Page 69 of The Don's Secret Heir

I frown. Beth is acting strangely. Maybe she went home with that guy the other night and she’s afraid to tell me.

“Yeah? Is that okay? He said he’d spring for a hotel but I thought?—”

“Of course it’s okay!” Her voice sounds brighter, but I’m not sure if she’s exaggerating for my benefit or not. “Come on over. Are you bringing Sonny?”

“Yes!” Sonny yells from the backseat and Beth chuckles, sounding more like her old self.

“If you’re absolutely sure it's okay..." I hedge.

“Yeah. It's fine. I was just surprised, that’s all. It’s the middle of the week. Weird time to have a meet.”

Beth sounds almost suspicious, but I guess she’s always like that about Dario.

Sonny and I arrive without incident and he instantly goes to the box of toys that I keep over at Beth’s place.

She’s helped me take care of Sonny since he was a newborn, and so naturally some of his stuff migrated over to her place.

“Told him we’d have a movie night. Something Disney and some popcorn.”

“He does love the popcorn maker,” she agrees as she leads me into the kitchen. ”Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?”

I shake my head. “I just had breakfast. Made pancakes with Sonny like Papa and I used to do.”

She smiles at me, taking my hand and squeezing it.

“I’m sure he’d be proud you’re keeping the tradition alive.”

Tears burn at the backs of my eyes again, but I don’t want to cry today.

“So,” I tease. “Did you end up going home with that guy?"

“What guy?” Her face is blank.

I huff out a breath. “Hello? The guy you were dancing with all night?”

She flushes a deep red, almost purple. “Oh. Well... no, I didn’t go home with him. But I did kiss him.”

I gasp. “Youwhat?”

Beth isn’t like me. She’s always been in the life but she’sneverdated a mobster. She’s never dated... anyone, now that I thinkabout it. Beth very well might be a virgin. It’s just not something she talks about.

She hides her face with one hand, peeking through her fingers.

“I know, it’s so bad! But he was so nice, and you know nobody ever asks me to dance...”

I frown. “You get hit on all the time.”

“Yeah, right," Beth scoffs. "You're the one all the guys want, Liana. You’re the pretty one.”

I frown deeper. “Don't say mean things about my best friend. You’re beautiful.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Beth mutters. I can’t help noticing she’s in a strange mood tonight.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Of course,” she says dismissively, making herself a cup of coffee. “Just have a little work to get done, mind if I hole up in the bedroom for a while?”

“Sure, just pretend we’re not here.”