“Bullshit?”
She flashed him a conspiratorial smile. “Exactly.”
He laughed, fascinated by her beauty, her sweetness, her charm. Her everything.
Good god, where was his man card?
“Anyway, thanks for sticking your neck out,” she murmured. “You’re protective—of Raine, the underdog, even of me. It’s really noble.”
Beck almost choked. His friends would shit themselves laughing if they could hear her. “You’re, um…welcome.”
She propped her chin on her palm and sent him a speculative stare. “And yet…I have a feeling you can be a very bad man.”
Heavenly was flirting? After saying she didn’t date? Then again, everything about her was unpracticed. She probably wasn’t even aware.
Oh, I would love to show you just how bad I can be, little girl.
“You might be right,” he replied with a sly wink.
She stared at him from under dark lashes. “Should that scare me?”
“I’d never hurt you.” Unless you begged me to.
Heavenly sighed. “I’ve never met a man like you.”
“What do you mean?” A kinky beast?
“Interesting. Witty. Thoughtful.”
“You left out charming, smart, and good-looking.”
She laughed without an ounce of reserve. “That, too.”
Beck mentally inventoried the smartass remarks in his repertoire, ready to roll more out to keep her smiling. “So where did you come from, Mars?”
“Ha! Actually, no. I’m from a tiny town in Wisconsin.” He didn’t miss the wistfulness that crossed her face. “Given the difference between LA and there? It might as well have been Mars.”
“You’re a long way from home, little girl.”
“You keep calling me that. I’m not a child, you know.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult. I’m just saying you’re…”
Young.
Inexperienced.
Unjaded.
Everything he wasn’t.
“Practically a baby and in over my head? I’ve heard that before.” She shrugged. “Age is just a number.”
She was wrong. That was a platitude the young spouted when they weren’t too cynical to know better. But Beck liked her attitude. He couldn’t wait to peel back that mysterious something about her that drew him and touch the woman underneath. Then he’d teach her about sex and pain and orgasm. About the feel of his hand on her lush backside. About the fit of his cock deep inside her pussy.
“If you say so,” he drawled. “So, I’ve never been to Wisconsin. Tell me what it’s like. I’m imagining a lot of snow and fields of cheese.”
“The snow part is true enough, but cheese doesn’t grow in fields, Dr. Beckman. And if you think I’ve been living on Mars, what planet does that make you from?”
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
