“Be my guest. In the meantime, Bella is going to show me to my room.”
“Do not call her that dreadful name. Her name is Isabel.”
He chuckled and looked at Bella. “Can you show me the room, honey?”
Bella nodded and started to lead him down a hallway.
“Wait! You will not stay in the main part of the condo. You’ll take the maid’s quarters.”
“No. I can’t protect your daughter if I’m across the condo.” Caleb took hold of Bella’s arm and started to walk away. He chuckled when Helen began to scream.
Bella looked up at him in shock. “You don’t care that she’s yelling?”
“Not at all. I’m here for you and only you.”
Bella’s shoulders relaxed, and she opened the door. “Here is your room. Mine’s across the hall. Is that okay?”
Caleb looked around. It was spacious and done in nice neutral colors. He’d lived in places a lot worse and been comfortable. He nodded and set his suitcase on the bed. “This will work.”
Bella smiled. “Good.”
“Do you mind if I call you Bella?”
“No, not at all. It’s just my mom…”
“I know. She won’t like it, right?”
“Right.”
“Guess what?”
“What?” Bella asked.
“I don’t care.”
She covered her mouth with her hands and giggled.
“And guess what else?”
She stopped laughing but smiled up at him. “What?”
He smirked. “You’re not going to care either.”
The young woman looked shocked. “Oh… I don’t…”
Caleb was pissed at the fear on this woman’s face. This shit was going to stop. His protective instincts were off the charts, and his only thought was to protect her from everything harmful.
“How old are you, honey?”
“Twenty-two, just about twenty-three. Why?”
“First, when is your birthday?”
“In about four weeks.”
“Okay, good. And you’re an adult. There’s absolutely nothing your mother can do to you. You could walk away from her forever, and she can’t stop you.”
“But she takes care of all the financial stuff and makes sure I have the prettiest clothes…”
“Is the financial stuff in your name, hers, or both?”
Bella shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Would you mind if I check into it?” Fuck, the hairs on the back of his head stood up. He knew he was probably going to find shit that would piss him off.
A frown puckered Bella’s brow. “Sure. But why would you want to?”
“Because I have a sneaky suspicion, but I won’t tell you about it until I know more. Okay?”
“Okay. You know, I can’t remember the last time someone asked me permission for anything. They always go to my mom.”
“That will change if you’d like it to.”
Bella bit down on her lip and looked worried. “I’ve never been on my own.”
“You won’t be. You’ve got me now.”
“But you’re just going to be here until the threat is gone. Right?”
“We’ll see.” Technically, that was true, but he had a feeling this woman was going to burrow into his heart.
She sighed and walked to the door. “I’ll let you get settled.”
“Okay, I’ll be right out. I’m starving, so we’ll order in food.”
“I’m hungry, too.”
“Caleb?”
He turned back when she called his name. “Yes, little star?”
He was glad when the endearment made her smile.
“I … I wish the threat never goes away.” She walked out and closed the door.
Caleb felt like something wrapped around his heart and tightened almost painfully. He knew at that moment he would never leave Bella and that he’d get her mother out of her life for good. He had no idea why he’d become so protective of the woman so quickly, but he wasn’t going to question his instincts. They had always been right so far.