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)
“I wasn’t there to protect mine. And like you, the signs were there. I just didn’t see them.”
“Hammer, I don’t—”
“Want to deal with it? I know. But tell me what will convince you to. Are you waiting for someone who will love you more?”
“No.” Heavenly seemed to love him unconditionally, though god knew why…
“Someone who understands you better?”
“No.” Beck and Heavenly understood him too damn well, sometimes better than he understood himself.
“Someone you can truly be yourself around?”
“No.” They accepted him—warts, flaws, and foibles—and still wanted him.
“Then what the fuck are you waiting for?”
“I don’t know.” Someone to forgive me.
Hammer shook his head. “Figure it out fast. Because I’m going to tell you, if you keep waiting, they’ll move on. Raine and Liam almost did without me. If I hadn’t pulled my head out of my ass, I wouldn’t be celebrating today. And I wouldn’t be having a son.”
Seth froze. “A son?”
Somehow, Hammer’s smile turned even brighter. “Yeah. Raine just told me. We probably should have waited at least six weeks, but…yeah. She’s pregnant again, and Liam says it’s my son.”
Hammer was having a boy?
The news was a sucker punch. It left him reeling. Struggling to breathe. Bleeding.
Congratulations, Mr. Cooper. It’s a boy!
The September day that had marked the birth of his son had been one of the happiest of his life. All too soon, it had become a scar on his soul.
His eyes stung. Seth swallowed. “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“You don’t have to bullshit me when I can see you’re struggling. I understand.” Hammer cupped his shoulder.
Seth jerked away. “I told you, I’m fine.”
Hammer held his stare for an uncomfortable moment, dissecting him without a word. Then he sighed. “Whatever you say. If you decide to be honest, you know where to find me.”
“Macen?” River called, knocking on the door.
Seth launched from his chair and yanked it open. “What?”
River recoiled. “Whoa, boss. Just came to tell my brother-in-law that the caterers are serving dinner and my sister wants him at the head table pronto.” He sent Hammer a grin. “It’s another photo op, too. I know how much you love those.”
Macen groaned. “Be right there. Fucking photographer…”
“Better you than me.”
“You’ll get your turn someday, you bastard.”
River’s grin turned cheesy. “But not today…”
Hammer flipped him the bird, which made River smile even more.
Then he was gone, and Macen turned the weight of his gaze back on Seth. “Anything you want to say?”
“No.”
He sighed and rose. “Then let’s go.”
Seth couldn’t get out of his office fast enough. He pocketed the keys and envelope Hammer had given him, donned a plastic smile, and rejoined the party.
Heavenly smiled when she caught sight of him and rushed over. “They’re about to serve dinner.”
“So I heard.” He dragged a knuckle down her soft cheek because he couldn’t help himself. What would he do if he couldn’t touch her this way anymore? Even the thought nearly destroyed him. “Guess we’d better find a table.”
“Beck already snagged one. Over there.” She pointed somewhere near the happy trio.
Beck waved.
“Let’s go.” Seth took her hand and led her across the room, trying to shove down his anger and compartmentalize his fear. Instead, he focused on Heavenly, on her love and warmth, her vivacity and charm. By the time they reached their seats, he was almost calm.
Heavenly sat beside Beck, who was grinning and talking to Zach and Liam’s sisters. Seth flanked her and half listened to the conversation about the ladies’ long flight from Ireland.
“I wish Maeve could have come with us,” Aisling said. “But she recently gave birth to a new bairn—”
“A boy this time,” Meg exclaimed. “She couldn’t bear to leave him—”
“Even for her baby brother’s celebration, the silly twit.” Caitlyn rolled her eyes.
Everyone else at the table spent the meal laughing and sharing stories. Seth watched for long minutes, smiling and nodding when the conversation called for it. Mostly, Liam’s and Hammer’s words dive-bombed his brain.
“You should have seen the look on her face when we found her at the zoo,” Beck chuckled as he told them all about their elaborate version of hide-and-seek with Heavenly.
“How did you find her so quickly?” Aisling asked.
“I’m a private investigator,” Seth replied. “If I couldn’t find her, I wouldn’t be very good at my job.” Of course, the Tiffany necklace he’d given Heavenly with the embedded GPS chip helped, too.
Beck shot him a knowing smirk.
“Clearly, a bloody good one.” Liam’s sister looked impressed.
“He is.” Heavenly smiled, toying with said necklace.
Thank god she never took it off.
“He’s good at everything, isn’t he, little girl?” Beck drawled.
A blush stained her cheeks. Seth fought the urge to press his lips to hers, but he would only want more. For now, he lowered his hand beneath the table and stroked her thigh, trying not to think about anything except how good she felt.