Chapter Seventeen #3
Seth winced and made a mental note to have a serious conversation with the twins about appropriate influences on his sixteen-year-old son. “And that’s everyone… Or is Gene coming?”
His mom shook her head. “He couldn’t make it tonight. Work called. You know how it is.”
“Oh, I do.” Seth turned to Beck and Heavenly. “I’ve told you about Gene, my dad’s former partner. Friend of the family.”
Beck nodded. “I remember.”
Heavenly’s eyes softened. She knew Gene had saved his life at sixteen. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“You will.” Seth turned to see Maggie shaking hands with Hudson, remarking on how tall he was for his age.
When Anna started fussing, his sister-in-law plucked the girl from Heavenly’s arms. “I’ll take her. She’s hungry. Be right back.”
“She’s adorable,” Heavenly called to Maggie as she headed for the kitchen.
She grinned over her shoulder. “Thanks. Danny and I think so, too.”
With the introductions concluded, the family room buzzed with energy as everyone settled in their seats, voices overlapping in the familiar symphony of Cooper family dynamics. His mom exclaimed at least twice more how much Hudson resembled Seth.
Hudson handled all the attention with surprising poise. His mom had claimed the spot on the couch beside the boy, frequently ruffling his hair. On Hudson’s other side, Heavenly fielded questions with her natural sweetness, and Seth could see his mother was already impressed.
Beck sat across the room, deep in conversation with Danny and Carl, playing his role of platonic friend to perfection.
Relief wedged between Seth’s ribs as he watched Beck fit in. His easy confidence, sharp intelligence, and genuine warmth would win over everyone in time.
But time was the one thing they didn’t have much of. He had four days to integrate the people he loved most into his family…or he’d risk splitting up the Cooper clan forever.
Beside him, Matt whistled. “Damn, you lucky bastard. Heavenly’s not just gorgeous, she’s sweet as hell. Are you sure she doesn’t have a sister? A cousin? A bestie?”
“Sorry, she’s an only child. No cousins that I know of. And her bestie is taken.” He slanted his brother a glance. “I’ve never known you to be hard up. You slipping?”
“Bite my ass. I’m busy. In case you haven’t read the reports I’ve sent you, the PI business out here is hopping.”
“Oh, I know. And I’ve cashed the checks. You’re killing it.”
“Damn straight.”
They high-fived.
As Matt drifted toward Beck and Danny, Seth sidled close to Heavenly and addressed Hudson. “You doing okay?”
The kid nodded, clearly doing his best to keep up. “Yeah. Just…not used to this much family. Especially one this loud.”
“It was a whole lot louder when we were kids,” Seth assured him. “But yeah, it’s a lot. You’ll get used to it.”
“I like Grandma Grace,” Hudson said quietly. “She’s nice. Kind of reminds me of my grammy.”
“Good. This family will always be here for you, son. They already love you.”
Hudson nodded, still taking it all in. And he probably would be for days.
When his mom excused herself to the kitchen to finish dinner, Heavenly jumped up to help her.
“Oh, sweetheart, that’s kind of you, but I’m almost done,” his mom insisted. “You had such an early flight. Relax.”
As his mother bustled away, Seth bent to whisper in Heavenly’s ear. “Congratulations. You’ve already won her over.”
Worry creased Heavenly’s brow as her voice dropped to a whisper. “For the moment. But what happens…later?”
When Seth spilled the truth? Yeah, he was wondering that, too. He knew he was playing a dangerous-as-fuck game that might leave all the Coopers stunned and divided.
“One day at a time, angel.” Seth bent and kissed her cheek. “The future will be what it’s going to be. We just have to let it unfold.”
She nodded…but she clearly wasn’t any more comfortable with the uncertainty than he was.
After a few minutes of chatter, his mom called everyone to dinner.
Seth helped Heavenly to her feet, his hand lingering at the small of her back as they made their way to the dining room.
Beck and Hudson fell in beside them as they settled around the long wooden table set for twelve, candles flickering between food that smelled like heaven.
Seth helped Heavenly into her chair, hyperaware that his family watched every gesture. Beck slid in beside her, maintaining a proper distance and a platonic smile.
So far, so good. Everyone seemed to be buying the cover.
That didn’t make him any less nervous.
As everyone filled their plates, his mom sent Beck an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to talk yet, Dr. Beckman.”
“Please, just Beck. And no apology necessary.”
“So…are you married?”
Seth tensed. Jesus, his mom wasn’t even being subtle, and if she invited Celeste Hagaman over for dessert in some attempt to play matchmaker, he was going to lose his shit.
Thankfully, Beck handled the question smoothly. “Divorced, though my ex-wife Gloria is still a good friend. I’m happy for her and her new husband.”
Seth caught Hudson’s barely suppressed snort of laughter and sent the kid a warning glare. Yeah, his mom didn’t need to know that Gloria was Vegas’s most notorious madame. Talk about a conversation killer…
“Oh, I’m sorry it didn’t work out. But remaining friends… That’s very mature of you both,” his mom said. “What about the rest of your family?”
Beck glanced at Seth, who gave a subtle nod. They’d discussed this; Beck would stick as close to the truth as possible.
“I was raised in a religious sect called Messiah City. You may have heard about it on the news this past spring,” Beck said. “I escaped when I was about Hudson’s age.”
“Oh, my goodness. I have heard about it. You were raised…there?”
The table fell silent, all conversation stopping as Beck nodded. “Unfortunately. But I was lucky to get out young. Some of the others, particularly the girls… What you heard on the news is merely a fraction of the horrible truth. And when the FBI finally moved against them at Big Bear—”
“That’s why you were there?” his mom asked with a gasp. “When you called to tell me you were all right?”
“Yeah, we were all there, even Heavenly.” Seth didn’t dare tell his mom they’d nearly died. She wouldn’t take it well, even now. “It was…a terrible day.”
“My youngest brother Zach helped the FBI take down the compound. Other than him, I don’t have any other family,” Beck finished quietly.
The silence stretched for a moment before Grace’s expression softened with compassion. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re an honorary Cooper now.”
The rest of the family echoed the sentiment.
Seth exhaled in relief. That explanation could have been all kinds of messy, but Beck had handled it deftly, downplaying the violent massacre. What his mother had heard? That Beck was basically an orphan who needed mommying.
Repressing a smile, he sent Beck a glance that said well done.
Beck raised a brow. I’ve got a trick or two up my sleeve.
“Well, Mom,” Matt said with a grin, “looks like you finally got your wish. You always wanted one of your sons to be a doctor.”
The table erupted in laughter, and Grace swatted at Matt playfully, then turned back to Beck. “Do you live close to Seth?”
Beck tensed, then deferred to him with a look.
Seth cleared his throat. “Actually, Heavenly and I moved in with Beck a few months back. LA is really expensive, and Beck has a huge house… Since she’s still in nursing school, and I’d just started the business out West, it made sense.”
He hoped the explanation didn’t sound as clumsy as it felt. The twins’ knowing smirks made him want to slap them upside the head. Thankfully, no one else seemed to notice.
“Oh.” His mother frowned, her maternal concern evident. “Is Cooper Investigations West all right?”
“Great, actually,” Seth assured her. “But it was still new when we first moved in with Beck. Besides, he has a fabulous pool. When he asked if we wanted to move in, there was no reason not to say yes.”
“Beck’s house is sick. Nice neighborhood. And it has everything, especially super sturdy chaise lounges in the backyard,” Jack told their mom with deliberate innocence.
Seth shot him a warning glare. The little shit’s eyes just danced with mischief.
Heavenly smoothed over the awkward exchange, bless her. “Beck’s house is centrally located, so it’s a short commute to the hospital where Beck works and I volunteer. And Seth’s office isn’t far at all.”
Grace still looked a bit confused but smiled politely. “That sounds lovely.”
“It’s great,” Seth assured, then changed the subject before their facade got derailed.
After dinner, Mom brought out dessert—her famous apple pie.
Unfortunately, that signaled the moment Seth had been dreading all evening.
Dragging in a deep breath, he stood, taking Heavenly’s hand and bringing her to her feet. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to them with expectant faces.
Except Beck’s. He stared down at his untouched dessert, white-knuckling a cup of coffee, jaw clenched.
Guilt threatened to crush Seth. This would slice Beck in two. Seth knew that. Heavenly, too.
Even though Beck had agreed to this charade, even though it was temporary, Seth hated it on every level.
Beck lifted his gaze to Seth and gave him an almost imperceptible nod.
Get it over with.
Fuck. He should have rehearsed what he was going to say.
“I have an announcement to make.” Seth swallowed hard, then forced a smile as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out the engagement ring and slipped it on Heavenly’s finger, letting the diamond catch the light. “I asked Heavenly to marry me…and she said yes. We’re engaged.”
After a split second of silence, his mother gasped. The rest of the room stood, exploding in a chorus of applause and congratulations in a typically loud Cooper family celebration.
Seth turned to Heavenly. Her smile looked as fake as his felt, but he kissed her, squeezing her shoulder in a silent promise. He’d make this up to both of them.