Heavenly’s jaw dropped. A gorgeous, tufted black leather sofa and a flat-screen TV took up most of the space on her left. Blinds covered the huge windows on the far side of the room where she saw a commanding yet comfy matching recliner.
“Follow me,” Beck said as he walked past a bar area, then turned on more lights that illuminated a state-of-the-art kitchen and breakfast nook and pointed through a dark opening on the far side of the room. “Inside is a bedroom and bath. Go take a hot shower. I’ll start making food.”
She didn’t have the energy to argue or even to offer help. “Thank you.”
He nodded, then pointed Seth to another bathroom and offered to let him borrow some clothes. They were discussing taking shifts in the shower when Heavenly closed the door and found herself in a luxurious black and marble bathroom with hot water that felt like Shangri-La. She scrubbed vigorously, as if she could wash away not only the blood and memories of Sanchez’s touch but her worries, fears, doubts, and dread.
Finally, she stepped out, wet hair in a haphazard braid, and found her suitcase on a bed that was covered in a mountain of soft pillows. Tiredly, she fished out a pair of underwear and one of her old nightshirts. On the other side of the door, she heard the sounds of bacon frying and the murmur of the men talking.
They must have a million questions. She owed them some answers. But she also had some things to say, too.
Heavenly sucked in a deep breath and tried to find the energy to face them as she opened the door.
When she padded barefoot into the kitchen and stopped beside the island, she was surprised to see they’d both showered, tossed on sweats and T-shirts, and now stood, each manning a burner on the stove, seemingly comfortable.
“Can I help?”
They swiveled their gazes in her direction. Stared. Froze. Gaped. She swallowed, nerves buzzing again. What was wrong?
Finally, Beck cleared his throat. “We’re almost done. Can you get the forks out of that drawer, the napkins from the holder on the counter, and, um, set them on the table?”
She shrugged. “Sure.”
Seth still hadn’t blinked. “Damn.”
He’d muttered the word almost under his breath, and she frowned. Beck elbowed him, and Seth finally jerked his stare back to the stove and the rapidly cooking eggs.
They must be exhausted, too. The gratitude for all they’d done welled up as she set everything on the table. She’d been too overwrought earlier, but the magnitude of their outreach truly sank in now.
She was shocked. Humbled. More than a little confused. And she owed them big.
The day she’d told Beck and Seth there could be no future with either of them, she hadn’t given any reason. She hadn’t wanted to open her scars and bleed. But as much as it would hurt now, they’d earned that—and more.
As soon as she set three places, the guys hustled over with steaming food. Seth handed her orange juice. Beck helped her into her chair. Then the two of them sat. Only the clatter of dishes and the clink of forks broke the silence.
Heavenly reached for a piece of toast. “Thank you for everything tonight. I can never repay you for all you’ve done. And I know you have questions. I want to explain—”
“Not tonight.” Beck set down his fork. “We do have questions.”
“Plenty of them,” Seth assured her. “But not until you’ve slept.”
“Exactly.” Beck nodded. “Right now, eat.”
She let out a sigh of surprised relief. It was nice to breathe. It was also nice to be clean, have hot food, and know that both she and her father would be safe and warm.
It wasn’t as if it would be hard to yield to their wishes.
“All right. We’ll talk in the morning.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sunday, March 31
On the other side of the shadowy living room, Beck heard Seth roll over on the inflatable mattress he’d blown up twenty minutes ago before letting out a heavy sigh.
He understood. It had been a long fucking night of blindsides and shock. The sun would be up in a couple of hours. Then he’d have to deal with all the shit, so he needed to shut his eyes and get some sleep. But his goddamn brain wouldn’t stop spooling with ramifications and what-ifs.
Not everything had ended up a clusterfuck. Heavenly was safe. Abel was getting the quality care he deserved. Their scum-sucking landlord was in agony. And finally, his girl was under his roof…just not the way he’d envisioned. In his fantasies, he was in bed with her. Hell, he was inside her. But nothing about this situation was optimal. The secrets she’d harbored—no, the lies she’d told—were tough to swallow, but he’d also plowed face first into one indisputable fact:
Tonight, everything had changed.
Ten feet away, Seth rustled on the sheet again and groaned.
Beck turned over on the sofa. “Hey, if you’re jacking off, take that shit to the bathroom. I don’t want to hear it.”
“Like I’d ever jack off in the same room with you.”
“Glad to hear you’ve got some standards.”
“Why the fuck would you think I’d jack off anywhere near you?”
“I saw your face after Heavenly pranced into the kitchen wearing that tight little kitten nightie.” The word PURRFECT had stretched across her perky tits. She hadn’t been wearing a bra. For a long moment, Beck had just stared. He didn’t have to guess that Seth had gotten hard at a glance because, despite his fucking exhaustion, his own dick had roared to life. “I know damn well you were fixating on her kitty underneath.”
“And you weren’t? Please…”
“No. I’m guilty as hell. But I’m willing to admit it.”
“Of course I wanted to fuck her. Is that really news?” He sighed again, the sound dripping frustration. “Now go to sleep. It’s been a long damn day.”
“No shit.” Beck gnawed on the side of his cheek. Yeah, he should probably leave it
