“I don’t know how Gloria keeps these vampire hours.” Buddy shook his head, obviously trying to clear it. “Maybe she should retire.”
“Good luck convincing her of that.”
“I think I know how.” He took a long sip of coffee and even longer to swallow it down. Finally, Buddy raised his head. “I’d like to marry your wife.”
“Well, she’ll need to be my ex-wife first, but…we’re going to work on that. Have you asked her yet?”
“No. I figured I should talk to you first since…”
“I’m technically her husband?” Beck couldn’t help but grin. “We sound fucked up.”
“Yeah.”
He clapped Buddy on the shoulder. “Go get her, man. But you better make her happy or I’ll have to hurt you.”
Gloria’s boyfriend laughed. “I got it. Thanks.”
Twenty minutes later, the groom-to-be helped Gloria into a kitchen chair. She thanked him with a smile and a kiss. Beck sat across from the lovebirds.
“Ken, I really appreciate you dropping everything to take care of me. But you’ve been here for two weeks, and I’m feeling much better.”
“It’s no problem. I’d do anything for you.”
“I know. And you mean the world to me, but…Buddy and I want some alone time. And, well, you’re cramping our style.”
Beck raised a brow. “You’re kicking me out?”
“Think of it as me letting you get back to your life. To Heavenly.”
“Uh-huh. You just want to fuck Buddy’s brains out.”
“Yep.” She grinned.
Buddy choked on his steak, then tried to recover. “I’ll take good care of her, now that she’ll let me. I popped the question a few minutes ago and she said yes.”
Gloria flashed a modest engagement solitaire and a beaming smile.
“Congratulations!” Beck hugged Gloria, then clapped Buddy on the shoulder.
“Thanks,” the other man continued. “I’ll be moving in with Gloria. And I’m going to take her to the ‘office’ with me tomorrow night. Her girls are missing her something fierce.”
“Don’t scowl at me, Ken.” Gloria shook her finger. “There’s a bed in my apartment. I can convalesce there as easily as I can here. But you need to worry about your own problems. I’ve kept you from your job, your life, and your girl long enough.”
“I wanted to ensure you got the best medical care. And I knew I’d have to stand over you to make your stubborn ass follow doctor’s orders.”
“Stubborn?”
“I know you too well.”
“True. I’m glad we got everything straightened out. After dinner, you can pack your shit and go back to LA so Buddy and I can get naked.”
Beck pinned the other man with a pointed stare. “You sure you know what you’re getting yourself into with her?”
Buddy settled a delighted smile on Gloria. “I do.”
After dinner, Beck packed, then paused in the doorway, duffel in hand. “I’m leaving. No going to the grocery store alone anymore, all right?”
“You got it,” she promised.
“I’ll make sure of that.” A beaming Buddy slung his arm around Gloria’s shoulder. “Now go home and get your own girl.”
December 22
Seven weeks earlier
Seth flew all night to reach home, getting zero rest on the plane. Every time he shut his eyes, he saw Heavenly’s last forlorn glance.
He’d begun yesterday full of hope that he would finally have her. Today, he was three thousand miles away, greeted by a New York sunrise shrouded in gray drizzle.
When he stepped off the plane, festive wreaths, lights, and bells filled the terminal, assaulting him with holiday cheer. Sighing tiredly, he made his way to baggage claim, expecting to find his brother waiting to chauffeur him to the Cooper family house for a big, loud, probably white Christmas. Instead, he saw his mother…but not as he remembered her.
The gray streaks were gone from her dark hair. So was her usual messy bun. Suddenly, it was shoulder length and styled into loose feminine curls. Even her clothes looked more fashionable and flattering. The change startled him. Then again, at fifty-three, his mother was still a beautiful woman.
“Hi, Mom. Wow, you look great.” Seth hugged her as she rushed to greet him.
“Thanks. I decided to spruce up a bit for the holidays.”
It was more than a mere sprucing. She looked ten years younger. “Um, I thought Danny was picking me up. Is everything all right with Maggie and the baby?”
“Fine. The baby hasn’t come yet. I thought you’d be happy to see me. We haven’t been apart this long since I sent you away to that summer camp you hated when you were thirteen. But if you didn’t miss me, I can turn around and go home.”
“Sorry. Of course I missed you. It was just a long, sleepless flight.” He frowned. “You shouldn’t be driving in this crappy weather.”
“Pfft. I drove you boys to every sport in creation on slick streets for years. You have any other luggage?” She frowned at his duffel.
“Nope.”
“Then let’s go. Traffic is going to be terrible.” She threaded her arm through his. “It’s good to have you home.”