Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“And she only called us motherfuckers twice during delivery.” Hammer chuckled.
“But she threatened to cut off our willies more than that,” Liam quipped.
Everyone laughed. Beck could definitely picture Raine spitting some choice words during labor.
“Aye, thankfully she only promised to superglue her girl parts together once,” Liam’s mother, Bryn, added with a wry grin. “But she won’t. I suspect you lot have more babies to conceive.”
Liam slapped Hammer on the back and sent his friend a knowing grin. “That we do.”
“Don’t tell Raine that now,” Macen warned. “She’s liable to kill us.”
As more laughter ensued, two women who bore a striking, auburn-haired resemblance to Liam sat across the room, tapping away on their phones.
“Come, you three.” Bryn beckoned. “I want to introduce you to my own twin girls. They flew all the way from Ireland to be here for the delivery.”
Twins? That explained the double bundle Raine had just delivered.
Beck’s hand collided with Seth’s as they each slid an arm around Heavenly’s waist and nudged her after Bryn.
The PI smiled. “I remember Rosaleen and Shauna. It’s been a few years, but…”
“Oh, that’s right. You met my whole brood the Christmas we came to visit Liam in New York.”
“I did.” Seth nodded. “They haven’t changed a bit.”
“Nay. They’re still two peas in a pod.”
After exchanging introductions with the pair of fortyish, green-eyed identical twins, Heavenly made some small talk, then excused herself, hurrying back to Hammer and Liam. After a polite murmur, Beck followed, leaving Seth to reminisce with Liam’s sisters.
“Can I see Raine and the babies?” Heavenly asked. “Are they up to visitors?”
Hammer nodded. “She’s been asking to see you. And if you’ll sit with her, that would give us time to run to the cafeteria and grab breakfast.”
Heavenly looked elated. “I’d love to.”
“Great. You two want to grab a bite with us?” Liam asked him and Seth.
“No more hospital grub for me, thanks,” Beck quipped.
Seth hesitated, as if trying to decide whether to take the easy out, then he shook his head. “I already ate. Thanks.”
“All right, then.” Liam clapped Seth on the back. Giving him silent strength? “The babes are in the nursery. We’ll point them out on our way to the elevator. Then you can visit with Raine.”
A few feet down the hall, Hammer and Liam paused at a large plate-glass window. Everyone huddled around them…except Seth. He held himself back from the others. Thankfully, Heavenly was too busy smiling wistfully and eyeing the line of pink-and-blue-swaddled babies nestled in clear bassinets to notice.
Hammer raised his arm and held his wristband against the glass. After one of the nurses read his name, she smiled and nodded, then glided two bassinets—each holding a tiny pink-swaddled baby with rosy cheeks and wearing a pink-and-white-striped beanie—in front of the glass.
“Oh, my…” Heavenly pressed a hand to her chest with a quivering exhalation. “They’re…beautiful.”
The names on the bassinets told Beck which baby was which. Ciara dozed peacefully at the moment. Catronia lay awake, dragging her unfocused stare around the room, as if she was afraid she might miss something exciting.
Hammer and Liam are going to have their hands full…
“We think so,” Hammer seconded. “Of course we’re biased.”
“Congratulations, Daddies.” Beck clapped both men on the back. “You two did good.”
“Raine did all the hard work.” Hammer’s voice dripped with pride. “She really was amazing.”
“Your girl has always been a lot tougher than she looks,” Beck reminded. “After all, she puts up with you two.”
“Smart-ass.” Hammer laughed.
“Let’s go, mate.” Liam elbowed Hammer. “My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”
“What else is new?” Hammer scoffed with a grin. “We’ll be back in few.”
“Did River leave already?” Seth frowned as if he’d just registered the fact Raine’s brother wasn’t around.
Hammer nodded. “You missed him by ten minutes. He went to grab some shut-eye. I’m sure you’ll see him later.”
“Whether I want to or not,” Cooper teased. “See you all in a few.”
“We won’t be gone long,” Macen assured as he and Liam gathered Bryn and the Irish sisters, then headed out of the maternity ward.
Once they were gone, Seth stepped away from the glass and glanced down the hallway. “I need to hit the head. Did you see a bathroom nearby?”
“Down there, on the left.” Beck pointed.
“Be right back.” He disappeared down the hall.
Once Seth had gone, Beck tried to shove down his annoyance. Cooper’s avoidance of the babies was subtle but still noticeable. Instead, he brought Heavenly against his side before pressing a kiss to her temple. “They’re so tiny.”
“I know. And so beautiful.” She sighed.
Every syllable dripped with longing to bring life into the world, to be the kind of loving mother she hadn’t had. It was a kick to Beck’s balls. But he also heard more than wistfulness in her tone.
“Heavenly?” He needed to know what she was feeling.
She peered up at him, tears filling her eyes as she nibbled her bottom lip. Then she gave him a subtle nod. “I think…I get it now. Your urgency. It might be smarter to wait…but I don’t want to.”