The Choice

by Shayla Black

  He took her hand in his. “Look, we met under stressful circumstances. I’m sorry if I came on strong. You’ve been on my mind, and I want to get to know you. I’m new in town and—”

  “Me, too.” They had that in common. Maybe he hadn’t meant the gift purely as charity, but a friendly offering. “I’ve only been here since August.”

  He gave her a wry grin, his dreamy eyes glinting with…mischief? Flirtation? “I’ve been here a week. My friends could use some time alone after what’s happened and…I’d like to take you out to dinner.”

  So he likes me? Oh, his offer was so tempting. She wanted to spend time with Seth, flirt with him. Have a real first date with him.

  But school, her father, and responsibility came first.

  “I’d love to, but I volunteer during the day, then I take my lectures and study during the evenings.”

  “What about weekends? Can you spare time for breakfast? What about lunch on your day off? We can explore the city together. C’mon. I won’t bite…unless you beg me to.”

  His coaxing made her feel warm and happy. Of course, her father would tell her to go out, be young, enjoy herself. But who would cook for him? Make sure he took his medicine? Help him to bed?

  “C-can I check my schedule and let you know?” Maybe one of the VA volunteers would help.

  If Seth did pity her, the last thing she wanted was to tell him her father’s medical woes. Besides, was it so wrong to pretend for a few hours that she had a normal life?

  “Absolutely. When you get free, call me. Here’s my card.” He dug into his pocket and handed her one. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”

  She glanced at it. The office address was in Manhattan. His title proclaimed him a private investigator and personal security specialist. Like a bodyguard? Wow.

  “Have you dealt with dangerous people?”

  His smile said he absolutely had. “Before I hung out my PI shingle, I used to be a cop for the NYPD.”

  She’d already noticed he could be watchful. But now she understood the barely leashed something mysterious under his surface.

  “That sounds dangerous.” And exciting. He’d seen things. Lived them.

  “Sometimes. And sometimes, it really was a lot of driving around while drinking coffee at three in the morning to stay warm and awake.”

  “Why did you decide to become a PI?”

  The playful smile slid off his face. “I like being my own boss.”

  That wasn’t the reason he’d left the force. She’d dodged enough questions over the years to recognize the behavior. He didn’t want to talk about it, and she wouldn’t pry. Heavenly couldn’t mind if he kept secrets when she had plenty of her own.

  “I don’t blame you. That sounds really appealing.”

  Especially now. Heavenly was sick of Kathryn, Marcella, and the other nurses treating her like a lower life-form. Granted, she was merely a volunteer now, but she was making straight As. It wouldn’t be long before she’d be their equal—but better.

  Until then, she’d handle the situation. Just like she’d done with persistent Dr. Manning…

  “Is working here tough?” Seth asked.

  “Mostly good, but there are challenging moments.”

  “Challenging, huh? I guess that means you work with Beck a lot.”

  “You mean Dr. Beckman?”

  He nodded. “His friends call him Beck. I figured you knew that.”

  Heavenly shook her head, sad that he hadn’t asked her to use his nickname. It fit him. Sharp. Strong. Straightforward. “No. I actually don’t work with him much. I run into him a lot, and he’s graciously agreed to help with some of the complicated material in my classes. But other than Raine, we haven’t worked on the same patient.”

  “Probably for the best.”

  What an odd thing for one friend to say about another. “I’ve heard he can be demanding.”

  Her words amused the heck out of Seth. “That would be an understatement.”

  Did he think she couldn’t handle it? “I’ll be a good nurse. I could work for him.”

  “Oh, angel…” He shook his head. “I believe that. You’ll be one of the best, I have no doubt.”

  But he still didn’t think she should work for Dr. Beckman?

  “Heavenly?” Jennifer called, sticking her head out the ER door. “You wanted to know when Raine Kendall was leaving. She should be gone in the next thirty minutes.”

  “Then I guess I’d better go,” she murmured to Seth. “Did you want to say good-bye to her?”

  “Actually, I’ll see her back at their house.”

  Of course. Because they were friends.

  Heavenly suspected Raine lived with Mr. Hammerman and Mr. O’Neill, because they both seemed comfortable with the fact they doted on her equally. Heavenly wasn’t judging, just envious. What would it be like to have people she could count on so she didn’t have to endure life’s hardships alone?

  “All right, then…” Heavenly stood and grabbed her basket. “Well, I’ve got your card.”

  “And you’ll call me when you’re free?”

  She nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

  Heavenly itched to go out with him at least once. Would it be so wrong to steal a few moments for some fun?

  “I’ll probably be in town for another week or two.” He shrugged. “Maybe more. Let me know.”

  Carrying the basket he’d given her, she smiled at Seth over her shoulder, unable to take her eyes off him as she headed toward Jennifer and the open door. Except she nearly walked into it because the charge nurse had already gone.

  Seth laughed. “Watch where you’re going, angel.”

  Fighting a furious blush, she whipped her badge over the scanner, then scurried inside the secure area. How embarrassing. Was she destined to make an idiot out of herself every time she saw this man?

  Shaking her head, she hustled beyond the ER and into Raine’s room. There, she found Mr. Hammerman and Mr. O’Neill—she still didn’t know one from the other—flanking Raine. Dr. Beckman stood nearby. The bruise surrounding Raine’s eye had darkened and spread. The swelling on her lip had worsened. The finger-shaped marks around her neck were stark and unmistakable.

  Just looking at the injuries Raine’s father had inflicted pained Heavenly. Every day with Abel Young was hard. His illness kept progressing in new and frightening ways. But he’d never raised a hand to her in anger. He’d never even spoken a harsh word.

  “Liam and I will fetch the car so we can take you home, precious,” said the man with the beard.

  “Thanks. I’m so ready to leave.”

  “I know you are,” said the Irishman. “I promise, we’ll take care of you this time, love.”

  “Liam, Hammer…” Consternation crossed her face. “You didn’t not take care of me yesterday. None of this was your fault.”

  Heavenly wasn’t sure what Raine meant, but both men fell silent. The weight of their guilt was telling.

  Beck filled the void with a hearty clap on the bearded guy’s back. “Go on, Hammer. Get the car. I’ll deliver the princess to the entrance. You’ve got her discharge papers. Call me if you have any questions.” Then he turned to the Irishman. “Keep him in line, O’Neill.”

  “God knows he needs it,” Raine drawled.

  Everyone gave a stiff laugh, and the forced cheer tightened Heavenly’s chest. These people wanted life to be all right again, but they knew the true blunt force of Raine’s trauma had yet to really hit them.

  With a nod, Mr. Hammerman turned toward the door. Mr. O’Neill was on his heels.

  Raine caught sight of her. “Heavenly. Hi!”

  “Hi,” she murmured as all three men turned and stared. The rest of her greeting fell silent under the combined weight of their stares.

  Mr. Hammerman and Mr. O’Neill murmured a thanks for Raine’s care, then sidestepped to the exit.

  Dr. Beckman frowned at the basket in her hands. “What’s that?”

  �
�Seth brought it to me as a thank you for helping Raine.”

  Something cynical crossed his face. “Of course he did.”

  Then he muttered something else under his breath she would have sworn was a four-letter word.

  Raine clearly heard and repressed a smile. “He’s a smart guy.”

  “That’s enough out of you, princess. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Heavenly was trying to figure out the undercurrent in their conversation when the doctor nodded her way. “Ms. Young.”

  Then he was gone. What had just happened?

  Raine burst into laughter. It was stunted since she couldn’t move her eyes and it must hurt to put pressure on her stitches. But the expression still transformed the woman.

  “Oh, his face was priceless.” Mirth danced in Raine’s eyes. “What have you done to him?”

  Heavenly blinked. “Nothing?”

  Raine cocked her head. “Uh-huh. How long have you known Beck?”

  Clearly not as long as Raine. “Not quite two weeks. You two seem close.”

  “He and Hammer have been friends for years, and he’s known me since I was a kid. Beck is a good guy. He was my rock during a difficult time recently.”

  But he wasn’t her lover? Heavenly was relieved. Not that it actually mattered. Dr. Beckman had only shown professional interest in her.

  She set the basket on a nearby tray and sank into the chair beside Raine. “I’m happy you have such wonderful people in your life. You’re very lucky, both to be alive and to have men who adore you.”

  “I know.” Raine paused. “Thank you for taking care of me. And not judging me for loving Liam and Hammer.”

  “It’s not my place.”

  “Not everyone here has been as understanding.”

  Raine probably meant Kathryn. The nurse specialist disliked any other woman who snagged an attractive man’s attention. She would especially sniff her delicate nose at one who had two hot, successful-looking men seemingly wrapped around her finger.

  Heavenly took Raine’s hand in a tentative hold. “Life isn’t always easy. If you’re happy, what other people think shouldn’t matter.”

  The black-haired beauty gave the brightest smile she could muster. “You’re right. So…what do you think of Beck? He’s very single.”

  Heavenly blinked. Raine was…matchmaking?

  He’s gorgeous, he’s smart, and he makes me hot all over. “He’s been very kind.”

  “Really?” Raine sounded surprised. “Has he asked you out?”

  “No.” And Heavenly wished he would. “We just work together.”

  “Right…” Raine sounded as if she didn’t believe a word. “And what about Seth?”

  Heavenly couldn’t stop herself from blushing. “He’s very thoughtful. And flirty.”

  Raine’s smile widened. “I know he asked you out.”

  How did she know that? Was Raine trying to pair her with Dr. Beckman or Seth? Or…both? Surely she didn’t imagine everyone would be able to balance her sort of unconventional relationship. Heck, Heavenly didn’t have the time—or experience—to juggle one man, much less two.

  She neither confirmed nor denied Raine’s question. “He and the doctor don’t seem to like each other much.”

  Raine reared back in surprise. “Hmm, I’ve never seen them not get along. But now that you mention it, Beck didn’t seem thrilled Seth had given you that basket. And I take it Seth has said or done something that makes you think he doesn’t like Beck?”

  “A few minutes ago,” she blurted, then bit her tongue. She wasn’t a tattletale or a gossip. “Maybe they’re just having a bad day. I shouldn’t say anything. They’ve both been very nice.”

  “Nice? Oh, my god…” Raine shook her head as if she found that reply somewhere between interesting and comical. “If I wanted to see you again when I’m feeling better—you know, to say thank you for your kindness—how could I get in touch with you?”

  Heavenly hesitated. Not only had she not dated during her teen years, she’d missed out on friendships. After she and her father had left the farm, she’d lost touch with the girls she’d been close to as a child. Making new friends in a new city had been intimidating. But here Raine was, offering her a bit of girl time.

  Impulsively, Heavenly jotted her number down on a scrap of paper. “Here you go. I’m slammed most weekdays, but I can try to slip free on a weekend or something.”

  Before Raine could reply, Dr. Beckman appeared in the doorway again with a fifty-something nurse pushing a wheelchair. “Time to go, princess. Before Liam and Hammer tear apart the entrance waiting for you.”

  The other woman nodded, looking not just relieved to be leaving here but truly happy. She turned to Heavenly, scrap of paper in her hand. “I’ll call you.”

  The doctor glanced between the two of them. Then his eyes narrowed. “Raine…”

  She didn’t seem put off by the warning in his voice at all. In fact, she stuck her tongue out at him. “See you later, Beck!”

  With that, the older nurse rolled Raine away. Then Dr. Beckman turned all his scrutiny on her. His stare made her heart flutter.

  She grabbed her basket of goodies and skittered past him. “Excuse me, Doctor.”

  After a successful valve replacement the following Tuesday, Beck strode into the hospital cafeteria for a drive-by at the sandwich counter. Before he could grab and go, he felt a familiar prickle at the back of his neck. Kathryn was eyeing him. Again. In fact, most of her desperate posse would jump him if he stood still long enough. He kept walking, refusing to acknowledge them.

  “Dr. Beckman,” Nurse Hitch called.

  He gave Kathryn a vague, non-encouraging wave. She sent him a come-hither stare, crooking her finger at him. Beside her sat Marcella, who had slipped her phone number into his shirt pocket just last week while squeezing his biceps and giggling.

  Beck rolled his eyes. These two needed to get their man-eating vaginas under control.

  Jennifer, seated next to Marcella, had never seemed interested in anything except good patient care. He wished she’d teach the others to be professional.

  “Join us, Doctor.” Kathryn inched to the edge of her chair, wriggling like she was having an X-rated fantasy. “It’s crowded, but you can share my seat.”

  “Or mine,” Marcella piped up with suddenly visible cleavage. “It’ll be cozy.”

  Or disease laden. A number of men had occupied their “seats,” according to hospital gossip.

  “No, thanks.” If administrators, visitors, and fellow staff weren’t watching, he’d tell them exactly where they could go. “Too busy.”

  He turned away, gauging the number of steps between his sandwich and the exit. Then he spotted Heavenly sitting alone at the back of the room, staring into a paper cup.

  Why was she in a corner by herself?

  After grabbing a plastic container with a turkey on rye, he paid and headed in her direction.

  The closer he drew, the more his heart skipped and his palms grew sweaty. He was a grown man, for shit’s sake. A surgeon. A sadist. Not some sappy boy who mooned over a girl. Yet every time he clapped eyes on Heavenly, that’s how he felt. Even now, his blood pumped as if he were doing a hard-core workout. What he’d really like to work out was a dozen ear-piercing screams from this woman who had yet to notice him as a man.

  Beck headed toward her, searching for something witty to say. As he weaved past a couple of tables, Dr. Richard Manning, a.k.a. Manning-the-Manwhore, plopped his tall frame in the chair directly across from Heavenly and leaned close.

  If you touch her, you’ll die a slow, painful death.

  Heavenly blinked at the plastic surgeon. Beck tensed. She wasn’t actually attracted to that soul-sucking pustule, was she?

  He didn’t know, and that pissed him off. Manning-the-Manwhore had plowed through most of the nursing and administrative staff. He’d definitely planted himself in Kathryn’s “seat” more than once. Marcella’s, too. The fact that he didn’t look lik
e a troll and was smoother than an oil slick made it easy for him to lure women to the nearest flat surface.

  Now he had Heavenly in his sights.

  Gnashing his teeth, Beck quickened his steps and ate up the distance between them.

  “…It’s the hottest new restaurant in the city. The view is amazing. The food is to die for. And you’ve never been?”

  She shook her head. “I only moved here a few months ago.”

  “Ah.” Manning smiled, pretending to give a shit. “Well, you’ll have to let me take you to dinner there as a welcome to the city. The ambiance is almost as stunning as you. Let’s go Friday night. I’ll pick you up around seven.”

  Beck wanted to throttle the asshole, especially when Heavenly lowered her lashes and pink climbed up her cheeks. Was she actually buying this sack of shit’s polished lines?

  “Well, I—”

  “Heavenly, don’t disappoint me again. We’ll have a good time. I’ll open doors for you…”

  Beck nearly crushed the sandwich container in his grip. It was either that or bash the bastard’s head in.

  Instead, he stepped up behind her and tossed his sandwich on the table between them. When she gave a startled jump, he cupped her shoulders and positioned himself in Manwhore’s line of sight. “Hey, Manning. I don’t usually see you in the cafeteria. Oh, but you’re here because you’re trying to sweet-talk Ms. Young into bed. Don’t you think it’s a little soon after the last nursing student you banged? I heard you gave her the clap.”

  Heavenly gave a startled gasp.

  Manwhore smiled acidly. “You’re a better surgeon than a comedian, Beckman.” He tossed Heavenly a placating stare. “He’s joking, of course. And doing it very badly.”

  Heavenly stiffened. Beck had no idea what she was thinking. Hell, he might be overstepping boundaries, but unless she told him to fuck off, he wasn’t backing down.

  “Actually, I’m not joking at all,” Beck said. “Since Ms. Young has already turned you down, you should leave her alone. But hey, I’ll bet Kathryn would do you in the janitor’s closet again. Sounded like you two had fun. The whole floor thought so, anyway.”

  “Beckman!” Manning glared at him while maintaining a smile for Heavenly’s sake. “Ms. Young doesn’t appreciate your sophomoric humor. If you’d like to belittle our feminine co-workers and stoop to the maturity level of fart jokes, we can no longer be friends.”