She was out.
“You know my answer,” he said impatiently, shouldering his way past her.
“Your ‘rule’ about not dating co-workers again?” She followed, lower lip stuck out in a pout.
Her childish expression didn’t do anything to soften his resolve, just his cock.
“Yes.” He sighed. “Glad you remembered this time.”
“I was hoping you’d changed your mind. Our conversations have been so meaningful.”
The ones in which she’d chased him between surgeries and his office while he’d done his best to be civil but distant?
“You think so?” He raised a brow at her, which usually made savvy subs stammer and back down.
Once again, Kathryn proved she was neither submissive nor smart.
“I do. I want to tell you a secret.” She leaned in. “I have a rule, too. I don’t sleep with a guy on the first date.”
Oh, so you and Dr. Manning were having your second date when you fucked him in the janitor’s closet. Got it.
Slipping her hand into the pocket of his lab coat, she whispered, “But I’d bend that for you.”
Usually, he encouraged a woman begging, but he was willing to get down on his knees to shut Kathryn up.
Beck brushed past her again. “That’s not going to happen. I’m late. Excuse me.”
Kathryn chased after him. “I know you’re busy. But I won’t give up on you.”
Yeah, he’d already figured that out, just like he knew she pursued him because she wanted bragging rights as the first of the hospital’s slut squad to bag and tag him.
Not in this lifetime.
Determined to escape, he ducked into an empty elevator and smirked as the doors shut in her face.
As he descended to the lower level so he could escape to the parking garage, he sighed in relief and eased a hand in his pocket. What the hell had she shoved in there? Phone number? Naughty note? Naked picture of her tits?
He felt something silky.
Frowning, he pulled the scrap free. A pair of her panties. Given how warm the slinky black satin was, Kathryn had been wearing them moments before slipping them into his pocket.
He fought not to puke as he pinched the waistband between his thumb and forefinger and ducked into the first empty lab on his left. When he flipped on the light with his elbow, he spotted a red bin on his right marked BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE.
Perfect.
With a shudder, Beck disposed of Kathryn’s unmentionables, then scrubbed his hands raw in the nearby sink.
What would it take to make the delusional psycho back off?
Shaking his head, he shoved his way out of the lab and headed for his car. If he didn’t leave fast, Kathryn would catch up to him again. No idea what other blatant shit she’d pull to get his attention—and he’d rather not find out.
As he marched around a corner, he accidentally plowed into a soft, feminine figure in pink scrubs. On impact, the little blonde gasped and stumbled.
He managed to grab her by the shoulders before she tumbled to the linoleum. “I’m sorry, miss. I…”
She raised fluttering lashes to him. Beck locked stares with the most startlingly blue eyes he’d ever seen. His train of thought fell off a cliff and died. Electricity sizzled through his veins. His heart chugged and pumped. Every muscle tensed. The hungry length between his legs roared to life with an urgency he hadn’t felt in forever.
Who. Was. She?
He had no idea, but fuck… Peachy pale skin. Lush mouth. Cheeks flushing rosier with every moment he stared. And painfully young.
“I-I’m the one who’s sorry. I was turned around and not watching where I was going, Doctor…” She dropped her gaze to the name stitched on his lab coat, then quickly backed out of his grip. “Oh, you’re Dr. Beckman?”
Suddenly, she looked intimidated. So, his exacting reputation had preceded him. She was probably wondering how the hell to get out of his path. He was already trying to figure out how to get her into bed.
“We haven’t met before.” He damn well would have remembered her. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Heavenly. Heavenly Young.”
The name certainly fit—and underscored every reason he’d be terrible for her. Unfortunately, that didn’t quash the growing problem in his pants, stretching and scraping against his zipper.
“Nice to meet you. You’re new here?”
She nodded. “I’m going to nursing school online and volunteering for class credit. Today was my orientation.”
“And you’ve already heard of me?”
She nodded again, her gaze dipping to the floor. The action was so naturally, unconsciously submissive Beck shoved down the urge to hook a finger under her chin and lift her gaze to his. This one would scare easily. He had no business thinking about her as anything other than a medical professional in training. Unfortunately, he still wanted to fuck her breathless.
Because he was stupid, Beck bent closer and inhaled her scent. Jesus, she smelled wholesome, like summer berries, humid breezes, and a thousand other sweet things he couldn’t name. His knees nearly gave out. His cock jerked as if she’d stroked it.
“Don’t believe everything you hear, little girl. I’m not the big, bad wolf.”
Sure, plenty of people would disagree. But for Heavenly, he’d make an exception—just like he’d make an exception for the previous rules he’d given Kathryn.
“All right.”
His reputation usually intimidated most, yet she now met his gaze straight on. So Heavenly might be shy but she didn’t lack spine. Interesting…
“Excellent. Where are you headed?”
“The front entrance. But I’ve only managed to walk in circles for twenty minutes.”
With a hospital under construction and half the elevators not working, he wasn’t surprised. “I can help. Want an escort to the lobby?”
Her grateful smile was blinding. “That would be great. I was beginning to fear I’d wander the halls for a week. This is a big hospital.”
“Once you get the lay of the land, it’s not so bad.” Grateful for any excuse to touch her, Beck wrapped his
