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He was thrilled she was already zinging one-liners back at him. “Spoken like a true smart ass.”
When she laughed, it lit him up. God, he had it bad for her.
“Well, damn. I was imagining a land of cheddar goodness. It’s a shame. That actually sounds delicious.” He winked, delighted when she laughed again. “The guys in Wisconsin must be nursing broken hearts and keeping themselves warm at night with memories of your kisses.”
“Not hardly.” The sparkle faded from her blue eyes. “Try never.”
Never…what? Been kissed? Christ, was she completely untouched? “You’re a virgin?”
Please say no. Please…
Heavenly merely bowed her head and blushed.
Definitely a virgin.
Holy fucking son of a bitch.
Beck didn’t do virgins. That was another rule of his—and it was a hard one.
Time to shuttle his crushing disappointment and take a giant goddamn step back. He’d always suspected he was too old and too cynical for her. Now he knew it. If he unleashed his desire on Heavenly, he would utterly destroy the girl.
But damn it, she was the fresh breath of air he’d needed after choking forever. Where the hell would he find the strength to walk away? And how could he when she had a predator on her tail?
“I’m sorry for putting you on the spot,” he finally murmured. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m a doctor, remember?”
“I know,” she mumbled.
“Look at me.” He spoke in the low, firm voice he used at the club.
As if unable to refuse him, she lifted her chin. His Dominant side leapt with joy. His cock swelled. And every other part of him wept.
“Your secret is safe with me. But I suspect I know why Manning won’t take no for an answer. You still have my business card, right?” When Heavenly nodded, he went on without even thinking about the hours of self-torment ahead. “Good. Text me before you go to lunch in the future. I’ll do my best to rearrange my patient load so you won’t have to deal with Manning alone. Will you do that for me?”
“Do you really think he suspects that I’m a, you know…?”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry. Give me the power to protect you, Heavenly.”
She had no idea what those words meant in his world. If she did, she’d never agree.
“Of course.”
Beck gripped the table. She’d turned herself over to him so quickly and perfectly. The hungry beast inside him wanted to gobble her up and savor every delicious morsel. He shoved it down.
“There you go, sticking your neck out for me again.”
Because I’m a jealous prick. If I can’t touch you, he won’t, either. “You’re a good person. I’d be lucky to have a friend like you.”
He’d be even luckier to have her as a lover.
Never. Ever. Stop dreaming…
“That’s the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a long time, Dr. Beckman. I think I’d be the lucky one.”
“Well, I enjoy helping people.” He tossed her own words back to her, forcing a wink.
She flashed him a watery smile that kicked him in the gut. “I feel better already, knowing I won’t have to contend with Dr. Manning alone. Thank you.” She shoved her water glass to the center of the table and eased her chair away. “I should get back to work.”
“Wait.” He slid his hand over hers. Just like every other time he’d touched her, that addictive hum razed up his arm, like the warm crawl of a morphine injection. He grasped for a reason—any reason—to prolong their conversation. The only thing he noticed was the lack of food on her table. No tray. No dirty dishes or silverware. “Have you eaten lunch already?”
“I’m not hungry. I’ve been grazing on the snack food at the nurses’ station all morning. I just came down here to get off my feet.”
Beck nodded, sliding a nonchalant stare to her threadbare shoes. These weren’t the thick-soled kind most nurses donned to cushion the impact of walking and standing all day. He made a mental note to get her new shoes…and somehow convince her to wear them.
“Then stay for a minute and tell me why cheese doesn’t grow in fields.”
“You’re so funny.” She shook her head at him.
Without further prompting, Heavenly began explaining how cheese was made. Beck didn’t tell her that he already knew. He got lost in the gentle lilt of her voice, even as he mourned the impossibility of ever being more than her friend and protector. He’d guard her from all the big, bad wolves, especially the biggest, baddest of them all—himself.
CHAPTER FIVE
On Friday, Seth felt his cell phone buzz. It wasn’t his mother or his brother, Matt, who was looking after his business back home. He’d already talked to them this morning. He half expected a call from Liam, asking him to come cheer Raine up. The good news was, the LAPD had concluded—rightly so—that she’d acted in self-defense when she had killed her father. But now she was dealing with the residual trauma—anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares. She needed her men more than ever. Liam was her pillar, supportive and unbending. But Seth already saw cracks in Hammer’s stoic facade. That worried him…but didn’t surprise him much. Protectors took their failures hard. He ought to know.
