Page 9 of Bella and Her Beast
I snag another bite of my food and chase it with my liquid refreshment. “At this rate, you’ll be my caretaker for life,” I snidely remark.
“I take it your research hasn’t panned out?” he counters.
“Not exactly. I know I don’t have time to search the entire earth, but my wolf feels she is the one.”
“And you? How do you feel?”
A knock at the door saves me from answering that loaded question. I know on one hand how I feel but I’m not sure if it is my feelings orhis.
“I’ll get that.” Russell puts down his paper and walks to the living room to answer the call of a visitor.
I finish my meal and put the plate in the sink, for now. I look out the window, spotting Bella’s car at the end of the entryway. I inch closer to the door to hear the conversation.
“Hi, sir. I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for Greyson Devereaux.”
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
“Oh, Bella. I mean, Isabella De la Cruz. I’m one of the librarians over at the public library. He told me he was doing research on mythical things and spells. Anyway, we had a new book come in and I thought would be helpful in his journey.”
I creep around the corner to gather the complete conversation. Russell is looking at her with a facial expression as if heknowsshe’s the one.
“I-I’m afraid Mr. Devereaux is unavailable.”
“Russ, it’s okay,” I interrupt. “Bella, what brings you by?” I meet her out on the porch.
She looks surprised when she sees my current appearance.
“Mr. Deveraux, what happened?” She points at my bandages, and I quickly cover it with a clever explanation.
“Oh, I got into a fight at the bar last night. “
“Hmm. The bar? You don’t strike me as the barfly type,” she flirtatiously says. The gaze of her brown eyes follows me as I walk off the porch onto the walkway.
“Well, Bella, I’m full of surprises.” I step away from where she waits and soon she is beside me, matching my slow and steady gait.
“So, what other surprises do you have?”
“Ask me anything and I’ll answer. You tell me if you’re surprised.”
“Okay. Um, how’s your book coming along?”
”What book?”
“The one you’ve been researching for at the library?”
“Oh, that one. Well, it’s still in its infantile stages.”
“Will it be fiction or are you trying to disprove something?”
I gaze upon her beautiful face and take a minute to come up with a response. The truth is the only answer I can think of.
“It’s a paranormal piece about a guy who’s cursed with a spell that will turn him into a monster if he doesn’t find true love by his twenty-fifth birthday. Lame, huh?” I look toward her and smile.
She flashes one of her own before answering. “That depends.”
“On what?”
“Does he find his one and only?”
