Status Updates From Deceiving Bella (The Bodygu...

“She thought about me. When the shit was hitting the fan and I told her to go hide in the bathroom, she reached out for me. I’m going to help you find her even if it’s from the fucking ambulance.”

“And I’m pretty much the best damn thing that’s ever happened to you.” He rolled on top of her. “And if I haven’t mentioned it lately, I’m absolutely crazy in love with you.”

“But I want it to be ours,” she whispered next to his ear. “I want to make a baby with you while the moon shines through our brand-new picture windows. In that room right up there.”

“Isabella Colby, I love the absolute hell out of you. If I could give you everything you want, I would, but we cannot afford this house, renovations, and Wren, too.”

“A while back, you asked me if it was going to be a problem if you fell in love with me. I’m telling you I see my future wrapped up in you, Bella. A house, a wedding—big or small, I really don’t care—kids. That’s not going to be a problem, is it?”

well aware that he was destroying the most important part of his life in his attempt to assure the safety of the one person he couldn’t live without. There was no doubt in his mind that Bella was blowing him off right now.

Reed scrubbed his hand over his mouth, finding himself sympathizing with a man who had been the epitome of everything he stood against and wanted to destroy.

“A father doesn’t want to hear stuff like that.”

Vinny dialed Bella’s number, mumbling something about how fathers didn’t like thinking about their beautiful daughters having sex.

“Well, well. Are you being replaced?”
His nostrils flared. “No, I’m not being replaced. They’re friends.”
“Looks cozy.” Vinny’s eyes glittered with gleeful fun as they met his.
Reed shrugged, trying to ignore Vinny’s jabs. “I guess. But I doubt she’ll be thinking about him when I take her to bed tonight.”
He barely held back his own grin when Vinny’s disappeared.

He was crazy in love. Never had he spoken to a woman the way he spoke to Bella. Giving her words was easy. Bringing her flowers was a pleasure. If only he could tell her the truth…

“Bella would approve. You’re like a damn mother hen. I sure as hell can’t say you don’t love my daughter.”

but it was also incredibly risky, bordering on stupid.

“This is how I get to make sure my little girl is safe—”

Vinny’s little girl would lose her shit if she had half a clue that Reed was even considering the idea of traveling with her ill father.

“Goddamn, those eyes of hers have always been my weak spot,” Vinny said. “I never could raise my voice at her and never thought to raise a hand.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to her. Trust me.”
“Are you in love with my daughter?”
“Yes.” What was the point in denying it? He grabbed his laptop case and shoved the computer inside—the remaining items next. “I want to get home to her before she goes to bed. I’ve barely seen her this week.” And he missed her—was so damn sick of the lying. “I’ll see you Sunday.”

“I want to cook you dinner.”

He wanted to be all the things he’d been too afraid to be when he didn’t know who she was.

For once, she was letting her heart lead, trusting that Reed would take care with her.

pretending that her words weren’t a fucking knife to his heart. He wanted her to be the woman who cried over sick kids. He longed for her to be the woman who smiled into his eyes while they talked after making love. He needed her to be all of those things so badly, it nearly killed him to know she wasn’t—or that wasn’t all she was.

It was still early stages where he and Bella were concerned, but he was pretty sure he was planning on keeping her. Keeping it all.

. The sudden realization that he was pretty much living with a woman should have freaked him the hell out, but as he looked at Lucy snoring on her dog bed in the late afternoon light, he smiled.

Joey laughed humorlessly. “I wish you could hear yourself, boss, ‘cause you’re toast—objectivity gone.”

“You’re amazing,” he said before he thought to stop himself.
“I’m just trying to help.”
“You’re amazing,” he repeated as he pulled her closer and pressed his cheek to her hair,

Everyone was getting the wrong idea. Maybe she’d caught herself getting the wrong idea when he buttered a roll for her during dinner. He’d slipped it on her plate mid-conversation, and she’d picked it up, muttering her thanks as she’d bitten in—as if they did stuff like that all the time, as if that was normal.

To his surprise, he was having a great time.

It shocked him further that he liked Bella as much as she seemed to like him. Being here with her was exactly what he’d needed.

Great story and interesting characters.
Definitely worth reading.

Great story and interesting characters.
Definitely worth reading.