“Take care of yourself, boo. I love you.”
Heavenly bit her lip, trying to hold herself together. She’d worried and disappointed him.
She’d exchanged one set of problems for another.
At least in this scenario, Dad was getting the best medical care possible. Her feelings mattered far less.
After brushing a kiss on his cheek, she sent him the brightest smile she could manage. “I love you, too.”
Tears were falling as she reached the door and opened it to find Seth waiting inches away, stock-still. Beck paced the hall, fists clenched.
How much had they heard?
“Thanks for bringing me here to visit. I’m ready to head for work.”
“Are you all right?” Seth ventured, concern all over his face.
She didn’t want to talk about it, wasn’t ready to deal with her conflicted feelings. “Fine.”
The guys exchanged a glance. Neither believed her.
“Please. I can’t be late.”
Beck sighed. “We’ll go. But we’re going to talk about this later.”
“Absolutely,” Seth agreed.
The ride to Pepp-E-Roni’s Pizza Palace was quiet. On the one hand, she needed the paycheck and she was happy to escape the inquisition they were obviously itching for, if only temporarily. But she would also far rather be spending the evening with Beck and Seth. Heck, the night with them. Her father was right; she wouldn’t be able to put them off for long. But the way she wanted them, that thought filled her with way more heady anticipation than unease. Individually, they’d given her such pleasure. Together…she sighed. She could only imagine.
But it wasn’t just the ecstasy she looked forward to. It was being with them, expressing her feelings for them, without worry that she’d be upsetting one or the other. Finally, she’d be able to show them that she loved them equally and honestly.
Hopefully, the love she made with them would be enough.
Because the future was coming, and she couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
As River maneuvered his truck through traffic, Beck leaned up from the backseat and snagged the man’s attention in the rearview mirror. “You don’t need to take us out for a beer, man. What’s done is done.”
“Yeah, but I feel like shit for not telling you guys when Heavenly approached me. I swear, I told her to ask you two to do the, um…deed. When she refused, I should have said something. I’m sorry.”
River sounded contrite, as he damn well should. His apology was enough, but if buying them a few brews would clear his conscience, fine. At least it would distract Beck from the endless mental replay of Heavenly and Abel’s earlier conversation at the hospital. He and Seth had both overheard. Trouble was on that horizon. Sure, the old man was preparing their girl for the inevitable, but the prospect of Heavenly living up to her promise before settling down worried the hell out of him.
She wouldn’t refuse her father’s dying wish to experience life and explore the world.
Their only hope was to use every moment before her father’s ravaged body gave out to surround her, devote themselves to her, drown her in pleasure, and bestow on her all the adventure she could handle. They’d give her life without monumental responsibilities, with people she could count on. They’d make sure she had a million reasons to smile. They’d show why she should reconsider her future.
Beck hoped that would be enough.
Sure, he and Seth had annihilated Heavenly’s barriers last night. This morning, she’d opened up to them more than ever. But he knew that girl. They had exposed her, left her no place to hide. Necessary, of course, but she didn’t like feeling vulnerable, resisted relying on anyone. If he and Seth didn’t pour a sturdy foundation under her ASAP and prove she belonged with and to them, she’d be gone faster than he could blink.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Beck tried to fight off dread.
After quick stops by Seth’s apartment and his house to change into clean clothes, Beck grabbed a few essentials for later, along with a thick envelope from his attorney from the mailbox. He tore into it. His divorce settlement. About damn time. Heavenly might not see a future with him yet, but he was going to be ready, because he intended to convince her they had one.
He shoved the document in his pocket as River whipped his quad cab 4x4 into a crowded parking lot. Beck glanced out the window. A gaudy neon sign announced their destination, and he rolled his eyes. He’d never been here, but he’d heard plenty of talk.
“Why the hell did you bring us to a breastaurant?” Seth scoffed from the passenger seat.
“He’s probably hoping to score with one of the babes who work here. Sorry, man. I know you get lucky a lot, but these girls are even out of your league,” Beck quipped.
“They’re not. Already been here and done this,” River said smugly. “I thought you might enjoy the great wings and ice-cold beer. But I brought you for the scenery.”
“If we wanted to drool over tits and ass, we could have gone to Shadows,” Seth drawled as River pulled into a parking space and killed the engine.
“Trust me. You two want to see this.”
Beck doubted that. He’d seen more naked women in his life than stars in the sky. But he played along and followed River through the front door.
The place was packed. Raucous laughter and loud music assaulted his ears. Suddenly, he regretted leaving the oasis of the quiet condo.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to Bazookas.”
A striking brunette with surgically enhanced “headlights” eyed them with a smile. Her breasts nearly spilled out of her skimpy white bra. To call the pleated scrap of fabric clinging to her hips and barely covering her pussy a skirt would be damn generous. Once upon a time, Beck would have enjoyed the view. Now? Nothing.
“Well, hello yourself.” River winked.
She responded with a coy smile. “Booth or table?”
“A booth would be
