by Shayla Black
“Fine.”
Together, they made their way inside and headed for the bedroom. Once there, Seth opened the shutters. As sunlight poured in, he also flipped on the lights in the adjacent bathroom. Then they stood on opposite sides of the bed. Each grabbed the top sheet and flung the covers to the bottom of the mattress.
“Time to get up, angel.” Seth shook Heavenly with a gentle hand.
She curled into a tight ball and covered her ears. “No.”
Beck lifted her into his arms, against his chest, and hugged her tight. It felt so good to hold her again. “Yes.”
“Put me down.” She wriggled, glaring through half-open eyes. “You don’t get to touch me.”
“I’m not molesting you; I’m helping you.”
“I don’t need your help, just sleep.”
“You’re done hiding from the world. The first thing you’re going to do is tame that breath. It could slay people.”
The furrow between her brows deepened as she scowled and kicked at him. “Maybe your wife’s breath is better.”
Even if he didn’t like the topic, he took her fight as a good sign. She cared about something besides her father’s death. “Gloria isn’t really my wife.”
“The papers that fell out of your pocket say otherwise.”
“Legally, yes. But—”
“Then you’re still married. Put me down. I mean it.”
“Nope,” Seth offered from the bathroom. “He’s not giving in, angel. Neither am I.”
Beck didn’t negotiate, just carried her squirming form into the bathroom and set her on her feet in front of the sink. The moment he did, Seth thrust a toothbrush in her hands.
She sighed. “Oh, all right. But once I brush my teeth, I’m going back to bed.”
“No, you’re not.” Seth bent until they were eye to eye. “Time to start living again.”
“I’m tired.”
“Do you have any idea what day it is?”
She frowned. “Tuesday?”
“Wednesday. Afternoon. So sleepy time is over. Get busy.”
Heavenly sighed, looking none too happy as she ran the fresh toothbrush under the water while dragging her tongue across her teeth with a grimace. As she lifted the implement to her mouth, she paused. “You don’t need to watch me. I can brush my own teeth.”
“We’re not leaving your side.” Beck leaned against the counter, brow raised.
With a roll of her eyes, she ignored them and complied.
The first battle of wills might be over, but he didn’t kid himself. They were in for a war.
He reached into the big glass enclosure and flipped on the shower, then started unfastening the buttons of his dress shirt.
Heavenly dragged the toothbrush across her bottom teeth, spit, then frowned his way. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a shower.”
“I’m perfectly capable of taking one myself.”
“Too bad,” Seth shot back. “You have to smell better before we take you shopping.”
“Shopping?” she scoffed. “No.”
“So you plan to wear yoga pants and an over-sized T-shirt to honor your father at his service on Friday?”
Anguish flared in her eyes. “I’ll ask Raine if I can borrow a dress.”
No doubt the woman had dozens, but Beck wasn’t about to let Heavenly deter him and Seth from their mission. “We’re getting you one of your own. No arguments.”
She didn’t say anything more, just finished brushing her teeth, then faced them as Beck shrugged his shirt from his shoulders. “You guys are serious about the shower thing?”
“Yep.” Seth pulled his tank over his head.
“Let’s get you naked.” Beck tugged his wrinkled shirt from her body. Then he bent and peeled her panties down her legs, doing his damnedest not to stare. As he tossed the scrap of lace into the hamper behind him, the pungent scent of her pussy clouded his senses.
Now she was totally bare. The head up north was focused on taking care of her and helping her through her grief…but his head down south hadn’t gotten the memo yet.
With a hiss of relief, he stepped out of his slacks and draped them across the counter. Beside him, Seth doffed his sweatpants. Beck couldn’t help but notice he wasn’t the only member of the loner boner club.
Clasping her elbow, he helped her to the spacious, steaming enclosure, where Seth guided her beneath the steaming spray. Beck followed and closed the heavy glass door, watching as Heavenly tipped her head back and water cascaded down her lush curves. His pulse double-timed in his chest.
“Feel good, angel?” Seth dragged his fingers through her hair.
“Hmm…” she moaned.
Beck moved closer. Hot water pelted his skin as he pressed himself against Heavenly. Unable to resist, he glided his hands down her slick body, stopping to cup her hips and sandwich her between him and Seth—where she belonged.
This wasn’t the time to think about sex. She needed caring and empathy. But it had been three days since he’d first—and last—sunk into her soft, welcoming body. It felt like three fucking decades.
A deep sigh later, she melted between them, then tipped her head back onto Seth’s chest. Beck pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
The three were one again, at least for the moment.
“Hand me her shampoo, man.” Seth’s voice drew Beck back to the real world.
“I can do it,” she protested.
“I’m doing it.” Seth lifted her arms and looped them around Beck’s shoulders.
When mutiny crossed her face, Beck intervened. “That’s final.”
She huffed but didn’t say another word as he passed the bottle over.
While Seth lathered, Beck dipped his lips to her ear. “You’re going to let us pamper you today, little girl. Understood?”
“You’re both bossy.”
“Really? I thought we were being subtle.” Seth chuckled as he lathered her scalp.
He nodded. “Downright subdued.”
Heavenly looked poised to disagree when Seth began rinsing the shampoo from her long mane with adroit fingers, massaging her temples and crown, gently wringing excess water from her hair with a splash.
As she exhaled, Beck pressed her back to Seth’s chest until her body bowed. Her arms followed, and she draped them behind the other man’s neck. As she did, her breasts lifted. Her rosy nipples pebbled and flushed.
Mentally yanking the chain on his lust, he plucked up the soap and glided his palms over her every dip and curve, coating her in bubbles while managing not to give in to his urge to violate her in a hundred different ways.
At least until Seth pressed her boneless body against his cock. Then resisting her became a torture akin to the seventh circle of hell.
Beck gritted his teeth as they passed her back and forth—conditioning her hair, shaving her legs, murmuring reassurances.
When the hot water turned cool, they left the enclosure. While Seth patted her drenched skin dry, Beck wrapped her dripping hair in a warm towel and studied her face. Minus all makeup, she looked even younger. And so broken. What little fight she’d had a few minutes ago had vanished. Now exhaustion seemed to weigh down every limb and muscle, especially her eyelids.
Clinically, he knew her body didn’t require more sleep, but her beleaguered mind still sought escape. If she kept her grip on this pain, it would consume her. Hell, it was already close. She hadn’t shed a single tear since leaving Hammer, Liam, and Raine’s place. She needed to purge her anguish.
Beck curled a finger under her chin and lifted it. “Look at me.”
Slowly, she focused on him.
“Let out your grief. It’s okay. Mourn. Cry. Talk. We’re here for you.”
Seth set aside the towel and wrapped his arms around her. “If you don’t, misery will eat you up. Believe me, I know.”
She gave them a shake of her head. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m upright and I�
��m clean. Be happy.”
Behind her, Seth raised a brow.
Under normal circumstances, one or both of them might take her over his knee for her sass. But she didn’t need punishment now. She needed kindness. If they gave her enough of it, maybe they could coax her to grieve in their arms.
“Not until you’ve shopped and eaten,” Beck said finally.
She huffed and leveled a stare his way. “You’re not giving up on this, are you?”
“We don’t back down from much,” Seth replied.
Beck nodded in agreement.
“Fine. Let me braid my hair and toss on some clothes. I don’t suppose you’ll let me argue with you about where we’re shopping for this dress or who’s paying for it?”
“Not a chance in hell,” Beck shot back.
Seth patted her backside. “Ten minutes, and no crawling back in bed.”
She bristled and wriggled away. “Give me some privacy. I’ll be ready.”
Reluctantly, they tossed their dirty clothes in the hamper and left to search for clean threads. Once they’d cleared the threshold, she shut and locked the bathroom door behind them.
A few seconds later, he heard the toilet flush, the water run, a few drawers slam.
“She’s in a great mood,” he drawled to Seth when they met again, fully dressed, in the kitchen. “This ought to be fun.”
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Beck didn’t doubt that.
When Heavenly emerged twelve minutes later, she looked fresh faced. She’d donned a long T-shirt she’d knotted around her waist and a pair of shorts that were short on modesty and long on trying his restraint.
“That what you’re wearing?” Seth asked.
“Most everything I own is dirty, packed away, or meant for work. This will have to do.”
Beck bit back a growl, grabbed his keys, and led her out of the condo. Seth followed, arm around her waist as he guided her to the car.
Before too long, they ushered Heavenly into Nordstrom. Less than five minutes later, they had three sales associates bringing them dresses.
Beck watched protectively. She looked overwhelmed by the dozen black sheaths hanging in a semicircle around her in the dressing room.
“I-I don’t know.” Heavenly shrugged. “They’re all fine.”
“Would you like to try them on in any particular order?” one helpful associate asked.
Heavenly blinked. “Um…”
Since she hadn’t eaten for almost two days, Beck doubted her energy would last long enough to try them all on. Of course, when they’d offered her lunch first, she’d demurred…
“What’s your best-selling dress?” he asked because he didn’t know the first fucking thing about selecting a woman’s clothes, only getting her out of them.
“Well,” the salesperson began, “this one is less traditional and seems quite popular with younger ladies, but this one recently arrived and…”
Beck tuned her out when Seth, who had been surprisingly quiet for the last thirty minutes, pushed away from the wall and stepped closer to examine each dress. Finally, he turned to scan Heavenly up and down before he faced the sales associate.
“The first dress has too many ruffles. The last one and these few in the middle don’t have the right silhouette to flatter her body.” He pointed at another garment. “This one has no structure at all. And that one with the brocade pattern is just a no. The rest…” He shook his head. “No lace. No slits. No cleavage. Just simple basic black. Capped sleeves. Figure hugging. Classic.” He plucked two off the wall. “We’ll try these on. You need help with your zipper, angel?”
She gaped at him. “No.”
“Then I’ll be down the hall, choosing your shoes.”
“Um…thanks.”
When she shut the door on them, Seth stuck his hands in his pockets and sauntered toward a shoe display, seemingly unaware that both he and the sales assistant were staring.
“What the fuck was that?” Beck muttered as soon as they were out of Heavenly’s earshot.
“What?” he asked absently, comparing a Vuitton heel against a Jimmy Choo.
“When did you become an expert on women’s clothes?”
Seth fell quiet. “Another lifetime. These will do.”
When he reached for a pair of Channel slingbacks with peep toes, trimmed in pearl accents, Beck wondered what the hell that meant.
A few minutes later, Heavenly emerged in one of the two dresses Seth had chosen. He studied the garment with a critical eye, then nodded. “This is perfect. Do you like it?”
She crept closer on bare feet. “It’s way too expensive.”
“That wasn’t the question,” Beck reminded. “Do you like it?”
“Yes, but—”
“Nothing else matters.”
The Channel shoes Seth had selected fit her feet as if they’d been made for her. He picked out some simple but elegant jewelry to accompany the outfit, appropriate undergarments, and a cache of all new cosmetics. She winced when the sales associate hit the total button with a happy smile, but he and Seth paid, then led her out of the department store.
They strolled along the second level, past a hair salon. Luckily, a stylist was available. When they offered Heavenly a choice between having her hair done or eating, she chose a cut and blow-dry.
Ignoring his growling stomach, Beck left Seth to supervise Heavenly’s hair since he had opinions about that, too, and dropped the packages off at the car. On his way back, he dialed Raine to give her an update and ask if she’d be willing to spend a spa-and-shopping day with Heavenly tomorrow since he had two scheduled surgeries and Seth needed to spend a few hours at the office. Raine readily agreed to his plan, promising to keep Heavenly busy all day and send her home with a new wardrobe. Just before Beck rang off, he told her he’d drop by later to leave his credit card. She said she’d be waiting with a little laugh he didn’t quite trust.
On his way back to the salon, Beck found a pretzel place and wolfed down a hot, salty one before meeting up with Seth again, who sat in a waiting area, absently thumbing through a magazine. Beck filled Seth in on tomorrow’s plan.
As they finished hashing out the details, Heavenly rounded the corner.
They both looked up. Beck felt his jaw drop. She looked like a bombshell, and he fisted his hands to stop himself from sinking his fingers into her long, loose curls and mussing her.
“You look gorgeous, angel.” Seth sounded as stunned as he felt. “The long layers are perfect for your face.”
Who was he, a cast off from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? Except Beck knew Seth was totally hetero.
“It’s…amazing.” Heavenly lifted her hand to her silky waves and fluffed them as tendrils wrapped themselves around her fingers.
“Wow,” Beck breathed her way. “Just…wow.”
“Come here.” Seth held out his arms to her, and Beck sighed with relief when she went willingly. “Did you enjoy that?”
She nodded. “I did. Thanks. I never knew my hair could look like this.”
Beck couldn’t resist a minute more. He slid his arm around her, totally not caring that both he and Seth were embracing her and that everyone in the salon was staring. He pressed his lips to her temple as Seth kissed her cheek, then they were off for food—finally.
It wasn’t far to Cheesecake Factory, and thankfully it wasn’t crowded at five o’clock. When they’d asked for privacy, the hostess led them to the back of the restaurant. Heavenly fell in line between them, following Seth without a word as she gawked at the decorative ceilings, glass partitions, and people of all shapes and sizes.
The secluded booth he and Heavenly had shared weeks ago rolled though Beck’s brain. Shoving down the delicious memories of their first kiss—and her first orgasm—he sat in the booth opposite Heavenly and Seth, keeping his hands to himself, and focused on getting her the nourishment she needed.
After handing them menus, the hostess left to seat othe
r guests.
The waitress soon appeared. He and Seth ordered iced tea. Their girl asked only for water.
Once the server hurried off, Heavenly closed her menu with a frown. “I don’t think my stomach can handle food right now.”
Beck glowered. “You’re eating something, little girl. We’ll keep it light, but the subject isn’t up for debate.”
“If you’re not sure what you want, we’ll order something for you,” Seth chimed in.
When she bristled, Beck clenched his jaw. “If your body doesn’t get fuel, you’ll pass out at your dad’s memorial service. Is that what you want?”
The annoyance in her expression melted into sadness. “Okay, I’ll try a cup of soup.”
He and Seth shared a knowing glance. Every step with her today was a battle, but Beck knew they couldn’t let up.
“Let’s try half a turkey sandwich with that,” Seth insisted.
“Don’t… It’s a waste of money.”
“The money isn’t important. You are.” To end the argument, Beck purposely changed the subject. “The salon really did a great job on your hair. You look stunning.”
She absently brushed her fingers over the big, loose curls, a smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you for…well, for everything. Weirdly, I feel lighter.”
Beck took that as a good sign. “You’re welcome.”
“See, good things happen when you let us take care of you,” Seth added.
After the waitress returned with their drinks, she jotted down their dinner selections and rushed off again. Their conversation came in fits and starts, mostly he and Seth trying to keep it flowing with Heavenly chiming in between sips of water as she stared out the window.
When dinner arrived, she swirled the spoon in her soup and picked at the turkey spilling from between the slices of bread.
He glanced at Seth and saw his concern reflected there. Time to play bad cop.
In one fluid motion, the big PI plucked Heavenly onto his lap, lifted the spoon from her soup, and raised it to her lips. “You’re eating now. Open, angel.”
She recoiled with a frown. “You’re not feeding me like a child.”
Beck slid in beside her. “Yes, we are.”
“I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”
“You must be starved. It’s been days,” Seth bit out.
