The Chase

“Give him time,” Beck tossed back, kicking off another round of chuckles.

Finally, a big Sam Elliot lookalike shadowing Gloria shut the door behind them. “Buddy Scott. Gloria’s fiancé.”

“Hi. Seth Cooper.”

“Living room is this way.” The man spoke in a gravelly voice before he led Seth through the sandstone entryway and into a spacious, elegantly subdued room. “You sure have a sweet girl. My Gloria liked her right away.”

He scanned the place. “Is Heavenly okay?”

“Obviously, you two have single-mindedness in common,” Gloria quipped as she eased onto the cream-colored sectional and crossed her ankles. “She’s sleeping. Before you see her, we should talk. Buddy, would you be a love and pour us all something to drink?”

Seth didn’t want to be rude, but he hadn’t come to socialize. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. If you’ll just point us—”

“Sit down, both of you,” Gloria interrupted. “Christ, you two are all but dripping testosterone. Why don’t you relax and breathe, for fuck’s sake? Heavenly isn’t going anywhere. No. Don’t try to intimidate me with those Dominant scowls. I’m immune. So have a drink and listen.”

Beck looked ready to lose it. “Gloria, in the last eighteen hours, we’ve buried Heavenly’s father, lost her—and our minds—then hightailed it across the desert to reach her—”

“The way I heard the story, you took her virginity together shortly before that.” The elfin redhead raised a brow.

Beck sighed. “Of course you cajoled that out of her.”

“You make me sound Machiavellian. Honestly, it wasn’t very hard. A little wine and a willing ear…”

Seth leaned over to Beck. “You didn’t tell me she was devious.”

“Now you know.” Tossing a glare Gloria’s way, Beck headed for the stairs. “I’m done chatting. Which room is she in?”

“I said, sit your ass down. You’re not going to disturb her. The poor thing is sleeping off a bottle of my best Chablis.”

“You let her drink the whole bottle?” Beck growled.

“She needed it. After everything she’s been through, be happy I didn’t give her the whole damn case.”

“Goddamn it, Gloria.” Beck turned to Buddy. “You need to beat her ass, man.”

“Why would I do that? I like her ass just the way it is.” Gloria’s fiancé grinned.

Gloria tsked. “This is why we stopped having sex, Ken. Now focus. Don’t you want to help Heavenly?”

“You know I do. And don’t bark out orders at me. I hate that shit.”

Her grin turned mischievous. “I know.”

Seth shook his head. Gloria was definitely dangerous. He was just happy she was on their side. At least she seemed to be.

Buddy frowned. “In all seriousness, when Heavenly arrived, she was an exhausted bundle of angst. That was long before the cork left the bottle. The girl needs sleep and time, just as much as you two need to take the edge off. Name your poison.”

“Whiskey, straight up,” Beck grumbled.

Since it wasn’t his house or his wife, Seth stifled a curse and sat on the padded sectional. “Make it two.”

“Better pour doubles, sugar.” Gloria sent her man an impish smile.

“Coming right up.” Buddy looked a whole lot less rough around the edges when he dropped a lingering kiss on her lips, then strolled away.

There was no denying their palpable connection.

Seth darted a sidelong glance at Beck, who seemed completely unfazed by the pair’s affection. Since it had taken him less than thirty seconds to see that Beck and Gloria’s relationship was every bit as unconventional and unromantic as the doctor had claimed, he hoped that was crystal clear to Heavenly now, too.