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Heavenly met his infectious grin. Gosh, every time she got near the man, her heart thrummed and fluttered. And when he focused all his male attention on her, she felt so very female. The attraction scared her senseless, but that didn’t stop her from wanting more.
“You wish,” Beck said as he eased up on her other side and tossed his arm around her shoulders. “She’s here with me.”
The instant Beck touched her, another sizzle slammed through her body. Beside him, she felt delicate and precious and utterly protected. He wore a mysterious aura of power she didn’t comprehend. And, like Seth, he made her embarrassingly glad she was a woman.
Her face flamed. She’d gone almost twenty-three years without sex, and suddenly she could hardly think of anything else.
“Funny…” River shrugged. “Raine told me she invited Heavenly, who came here alone.” He turned to Dean. “She was one of the nurse volunteers in the ER the day they brought my sister in after she offed my shithole of a father.”
“I was there that day, too,” Dean said, nodding. “I’m sorry we didn’t meet then. You’re studying to become a nurse?”
She did her best to focus on the conversation, not the pair of men flanking her. “I’m in my first year, but yes.”
“Tell me about your classes.”
Heavenly did, acutely aware that she had five pairs of eyes on her. Dean listened intently. Beck looked indulgent, while Seth seemed proud. River was too busy watching their reactions to notice that Pike looked at her as if he’d like to strip her down in the middle of the party and have at her.
She backed away from his dark stare, situating herself more solidly between Beck and Seth. As the conversation turned, they all seemed interested in her recent instruction on trauma.
“Well, I’m not really sure…” She winced, remembering a recent lab. “I’m just a volunteer. I made the mistake of asking about his scar—”
“Well, shit. Who hasn’t got scars?” Pike leered at her, twitching the metal stud in his brow.
“I got shot once.” Dean lifted his shirt a bit higher than necessary. She got an eyeful of wide, muscled chest and his ridged abdomen, along with the circular scar in the shape of a bullet hole between his ribs.
“Put that shit away.” Beck rolled his eyes.
“Oh, that’s nothing.” River tugged up his shirt to reveal a whole collection of muscles—and scars that made her gasp. “I’ve been tagged and have so many holes and repairs from back-to-back tours…”
He clearly had. The chance to study a body with so many assorted injuries excited her. She peered closer. “Oh.”
“Stand down, soldier boy,” Beck growled.
“She doesn’t need to see your”—Seth waved at his abs—“stuff.”
River and Dean shared a glance, then cracked up.
“Just making conversation.” River winked.
Or so he claimed. He’d accused his sister of stirring the pot, but River seemed awfully pleased with his mischief.
“How about you fuck off, too?” Beck suggested.
Heavenly blinked. She probably shouldn’t like how possessive he sounded…but she did.
Suddenly, Liam was behind her, fresh drink in each hand. When she turned to him, he held one out to her, which was lovely. She’d lost her other somewhere along the way.
“You all right?” he asked, leading her a few steps from the group.
“Um, yes. Fine. Thank you. Your home is really lovely. I appreciate you inviting me.”
Liam studied her, and she couldn’t escape the feeling he saw straight through her. That he knew her secrets. Her heart stuttered.
That must be her nerves talking. Everyone saw what they expected to see—a young nursing student, busy juggling studies, volunteering, and work. Right? Her problems were hers to bear alone, and none of these people, even the perceptive Irishman, had any reason to suspect otherwise.
She hoped.
Finally, he nodded. “It’s our pleasure. We’re glad you could join us.”
Heavenly was relieved when Beck sidled over and took her hand, tenderly folding her against his side as he thanked Liam, who moved on to circulate around the growing party.
“Stay close to me,” Beck murmured in her ear, then glared Seth’s way. “Lots of riffraff here tonight.”
Across the yard, a band filed out onto the patio. As they set up, someone shouted that it was time to get this party started. Then tunes filled the air.
The moment the upbeat notes lit up the crowd, Seth grabbed her hand and tugged her away from Beck. “Let’s dance.”
She’d love to and she’d always wanted to, but… “I don’t know how.”
He frowned as if that didn’t compute. “Not much to it, angel.”
“Everyone will be watching.”
“I’ll guide you. Just take my hand.”
Anticipation tugged her one way, anxiety the other. But how could she live life if she never tried?
Heavenly smiled Seth’s way and nodded. When he wrapped his arm around her waist, the jolt of his touch reverberated through her. But she didn’t have time to dwell on her spontaneous reaction to him. Seth twirled her under his arm, curled a hand around her waist, and led her through a familiar song about a girl asking a guy to call her maybe. They danced through the next catchy song about everyone getting together for a good time. Soon, she was laughing—and probably stumbling more than dancing, but gosh, she was having a blast.
