Chapter Eighteen
Relieved that his performance was over—at least for now—Beck scrubbed a hand over his face with a frustrated sigh.
Pretending Heavenly was merely a friend had been way fucking harder than he’d anticipated. He’d known Seth announcing his engagement to her would sting. But he hadn’t expected it to fucking eviscerate him.
Hours later, a low-key anger was still grinding his gut.
He didn’t want to blame Seth. But this fucked-up situation wasn’t Heavenly’s fault. Or really Grace’s. But he feared it would get worse before it got better. And that pissed him off even more.
Seth stared straight ahead, silent and unblinking, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
What’s your goddamn problem? At least you get to touch our girl.
As if she sensed his tension, Heavenly cleared her throat. “Your family is amazing, Seth. Really warm and welcoming.”
“Yeah. Your mom is way warmer than the she-devil who gave birth to me. Then again, Esther set the bar really low,” Beck quipped.
Seth flinched. “I’m sorry. Mom means well. She basically adopted you. It’s a good sign.”
Yeah, that had shocked Beck.
Before this trip, he’d been prepared to dislike Grace Cooper.
She was religious. She talked about high-handed morals while closing herself off from people who didn’t believe what she did.
But now that he’d met her…he couldn’t hate her.
Grace wasn’t trying to be narrow; she just didn’t know another way.
“It is. And despite their mischief, even the twins were sweet.” Heavenly was trying to find any silver lining.
Now that he could, Beck dropped a hand to her thigh. “They mostly behaved.”
“For once,” Seth said dryly. “Hudson will be safe with Mom, but we need to keep an eye on him when Jack and Connor are around.”
“Likely so, but they made Hudson feel welcomed. Except for football, I’ve never seen him light up the way he did around your family.”
“Yeah.” Seth sighed heavily. “Which makes the bullshit we’re pulling on them even worse.”
Heavenly took Seth’s hand. “What choice do we have?”
“To make sure Mom gets married in peace? None. But that doesn’t make it right.” Pain etched his face as he glanced between the two of them. “I’m so fucking sorry. I never should have asked you to lie.”
Emotion clogged Beck’s throat. For months, he’d assumed Seth was too much of a pussy to come clean with Grace about their unorthodox relationship. But after meeting her and the rest of the Cooper clan—experiencing the love and warmth they shared—Beck understood Seth’s dilemma.
“You’re in a really hard spot. But I have to be honest… Announcing our engagement while Beck sat there pretending he wasn’t a part of us…” Heavenly’s voice cracked. “I hated every second of it.”
“Me, too. I felt like I was ripping out his damn heart.”
Beck couldn’t lie. “You were.”
Tears gathered in Heavenly’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who needs to apologize,” Seth groaned. “And I’m so fucking sorry—both of you. I swear, after this wedding I will never again ask either of you to deny your feelings around my family.”
“Good, because I don’t know how much longer I can pretend to be okay while you two play the happy couple. It fucking gutted me.”
Seth clapped Beck’s shoulder. “I know. After Sunday, I promise…if Mom doesn’t approve of our relationship, that’s her problem. It’s our fucking lives. My peace, future, and happiness are with you two. That won’t change.”
“I don’t want you at odds with your family…” Heavenly bit her lip. “But I needed to hear that.”
Beck nodded, so grateful they were all on the same page. “Thanks.”
A long sigh told him that wasn’t the end of Seth’s issues. “But we have to be more careful. When Heavenly held Anna, I saw the way you looked at her. If anyone else had noticed…”
“Fuck. It’s probably a good thing I’ll be tied up with this medical conference tomorrow and most of Friday. I’ll have my poker face in place by the time the rehearsal dinner rolls around.”
“Thanks.” Seth nodded. “I know I’m asking a lot and—”
“How about we quit talking about your family and enjoy our first night in New York?” Beck suggested. “We have a gorgeous suite and the whole night alone. I vote we stop talking and start fucking.”
Heavenly gasped, sending a wide-eyed glance at their driver, who wasn’t looking…but was clearly listening.
Seth’s smirk turned filthy. “I’m…up for that. Angel?”
His little girl just blushed.
The Uber stopped in front of the hotel. The French chateau architecture rose majestically into the clear night sky, commanding the corner with quiet elegance.
When Heavenly gaped, Beck felt a surge of satisfaction.
Ornate balconies jutted from tall windows, and the building’s classic lines spoke of old-world luxury and refinement.
Her expression told him that she loved it on sight.
Heavenly blinked at him. “Your conference is here? This is where we’re staying?”
Beck nodded, unable to suppress his grin. “For the next two nights.”
He was thrilled he could spoil her during her first trip to the city. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t be worse. She should be fertile this weekend…and they had to pretend to be just friends.
“I’ll do what I can to make sleeping at Mom’s on Friday night bearable,” Seth promised as they climbed out of the car.
Beck’s stomach tightened at the reminder. Seth and Heavenly would likely share a bed at Grace’s house. He’d be relegated to some guest room, probably near Hudson. And the thought of being alone, of knowing Seth and Heavenly were together while she was primed for pregnancy… It would be torture.
He didn’t care if she and Seth had sex and she got knocked up. Hell, he’d be overjoyed to start their family. But the idea that he wouldn’t even be in the room when their child was conceived was killing him.
“Saturday night will be better,” Seth promised, as if reading his thoughts. “After the wedding, Mom and Carl are staying in a honeymoon suite somewhere in the city. So, except for Hudson, we’ll have the house to ourselves.”
Beck’s tension eased. One less night of pretending. One more opportunity to indulge in Heavenly’s ripe body.
While the bellboy gathered their bags, Beck led Seth and Heavenly through the hotel’s entrance into the lobby. As he approached the front desk to check in, he couldn’t miss her sharp intake of breath.
“Oh, my god,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful.”
Beck smiled as she spun in a slow circle, taking in the soaring ceiling with its elaborate moldings, the gleaming marble floors, and the crystal chandeliers that cast warm light over the opulence.
Fresh flowers arranged in towering displays perfumed the air, while elegant seating areas invited guests to linger in luxury.
Her delight made him damn glad this suite was part of his compensation for speaking. This weekend was about Grace Cooper’s wedding, but Beck was happy he could give Heavenly an experience she’d never forget.
Once he’d checked in and received their keycards, they entered the crowded elevator, punching the button for the twentieth floor. The ride up was silent. Tension hummed between them, increasingly taut as others slowly exited.
Until they were finally alone.
Beck’s heart raced. His blood churned as he sent a sidelong glance at Heavenly. On her other side, Seth slanted her a dark, hungry stare that said he intended to swallow her whole.
He stalked in Heavenly’s direction until her back pressed against the wall. He tilted her chin up to meet his stare. “I’ve been dying for you all evening, angel. I need you naked.”
Beck closed in, his hand finding the small of her back…and trailing down her pretty pert ass. “Same, little girl. For the next twelve hours, I intend to keep you in bed and stuffed full of cock, coming so hard you forget your own name.”
“What he said.” Seth covered Heavenly’s mouth in a kiss that had her melting between them.
Beck trailed his lips up her throat, gratified when she whimpered sweetly. When Seth finally broke the kiss, Beck claimed her lips next, tasting both her softness and her desperation.
By the time the elevator dinged and the doors parted, they were all breathing hard.
Together, they piled out, both men holding Heavenly’s hands, and made their way down the hall. At the end, Beck slid the keycard in the slot and pushed open the door, gesturing for Heavenly to enter first.
She stepped inside and went completely still, her eyes flaring wide as her hand flew to her mouth.
The suite stretched before them in understated elegance—rich fabrics, gleaming surfaces, and well-appointed luxuries. A living area flowed into a dining space, while floor-to-ceiling windows promised spectacular views.
“Wow,” Heavenly breathed as she explored every room, exclaiming over the marble bathroom, the walk-in closet, and the fully stocked bar.
When she finally made it to the windows, she frowned. “It’s dark. I see some city lights in the distance, but…”
“Central Park is right below us. But in the morning, you’ll love this view.” Seth sidled up to her, palming her hip. “Trust me.”
The bellboy arrived with their luggage. Beck tipped the guy generously for being speedy, then hustled him out the door.
The moment they were alone again, Beck turned to them, brow raised. “Come here so I can strip you naked, little girl.”
Heavenly blushed as she sauntered in his direction with a sway of her hips that had a knot of lust stuck in his throat and his cock beyond eager. He looked just past her to Seth, who wore a crooked grin as he followed Heavenly with blazing eyes.
Beck was determined to come inside their fertile girl as many times as possible this weekend. He fucking hoped Seth was prepared to do the same.
Either way, he refused to waste another minute.