Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Hudson’s expression turned downright disbelieving. “You’re making that shit up!”
“He’s not,” Seth promised. “But…maybe you shouldn’t mention that to your mom just yet.”
“Or the fact you’re in a threesome?” Hudson raised a brow.
Seth winced. “Yeah. Don’t mention that yet, either.”
“Probably wise.” Heavenly laughed.
“So…I heard you tell my mom that he’s a doctor,” Hudson said.
“A vascular surgeon,” Beck verified.
“How the hell did you go from running away to banging hookers to getting an MD?”
Beck flashed him a devilish grin. “Private school.”
They all laughed again before Hudson shook his head, eyes narrowed. “That’s not bullshit?”
“No. But it was a lifetime ago. Now I devote my life to patching up patients. That makes me happy. So does being here with Heavenly and your dad.”
“Damn… So how did you three actually meet?” Hudson looked curious. “I mean, your whole situation seems…complicated.”
“It is, but less now than it used to be,” Heavenly replied. “I met them at the hospital where I volunteer. On my first day, I’d been walking in circles for fifteen minutes, and Beck helped me. He offered to be my friend.”
Hudson scoffed. “You believed him? Didn’t you know that’s code for ‘I want to get in your panties?’”
Clearly, the kid was less naive than she’d been.
She sent him a self-deprecating smile. “I know that now… And Seth was with friends in the ER waiting room.”
“Why didn’t you just pick one over the other? I mean, I’ll bet the sex is off the chain, but—”
“That’s not why. I tried to choose, but you wouldn’t believe the lengths they each went to win my heart.”
“And get in your panties,” Beck drawled.
Seth grinned. “That, too.”
She slapped each of them on the shoulder. “Behave!”
“Why start now?” Beck winked.
“So how did you end up with both of them?”
Seth’s expression grew serious. “Neither Beck nor I knew this, but Heavenly was half starving, and she was about to be homeless. Her landlord was demanding sexual favors instead of rent. We intervened.”
Hudson scowled. “You beat the shit out of him?”
Heavenly flattened a smile. The kid really had no idea just how much like his father he was, even down to the protective streak.
“Let’s just say I broke my Hippocratic oath that day, and now the son of a bitch eats through a straw,” Beck drawled. “In prison.”
“Good.” Hudson clearly approved. “He sounds like a dirt bag.”
“He was awful. Every time I talked to him, I got the heebies. But that place was all I could afford.”
“She didn’t tell either of us how bad her problems were, but when we finally realized, we stopped fighting each other and started taking care of her—together.”
“And here we are.” Heavenly reached for both men’s hands. “It all worked out for the best.”
They finished dinner with more good-natured banter and jokes. Heavenly had to admit that having Hudson here was far less awkward than she’d thought it would be. Certainly, more natural than it had felt even thirty minutes ago. He fit right in, and honestly, she didn’t hate the idea of having another person to nurture, especially one who needed it so much.
Once they’d finished eating, they all rose. Seth looked at Hudson. “Help us clear the table and load the dishwasher.”
“All right.” Hudson didn’t sound thrilled, but he didn’t argue.
As far as Heavenly was concerned, that was progress.
They worked together, and she watched the easy way Seth and Hudson moved around each other. Their bond was tentative but growing almost before her eyes.
When the kitchen was clean, Seth sidled up to his son and bumped his shoulder. “Want to watch a movie?”
“Nah. I’m going to go to my room and chill, if that’s cool. I’ve talked more today than I have in the last month.”
“No sweat,” Seth told him. “Set your alarm for six-thirty.”
Hudson frowned. “In the morning? What the fuck for?”
“Starting tomorrow, we’re working out together. Meet me in the home gym.”
The kid froze. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you some kind of sadist?”
“No, that’s my role,” Beck bantered with a sarcastic wave.
Hudson didn’t answer right away. “I’m not even going to ask.”
“Better if you don’t,” Heavenly whispered.
“He’s not kidding.” Seth crossed his arms over his chest.
“Okay, then.” The kid stepped back, hands raised in jest. “I’ll just try not to think about the fact that I’m living with someone who gets off causing pain.”
“He’s harmless,” Heavenly assured, but when Beck raised a challenging brow, she added, “Well, mostly.”
“Nifty. You all have a good night. I’ll…see you in the morning.”
“If you need anything, just let us know,” Heavenly called to his retreating back.
“Yeah. Thanks.” Hudson paused at the top of the stairs, turning serious. “And thanks for…you know. Letting me stay.”
“You’re family,” Seth said simply.
After Hudson nodded thoughtfully and disappeared downstairs, Heavenly followed Seth out to the back patio. Beck joined them. The warm evening air enveloped them as the guys settled into the outdoor sofa, pulling her between them.