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)
“It’s not important. You sure you’re okay?”
“Fine.” It was an obvious lie.
“Hmm.” Dean dissected him with a stare.
An awkward silence hung in the air. It was time to leave.
“Well, I better get going so you can rest.”
“Take care of yourself, man. If you need to talk, call me. I’ve been forced to kill more than a couple perps over the years. It never gets easier.” Sympathy and understanding filled Dean’s face.
Beck didn’t correct him. Better to let him think that killing Jed was the issue.
“Oh, and thank you. River told me how you worked on me at the lodge before I came to in the chopper,” Dean said, extending his uncasted hand.
“No thanks needed,” Beck assured with a solid shake. “I’m just glad you’re still with us.”
“Me, too, brother. Me, too.”
As Beck left the hospital and headed home, the evening traffic was surprisingly light, unlike his thoughts. Despite being worried, he was looking forward to their date night. It would be good for them all if he and Seth cuddled their girl between them.
But when the garage door opened, the PI’s SUV wasn’t there. A string of curses rolled off his tongue, but he tamped down his disappointment—until he headed inside to find Heavenly sitting on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Little girl?”
She turned and looked up at him. “You’re here. It was getting late, and I wondered if you were both going to get caught up at work.”
He could have, and before her he probably would have, but… “No. It took me a little longer to make my rounds, but there was nothing urgent, so I came home. I was looking forward to date night with you and a bowl of popcorn.”
“Me, too.” But her smile was halfhearted at best. “I’m worried about Seth. He didn’t seem like himself before he left. And he hasn’t shown up yet.”
“Has he called?”
“No.”
Her lost expression gutted him. His worry ticked up a notch.
Seth should be here to clean up his mess, but since he wasn’t, Beck wouldn’t let her mope.
They’d start date night without him.
“Well, you know what that means, don’t you?” Beck asked.
She shook her head. “What?”
“More popcorn for us.” He winked, extending his hand.
With a fragile smile, she placed her slender fingers in his palm.
Beck woke and stared at the clock on his nightstand. Four forty-three a.m. It was too damn early to be up on a Saturday morning, especially since he and Heavenly had waited until nearly midnight for Seth to come home.
Apparently, he never had.
When Beck reached beside him to bring Heavenly closer, he felt nothing but cool sheets. He sat up with a frown and flipped on the lamp. The bed was empty.
Cursing, he tossed his covers aside and vaulted to his feet. A quick glance at the alarm panel next to the bedroom door—a system Seth had insisted on—proved it was still armed. That meant Heavenly hadn’t left the house, but where was she?
After tossing on a pair of nearby shorts, he padded out of the bedroom and down the hall, peeking into the other rooms. No sign of her.
He picked up his pace as he made his way down the stairs, guided by the nightlights she had asked them to install in case she got the late-night munchies. Funny, until a couple of weeks ago, he’d lived alone and he’d thought he liked it. Now he saw evidence of the people he loved all around. When they were gone, he felt out of sorts, like his life was out of place.
It will be a fucking wreck if you can’t pull everyone together.
Beck hated that the voice in his head was right.
At the bottom of the stairs, he crept into the great room and found Heavenly on the sofa, bathed in moonlight. She wasn’t seeking an early-morning snack, but had curled up with a blanket, her head resting on a throw pillow. Silver tracks ran down her cheeks. His heart twisted.
She’d come down here—and given up her comfort—to wait for Seth. Despite his many all-night cases, she had never done that before. Clearly, she was worried.
Beck sank beside Heavenly in the shadows, bringing her sleep-soft body against him and tucking the blanket around her. Instead of cuddling up to him with a sigh, she stirred, her lashes fluttering.
“Wha…” She peered through the dark with a frown. “Beck?”
He kissed her forehead. “What are you doing down here, little girl?”
“Did I wake you up? What time is it?” She glanced back at the clock on the microwave in the kitchen. “Almost five?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, my gosh.” She sat up. “I woke up a little after three and, um…came down to get some water.”
Did she think it would hurt his feelings if she admitted she’d been worried about Seth? “And you decided to wait up for the big guy?”
She bit her lip…then gave up her subterfuge. “Yeah.”