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“It’s freezing!”
Yeah, that had surprised him the first time, too. “So you don’t want to go for a swim today?”
“Oh, gosh no.”
He laughed, loving that, like their trip to Disneyland, he could feel the newness of this experience through her. “How about a leisurely walk, then?”
“I’d love that. I’m not ready to stop looking at the ocean. It’s just…” She sighed. “Wow.”
A companionable silence settled between them as they strolled down the beach. Heavenly finally stopped ping-ponging her gaze between the massive homes and the ocean waves to smile up at him. “Thank you for stopping here. It’s beautiful.”
“And today, I’m letting you keep both feet on the ground.”
“I’m really happy about that.”
“Yeah? Well, I brought a barf bag in case you need to—”
“Oh, hush,” she chided, slapping at his shoulder.
Beck led her to a jutting stone rising out of the sand. “We need to talk about Hammer’s party, little girl.”
Her face clouded over. “I’d rather not. Besides, we’ve eaten lunch together this past week and you haven’t said a word. Why bring it up now?”
“I respect your privacy. I wasn’t going to discuss it in the cafeteria, where Kathryn or anyone else could overhear.” He pinned her with a serious stare.
“Thank you.”
“But I haven’t said everything I need to.” Beck hooked his finger under her chin and locked their gazes together. “I’m going to now.”
“I swear, I wasn’t trying to shove it in your face. I’d never been kissed and I-I lost my head. I stopped thinking. And I feel terrible about it.”
“I told you I’m not mad at you. Of course you were caught up. It was a completely new experience for you.” Cocksucking Seth, on the other hand, damn well knew better and he’d just kept coming at Heavenly with every seductive weapon in his arsenal. “After all the time we’ve spent together, I know you’d never intentionally hurt me.”
She sent him a regretful shake of her head. “I saw the expression in your eyes, the anger on your face…”
“I’m not going to lie, watching you kiss him back stung. You’ve been open about your feelings. But seeing the heat between you two was…an eye-opener.”
Actually, it convinced him he’d been tiptoeing around his blazing attraction to Heavenly for too long.
“I’m sorr—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips, wishing his mouth covered them instead. “Don’t apologize for caring about people. Your big heart is one of the reasons I find you so fascinating.”
“You have a big heart, too, you know.”
Beck shook his head in denial, then delved into her big blue eyes and gathered all his courage to ask the question screaming through his head. “I just need to know if your feelings for me are as strong.”
Heavenly didn’t hesitate. “Every bit. That’s why I’m so confused.”
Her answer didn’t surprise him. “I’m sure you are.”
“When I’m with either of you, I have the best time. Since I saw how upset you were after Seth kissed me, I’ve been telling myself that I have to choose. I can’t keep hurting either of you. But I don’t know how to do it.”
At the guilt in her tone, he cupped her cheek. “I don’t want you agonizing over this right now.”
“I can’t help it. I hate the thought that either of you might think I’m playing some sort of game.”
“I don’t. What you’re feeling isn’t right or wrong; it just is. The choice will become clear to you—in time. It might come faster if you stop trying to force yourself to decide.”
“I’ll try.” Heavenly sounded somewhere between unconvinced and dejected.
“Do your best.” He sent her a tender smile. “I need to ask one more thing: When Seth took you inside after he kissed you, did he talk to you, try to calm you down?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” Maybe I won’t have to kill him, after all.
Of course, after watching the PI knock Pike out with one punch, Beck wondered if he could possibly win a fistfight against his rival…
Heavenly’s stomach growled, interrupting his thoughts. “Did you skip breakfast?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“Come with me. Time for lunch.” He took her hand, and they headed back to his car.
Finally, he was going to kiss her. Not in the parking lot. Not with cars whizzing past them on PCH. But he had a plan—one that guaranteed no one but him would lay eyes on Heavenly when she first felt his touch.
A few blocks away, he parked in front of an Italian hole-in-the-wall he frequented. He opened the door for Heavenly, watching as she stepped inside and took in the quaint interior with its rustic chandeliers, plastered walls, and checkered tablecloths, all offset by the little white lights gleaming off the stained concrete floors. A few diners were already here, come early to beat the lunch rush. More would be filing in soon.
“It’s not fancy, but the food is amazing. One day, all the ravioli and spumoni is going to catch up with me.” He patted his stomach.
