The Choice Read online

  As he stood pumping gas, he gritted his teeth against the wind and stared inside the run-down convenience store. Déjà vu slammed his system. He’d been here a hundred fucking times, holding his mother’s hand and eyeing candy he hadn’t been allowed to buy. Was the woman even alive anymore? Did she ever think of him?

  He shoved those questions back, along with the memories. But more rushed in to take their place, snippets of the past he’d buried under rage, resentment, and regret. And all of it had culminated in this one place…

  His gaze slid to the side of the building, where his old life had ended and his new one had begun. The image of that damn rusted green pickup parked just outside the restrooms, along with the body slumped in the driver’s seat, flashed through his brain. The jagged slice along the man’s throat had gushed, splashing his pristine white shirt. Beck swore he could still smell the bitter copper scent filling the cab as blood dripped to the floorboard.

  He jerked back to the present to find sweat sliding down his face. Hands shaking, he focused on the gas pump, reminding himself that was a lifetime ago. But he couldn’t seem to snap himself back to the present. One memory—the only one he cherished from his years here—lay waiting like a mental landmine. It had the power to blow his mind.

  Easing down to the dirt behind the barn, he lifted his chin toward the sky. The summer sun warmed his skin while the scents of hay and horses melding with the dry desert filled his lungs. Usually, he found serenity in this secret place, but today anticipation buzzed under his skin.

  Peering around the corner, he watched the house across the road and waited. Several nerve-racking minutes passed before he saw the girl lugging a basket of laundry toward the clothesline.

  Rising slowly, he drank in the sight of her budding feminine curves. A thick blond braid lay draped over her shoulder, caressing one breast.

  Mentally counting to ten, he made sure the coast was clear before sprinting her way. He darted between two hanging white sheets billowing in the wind and skidded to a stop. “Psst. Blessing! Hide in here with me.”

  As he stuck his hand through the opening between the edges where the fabric met, she cast him a worried frown. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

  “It will be like our own private fort. C’mon.”

  Long seconds passed. He feared she’d chickened out, but then she sidestepped between the rustling sheets. A goofy smile stretched across his face. Until he stared his way up her body. Then his blood chugged fast and hard.

  Their stares locked. Her lips parted in the silence. She was so close…

  He swallowed. “See? It’s private in here.”

  She darted a furtive glance over her shoulder. “I can’t stay. I shouldn’t even be talking to you. If they look out the window and find me…”

  “Whatever time we have together is a blessing, Blessing.”

  They both softly smiled at his stumbling words.

  Then he couldn’t stand not touching her anymore and pulled her into his arms. As she gazed up at him, trust brimmed in her blue eyes. Their smiles faded, replaced by rough breaths.

  “I think about you,” he confessed as he stroked a finger down her soft, milky-white cheek. “A lot.”

  “Same for me.”

  Her words sent a rush of heat far warmer than the sun sizzling beneath his skin.

  “I have to know,” he whispered.

  “What?”

  “How your lips taste.”

  “W-we can’t,” she gasped. “I-it’s a—”

  “Shh,” he soothed. “No one will ever know.”

  She stared up at him, fear filling her eyes.

  Dang it. He hadn’t meant to scare her. “If you don’t want me to, I won’t.”

  Blessing hesitated. “I-I want to. It’s just…”

  “You’re afraid?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he promised.

  Before he lost his nerve, he cupped the back of her neck with shaking fingers and slanted his mouth over hers. Blessing’s warm, soft lips made his whole body tingle and his cock stretch to life. Pressing his mouth to hers more firmly, he cinched a hand in her hair. Her tiny moan tickled his lips. He couldn’t believe that, for this forbidden moment, she was his.

  Guided by some innate instinct, he slid his tongue over the seam of her lips. When she opened for him, he plunged inside her warm, slick mouth. Blessing welcomed him, acting on the same primal impulse. Then—

  Beck aborted the memory with an ugly curse. He had to get the fuck out of this place.

  Clenching his jaw, he slammed the nozzle into the pump and jumped back in Gloria’s gray Caddy. With trembling hands, he fastened his seat belt, started the engine, and floored it, wishing he could outrun the memories.

  Pointing the car back toward Vegas, he dragged in ragged breaths. Thankfully, the anger and guilt eased with each mile. Then snippets of his conversation with Gloria began pinging through his brain.

  Though Heavenly and Blessing were both young, innocent, and shy, the parallels ended there. While Blessing had been rooted in place, Heavenly had mustered the courage to leave behind everything familiar and chart her own future. She soldiered on every day to further her ambitions because she wanted more from life. Blessing had done only what she was told. Heavenly warily questioned people and situations. Blessing had merely accepted authority with a placid smile. Under Heavenly’s quiet disposition, she was smart, brave, intriguing, steadfast, and dedicated—everything Blessing had been too timid to be.

  Now that he’d settled Gloria’s nagging question, Beck slammed the door on his past.

  No denying the need to protect Heavenly burned inside him. It had nothing to do with the failures of his youth and everything to do with the unshakable feeling that she needed him. That sheltering her was his privilege and his right.

  God help her, he was going to break all his own rules, even the one he’d held most sacred. Virgin or not, she was going to belong to him. Hell, in his mind…she already did. There was just one problem… How did he convince Heavenly that she was his?

  “Stop behaving like her ‘professional daddy’ and tell her you want to be more than her friend, dipshit,” he grumbled out loud.

  If he didn’t, he was going to lose out. Seth was running circles around him—with his pearly whites and one-fingered waves. Beck couldn’t effectively compete if he only ever spent an hour a day with Heavenly in a crowded cafeteria talking about term papers, diseases, and hospital BS. He needed to take her out—and not on some prissy-assed picnic. No, on an honest-to-god date where they could peel off their professional skins and get to know one another as man and woman.

  If that went well, then he’d find out if he could coax her over to the kinky side. In the event that was a no-go… Well, he’d have to ask himself hard questions about how much of his sadistic side he could give up. Honestly, he didn’t know. But no matter what, Beck’s heart—and his cock—were determined to find a way to make it work…and make Heavenly his for good.

  Sitting beside Heavenly in the hospital cafeteria hadn’t been smart. They’d only been apart for ten days, but it felt like ten fucking years. All he wanted to do was drop his hand beneath the table—and onto her thigh. And he couldn’t…yet.

  Beck had nailed down a plan to introduce her to the man behind the lab coat. He’d fail if he caved to the impatient beast inside him and felt her up at work.

  “Have any big plans to celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight?” One thing he did know? She wouldn’t be spending it with Seth.

  Thank fuck.

  While in Vegas, Beck had called Hammer to wish the throuple a Merry Christmas. Imagine his thrill at learning the girl-poaching PI was back in New York. It had been Beck’s second-best Christmas present. His first was an unexpected seasons greetings text from Heavenly. Her message that she’d been thinking of him had been a thrill, almost as exciting as if she’d asked him to fuck her.

  The next morning, he’d left Gloria’s place�
�halfway through his stay. He’d had grand visions of having her on a date by Friday, in his bed by Saturday, and wearing his collar by Sunday.

  Stupid, optimistic fucker.

  It was Monday, and he was finally laying eyes on her.

  When he’d asked if she wanted to kick off the weekend with him and catch a movie, she’d turned him down because she had to wait tables. Same for dinner Saturday night. Ditto Sunday. Not seeing her frustrated the shit out of him…but it made him more determined to come up with a plan C she couldn’t refuse.

  “I’ve always wanted to get dressed up and go to a fancy New Year’s Eve party.” Then she slumped glumly. “But I’m low woman on the totem pole, so I’m waiting tables. Again.”

  At a kids’ pizza place on a night of adult revelry? Weren’t the curtain climbers in bed by ten? “I was hoping we might ring in the New Year together.”

  “I would have loved that. I’m sorry I’m always working. When they hired me, I asked for all the hours I could get between now and the start of my next semester. I got them.”

  Beck swallowed a curse. She was putting herself through college and doing her best. He had to dial back on the impatience—and the horniness. But he was going to lose his shit if he couldn’t persuade her to go out with him soon.

  “Understood. But fair warning: I’ll keep asking. I can be a very patient man, given the right motivation.” And you, little girl, are all the motivation I need.

  “I don’t mind you asking. I just feel terrible. It shouldn’t be this hard to spend time with a friend.”

  You’ll figure out we’re more than friends when I’m filling you with my cock, and your pretty little pussy is clutching me in orgasm.

  Beck stifled a growl as he picked up his fork. They ate in tight silence, Heavenly nibbling on her pork chop and casting searching glances his way.

  After washing down the last bite, Beck pushed his plate away and changed tactics. “How did you do on your finals?”

  Heavenly wrapped her rosy lips around the opening of her water bottle. He tried to ignore the way her throat worked. Impossible. His mind filled with images of her on her knees, mouth wrapped around his cock, big blue eyes staring up at him as his wide crest nudged the back of her throat.

  “My tests were much harder than waiting tables, but I did good.”

  “I won’t lie and tell you they’ll get easier. But every exam you pass means you’re closer to making sure you don’t spend the rest of your life schlepping food.”

  “Oh, thank goodness,” she muttered. “At the end of the night, my feet hurt so bad, despite the new shoes you sent me for Christmas—thank you; they fit perfectly, by the way. But waitressing is a lot of peopling for me.”

  Beck fought a smile. “So when you get off work, do you shut yourself in your room?”

  “No. The first thing I do is take a long shower so I can be blissfully alone. It’s weird because I love coming to the hospital and helping people who genuinely need care and comfort. But after waiting tables, I ignore the rest of the world until I have to go back.”

  “While dreading every moment until your next shift?”

  “Oh, so you’ve waited tables, too?”

  “No. I guessed, based on your…enthusiasm.” When she giggled, Beck sipped his water. “How was your Christmas?”

  “Fine.” She paused. “Quiet.”

  “No family?”

  “Some, but other than work it was almost too peaceful with you and Seth both gone.”

  Beck was still celebrating the fact the asshat wasn’t around to cock-block him.

  “When are you going to let me add some excitement to your life?” His words teemed with innuendo.

  “When Seth tried that, I didn’t do so good. I barely spent an hour with him, and he just…left.” She pushed her plate away as if she’d suddenly lost her appetite. “I’ll probably never see him again.”

  The hair on the back of Beck’s neck stood on end. Had that motherfucker stolen her virginity before jetting back to New York?

  Rage, white and hot, surged through him. He locked stares with Heavenly. “Tell me everything he did to you.”

  His snarl had her inching back. She opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it shut.

  You weren’t supposed to scare her, asshole!

  Beck groped for his control. “I warned you Seth was nothing but a bad decision waiting to happen, little girl.”

  “You did, but—”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  Heavenly shot him a quizzical frown. “What do you mean?”

  “When he took you to bed.”

  Her cheeks turned bright red as she shook her head. “Oh, he didn’t… I mean, we never… That didn’t happen.”

  Relief poured through him, so profound he shook. “I’m glad you were too smart to fall for his bullshit.”

  “He didn’t feed me any. He didn’t do anything at all, not even kiss me.”

  While that overjoyed Beck, Heavenly’s disappointment shredded him like a thousand knives. “Then why are you convinced he’ll never want to see you again?”

  “I-I said something I probably shouldn’t have. He was gone before I could explain or tell him I was sorry. I feel terrible that I upset him. I miss the fun we shared.”

  Hearing that she actually mourned the prick’s departure felt worse than chewing on glass. Beck had no idea what she’d said to hurt Seth’s fragile little feelings. But the important takeaway was, if she hadn’t, the time Beck had spent sitting on the sidelines with his dick in his hand would have cost him everything.

  If Heavenly missed the “fun” she’d had with Seth, he’d do his damndest to show her a better time. In fact, Plan C had just presented itself—and he’d give her the best fucking day of her life. And maybe the best night of his would follow…

  “Well, I have some fun in mind. How would you feel about coming with me to the happiest place on earth?”

  “I don’t… Where’s that?”

  She didn’t know? Oh, he couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.

  “One of my patients is a bigwig at Disney. He gave me a couple of passes to Disneyland. What do you say? Want to spend Saturday with me, having fun?”

  Like a kid on Christmas morning, her eyes grew huge and excited. “This Saturday? You’re asking me to go?”

  “Yeah. Have you ever been?”

  “No. Never. Oh, wow! I’ve always wanted to go.” She bit her lip, looking so adorably thrilled. “You’re serious?”

  He basked in her delight. “There’s no one I’d rather go with.”

  “Then yes!”

  “Don’t you have to work?”

  “It doesn’t matter. For the chance to go to Disneyland, I’ll call in sick.”

  A deep laugh rumbled up from his chest. “So I’m already corrupting you, is that it?”

  “Yes. And I’ll happily let you.”

  His cock stood up and wept. “Be careful, little girl, I might make that a habit.”

  “Would that be such a bad thing?” she ventured in shy flirtation.

  Oh, dear god. How long before he could have her naked and panting and begging? It couldn’t come soon enough. “Not at all.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Five days later, Heavenly was convinced that Kenneth Beckman knew magic. From the moment they drove onto Disney property and he parked his red Mercedes near the entrance, the VIP treatment began. He looped a distinctive colored lanyard around her neck with a smile, then put a matching one around his own. “These are Extra Special Double Secret VIP Golden Fastpasses.”

  “That’s a very long name. What do they do?”

  “Okay, so I’m making that up. I don’t know what they’re actually called, but these golden cards allow us in the Fastpass lane of any attraction. We can walk past the line anytime we want.”

  Her mouth fell open. Coming to Disneyland had been a girlhood dream. But to skip most of the waiting and just experience everything? “Oh, my gosh. Really?”

>   He gave her an indulgent nod. “Really.”

  Heavenly squealed as he led her to their guide, who ushered them through a private park entrance. Soon, they stood in front of the colorful flowers grown onto the hillside in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Kids jumped, parents pushed strollers, and people everywhere took selfies. She drank in the experience, anticipation buzzing in her belly.

  Today, she could pretend to be a princess. And the gorgeous man by her side could definitely play her Prince Charming.

  “This train”—he pointed to the big red steam locomotive—“circles the park with stops throughout. We can get off or on at any of them. Want to ride it?”

  Eventually, yes, but the Disneyland of her imagination came from TV specials, pictures on the Internet, and YouTube videos that always started with one thing. “Can we walk up Main Street first? I’m dying to see it in person.”

  “Whatever you want to do. This day is for you, little girl.”

  Joy bubbled up. She felt like a shaken bottle of soda pop that might explode at any moment. “I still can’t believe I’m actually here.”

  With you.

  “I remember feeling blown away during my first visit, too.”

  The morning sun was quickly warming into one of those picture-perfect California days as they made their way under the arched bridge, past colorful posters of the park’s most famous attractions, then emerged near City Hall. And she got her first glimpse inside the park.

  Heavenly had to gasp; she’d never seen so many people at once. Dr. Beckman didn’t seem at all fazed by the crowd. Everyone from toddlers to great-grandparents looked eager for the adventure ahead.

  “Take this park map.” He plucked a pamphlet from the slot beside him and put it in her hands. “You’ll need it. This is a big place.”

  Heavenly tucked it into her pocket as he led her past the fire station and the town square. When she rounded the corner at the Emporium and got her first glimpse of the long stretch of Main Street USA, she froze, hardly noticing when someone bumped her from behind.

  At the end of the road stood the most magical structure of all: Sleeping Beauty Castle.