Page 18 of Dr. Bell

“I know it sounds crazy, but… I’ll have to give you the details another time. I guess when I fully process what the hell I’m doing.” I’d given Haven the bare minimum when it came to last night’s fiasco. All I needed was for her not to worry.

Haven sighed. “Well, I mean… I’ve been trying to get you out in the dating world, and you just go and deep dive off the cliff like a maniac.” She laughed. “Wait until my husband hears about this.”

Tickled, I chuckled. “Tell Jabari I’m safe so he doesn’t think he has to fly his ass here for some straightening.”

We both laughed. Jabari was such a good husband to Haven that he looked out for me and Quilo from time to time. He’d talked to Quilo for me several times, but my brother would let Jabari’s advice go through one ear and out the other.

“So, his name is Adir Bell, huh?”

“Yes,” I replied with a smile. “He’s as handsome as they come.”

“Hm. Maybe Jabari and I will fly there just to make sure you’re okay. He’s not going to believe me.” She laughed again. “Be prepared to see us.”

“Noted.”

“Like what you see?”

Adir’s voice behind me brought a smile to my face. I peeked over my shoulder to find him standing there with his hands in his pockets. He wore a pair of designer jeans and plain white T-shirt. He looked delicious.

Turning from him, I nodded. “This place is exquisite. Are we on private property?”

He came up next to me and nodded.

“Bell Estates.” He pointed to the mansions situated far enough to have space but close enough for a good walk. Starting from the left he said, “My parents’ house. The next house is my lil’ brother’s house. Bianca lives next door to him…”

His entire family lived on this land.

“Just beyond those houses, there are more. I was born and raised on this land.”

“That’s so beautiful, Adir. Are we still in Pensacola?”

He shook his head. “Niceville Shores. It takes about thirty minutes to get to the office from here.”

“Oh. Tell me about this land.” I’d never met a family so close knit. Last night showed me some things I’d never seen.

“Alistair Bell was my great-grandfather. He was into oil.”

“Is your family still in oil?”

“Absolutely.”

“How many of you are there?”

He smirked. “Plenty. You’ll meet everyone as we go. You’ll meet my security team as well.”

Just then, a sedan cruised up the street and pulled into Adir’s expansive driveway. A man much larger than Adir stepped out of the sedan. He looked like he could pick that car up and toss it on top of the mansion’s roof.

“Pretty, I want you to meet Russ.”

Russ approached us, dapped Adir, then stuck his hand out to me.

“Hey, Miss—”

Adir tilted his head.

Russ chuckled. “Mrs.Pretty. It’s good to meet you.”

“Russ is gon’ be ya bodyguard.”

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