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“Fuck,” he heard someone mutter. “One punch. Did you see that? Remind me not to piss him off.”
Point made, Seth turned and headed back the way he’d come. He was done here. He had every intention of wishing Hammer a happy birthday, then heading back to Shadows for some R and R. Unfortunately, Liam stepped in his path, halting him mid-stride.
“Wait,” the Irishman called. Seth wasn’t in any mood to linger or discuss tonight’s events, but his friend’s next words froze him in place. “Can you come here, Beck? This concerns you, too.”
Seth tamped down his impatience as the doctor drew up alongside him. They exchanged a wary glance.
“What’s up?” Beck asked.
“I’ve something to say, and I need you to listen. No butting in before I’m done, mind.”
Seth nodded. He owed one of his oldest and dearest friends a little patience after punching a guy out cold in his backyard. “I didn’t come to cause trouble.”
“I don’t give a shit about Pike,” Liam assured. “It’s Heavenly I want to talk to you about. For one so innocent, your lass is a complicated contradiction, layers upon layers. Take heed and peel her open fast. If you don’t, the looming darkness shrouding her—and getting closer by the day—may tear her away for good.”
“Huh? What’s that mean?” Beck asked.
Liam shrugged. “The message is for you two to figure out. I just convey what I know.”
Seth cocked his head. “Are you channeling your mom?”
Liam flushed a dull red. “She rubs off a bit on me, is all.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” In Seth’s estimation, if he was half as intuitive as his mother, Liam’s warning bore heeding.
“What the hell does that mean?” Beck tossed his hands in the air.
Seth didn’t fill the idiot in, just walked away. Message received. He had to earn Heavenly’s trust or he might lose her forever. No way would he let that happen. He would damn well save her from whatever trials lay ahead and make her his for good.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After making his morning rounds, Beck pushed through the double doors of the ER, anxious to take Heavenly away for some much-needed alone time.
As he turned the corner, Kathryn stood over Heavenly with a condescending sneer. “You’re a volunteer. You don’t know enough yet to think. Leave that to the nurses who have actually earned degrees.”
Beck marched toward them, jaw clenched. He was so over this shrew’s shit. Kathryn hadn’t opened Heavenly’s locker for a “prank” in the week since he and Seth had planted the surveillance camera. It was time to prod the viper into striking the way she was dying to and end this for good.
Heavenly held up her hands. “You told me to—”
“Hi.” Beck slung his arm around her waist and stroked her downy cheek. “Ready for our date, little girl?”
Kathryn gasped, nostrils flared, then tried to bite back her outrage. But he heard.
Yeah, he had the bitch’s attention…
“Um…yes.” Heavenly tensed and tried to wriggle free.
Nope. Wasn’t happening. He sent her an easy smile and snuggled the sweet ray of sunshine closer.
“Dr. Beckman, we have standards of professionalism here that don’t include PDA.” Kathryn huffed. “That should be private.”
A tremor shook Heavenly, and Beck hated knowing she was afraid of this cunt.
Hopefully not for long.
“You’re right. I know the perfect spot, and it’s not the janitor’s closet,” he quipped, then nudged Heavenly. “Let’s go.”
Indignation filled Kathryn’s face as Heavenly grabbed her backpack. “I’m more than ready.”
“Change your clothes, then we’ll head out.”
“I didn’t say you could leave early,” Kathryn protested. “I need you here.”
“Since I was determined to spend time with Heavenly, I cleared the schedule change with your boss. Bridget said yes. Now I have this girl to myself for the rest of the day.” He dropped to whisper in Heavenly’s ear, making sure Kathryn wouldn’t miss a word. “And all night.”
Kathryn’s eyes sparked with fury. A wave of palpable hostility rolled off her.
Bull’s-eye.
Heavenly gave the woman a nervous glance. “Well, um—”
“Bye, Kathryn. Don’t work too hard,” Beck tossed over his shoulder as he grabbed Heavenly’s hand and pulled her down the hall beside him until they were out of the bitch’s earshot.
“I told you I have to wait tables tonight,” Heavenly whispered furiously.
“I know.” Beck didn’t like it, but he understood. He’d worked a few odd jobs through med school, too. “But she doesn’t.”
“Why are you trying to make my time here worse?”
“Change your clothes, then we’ll get out of here. And I’ll let you in on a secret,” he promised with a squeeze of reassurance.
She sighed but complied, slipping into the ladies’ room. He waited outside until she emerged again, wearing a little bohemian sundress in an easy-breezy white with a band of lace around her waist that played peekaboo with the bare skin beneath and a handkerchief hem that flirted with her thighs. His eyes almost popped from his head. His mouth watered. His erection sprang to life instantly.
