Read Online A Soldier For Bella (Love Conquers Life #4) by Alison Mello - Free Book Online

glows, I know right away that’s his Matthew. He walks me over and says, “Matthew, this is Bella. She’s the girl I was telling you about.”
    He sticks his hand out to shake my hand. “It’s nice to meet you and quite an honor to be able to work a shoot with you. You’re kind of a big deal around here.” My brows shoot up and I look at Sid, who just shrugs his shoulders.
    “Well, thank you. I didn’t realize I was a big deal.”
    “Another reason why everyone loves you,” Sid says, smiling at me. I just shake my head because I truly don’t know what else to say. Sid takes that as his cue to get going on my makeup. Of course, he has to remove the old makeup first. An hour later, I’m ready for my next round of shots—three changes, all with Matthew.
    After what seems like forever, we finally finish. I was a bit nervous at first. I’m not used to posing with another person. I usually work alone, but Matthew was a sweetheart to work with. He followed all of Kelly’s directions to a T, and between each change he grabbed us water.
    I collapse on the chair, not bothering to change out of my last outfit, completely drained. Mr. I Know Your Ex comes up to me and says, “Tired?”
    “Just a little,” I say in a bitchy voice, not even looking at him. My head is back and my eyes are closed. That is, until he scares the shit out of me. He lifts my foot and starts rubbing it. “What are you doing?”
    “Rubbing your feet for you. You’ve been on them all day. They must ache.”
    I pull my leg away. “I’m good, thank you.”
    As I get up from the seat, Jordan gives him a warning glare that screams back off. I go to my changing room, anxious to get out of there. It’s late, I’m tired, and this guy is freaking me out.
     
    ***
     
    I pull up to the house about an hour later to find Derek in the kitchen already hard at work making dinner. “Hey, babe. How was your day?” I ask as I approach him and wrap him in a hug.
    “It was good. I had a meeting with Carter to get him caught up on what’s been going on around the office and to brainstorm ideas for the TV fundraiser. How was your day?” he asks, pulling away to look into my eyes.
    “Completely exhausting and my feet are killing me.”
    “Dinner is just about done. After we eat, I’ll run you a bath and we can relax together.”
    I smile up at him. “Thank you.”
    I take a seat at the snack bar, where we often eat when it’s just the two of us. He hands me a bottle of water prior to pulling a roasted spaghetti squash out of the oven. Taking a fork from the drawer, he gets to work on shredding the squash and adding it to a pan he has on the stove top.
    When he’s finished, he hands me a plate of spaghetti squash mixed with diced tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, and chicken sausage. He truly is an amazing man.
    “Derek, this is delicious.”
    “Thank you. I knew you had a shoot today, and I assume after you sign the contract tomorrow you’ll have another, so I figured you’d want to eat healthy.”
    “I do. I need to get my butt back in the gym too. My trainer sent me a text to ask me where the hell I’ve been.” I make a facial expression that makes me look scared, and Derek laughs. “My trainer is this beast girl who is sure to kick my ass the next time I go in.”
    “Maybe you need a new trainer or a new form of exercise.” He wiggles his eyebrows. I shake my head, laughing. Then I get up to put my plate in the dishwasher.
    “Are you bathing with me?” I ask, walking toward the stairs.
    “Yes, I’ll be up in a minute. I’m going to clean up quickly. Why don’t you get it started?”
    As soon as I get into the bedroom, I sit on the bed and remove my shoes. I lay back on the bed to rest for a minute, but I must have dozed off because I wake to Derek nudging me.
    “Come on, love. I have the tub ready. Let’s take a bath.”
    I stretch on the bed. “I’m sorry, babe.”
    “Don’t be sorry. Come on.” He pulls me up, and I follow