Page 61 of Jagger

Instantly, my hackles were raised. “You were checking up on her? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Hey, you’re my brother and she saved our butts, but both of us are required to care about anyone who steps foot into our operation. You know, insurance? Lawsuits?”

“I get it, Shep. I’m not a fucking idiot.”

“No, you’re not, but I saw your face too. I checked on her credentials. There’s a buddy of mine who can look up anyone on this planet. He owed me a favor.”

“And?” I felt every muscle in my body tensing.

“And there is no one by the name of Bella Winters who graduated from college let alone medical school.”

While the news hit me hard, I knew there was more to the story. “Did you check to see if that was a maiden name?”

“It should have popped up if that’s what she was formally known as. I don’t know what it means. Maybe there’s a real explanation for the lack of information, but like I said, you needed to be told.”

A new flash of anger hit me straight in the gut. I’d known she was hiding something from me and it hadn’t been my place to pry. “Who doesn’t have a secret, bro? Tell me that.”

“Yeah, but the difference is that if anyone learns she isn’t a real doctor, we could be sued every six ways from Sunday. She’s already a goddamn local hero. You know how people are in this town. They’re going to ask questions. Is Bella prepared to answer them?”

I had no answer to that. “Let me handle my business.”

“Not just your business,” Shep reminded me. His tone reflected his concern and increasing agitation. He had no idea just how irritated I was.

“I got it. I’ll deal with it.”

The call ending was my choice. I held the phone to my head. What the hell was I supposed to do?

“Tell me what?” Bella asked from behind me.

“Nothing important.” How long did I think I was going to keep the news from her? And how long was she going to keep lying to me? As I looked into her beautiful violet eyes, I not only noticed continued pain and sadness, but a solid conviction to keep herself protected.

Including from me.

“Don’t do that. I overheard some of what you were saying. This place is rented, isn’t it?” she asked. She was searching my eyes.

Exhaling, I was momentarily distracted by the dog hopping onto the porch, happily shaking snow off before running inside the open front door. “Yeah, it is. There’s nothing else available.”

She studied me, maybe waiting for me to say something else. “Well, then. Fate has decided I need to move on.” Her look forlorn, she turned and headed inside.

“Wait. Don’t do that,” I told her.

“What? Now I’ll be out of your hair, which is obviously what you want.”

“No, that’s not true, Bella. I just… I’m not used to this. Okay? But you’re not leaving yet. I have a huge place and plenty of room. You’re coming to stay with me.”

“Why?”

“Why? You know why.” Well, fuck me. This was a damn good time to distance myself from her, but for the life of me, I couldn’t do it. Maybe she’d somehow already put a leash on my balls.

“Not good enough, Jagger. Why should I bother coming to stay with you if you don’t want me there?”

In two strides I was directly behind her, turning her around by the shoulders. At least she allowed me to do so without running off. She needed an answer and deserved a decent one. “Because I don’t want you to go. I like your company and I’m not sure if you leave that I won’t hunt you down. I don’t think you’ll like the cage I’ll put you into when I find you and I think you know by now, I will find you.”

Her frown slipped, a slight smile forming. She wrapped her arms around me for a hug, lifting her head seconds later. “I’d like to stay.” Her whisper was sultry like the night before.

“Good.” I lifted her chin with a single finger.

“Mama. I know what to name her. Xena. She is a princess warrior. Right?”

---