Beck

by Toye Lawson Brown

  Across the restaurant, my eyes met with his. “I gotta go, Dad,” I said abruptly.

  Just as I stood, Eddie was at the table. “Good morning, Dr. Parker,” Eddie said as if they were old friends.

  My father’s face bunched up with anger. I waited with bated breath for the barrage of angry words to fly from his mouth. But he was a professional and didn’t like to make a spectacle of himself in public.

  “Edward,” he said in a clipped tone.

  “What do you want, Eddie?” I wasn’t as gracious as my father. “It’s not nice to leave your girlfriend sitting alone.”

  “Abbie, I just need a minute of your time,” he said. He seated himself at the table, uninvited.

  “I will not have you upsetting her, Edward. Go back to your table and leave us alone,” Dad suggested.

  “I only need a minute, and I won’t ever bother her again,” Eddie said.

  I scooted my chair back from the table and crossed my legs. The sight of Eddie made me want to puke. He really was an ass that I’d wasted a good portion of my life with. My father was texting on his phone as I waited for Eddie to say what was on his mind.

  Patrons had noted who I was and were taking pictures of me. That prevented me from hastily storming out, so I had no choice but to sit and listen to whatever bull he had to spill.

  “You have one minute,” I said.

  He grinned. “Wow, I guess I’ll have to talk fast.”

  I tapped my shoe on the wood floor in a quick rhythm. “You’re down to seconds. I’d stop joking and get to it if I were you.”

  “Fine. I’m getting married. I wanted to let you know and not find out from someone else. We’re expecting, and I want my baby to have my name and both parents in the home.”

  I was speechless but it didn't hurt as I thought it would. My heart was intact. No tears filled my eyes. No emotions hit me at all. I was over him and it felt great to have that burden gone.

  “I tried calling you, but you wouldn’t answer. I’m glad I ran into you today and could get this off my chest. I’m sorry, Abbie. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve never wanted to hurt you.”

  He’d made sure to suit up with me because he didn’t want kids. But here he was excited to be a father and family man. I guessed that was the right thing to do. The baby didn’t have a say in who his parents were.

  “You can go now,” Dad said. “You’ve told her what you had to say.”

  Eddie stood. “Dr. Parker, please understand I didn’t mean to disrespect you or Abbie.”

  “You knew what you were doing. All cheaters know the consequences going in. I happen to be one so don’t think you can bullshit me. But I’m warning you: if you come near Abbie again, it will be you and me.”

  “Sir, I’m trying to be polite, and you’re threatening me?” asked Eddie. “How is that fair? Abbie sort of left me first. She didn’t have time for me.”

  “Hey, everybody. Sorry I’m late, sweetheart.” Beck leaned down and kissed me on the lips.

  It took me by complete surprise. When the long, lingering kiss broke, I turned to my right to see Eddie glaring at us, his bottom lip almost touching his chin.

  “What’s going on here?” Beck asked.

  My father stood, playing along. So Beck was whom he’d texted. But how did he get to the restaurant so fast?

  “Beck, good you could make it, son,” Dad said, and shook hands with Beck.

  I smiled, unable to switch modes and play the game I’d not been made aware of until now. What I wanted was to disappear out of the restaurant and away from the men in my life.

  “Babe, are you okay?” Beck said as he massaged my shoulders. “You seem upset. I don’t like it when you’re upset.”

  If this felt odd to me, I could only imagine what it looked like to the customers in the restaurant. I had to say something. Eddie’s color was changing by the second.

  “I’m okay, love,” I managed to say. “But you missed the excitement. Eddie just informed Dad and me that he is expecting a baby and getting married. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Beck was good. He didn’t let any emotion show on his face. “That’s great. That means he won’t be bothering you anymore.”

  Eddie didn’t take what Beck had said as friendly. “You don’t know me; tread carefully.”

  Shoving his hands in the pockets of his black trousers, Beck didn’t back down. “The same can be said about me. Don’t mistake my baby-faced appearance for meekness. I’m far from that.”

  Dad stood. “Eddie, go back to your table. You gave Abbie the news. Now go—your lady friend is waiting for you.”

  My eyes traveled to the table by the large picture window where Sasha sat. I wasn’t surprised she’d been watching us. But she wanted to make sure Eddie delivered the news and put up her hand to flash the large engagement ring she now sported.

  Still I had no reaction but wondered if she was paying for their meal. Because Eddie’s cheap ass sure wasn’t buying an expensive meal and a diamond ring. We locked eyes, and I smiled at her. Not a warm smile, but one of pity.

  I shook my head, thinking what a fool she’d feel like when the novelty of her wore off on Eddie. He was arm candy but definitely not dependable. She’d find out the hard way, and now a baby would have to suffer along with her.

  Or I could be wrong. Maybe Eddie had changed, and Sasha was the woman to make him a responsible man. Either way, he wasn’t mine anymore, and the lack of emotion I felt for him proved I was moving on.

  I slipped my arm through Beck’s to end the standoff. “Congratulations, Eddie,” I said. “I wish you and Sasha the best of luck.”

  Eddie walked away with no parting words for me—just a nod. God, that was hard to do, but I had, and part of me meant it.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Beck

  I checked my appearance in the mirror once more before getting out of the car. Abbie would either throw a tantrum or be happy to see me. I wasn’t sure which to expect. This morning she’d seemed surprised to see me.

  In her defense, I had popped up out of the blue. When Dr. Parker texted me, I happened to be on the same side of town, dropping a company car off for repair and picking one up. The restaurant was a few blocks away.

  After Eddie had left the table, I sat with the Parkers and had coffee to make it appear to Eddie that Abbie and I were indeed a couple. It felt good being in her company again. However, Eddie didn't match the guy on TV. That meant that guy was still lurking around. I had made up in my mind, I would stick to her until I thought she was safe.

  I entered her building, and the security guard stopped me. “Who are you here to see?” the buff guard asked.

  I remembered Sam; apparently, he didn’t remember me. Maybe it was the suit that threw him off. “Sam, it’s me, Beck? I’m here to see Abbie.”

  “Oh, hey, man. I haven’t seen you around in a while. I didn’t know you guys still saw each other.”

  “You know how busy she is. It’s hard to pin her down,” I said.

  He blew out a breath. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why? What’s going on?”

  Sam leaned over the console of the security desk. “She’s been spooked by something. This morning she called for me to check her condo. She had locked herself in the bathroom, claiming she heard noises in the front room. I didn’t find anything.”

  “Nothing was out of place? Abbie keeps a neat home, so anything unusual would be easy to spot.”

  “Nothing that I could tell at a glance. It was weird—the front door was unlocked, though. When Ms. Parker came in later today, she asked me to go with her again. At first, I thought she was flirting, but that’s not her style, and she knows I’m married. Ms. Parker is afraid of something or someone.”

  “I’m here and will get to the bottom of it. Do me a favor and keep an eye out for anyone asking questions about her or lingering in the lobby.”

  Sam nodded. “Sure thing. We don’t allow people to loiter, but
I’ll keep an eye out for anything strange concerning her. Oh, I’ll be away for a week at a competition. I’ll make sure Clinton gives Ms. Parker extra care.”

  “Thanks, Sam. I appreciate it.”

  Once on Abbie’s floor, I knocked and waited. I heard her weight press against the door as she looked through the peephole. A second later, the door opened. The vision before me took my breath away.

  Abbie was dressed in a striking reddish dress. It melded to her body like a glove. It wasn’t showing a lot of skin, and the hem fell to her sexy calves. She wore strappy gold sandals with very high heels.

  Her hair was piled high on her head in a swirl of black curls. Red lipstick was painted on her lips, which I still felt from this morning. There was no other way to describe her except beautiful.

  “Beck? What are you doing here—and dressed in a tuxedo?”

  “Tonight is the retirement party, if I’m not mistaken. And I did tell Stella I’d escort you,” I said, and walked past her into the living room.

  I’d have all kinds of egg on my face if there was another man inside waiting to take her. A sigh of relief escaped my lips when I saw no one sitting on the couch.

  “Yes to the retirement party, and I didn’t expect you to keep that promise.”

  “So you don’t want to go with me?” I did a slow turn. “Look at me; I’m deliciously handsome in a tux. Don’t you think so?”

  She laughed. “Yes, you are deliciously handsome in a tux.’

  Abbie walked over to me, and the scent of her perfume caressed me. “You are gorgeous, Abbie. Every man will wish to be me tonight.”

  She tapped a finger to her chin. “Then maybe I shouldn’t take you. I have to work with these people.”

  “Fine with me. We can stay here, pour some wine, and dance seductively to suggestive music. Sounds like a good idea to me, but it’s your call.”

  Her perfectly arched brow rose. “Beck, what is going on? You show up at breakfast out of the blue, and now tonight. I smell a rat.”

  Playfully, I lifted my arms smelling my pits. “Damn, my cologne has me smelling like a rat?”

  She pitched a brow. “Shut up—you smell damn good. I mean I have a feeling my father lured you here tonight.”

  Handle this with kid gloves, Beck. “He did call me this morning to intervene with Eddie. Tonight I’m here on my own.”

  She lowered her head. “I see. This morning was awkward and embarrassing.”

  “What do you have to be embarrassed about, Abbie? You were blindsided by Eddie.”

  “My dad had to call you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

  “So you don’t believe Eddie fell for it?”

  “I don’t know, maybe.” She shrugged. “He knows I was in love with him. And to get over him that fast would mean I—”

  “That you were rebounding with me? Let him think that. I don’t care.”

  She bit her lip. “I appreciate you want to rescue me, but I’m not rebounding. I’m really over Eddie.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “There is so much that is unsaid between us. I don’t want to push you away with my insecurities.”

  “You are not insecure.” I stalked toward her. “You want to know the truth? You are all I think about. I’m up early in the morning to turn on the television just to see you.”

  She had become an obsession for me. All I wanted to do was heal the hurt that had wounded her heart.

  Abbie’s hands were closed tight, like she was nervous. “What are you saying, Beck?”

  “I’m saying too much and probably way too damn soon. I want you, Abbie Parker.” My heart boomed in my ears, drowning out my words. However, my cock grew, tenting my trousers. The fucker was hard to hide.

  Her eyes lowered to my crotch. “Oh,” she said.

  “Abbie, this is not about sex, but me wanting you. Sex is a bonus, but I’m willing to wait if you aren’t comfortable.”

  “Wait,” she said, grabbing the sides of her head. “How did we get off the topic of going to a party to this?”

  I was standing next to her now. “We went off-topic when we fucked. You knew once wouldn’t be enough—at least for me it wouldn’t.”

  Her hands were planted firmly on her sexy hips. “It hasn’t been easy for me, either. This is crazy. We both have broken hearts, Beck. We are using each other to ease the pain. That is wrong, and we both know it.”

  I shook my head. “I know what I want, and it’s you. Joanie has nothing to with me wanting to taste your pussy. To feel you coming hard around my cock. I’m not thinking about her one bit when I’m between your thighs.”

  Damn, where was this coming from? Was the problem seeing her right in front of me, looking so delicious and vulnerable that I lost my good sense? But it felt good to get the shit off my chest. Zane was right about me telling her how I felt.

  Her eyes had widened in disbelief. “Really, now? You’re just putting it out there like that?”

  “I don’t know any other way to make you understand what you do to me.”

  “Well, you’ve given me a clear understanding tonight.”

  I pressed my hand to her back and touched soft skin. I leaned back to take a look. The dress was understated in the front but had a daring plunge in the back. The opening left her entire back exposed and stopped at the swell of her hips.

  “Fuck,” I muttered. There was no way she had on underwear. The dress had no panty lines showing.

  “What?”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight. That dress will have me wanting to beat the ass of any man looking at you.”

  “Mr. Pavlov, if you can’t behave, we shouldn’t go to the party. I happen to like my job and coworkers.”

  “I’ll behave while I’m there. However, there are no promises once we leave,” I said, waggling my brows.

  Abbie moved from my arms just as I was about to kiss her. Had I gone too far? Or was she playing it coy? I aimed to find out.

  *****

  If I could’ve found a wall to bang my head against to stay awake, I would’ve. But there was the issue of me being on my best behavior while in the company of Abbie’s coworkers.

  But this was the most boring retirement party I’d ever attended. The music was dull, and the crowd was a mixture of people from Channel 7 and family of the guest of honor. The never-ending speeches were long, dry, and non-humorous. All were the same monologue praising the woman for her dedication and loyalty to one company… blah, blah, blah.

  The good part of the party was the unlimited drinks and food—both were exceptional.

  I glanced at Abbie talking with Stella and some other people. She seemed relaxed and not uptight at all. I didn’t know what Dr. Parker had expected of me, but I was glad he called in his retainer.

  Davonte had been considering sending me on another job for a family in Indiana. There had been death threats made against a businessman associated with bad deals.

  Thank you, Dr. Parker, I said to myself.

  The band began to play, and people paired off to dance. A tall, pudgy man approached Abbie. When he touched her back, I cringed. She wouldn’t take it as sexual. He was much older, probably an executive or something.

  The scent of lavender surrounded me. I noticed a woman standing beside me. “Hi, I’m Lisa. I saw you standing here alone and thought you could use a friend. What’s your name?”

  I eyed the curvy brunette with dark blue eyes. Her peach-colored skin appeared flawless due to the makeup she wore. Waves of dark curls fell to her waist. The dress was black, short, and showed off legs that seemed endless.

  I licked my lips as I assessed her. The jewelry, designer clothes, and posture screamed wealth and power. She also would command attention with a wiggle of her finger. She was pretty, petite, wealthy, and reminded me of Joanie.

  “I’m Beck,” I finally said.

  She offered her dainty hand, and I took it. “Nice to meet you, Beck. So, how do you know my grandmother, and why ha
ven’t we met before?”

  Her hand was warm and soft, so I kept the handshake brief. “I don’t know her. I’m here with Abbie Parker.”

  Her glossy pink lips turned up at the ends. “Oh, you’re here with Abbie. Doesn’t she have a man?”

  Damn. What happened to the soft, seductive voice she’d approached me with? Her tone had faded to a dry bitterness. “Tonight, I am that man.”

  She licked her lips. “Since Abbie has you tonight, let me have tomorrow? I promise you won’t regret it.”

  I pinched my brows. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Slowly, she shook her head. “What’s your schedule like tomorrow, Beck? I’m free all day.”

  “I’m busy.”

  Her perky nose crinkled. I waited for whiskers to emerge and fangs to form. Yeah, I wasn’t about to be part of a catfight. I knew where my attention was focused and needed to keep that my main goal.

  “I’m sure you can squeeze in time for me.”

  I caught Stella glaring at me. Her eyes sent a silent message for me to get my ass over there. “I’m sorry, but I can’t,” I said.

  Lisa slipped a card into my hand. “Then call me when you’re free.”

  I didn’t bother to look at the card and balled it in my hand as I walked to where the group of people stood. I placed my arm seductively around Abbie’s waist. That caused the other man to drop his hand abruptly, as if her skin suddenly seared him.

  “Care to dance?” I whispered into her ear.

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Why certainly, sir.” Abbie turned to the older man and said, “Excuse me, Pete.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Abbie

  Beck’s large hand engulfed mine as we strolled to the dance floor. How we’d managed to leave home with the sexual tension so thick you could cut it amazed me. Once we got to the party, I’d intentionally mingled with others to keep from dragging him to an empty room and having my way with him.

  Lord, I didn’t want a relationship based on lust, but it was lust driving me to Beck Pavlov. Was I afraid to let myself love again after the love of my life found another? And could I fall in love with Beck… Hell yes! He consumed every inch of air, space, and me.