I kept that happiness with me as I unwrapped the gauze and cleaned my wounds, vowing to myself I’d keep the joy and lose the fear. I’d concentrate on what he’d promised me, even if it was only for a night or two…or a dozen. Even if, eventually, I ended up with a broken heart as Beckett pulled away. For now, I’d concentrate on the present. Not the past or the future. And I’d forget completely whoever was gunning for me for a few hours.
After I got out with a towel wrapped around me, Beckett took his turn in the shower, and I stayed to admire the image he made, taking in every groove and the impressive length of him that I’d barely caught a glimpse of at the lake. His smug look grew, brows raised in question as his hand trailed down his chest and lower. When he got to the rising length, I turned tail and ran. Not because I was embarrassed, although my cheeks were a healthy red, but because I was afraid I wouldn’t stick to what I’d said about wanting to wait until tonight, until we’d had a magical evening together.
I defied his orders to stay in sight and finished getting ready in the bathroom Dad and I had been sharing. The scrapes on my hands were still sore and raw, but they’d be okay without bandages. The cut on my chin, however, needed more ointment. After I covered it with a Band-Aid, the sight in the mirror hit me hard. I’d spent years fixing my jaw and teeth, and one simple bandage tried to throw me back to my girlhood. To the insecure child who’d thought she was ugly.
I ground my teeth together. I wasn’t going to let some jerkwad attacking me in the dark undo all the hard work I’d done to feel better about myself. I applied my makeup with a steady hand to draw attention to my eyes instead of my chin. Then, I layered on the hair products so I’d have a base to work with later.
By the time I came out of the guest bedroom after packing a bag, I expected to find Fallon had already arrived. But when I walked into the kitchen, Beckett was alone at the island, with two to-go cups of coffee waiting and irritation on his face.
“What part of ‘not out of my sight’ did you not understand?” he groused.
“Seriously? I had all my stuff in the other bathroom. Don’t take the protective-hero stuff too far, Fireball. It’s attractive, but only to a point.”
He smirked. “Are you sure, because in that Brynne Asher book,Souls, I’m pretty sure the heroine was down for every command.”
My mouth fell open, shock hitting me dead center. “Wait. When did you read that book?”
He shrugged.
Disbelief had my voice squeaking as I asked, “Have you been reading romance books ever since you lost that prank? Have you been reading them foryears?”
“What can I say? You should have made that bet way back when, about me liking them if I tried them.”
The surprise that whirled through me was almost enough to make my head spin. “I can’t believe you! So, when you promised not to touch me and said you’d read a romance book for every time you did, you weren’t offeringup anything you weren’t already doing!”
His smile broke free, wide and unfettered. “It definitely wasn’t the deterrent it should have been.”
“You’re a cheater!”
He laughed.
“A no good, big fat—”
My words were lost in a kiss, a slow and sensual one, full of a promise that took my breath away.
When he lifted his head, I dragged his mouth back to mine and continued the kiss with new fervor. Maybe simply because I could. Maybe to prove to that fleeting feeling, Hope, he was mine and she couldn’t take him away. Maybe simply because it felt too good not to.
He was chuckling as he lifted his head the second time. “Come on, my Maisey-girl. We have a dress and a ring to buy.”
He shoved the coffee at me and picked up his key fob.
“A ring?” I all but gasped out.
“I told you I was buying you a ring. I figure, if you show up without one tonight, people are really going to question the truth of us.”
And just like that, I landed back in reality.
This time with Beckett had an expiration date. We were playing house. Playing at friends with benefits. Playing at something more. So he could get a job, and my dad and I had a place to live.
And just like that, Hope won, easily stabbing me in the gut as she wiped away every stupid dream I’d started to believe might come true.
Chapter Twenty-five
Beckett
LIFE WITH YOU
Performed by Kelsey Hart