The Confession

“Yep. On the same table I ate every meal and did my homework on as a kid. Seeing some strange man bang my mother was”—he shook his head as if he hoped to shake the vision free—“traumatizing.”

“I’m sure.” She cringed. “But even so, with all those people coming to celebrate her big day, wouldn’t it give her—and us—some breathing room if we stayed at the hotel with Beck?”

While Seth digested her suggestion, Heavenly cast Beck a conspiratorial smile. Idly wondering if she was spending too much time with meddling Raine, he nodded her way.

“There’ll be plenty of room,” Beck added to sway Seth. “I booked a suite.”

Moments passed. Finally, the PI stopped frowning and slowly started nodding, as if he saw the wisdom of Heavenly’s argument.

“During the day, I’ll attend the conference, while you and Heavenly enjoy all the family things. At night, we’ll hook up in our hotel room and do all the pleasurable things.” Beck underscored his suggestion with a lascivious grin.

“I love that plan. I like doing pleasurable things with you two.” Heavenly fluttered her lashes at them.

“So do we,” Seth assured with a wolfish curl of his lips. “But I know my brothers, especially the twins. If they think they might miss out on a party in the city, they’ll want to come with us.”

“Let them.” Beck shrugged. “I’ll tell them I’m staying in a room down the hall or something.”

Seth looked surprised. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Bending the truth? I don’t love it, but I can live with it temporarily. And if they happen to go to the bathroom and see both of our electric razors on the counter, just tell them the second one is for your balls.” Beck grinned.

“And the day of the wedding?” Seth fished.

Beck shrugged. “That’s up to you, man. I can come with you as your good friend who happened to be in town or not at all—whatever you’re comfortable with. Whatever you think your mom will understand.”

“It just might work. You may not believe me, but I want you to meet my family. It’s important that they get to know you, so that, down the road, when I tell them about our relationship, they’ll understand—”

“That I’m not just some perv banging your girlfriend with you?”

“Exactly.” Seth nodded.

“If Beck happened to be in town and his conference ended that Friday, no one would question you inviting our good friend to your mom’s wedding,” Heavenly pointed out. “Plus, meeting some of your LA friends would give your family more insight about your new life.”

“That’s a good point…” Seth conceded, then pinned Beck with a stare. “Would that be okay with you?”

“Yeah. The cover story will work—for now.”

At least he’d get to attend with them and meet the PI’s family.

“That’s not exactly what I was asking.” Seth rubbed at the back of his neck. “Will you be okay not touching Heavenly at the wedding? For this to work, you can’t give her any affection. You can’t even look at her the way you normally do.”

As if he was dying to fuck her?

“To be honest, I’m not sure I could do it if the roles were reversed,” Seth admitted.

Beck did a gut check. Could he actually treat their girl as a mere friend?

You can do anything you have to, as long as it’s not forever.Gloria’s voice, along with the sage advice she’d given him years ago, echoed in Beck’s brain. Besides, the three of them had no future if they couldn’t get Seth’s family on board. The reception would probably be torture. He’d simply have to focus on their long-term good.

“I can nix the PDA for a few hours,” Beck conceded. “I don’t know if I can change the way I look at her, but I’ll do my best.”

Seth nodded. “That’s the best I can’t ask for, especially since I know I look at her the same way.”

Heavenly frowned. “Like what?”

With a low growl, Seth brushed Heavenly’s hair aside before raking his teeth down her neck. “Like I’m the Big Bad Wolf and you’re Little Red.”

She shivered beneath Seth’s sensual assault, her eyes drifting closed.