“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.
Shaking off the thoughts, Seth scanned his display. An LA prefix. The number was unfamiliar.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
Heavenly.
The hair on his body prickled to attention. His dick, seemingly hardwired to react to her, thickened.
How was it possible she’d spoken one syllable, and he was already aching to fuck her?
“Good to hear from you, angel.” He hadn’t been sure the bright ray of sunshine would call.
“How did you know it’s me?”
“You think I could forget your voice?”
“Um…”
Seth enjoyed rattling her, but he loved even more that she’d sought him out.
“So, I know it’s short notice…” she began nervously.
He pounced. “Tell me you’re free today.”
“This afternoon.”
Thank god. Now he could spend some time with her and figure out why the hell she fascinated him so much.
“Perfect. Any idea what you’d like to do?”
“Well, it’s a beautiful day. What if we went to the park and soaked up some sun? I know one with a great walking path. Or we could sit and talk.”
That would be great. He’d love it even more if he could have Heavenly sprawled naked under him, her peachy-porcelain skin shimmering in the sunlight. Imagining her spreading her thighs to reveal the blond down below dusting her swollen pussy was sweet mental torture that nearly had him groaning.
“What time?” he croaked out. “Give me your address. I’ll come get you.”
“I’m finishing a short shift at the hospital. If you want to swing by around twelve thirty, I’ll meet you outside the visitors’ entrance.”
“See you then, angel.”
“Bye.”
Two hours before she put him out of his misery. He would have to think fast to toss together a memorable afternoon and pick her up on time. Heavenly might think they were simply hanging out, but as far as Seth was concerned, he was planning their first date. He intended to leave a lasting impression.
Whistling, he strutted across Shadows’ parking lot and hopped into his rental, plans already forming. After stops at Williams-Sonoma and La Paloma Deli, he pulled up at the hospital as Heavenly stepped through the front entrance. The angel glowed under the vivid sunshine as if she had a halo…but her body was definitely made for sin.
Her dewy face was fresh and bare. A pink headband held back her hair, which cascaded in sunshiny waves around her breasts and flirted with the nip at her waist. He imagined wrapping his fists around it as he claimed her mouth and slid between her spread legs.
She ignored the people milling on the sidewalk and zeroed in on him. Their stares locked. Their connection slammed through him again. It didn’t let up, even when she lowered her lashes in a demure sweep.
Damn, he wanted her surrender so badly he could taste it.
His stare wandered down her body. A sheer wrap the color of her blushing cheeks, trimmed in appliqués of little white daisies, hung loosely over her shoulders. When Heavenly smiled and raised her hand to wave, the lace hem of the white tank inched up, giving him a tantalizing peek of her bare midriff above a pair of denim shorts and strappy sandals.
God, she looked both sweetly adorable and fuckable.
All too soon, she lowered her arm, concealing the glimpse of skin. Without meaning to, she flirted. Teased. And hell, that kittenish expression, coupled with the hint of cleavage… Seth let out a groan. When every drop of blood in his body rushed south, he adjusted his fly.
It was going to be a long, hard afternoon.
She bypassed pedestrians, then stopped at the curb. A black sedan conveniently pulled away, and he steered his crappy midsize rental to take its spot.
As Seth hopped out of the car, Heavenly broke into a bashful grin. Her gentle bounce of excitement was contagious.
Fuck, why was he so into this woman he barely knew?
“I didn’t keep you waiting, did I?” He wrapped her hand in both of his and smiled. He could look at her all fucking day.
“No. You’re right on time.”
“And you’re absolutely stunning. I’m glad you called. I’ve been hoping to spend time with you.”
On cue, a rosy blush stained her cheeks as she dropped her gaze to their joined hands. He crooked a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. Her eyes were big and blue. Seth felt himself drowning.
“Don’t be nervous, angel.”
She sighed. “I hate that every emotion shows on my face.”
“It’s darling, like you.”
Heavenly’s lashes swept over her cheeks again. “How am I supposed to respond when
