She sent him a regretful shake of her head. “I saw the expression in your eyes, the anger on your face…”
“I’m not going to lie, watching you kiss him back stung. You’ve been open about your feelings. But seeing the heat between you two was…an eye-opener.”
Actually, it convinced him he’d been tiptoeing around his blazing attraction to Heavenly for too long.
“I’m sorr—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips, wishing his mouth covered them instead. “Don’t apologize for caring about people. Your big heart is one of the reasons I find you so fascinating.”
“You have a big heart, too, you know.”
Beck shook his head in denial, then delved into her big blue eyes and gathered all his courage to ask the question screaming through his head. “I just need to know if your feelings for me are as strong.”
Heavenly didn’t hesitate. “Every bit. That’s why I’m so confused.”
Her answer didn’t surprise him. “I’m sure you are.”
“When I’m with either of you, I have the best time. Since I saw how upset you were after Seth kissed me, I’ve been telling myself that I have to choose. I can’t keep hurting either of you. But I don’t know how to do it.”
At the guilt in her tone, he cupped her cheek. “I don’t want you agonizing over this right now.”
“I can’t help it. I hate the thought that either of you might think I’m playing some sort of game.”
“I don’t. What you’re feeling isn’t right or wrong; it just is. The choice will become clear to you—in time. It might come faster if you stop trying to force yourself to decide.”
“I’ll try.” Heavenly sounded somewhere between unconvinced and dejected.
“Do your best.” He sent her a tender smile. “I need to ask one more thing: When Seth took you inside after he kissed you, did he talk to you, try to calm you down?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” Maybe I won’t have to kill him, after all.
Of course, after watching the PI knock Pike out with one punch, Beck wondered if he could possibly win a fistfight against his rival…
Heavenly’s stomach growled, interrupting his thoughts. “Did you skip breakfast?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“Come with me. Time for lunch.” He took her hand, and they headed back to his car.
Finally, he was going to kiss her. Not in the parking lot. Not with cars whizzing past them on PCH. But he had a plan—one that guaranteed no one but him would lay eyes on Heavenly when she first felt his touch.
A few blocks away, he parked in front of an Italian hole-in-the-wall he frequented. He opened the door for Heavenly, watching as she stepped inside and took in the quaint interior with its rustic chandeliers, plastered walls, and checkered tablecloths, all offset by the little white lights gleaming off the stained concrete floors. A few diners were already here, come early to beat the lunch rush. More would be filing in soon.
“It’s not fancy, but the food is amazing. One day, all the ravioli and spumoni is going to catch up with me.” He patted his stomach.
She smiled at him. “If you brought me here, I’m sure the food is great. But the company is even better, and that’s why I’m here.”
“Aw, now you’re going to make me blush.”
“I doubt I could. Somehow, I get the feeling you’ve seen it all.”
And done it, too. But she didn’t need to know that.
“You come here a lot?” Heavenly asked.
Before he could answer, Angelo, an older man with a big belly and thinning silver hair, hurried their way. “Good to see you again, Dr. Beckman.” He shook Beck’s hand enthusiastically and sent Heavenly a welcoming smile. “Your table is ready. I don’t take lunch reservations, but for you, I made an exception. Now I know why you insisted.”
“Angelo, this is Heavenly.”
He took her hand between his, soft and spotted with age. “A lovely name for a lovely woman.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. The doctor has been coming here for years, and I always think he should not come alone. Yet he always does. So today, we celebrate.”
Shit, if that didn’t make him sound lonely and desperate.
Heavenly turned to him with shock in her bright smile. “If I’m the first person you’ve brought here, coming here is even more special to me.”
That seemed to delight Angelo. “Follow me. I will show you to your table and bring your wine while you decide what you’d like to feast on today.”
Beck already knew; he wanted to feast on the gorgeous little girl at his side.
When they passed through the dining room and reached the cozy alcove tucked in a private hallway off the back of the kitchen, he motioned Heavenly into the lone booth. Beck slid in beside her as Angelo handed them each menus and left.
“We really are alone.” She glanced around, seemingly surprised not to see a single soul.
Beck smiled. “Tell me what you’re hungry for.”
Heavenly studied the menu. “What’s good?”
“Everything.” When she flipped a page, then another, followed by another still and frowned, he cut in. “Do you want me to order your lunch?”
“Please.”
After Angelo reappeared with a bottle of red wine and poured them each a glass, Beck ordered. Then the old man hurried away with a wink.
Finally, he and Heavenly were alone.
Beck handed her a glass of vino. As he raised his own, he studied her rosy lips. She licked them nervously.
Fuck, he’d fantasized about today a million times.
“Remember when I told you we were more than friends?” He slid a knuckle down her cheek.
Heavenly nodded shyly. “That made me happy. I thought for so long that my feelings were one-sided.”
“Not at all. I don’t merely like you.” He leaned closer, took her hand. “You intrigue me. I want you and I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve pursued you more than
