Page 75 of Sweet Heat

“Looks like Big Brother decided to come for the fireworks,” Miller grumbles, turning off the SUV. He pins me with a stare. “I’ll come to your door. Please?”

Knowing it’s more for his own reassurance than the belief I can’t open a car door on my own, I nod. “It’s going to be fine. Probably better than fine—they love you more than me.” I try to make a joke, but it falls flat, and Miller reaches across the seat to run his thumb over my lips. Warm heat pools low in my belly, always ready and willing for my Alpha.

“No one is more loveable than you,” he growls, giving me a quick but passionate kiss. When he pulls away, I’m left breathless and barely notice as he gets out of the car and makes his way around. The door opens with a chilly blast, and as I take Miller’s hand, I can’t help but look at the ominous sky. A cold drop of liquid splats on my nose, and more fall to dot the walkway ahead, making me shiver.

“Let’s do this thing,” I say as we hustle toward the house. We’re mere steps away when the door swings open, and my mom runs outside.

“Posie. Oh, thank God!” she wails, rushing down the stairs and into the rain. Her arms are open wide, and the strain on her face makes my stomach ache. Letting go of Miller’s hand, I embrace her, shocked at the way she’s shaking. My mother has always seemed larger than life, a strict but loving presence who keeps everyone in line. Even with two big Alphas around, she’s always ruled the roost.

“Hi, Mama.” I kiss her cheek, then step back and reach for Miller, unmoored by the loss of his touch. “How was the trip?”

“It was lovely until you stopped our nightly calls. We rushed home and couldn’t find our daughter anywhere,” she sniffles. “You were supposed to be safe at home. Look what happens when we agree to more independence.”

She’s working herself up into a state, trembling and upset. The rain begins to splatter down harder; the droplets pinging on the rooftop, warning that more is on the way. I need to get her inside before the skies open up. Thankfully, Miller’s right by my side, and he uses his gentle but commanding presence to usher us toward the open door.

“I know. I’m sorry for the fright, but we have so much to tell you,” I promise as we finally enter the warm house. It’s a welcome respite from the spring rain, which quickly becomes a deluge as we close the door with a thud.

“And we all want to hear it.” Papa’s voice sounds down the hallway. Always the calmest of my parents, I know he’ll help keep everyone levelheaded. He stands near the entrance to the kitchen and gestures us forward. “Let’s go sit together at the table.”

Making quick work of our shoes, we leave them behind and slowly follow my mother. Miller’s hand warms mine, and I do my best to send calm and steady love down the bond. It feels special to be the one comforting him for once. He’s saved me so many times; there’s power in knowing that sometimes he needs me, too.

As I run my thumb over his fingers, he gradually relaxes, and his posture grows less rigid. We’re in love, and nothing my parents say or do can tear us apart.

I won’t let it.

Chapter Forty-Two

There’s so much riding on this conversation.

So fucking much. Posie’s family is a huge part of her life and mine—if they don’t accept our bond… The thought makes me want to puke.

Besides her father being my boss, her parents are like my second family, and losing them would be like living through the accident all over again. I take a few deep breaths, trying to fortify myself, to not bumble my words.

I need to make it clear that I love Posie without limitations. She’s my whole fucking world and I’ll do anything for her. Quit baseball? Absolutely. Support her dreams? Always.Protect her? With my life. Even though I may never deserve her, I’ll work every single day to try.

As we enter the kitchen, the only sound is the thundering of my heart. My palm becomes slippery with sweat, but Posie’s hand in mine is the only thing keeping me tethered. Willie glares at me, his fury palpable, and I swear you could hear a pin drop. A surge of unwavering love and support explodes down the bond, and it breaks through my worry.

Not alone.With my omega buried deep in my chest, I’ll never be alone again. And no matter what happens here, we get to leave through that front door—together. Now that we’re mated, there isn’t anything that can stop us.

“Hi, Dad. Papa,” she says, breaking the heavy silence that’s descended around us. They stare at her longingly, their eyes roaming her body, checking for injuries—and to be honest, that’s fair, given all the pictures from the festival. Jeez, some stories implied I clubbed her over the head and dragged her away against her will. “How was your vacation?”

“How was my vacation? How was my vacation?” Willie shouts, standing so abruptly that the table lurches. “Where the hell have you two been? I sent people to Miller’s apartment. I called hospitals. I even had the police check the morgue.”

What the hell?

“I’m sorry we scared you, sir,” I cut in, wanting to get straight to the point. “Didn’t Mari and Emma tell you Posie went into heat?” To be honest, I hadn’t thought to reach out to anyone. Caring for Posie had been my sole focus. But I know her friends are close to the Moores.

“They did,” he snaps, tossing a phone on the table. I’m too far away to tell for certain, but I think it’s Posie’s. “Emma showed up with her phone and said you rescued her from the carnival after she went into heat. What she didn’t say was where you took her.”

He glowers at me, the rage simmering just under the surface, and I swallow hard, trying to tamp down my rising anger. What kind of man do they think I am? What kind ofAlpha?

“I took her to my house,” I try to explain, but he cuts me off with a snarl.

“We checked your place. Banged the hell out of your door until they threatened to escort us from the building. Did you bring her to a hospital to be sedated for her heat?” His eyes drift once again over to Posie, and I see the moment when they relax just a fraction. Narrowing in on where our hands link, his brows furrow in thought. “Please tell me you didn’t take her to one of those cheap heat clinics. Anyone could have hurt her there.”

Oh, holy hell.

It dawns on me; her parents have no clue that I was the one to help her through her heat. They think I just dumped her somewhere and disappeared, leaving her to figure it out on her own.

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