Seth had begun to wonder the same thing. To hear his old friend echo his question was eerie. “I don’t see how. I should already be back in New York since I promised my family I’d be home for the holidays. And once I leave this godforsaken state, I’m not coming back. And you know how I feel about relationships. So I really have no business with that girl.”
Liam laughed. “Uh-huh. When did you say you’d scheduled your return flight?”
Seth had already put off making his reservation for too long. “Fuck off.”
Liam gave him a knowing smile. “You’re dragging your feet, and she’s the reason. I have a hunch about you two…”
“Are you turning into your mother now?” Seth frowned. “It’s downright scary, the way shit she says comes true.”
“I’m not following in her footsteps. Just…sometimes I get a sense of things. And I’ve got one about you two.”
“Well, worry about your own life. Doesn’t Raine need a fresh water bottle? Or some slap and tickle?”
That made Liam laugh again. “All right. I’ll fuck off for now. I reserve the right to give you shit in the future. I’m sure I owe you.”
With that, his Irish buddy headed toward Raine and Hammer with sure, jaunty steps, leaving Seth alone with his thoughts—as well as a clear path to either the front door…or to Heavenly.
He hesitated. It would be logical to return to Shadows and book a flight home tomorrow, then see what kind of good-bye action he could finagle at the club tonight. But all he wanted was to cross the patio to the pretty blonde and do his damndest to seduce her. Besides, the poor thing was sitting by herself since Raine was currently busy being happy and playing hostess. Heavenly probably didn’t know anyone else here. It would be rude to ignore her.
When he spotted a tray of champagne flutes on a nearby bar, he plucked up two and sauntered in her direction.
When he reached her side, she looked up and flashed him a cock-hardening smile. A sappy grin stretched across his face. Yeah, he was happy to see her. Seth knew it showed.
For the hundredth time, he wondered why Heavenly got under his skin. Smooth moves and banter came easily, and he usually had no problem segueing from a drink to a few kisses…to a sweaty orgasm or two. Right now, he felt tongue-tied. And unsure.
Damn, he was usually cooler than this.
“Hi, Seth.” Her voice caressed him as she gave him a sweetly dimpled smile.
For a moment, he just stared at her glossy lips, dying to know if she tasted as sweet as he’d been imagining for nearly two long weeks.
“You look…fantastic, angel.” He offered her one of the flutes, then bent to kiss her cheek. The scent of something fruity—strawberry?—coupled with a musk that was strictly her filled his nostrils. “Since you’re sitting here alone, I thought you might want some company.”
“That would be great. I was here with Dr. Beckman before he got called away for emergency surgery.”
“What a shame.” Inside, Seth mentally fist-pumped at his good luck. The night was definitely looking up.
“Yeah, I think he was looking forward to the party. He said he’d stay beside me tonight, but of course he went when duty called. He’s a dedicated surgeon and a brilliant man.”
Seth raised a brow. “I thought you didn’t work with Beck that much.”
“I don’t, but…” She blushed. “He intervened when one of the doctors kept hitting on me. Since then, he’s taken the time to spend lunch with me most every day. I really enjoy it.”
He barely managed not to scowl. Beck was pursuing a virgin? It would be hysterical if it wasn’t so fucking wrong.
“So are you two dating?” Or, god forbid, getting naked so he could bend her over his desk and plow into her?
She blinked, and her lashes swept down. “N-no. Dr. Beckman is a mentor. A friend.”
Friend? Oh, that was priceless. He had a hard dick for her, and she considered Saint Beck her role model and pal.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…
Even better, the sadistic doctor obviously hadn’t found the balls to ask her out, much less touch her. His evening was looking up.
Seth smiled. “But he left you here by yourself and…”
“Since I don’t really know anyone else except Raine and her men, I decided to sit by the pool for a bit. It’s peaceful.”
“Want me to keep you company, angel?”
“I’d love that.” She gestured to the chair beside her.
He took the seat opposite her instead. “I’d rather sit here so I can look at you. You really are gorgeous.”
Heavenly blushed again. She did it often and well, and Seth didn’t want to imagine her too jaded to give him such an innocent response.
She focused on the fluted glass of bubbly, holding the delicate stemware as though it were her anchor. “You’re flirting with me again.”
“I am.”
“Dr. Beckman said you do that with a lot of girls.”
Did he now? Asshole… “Beck doesn’t know me well, angel. He’s wrong.”
Technically, Seth wasn’t lying. Usually, he didn’t need to flirt to get laid. In dungeons, women came to him. He didn’t mingle with the fairer sex outside of BDSM. Too messy and complicated. Too…everything spending more time with Heavenly would probably be.
She suppressed a big smile. “Oh, okay. So what’s in the glass you brought me?”
Leaning forward in his chair with a grin, he dropped his voice to a low, conspiratorial whisper. “Champagne.”
“I’ve never had any.” She looked wide-eyed and excited.
“Take a drink. See if you like it,” he urged. “You’ll have something else to add to your ever-expanding repertoire of new firsts.”
A list he really wanted to add to in a meaningful way.
With a dimpled smile, she closed her eyes and took a tentative sip.
“Well?”
Her eyes flared with pleasure. “Oh, I like champagne. Smooth and sweet. The bubbles tickle my nose.”
“I
