watched Bella climb out of the driver’s seat, shopping bag in hand. She was alone. Thank fuck. And she hadn’t noticed him just yet. Luke took a moment to appreciate those precious seconds as he drank her in. God, he’d missed her. When she left, she left him feeling empty. But now that she stood before him, he was beginning to feel whole again.
She’s turned you into a soppy bastard.
She had. And he was hoping his new soppy side would be enough to win her back.
“Luke.” Bella stopped mid-stride, her mouth actually dropping open at the sight of him.
“Bella,” he returned. Their gazes locking. “Hi.”
“ Hi, ” she mimicked, not looking impressed at all. “That’s all you have to say? What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Why’d you leave?” Desperation might have found its way into his voice.
“What are you doing here?” she asked again, ignoring his question.
“I’m here ’cause we’re not done. We can’t be done.”
More head shakes. That wasn’t good.
His chest heaved and his palms began to sweat as he waited for Bella to reply. A reply that didn’t come as her gaze darted to the ground.
“Where were you tonight?” he asked, in the hope it would get her talking.
Her head whipped up at the question, silver narrowing on him. A look of pure defiance on her angelic face as she announced, “I was on a date.”
That was a shot straight to the heart. So powerful he stumbled back.
She was on a date?!
Luke’s eyes traveled down her outfit. She looked stunning. A short, pale blue dress that resembled a shirt. The first few buttons were open, showing off the top of her lacy black bra. He felt sick at the thought of her wearing that dress for another man. How could she have been on a date? It had been six days. Six fucking days.
He needed a minute. And he took it, turning his back to her and palming his face. But the long, slow exhales weren’t working. He was angry. And he couldn’t shake it.
Twisting back around, he let her see exactly what those words had done to him. “You went on a fucking date?”
“Yes, Luke.” She easily matched his volume. “I went on a fucking date. I’m sorry if that hurts your precious male ego, but that’s where I was.”
“You think that’s okay? Jesus, Bella, you were in my fucking bed six days ago.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Luke,” she snapped. “And don’t act like I’m betraying you either. You’re the one who doesn’t do relationships, remember? The only reason you were even with me in the first place was because I was leaving. And that’s what I did, like we planned.” Like we planned, my ass. “So don’t you dare stand there and act like the fucking victim.”
Next thing he knew, she was on the move, making a beeline for the door, being careful to circle around him. As soon as she was close enough, his hand shot out and went to her arm.
“Bella.” His voice may have gentled, but he was running on pure adrenaline. “Please. Stop. Just talk to me. Please.”
“There’s nothing to say.” Her misty eyes told him differently.
“There’s a lot to fucking say, angel.”
He took comfort in the fact that she wasn’t hiding from him. Not like the day she left. He could see every single emotion flicker on her beautiful face. Sadness, anger, pain, all before switching back to rage.
“No, Luke.” She wrenched her arm, freeing her from his hold. “I don’t wanna hear it. I’m not some box to check off to make you feel less guilty about your dead brother. I do just fine on my own. So go home, Luke.”
What the hell is she talking about?
Which is what he asked next. Her reply only confusing him more.
“I’m talking about the letter, Luke. You know, the one Marco left you? I’m not some fucking charity case. I don’t need you or your friends. I’ve done just fine without you for thirty years, and I’ll do fine for another thirty.”
Keys went to the front door next and a moment later she was pushing open the crimson wood. As soon as she took a step inside, he followed, not giving her a chance to slam the door in his face. They weren’t done.
“Hey!” Bella protested as she shoved at his chest. “I mean it, Luke. We’re done. Go home.”
“We’re not done, sweetheart. Not until you tell me what the fuck you’re talking about. Are you seriously telling me you left because of something you read in that letter?”
Her eyes were all over him. Searching his face. Looking for something. He let her look. She could do what she wanted if it meant she wasn’t trying to push him out the door.
She stayed quiet, even as she launched her shopping bag onto the bedside table and collapsed down onto the mattress. When her head dropped into her hands, he was moving. Dropping to his knees before her, wrapping his own hands around hers.
“Angel,” he soothed, “Please, talk to me. Help me understand what happened.”
Luke was trying his best to think back to what was in the letter. He remembered Marco had written a few lines about Bella. Something about her being his best friend and asking Luke to look out for her. Could that be what she was talking about? If he was honest, the part of the letter he’d been focused on and had found himself re-reading over and over again was the part about how they shared the same mother.
Her hands dropped and watery eyes met his. “You really don’t know?”
“I really don’t know,” he confirmed. “That letter, Bella, he ... he wanted me to know that we weren’t half brothers like I thought. My mom was his mom. All this time I thought my dad was just some guy who got my mom pregnant, I had no idea that they were together. That at some point they were a family.”
Bella’s eyes widened; she’d obviously not read that part. He realized then that he should have told her. That was the reason he’d been struggling. He regretted that now. She deserved to know everything.
“But ... but Marco asked you to look after me. Form a bond. Make your friends and their girlfriends be my friends too.” He did? Fuck. Yeah, he did. It was all coming back now.
“You honestly think that’s what this was?” He let his hands cup her face as he looked into her. A small nod gave him his answer and tore at his heart. “Sweetheart, I would never.” His nose nudged hers as he took a deep inhale of berries. “This is real. I think deep down you know that. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have run.”
“He told you to form a bond with me—introduce me to your friends, their girlfriends ...” She trailed off.
“Think about it, angel. Really think about it. In the four weeks you’ve known me, do I strike you as the kind of guy to spend time with someone if I didn’t want to? And if you think for one second I have any kind of control over Libby, Cat, and Rachel, then you obviously don’t know them well enough.”
She needed to believe him. Believe that this was real. They were real.
Pulling back slightly, their eyes met, and his heart raced. It was time. He had to tell her. It was now or never.
“You made me promise not to fall in love with you, Bella,” he said softly, “but I broke that promise, angel.” Moisture pooled in her eyes as their heavy breaths echoed around the room. “I fell. And I fell hard. I love you, Bella.” When she didn’t reply, he said it again. “Did you hear me, sweetheart? I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Those tears that had been threatening to spill just moments ago, finally broke free, a steady stream trickling down rosy cheeks. Using his shaky hands, he began thumbing them away.
“You can’t.” She sniffed. “You don’t mean that.”
Enough talking. She wasn’t listening. He needed to show her. Launching forward, his mouth took hers, opening her to him and swiping inside until the taste of sweet berries tingled his tongue. Urgency laced every movement as he greedily feasted on her. In turn, her own hands came to his head, impatient fingers raking through his hair and tugging him closer.
Pushing up from the carpet, he eased Bella back, lowering her onto the bed and positioning himself above her. He only broke their connection once, to tell her “I love you,” before letting his weight hit his elbows as he kissed her again. Hard.
Swallowing each other’s moans, they kissed until both their bodies shook. It was only when Bella’s hands went to the hem of his shirt, that he let go of her lips. She was yanking up the material, letting her fingers skim over his stomach, leaving scorch marks all over his skin as fire raged within.
Helping her lift the shirt over his head, he lost her mouth, but used it as an opportunity to tell her “I love you” again. It was okay that she wasn’t replying. She didn’t need to. She just needed to hear it. He’d say it over and over again until she believed him. No matter how long it took.
Her expert fingers unbuttoning his jeans and pulling down the zipper was her only answer. One he’d happily take. She was pushing down his pants and boxers next, freeing him, before flipping them over until she was on top.
“I love you,” he repeated through labored breaths, his eyes not wavering from hers as her fingers went to the buttons on her dress.
He watched her swallow hard. But no words left her pouty red lips. Instead, her dress hit the floor, then her bra, and before he knew it, her panties were being pushed to one side as she lowered herself onto him.
“I love you,” he rasped, his eyes squeezing shut, his head arching.
Jesus Christ, she felt perfect. A roar ripped through him as she slowly lifted herself before dropping back down again. Then she did it again. Each time, lifting up a bit further before slamming back down until he could no longer see straight, let alone think straight.
He managed one more “I love you” before everything became hazy.