Page 77 of Like You Love Me

Sheyna and Bianca exchanged another look.

“Not only that, but this dude also turns out to work at the same elementary school as JJ and happens to be the drama teacher of the play my son is in.”

Bianca grimaced and hated when her big brother was right, even though she counted on him to give her a male perspective on any situation. “Well, when you make it sound like that….” She sighed, and her shoulders slumped. She hadn’t thought about it that way before.

Jace shrugged. “I’m just telling you like it is. As a man, I’m also going to say that London probably thinks you want Collin back.”

“What?” she sputtered.

“Come on, don’t be ridiculous,” Sheyna chimed in. “Are you saying that’s what you would be thinking?”

“Absolutely,” he drawled and leaned back in the chair. “Men are territorial creatures.”

Bianca looked from one to the other while thinking,did London feel threatened by Collin coming back into Sierra’s life?

Jace looked down at his phone and then up at them. “I think—” The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Bianca’s cell phone rang.

It was London.

Chapter 19

Bianca rushed to Mona Lisa’s house to find the news media parked on the street. As soon as the reporters saw her, they rushed over, throwing questions. She held out her hand, warning them to stay back as she hurried up the steps where the door was swung open, and Camille ushered her inside.

“Where is he?” Bianca asked, frantically searching her face and then followed the direction of Camille’s finger to the family room. She hurried and almost lost her balance when the heel of her right brown boot snagged the thread of an area rug. Luckily, London was there to catch her. She landed against his solid chest, the only place she wanted to be.

“Babe are you okay?” he asked as he reached down to retrieve her purse and placed it over an armchair.

“I am now,” Bianca said, frantically searching his face. “Is it true?”

“Yes,” he said, with only a hint of a smile. Her eyes perused him as she released another sigh of relief. London wore black jeans and a faded hooded sweatshirt. His beard needed a trim, and work boots on his feet had seen better days and yet he couldn’t have possibly looked more handsome than he did staring down at her. Bianca squeezed him hard, then leaned back and tilted her chin upward as London dipped his head and captured her mouth in a kiss. She couldn’t imagine life without the warmth of his body or the taste of his tongue caressing the inside of her mouth and more intimate places. Her job was to make sure her husband knew and understood how much he meant to her and Sierra.

She drew back and gazed up at him, preparing to speak, when she heard someone call out their names. How quickly she had forgotten, they weren’t alone. London took her hand and headed into the kitchen. They stepped into the room where his sisters were chatting at the island. Carmen was peeling sweet potatoes while Denise was icing a chocolate cake.

“Hi Bianca,” Carmen greeted.

She waved at the sisters with a smile and then moved over to the table and pressed a kiss to Aunt Marie’s cheek.

“There’s that beautiful niece of mine,” Uncle Bernie said in a deep, robust voice. “I thought maybe you finally came to your senses and left this knuckleheaded nephew of mine.”

“Not ever,” Bianca said and threw her husband a glance before she leaned over and affectionately kissed Uncle Bernie’s bearded cheek.

“An old guy can always dream,” he added with a wink.

“Bernie, leave her alone,” Aunt Marie scowled and slugged him playfully in his arm. “Bianca, dear, please, come have a seat.” She patted the chair beside her. Bianca slipped out of her coat and draped it over the chair that London pulled out for her. Once seated, he pushed her chair up to the table before taking the seat on the other side of Uncle Bernie.

“Did my nephew tell you the good news?” Aunt Marie said, and excitement lit up her eyes as she leaned slightly toward the table.

While nodding, Bianca released a sigh of relief. “Yes, he told me.” Her eyes shifted over to London, who winked.

Early that morning, Penelope Carrolton had arrived at the police station with a legal team and turned herself in as the driver of the SUV responsible for hitting Caleb. The eighteen-year-old was the daughter of Robert Carrolton, a Republican state senator. Her confession was now all over the news.

“Well, at least that part of the nightmare is over,” Aunt Marie said and affectionately patted London’s hand. “And maybe now we can finally lay Caleb to rest.”

Bianca looked around the room as she suddenly noticed Mona Lisa was missing. “Where’s—”

“She’s in her room.”

“I’m going to go check on her.” Bianca rose from the chair and headed toward her bedroom. As she reached the door, Camille stepped out into the hall. She wore a weary smile as she brushed passed her. Bianca walked into the master bedroom expecting to find Mona Lisa lying in bed or sitting in a chair near the window. She was doing neither.

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