Her Adoring SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 3) by Caitlyn O'Leary Page B

looked at her sister.  She was crying.  Then she realized she’d actually said all of it out loud.
    “Ahhh, Lydia, I never meant to tell you.”  Lydia grasped her shoulders and pulled her close.  She was shaking.
    “Oh baby girl.  I’m sorry, so sorry.”
    She pulled the afghan from the back of the couch and wrapped it around Beth’s shoulders. 
    “I don’t understand.  Why didn’t you tell Mama or Papa?”  Lydia seemed to shimmer in front of her. She shook her head.
    “Tell me.  I want to understand.”
    “You were off at University.  I spent so much time at the office with Papa.  The Guzman’s work was almost all of his business,” Beth whispered.  “He wouldn’t have a business without them.” 
    “It wouldn’t have mattered.  You know that.  You have to have known that.”
    Beth clutched the blanket tighter trying to control the shivers.  She remembered back to that time.  Remembered pushing herself up off the floor, and somehow making it to the little restroom.  She’d cleaned up and gone back to filing.  She’d hidden it away in a box and most times it never entered her consciousness.  But still it had loomed large.  She’d changed everything about her life.  School had scared her.  She could only handle small gatherings.  She took stairs instead of elevators to avoid closed in spaces with men.  From that day forward she’d lived a different life.
    “It wasn’t important, I managed.”
    “Dammit.  I should’ve seen this.  There were signs.  There were so many things going on in this family I should’ve seen if I wasn’t so focused on my own goals.”  Lydia sounded furious.  Beth reached out to pat her hand.
    “Lydia, it’s okay.”
    “Oh honey, I don’t need your reassurance.”  Lydia saw Beth’s hand was trembling.  “Hold on a second, I want to get you something warm to drink.”
    “I’m not thirsty.”
    “You need to keep your strength up, and I want to talk to you about something else.  We’re going to finally clear the air once and for all.”
    Beth had no idea what she was talking about, but she sat there while Lydia went in the kitchen.  Beth heard her rustling around but she wasn’t really paying much attention.  She was glad her father was finally trying his best to bring the monster’s father to justice.  Hopefully when he testified in the next few days they’d find evidence against Berto and he’d go to prison. 
    “Here honey, drink this.”
    Lydia wrapped Beth’s hands around a warm mug.  Inhaling the scent of chocolate and cinnamon made Beth smile.
    “You used Mama’s recipe.”
    “Of course.”
    Beth sipped her cocoa, and rested against Lydia as she sat beside her on the sofa.  They sat that way until she finished her drink.
    “Did you ever tell your counselor about this?”
    “Hmm?  No, we just talked about the cabin.”
    “You were letting Jack touch you again today.  I’ve seen him with his arm around you.  Has he kissed you?”  Beth’s cheeks heated and it wasn’t from the hot chocolate.
    “Why are you asking me?”
    “Because all things considered it’s a fucking miracle.  Now answer the question.  Have you let the man kiss you?”
    “Yes.”
    Lydia plucked the mug out of her hands, put it on the floor, and flung her arms around Beth crying out with joy.  Beth hugged her back.  It felt so good for someone else to finally know everything. 
    “Tell me about him.”
    “He’s wonderful.  He’s so patient and so kind.  He seems to know what I need even when I don’t know.  I feel safe with him.”
    “He’s damn good to look at too.”
    “I hadn’t noticed,” Beth said primly and both women laughed.  When they finally caught their breath, Lydia continued her questioning.
    “How far have these kisses gone?”
    “I freeze.  It’s so unfair to him.  I’ve told him we have to stop.  As soon as this whole mess is over with I’m going to insist he leave me alone.  He needs a real