Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 58

Bella's P.O.V.

After I show Lucien where to take his motorcycle, I race over to the cat barn where I know Chris is getting all the animals meals prepared. When he sees me, his face lights up.

"Looks like your weekend fun was cut short, did you have a good time?" he asks, closing the container of grain he had been scooping into buckets.

"I had a much better weekend than I thought I would," I tell him honestly. "Do you need any help?"

"Nope, Dad and I got everything ready this morning. I'm just going to feed the horses and we're done," he says, hefting the heavy buckets and heading out toward the horse barn. "Who is that guy with you?" he asks.

"Oh, umm, that's Lucien."

He raises his eyebrows and looks at me over his shoulder. "THE Lucien? The guy who almost prevented you from going camping?"

I nod and grimace at his raised eyebrows. "Yes, yes, I know, but he showed me a side of himself that I've never seen before. I really like him Chris."

"Is that a fact?" my brother muses. "You've never shown interest in anybody before. Maybe I need to have a little chat with Lucien."

I laugh at his insinuation he's going to try and intimidate the Devil's son. "Actually, I would like to introduce you so you and Dad can get to know him."

Chris smiles at me, and I know if he wasn't carrying feed buckets, he would have put his arms around me. "If my little sister is infatuated, then I am looking forward to meeting the guy that makes her feel that way."

I smile and knock my head against his shoulder. My brother is the greatest, and when we enter the barn, I can see Lucien speaking with my father. I walk over to them to make sure proper introductions have been made when Lucien suddenly turns and clocks me in the head with his elbow. I see stars for a moment, and a worried expression on his face. He apologizes and puts his hand over the goose egg I'm sure to have. I watch him close his eyes while his hand caresses the spot that made contact with his elbow. He's so handsome that all I can do is stare at his perfection. When he opens his eyes, he looks down at me to steal a kiss. I suddenly realize the pain is gone and my head isn't even tender. Did he just use his mysterious healing powers on me? He asks me if I'm okay, smiling at the bewildered expression on my face. I take his hand, confirming I am okay, when I hear my father say, "Apparently, you two have some explaining to do."

I look over at my brother who is smiling as he pours grain into the feed buckets, then back at my father who is looking at me expectantly. "Dad," I start, holding our conjoined hands out, "have you met Lucien?"

"I have," he says. "He's asked if he can weather the storm here," my father says raising an eyebrow at me.

"Is that okay?" I say, suddenly unsure. I'm not used to this imperious attitude coming from my father.

His posture shifts to the easy going man I know him to be, and gives me a wink. "Of course it is. What kind of person would I be if I am willing to shelter animals from the storm but not this nice young man?" I smile at him and then have to bite the inside of my lip when he turns to Lucien and says, "You're sleeping on the couch, of course."

Lucien nods sagely and says, "Of course."