“Belle?” The accent in the voice made her name sound more like “Bella.”
She turned as the familiar face of Mia came into view. Blue yoga pants hugged her curves, and she wore a gray hoodie that said “Shattered Cove, N.H.”
“Yes? Mia, right?”
The man she’d come to know as Andre stood by her side, his arm protectively wrapped around her as he watched the other guys play.
“I am. And I just wanted to thank you for, well, saving my life.” Mia smiled.
“No need to thank me. Really, I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Dinner!” Remy called.
They all filed into Remy’s house. The natural wood flooring added to the warm and inviting atmosphere. They turned left into the dining room with a long table set with various savory dishes. The smell of the delicacies made her stomach grumble with hunger. She’d only had time for a quick smoothie for lunch today.
“Mia, you sit here, and TJ will sit on the other side,” Remy directed them. “Bently you’re here.”
“Since when do we have assigned seating?” Mikel asked as Bently took the empty chair beside Belle. She inhaled slowly, taking in the hints of oak, campfire, and him.
Remy cut her husband a look that had him changing the subject. “How’s the studio, Mia?”
“Oh, it’s great. My classes are so full, I’ve had to add an extra one on the weekends,” she answered.
“Do you do yoga, Belle?” Remy asked.
“I’ve never tried.”
“It’s really fun. We girls should get together and have a class sometime,” Remy suggested.
Belle nodded. She’d never really had friends before, but it seemed that was possible in Shattered Cove.
Bently handed her a platter of vegetables and she served herself some before passing it on to TJ as everyone made polite conversation. She’d never seen so much food at one table in her life. Once everyone was served, Mikel lifted his glass of what looked to be hot cider. “To family and friends.”
The group of adults lifted their own cups and repeated the sentiment before taking a sip. Belle glanced at Bently’s plate, at the similar array of vegetables and seafood before she tucked into her own. Flavors exploded in her mouth, rich and savory. “This is fantastic.” She nearly moaned. Bently seemed to sit a little straighter next to her, his jaw tense.
“So, how did you two meet?” Mia asked, motioning between her and Bently.
“I thought they met because of you,” Remy said, narrowing her eyes at him. Belle didn’t like being the center of attention. She glanced at Bently nervously, pleading with him to answer.
“Yeah, I’d like to know too,” Andre said, eyeing TJ.
“I gave TJ a ride home. His bike had flat tires. Belle was there when we got to his house,” Bently answered.
“And?” Remy prodded.
Belle shifted in her seat.
“And we’ve seen each other at the hospital a few times because of work,” Bently supplied, taking a sip of a beer.
The fact that he’d left out how rude she’d been to him, saving her the scrutiny of his friends, brought a sharpness to her chest. She’d never had anyone stick up for her, or try to protect her besides TJ.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Remy asked, her gaze boring into Bently’s.
“I took his self-defense class too. How old are you, Lyra?” Belle asked, changing the subject.
“I’m six!” the little girl said around a mouthful of asparagus.
“So, you’ve known each other for a couple months, then?” Mikel asked, eyeing his brother suspiciously.
Bently grunted.
Mikel smirked and nodded to Andre. “Seems like Bently here is speechless for once in his life.”
Bently sighed and drained the last of his beer. He covered Lyra’s ears beside him and said, “Enough, you two dickheads. Eat your dinner and shut the fuck up.”
He returned his hands to the table and took another bite. His friends were grinning but she was really out of the loop.
“How’s business at the inn, Jas?” Mikel asked.
“Pretty good. I’m saving up to finish the reno downstairs,” Jasmine answered, nursing her little one.
“You own an inn?” Belle asked.
“Yes.” She beamed. “The Lighthouse Inn. It’s right on the coast—a couple miles from town.”
“That sounds like a pretty cool job to have.”
“TJ, you up for a game of hoops after dinner? You and me against Dre and Mikel. A hundred bucks says we can take ’em,” Bently asked. Her chest tightened again.
“I’m game,” TJ answered.
“How about we make it two hundred?” Andre asked, smiling while eyeing TJ.
She wasn’t sure she liked that man. It would be nice to see TJ wipe that smirk off his face.
“You’re on,” Bently agreed.
After dinner, the guys went outside to play while the women popped a bottle of wine. Both babies were asleep, and Lyra was watching a cartoon about an ice princess and her sister saving the kingdom.
This was so easy, so comfortable. The ladies talked, laughing and making jokes. She felt right at home, like everything just clicked. This was her new tribe.
Belle sipped the crisp white wine.
“So, Belle,” Jasmine started, and Belle gave her new friend her full attention.
“Did you fuck my brother?”
Chapter 13
Belle
Belle choked, spurting alcohol onto the table in front of her.
“Jasmine!” Remy scolded.
“Did she?” Mia asked.
Belle accepted the paper towel Remy handed her as she cleaned her face and table.
“No. She’s the one that he was talking about. The one who wouldn’t give him the time of day,” Remy clarified.
“Ohhhh,” Jasmine and Mia said in unison.
“I’m sorry, what?” Belle asked, extremely lost.
“Do you want to fuck him?” Jasmine asked.
“I . . . no! I mean—maybe, but no.” She shook her head, getting a hold of herself. “I’m not looking for that kind of relationship.”
The women stared at her blankly.
“I’m lost. Don’t all relationships eventually lead to sex?” Mia asked.
“The good ones do,” Remy added.
“She means she doesn’t do one-night stands. Right?” Jasmine asked for confirmation.
Belle nodded.
“Ahhh.”
