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I dropped my head back and groaned, “Oh God.”
“Wh-wh-what?” Merit asked, clearing her throat.
“So what? It’s our house,” Dirk responded.
Avery’s mouth opened at the same time Merit hit Dirk on the arm.
“What? It is our house, and if we want to have sex in my office, we will.” He narrowed his eyes at Avery. “What were you doing at my office door?”
Her eyes widened. “The door was left open. And I didn’t see anything. I came home to change from work before I went to Aunt Kaylee and Uncle Ty’s, to meet up with Beck. I went looking for you to say goodbye and heard a noise coming from the office, so I went to investigate—but don’t worry, that will never happen again!”
Merit buried her face in her hands and groaned. Then she suddenly dropped her hands into her lap and glared at Dirk. “I told you we shouldn’t have done it in your office.”
“We always do it in my office when the mood strikes.”
I started to excuse myself, but Dirk and Merit both told me to sit back down. I quickly did.
“If you would have been a little bit quieter—”
“Me?” Merit shrieked.
“Actually, I think it was you whom I heard first, Dad.”
I kicked Avery under the table, and when she looked at me, I mouthed not helping.
Dirk leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m not going to apologize for having a healthy sex life with my wife.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “I think it’s wonderful you’re both still in love and still…still…”
“Getting it on in my office on the desk?” Dirk asked.
Avery gagged a little, as Merit told Dirk to shut up.
“I’m going to get more wine,” I said, standing again.
“Do you think it’s wrong, Beck?” Dirk asked.
I froze, and mentally prayed I hadn’t heard what I thought I did.
“Dad, are you seriously asking him if he thinks it’s okay for you and Mom to have sex in your office during the day, when anyone could walk in?”
“Listen here, squirt. Your mother and I are used to living alone, and we thought you were at work.”
Carefully taking a step back, I calculated I only had about five more to go before I could escape.
“Beck. Are you going to answer me?” Dirk asked.
When I looked at him, I saw the glint in his eyes. He was enjoying this. At least the part about pulling my chain.
So…two could play that game.
I told him, “I agree. You should be able to make love to your wife anytime you want in the privacy of your own home—just like Avery should be able to have her own privacy.”
“Oh, Beck,” Merit whispered. “You should probably go get that wine…quickly.”
Dirk stood. “What are you saying, Dahlstrom?”
I shrugged. “Are we really going to pretend that you don’t know Avery and I are—”
“Beck!” Merit and Avery both yelled, as they also stood.
Dirk drew in a deep breath and was about to say something when my cell phone rang. I quickly pulled it out, deciding I was going to answer it no matter who it was. Unfortunately, I wish I’d looked first, so I wouldn’t have been so caught off guard.
“Hello?”
“Beck?”
“Rachel?”
The moment I said her name, I saw Avery’s head jerk back. I hadn’t told her the whole story about Rachel, but I’d mentioned her briefly.
Lowering my voice and turning away from everyone, I asked, “Why are you calling me?”
“Beck, you need to come home. It’s your grandfather. He’s had a heart attack.”
“What? When? Is he okay?”
“It was earlier this morning. When I got the call, I rushed to the hospital and was informed that no one could reach Kelsey.”
Fear and anger mixed together in my gut. “What? My grandfather had a heart attack and no one thought to call me?”
Rachel cleared her throat. “You left your business cell at the office, Beck. Not everyone has this number.”
Looking back at three sets of eyes staring at me, I tried to ignore the way my heart was suddenly racing.
“Um…okay. I need to get a flight booked. I’ll head back as soon as I can.”
Avery was instantly by my side, taking my hand and leading me out of the kitchen and through the house.
“Do you want me to book it?” Rachel asked.
Avery motioned for me to sit on the sofa. “If you don’t mind. I have to fly out of Missoula. I’ll need to drive up there. It takes, um…” I looked at Avery.
“About an hour, give or take a few minutes,” she answered.
“I need at least an hour of drive time to get there. I have to turn in the rental, and…and pack.”
“It’s okay, Beck. I’ll get you booked. Will you be okay to drive up there alone?”
Nodding, I dropped my head and grabbed my neck. “Yeah. I’ll see you when I get there.”
I hit End and stood. “I’m sorry, Avery, I need to get back to Dallas. My grandfather had a heart attack. I need to get to him. We left things kind of bad this morning, and I…”
