The Chase

Was that the same reason Beck hadn’t told her? Had it seemed that unimportant? “What did Buddy do when he found out?”

“Same as you. He walked out the door. But I hauled his ass back and explained.” A smile lurked at the corner of her mouth. “That was some damn great make-up sex, let me tell you. We busted his bed that night.”

Heavenly found herself blushing. “So you’re divorcing Beck to marry Buddy.”

“No, honey. I’ll admit the timing works for me. But Ken is divorcing me for you.”

Heavenly’s heart stuttered to a stop before it slammed against her ribs. Her thoughts tangled like a cheap string of Christmas lights. She reared back, then reached out to steady herself. Lord, when had she gotten so dizzy?

“Heavenly?”

“I’m fine,” she lied, chugging the rest of her wine. “Just having a moment…”

“I shocked you.”

A witty reply—and a few thousand questions—rumbled through her sluggish brain. All she could manage was a mumbled “Uh-huh.”

“You look pale. When did you last eat?”

“Um…” Heavenly tried to remember. “Breakfast. Kind of. Beck and Seth made me choke down some toast.”

“Oh, shit. Cheese and crackers aren’t enough. Let’s get you some real food.” Gloria stood. “Buddy!”

He slid around the corner in his brown socks, worn jeans, and a plain tan tee. “Need something, baby?”

“Heavenly hasn’t eaten—”

“I’ll be fine. I don’t want to”—she hiccupped—“impose.”

“You’re not.” She turned to Buddy. “You hear her?”

What?

“She needs something to soak up the booze,” he agreed. “Chinese? Mexican? Burgers?”

Gloria looked her way. “Honey?”

She couldn’t imagine eating now. “Really, I’ll just drive through somewhere on the way to my motel.”

“You’re in no shape to drive anywhere now. I might have fucked half the cops and judges in this town, but even I couldn’t keep you out of jail tonight if you got pulled over for DUI, and Ken would kill me if I let that happen.”

“He doesn’t know I’m here. But I miss him. And Seth.” She frowned, her thoughts jumbled. “Why would Beck divorce you for me? Unless he’s thinking about—”

“Marrying you? Honey, mentally he’s already put a ring on your finger and knocked you up twice.”

Liam and Hammer had said something remarkably similar last month. She’d heeded them then and tried to walk away…only to fall back into Beck’s and Seth’s arms because she couldn’t help herself.

“I don’t know what to do. I feel sick.” And that wasn’t the alcohol talking.

“Aww, honey… Take a couple of deep breaths.” Gloria patted her hand, then turned to Buddy. “Burgers. Stat.”

“Back in ten.” He grabbed his keys and was out the door.

Heavenly blinked. “Afterward, I really should get to my motel. I have a reversation. A recitation. No. A res-er-vat-ion. Yeah. That.”

Gloria smothered a laugh. “Tell me where and I’ll cancel it. You’re sleeping in my guest room tonight. No arguments.”

Though she felt a little guilty, here would be much nicer than her grungy motel. “The Downtowner, but—”