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“Do you want any? How many?”
She sighs happily, reaching for my hand. “At least six or seven.”
I choke at that, although the thought of putting in the time to get her pregnant that many times has my cock twitching.
“I want them to have each other to rely on, and more than one other. You know?” Betsy adds quietly and immediately, I understand. She had a brother to lean on. Until she didn’t. And with her parents being only children, it left her alone in the world.
I lean down to kiss her forehead in capitulation. Who was I kidding, ever thinking I could push her away? This isn’t about me. If I get a happy ending, it’s a byproduct of seeing that Betsy gets hers. Lord knowsshedeserves it. And if Betsy wants me — then me she shall have.
“Come on, Evie reminded me that I still have some shopping to do, too. You okay if I leave you at home for a bit?”
She nods, her expression full of repressed curiosity but no reluctance. “I need to wrap your presents, anyway. Did you leave any wrapping paper?”
I stop abruptly. “I thought you gave me your presents already. Do you have more confessions?”
Betsy laughs. “No, Heath. Those were secrets, not presents, although I guess it’s nice if you think of them as a gift. I have real presents for you. Nothing fancy.” She reaches up to kiss my cheek just as the elevator doors open. My eyes meet Sam North’s blink of realization. He purses his lips thoughtfully. “Still want me to come over tomorrow?”
I nod. “Sam, this is Betsy. Betsy, Sam is our dinner guest for Christmas. Betsy and I got married a few years ago.”
Betsy beams and pats my arm with pride. “See? That gets easier with practice. Sam, it’s so nice to meet you!”
Sam wisely holds back his questions and probably a few accusations. He says all the polite things and then steps into the elevator, his face dissolving into one of glee right before the doors shut. The guys of IPDIESAC will know everything he does before dinner time.
I sigh and usher Betsy out of the building. It’s not such a bad thing. Having everyone know Bets is taken.
Betsy
I really do need to wrap Heath’s presents. I didn’t do it in advance in case airport security needed to inspect something. But I have even more important things to do first. Find that book and figure out what Evie thought I should know. I try not to push Heath out the door, but he still ends up giving me a funny look as he leaves. I wait impatiently for him to actually pull out of the driveway. Then I rush for my phone and search frantically for the title. It takes me a little while to find it. There are several with the same name, but there’s only one that sounds like Heath. I buy it and then make myself a cup of hot chocolate before opening the ebook.
The first tears fall when his idiot of a girlfriend walks away without a second glance (although I might be slightly glad about that, really.) But they keep coming when I see how he’s locked himself away from his own happiness. Focusing on others instead. Whoever wrote this knew and understood Heath well. That makes me a tiny bit jealous, but not really. I’ve got decades with him hopefully and this definitely helps explain him. Except for the part where the heroine in the story is nothing like me. Truthfully, she’s a bit vague. What we do share in common is the damsel in distress vibe. Although I hope I’m over the bulk of that by now. I’m chewing on that thought with still wet eyes when the front door opens.
Heath rushes over. “Betsy? What’s wrong? What happened?”
I giggle wetly as his hands pat me down, an awkward procedure given how I’m curled on the couch. “I’m fine, Heath. I was reading your book.”
He looks blank. “What book? I haven’t written any books.”
I flip the image on my phone over to the front cover. “This book. Your book. Evie told me about it.”
Heath grimaces. “Baby, I don’t know anything about that book, so I can’t see how Evie could say it’s about me. What exactly has you crying so hard, even if it was? My life is not that tragic.”
I shake my head in denial. “So your girlfriend didn’t walk out on you while you were in the hospital? And you went on to have other relationships before I met you?” I ask almost hopefully, but my stomach drops when Heath’s face goes flat. I kind of knew it was all true. His blank expression only confirms it.
“Heath?” I inquire softly, suddenly worried that I’ve tripped a wire I wasn’t aware of.
He sort of shakes himself and turns to close the front door. “Betsy…” he finally starts quietly. “I honestly know nothing about that book, but clearly I should. So let’s go over it together so if you have questions, I’ll explain where I can. Do you want anything to eat first?”
I shake my head anxiously. Who could eat at a time like this? Heath apparently. He goes into the kitchen and fixes himself a sandwich while I trail after him mutely. He holds up a beer with an inquiring glance and I shake my head again. He heads down the hall to his bedroom. Setting the plate and bottle on the top of his dresser, he pushes the pillows against the headboard, tugging me back when I start to sit down. I bite my lip while he settles himself after moving his snack to the nightstand. Then he’s motioning me to sit between his legs with my back against his chest.
“Don’t you dare get crumbs in my hair,” I mutter, making him grin.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Bets.” He takes a healthy bite of his sandwich and then flips my phone back to the book in question. Almost immediately, my hand stops his finger before he can slide the page over.
“Tell me about her,” I command quietly. He pauses and then sighs against my hair.
“Not much to tell, baby. I thought I loved her, but really, she was more of a habit. She never annoyed me in the slightest.”
I turn my head to glare at him. “Hey!”
