by Alexa King
I glance down at the card and read the message.
Cum be my Valentine.
Miss Barton
The miss is underlined for some reason. Gross. I wonder if she’d want to be his Valentine if she knew how many women he went through.
Sue lays down a ten-dollar bill next to the flowers for the cab. “All the orders are out for delivery. After you drop those off go get ready for your own Valentine’s Day.” She gives me a knowing smile and I blush, trying not to give anything away.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Heck yes, I’m sure.”
I love how excited she is about me and Beau. My mind is already racing about what dress I should wear tonight. I wish I knew where he worked, I could surprise him with a visit.
I change my mind, though. I shouldn't do that. We haven't talked about how serious we are. But the way he treated me last night and the things we did… He took my virginity. God, my face is probably on fire.
He said we’d talk about what we are. I know I have to be important to him. Him freaking out this morning when I wasn't in bed with him was actually really adorable the more I think about it. The idea of Beau going crazy over me is sweet.
I grab my purse and glance toward the back of the shop, where I notice John working. He studies me for a second and then nods at my bag.
“Heading out, ma’am?” he asks.
“Yep. Got a delivery.” He gives me a polite smile and pulls his phone out. “See you later,” I tell him, heading toward the front.
I look at the address and see it’s right next to the coffee shop. Heck, it might be the same building. I could walk it. I pick up the flowers and change my mind. It will be a quick taxi ride, but the walk might kill my arms, so I decide on riding.
When I get to the building I hop out of the taxi and head inside. I stop at the front desk, thinking I could leave the flowers there, but curiosity gets the best of me.
“Who are you here for?” the guard asks.
“B. Heart. A delivery,” I tell him.
“Your name?”
“Dove Rosetta from Love at First Sight Flowers.”
He type something into the computer then looks back up at me. “Top floor, ma’am.” He points toward the elevators.
“Thanks.” I head in that direction, thinking that maybe I can run to the lingerie store down the street and get something sexy to wear after I drop these off. All my panties are simple and plain.
I push my glasses up my nose as I exit the elevator. I glance around and see two desks, but no one is at either of them. I walk farther down the hallway and stop when I hear a voice. I glance at the door and see the name Heart engraved on it.
“I didn’t know you liked them young. Like father like son,” I hear a man say. I pause right before I’m about to knock on the door.
“Dad. Really, it’s—” My whole body freezes. I know that voice.
“Just make sure you get a prenup,” the other man interrupts.
“I don’t need one,” Beau growls, and he sounds pissed. Then it hits me.
B. Heart is Beau Heart. Beau’s last name is Heart. I don’t know why I hadn't ever thought to ask him his last name. Then it hits me again. This is the man who’s been sending flowers out to random women all over town. My heart pounds and blood rushes to my ears. Anger and sadness hit me hard. I’m such an idiot.
Like a robot, I step forward and pull open the door.
“That’s right. You don’t do marriage. It’s for morons and love isn’t real.” The man talking is sitting in a chair in front of Beau’s desk. He’s in a suit and his hair is gray, but I can’t focus on him. My eyes go to Beau, who’s looking down at his phone.
“Dad,” Beau snaps, his head coming up. Then his eyes dart to me. “Dove?” He stands up and takes a step toward me.
I hate how handsome he looks. It's then I notice my hands are shaking. I try to tighten my grip on the vase, but my hands are sweating and they slip. The crystal vase drops to the ground, hitting the tile floor and smashing into thousands of pieces. I turn around and run just as the tears start to fall. I have to get away from Beau.
I hear him yell my name as the elevator opens. An older woman steps off with a younger woman following her. I jump on and hit the lobby button over and over again. I see Beau come flying out of his office and our eyes lock. I feel the tears on my cheeks as the doors close between us.
I let myself fall back against the elevator wall, knowing that I’ll never get over the heartbreak of losing Beau. Maybe my parents were right. I was naïve to the world. Even with the heartbreak, I know I’ll cherish last night forever. I’d never felt so loved. I don’t understand how it wasn’t as real to Beau as it was to me. I thought he was the one.
As soon as the doors open, I rush from the elevator and run into someone. I stop and look up to see it’s John. He grabs my shoulders, stopping me from falling on my ass, and quickly lets me go like I burned him.
“John?” I ask, wondering why he’s here.
“Ma’am,” is all he says. I stand there shocked for a moment before realizing I need to get out of here. Beau looked like he was chasing me when he came running out of his office.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, going around him.
He calls my name, but I ignore him, slipping from the building out onto the sidewalk. I take out my phone, clearing the missed calls from Beau and pulling up a browser. I go down the stairs to the subway and jump on the first one. The doors close instantly and I don’t care where it’s going, I just need to get away for a moment. I’m worried Beau might catch up to me and I just need to be alone.
I find a vacant seat and take it as I type Beau’s name into the search engine on my phone. Tons of articles come up, all about Beau Heart, Boston's top divorce lawyer. There’s article after article of cases he’s won. Most have been for women. Then there are others about him being one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors. Other articles call him cold and calculating.
I put my phone back in my purse and let my head fall back. I never thought of Beau as cold and calculating. I guess I also didn't think he was just using me for sex either. I’m one of a long list of women he goes through. At least they got flowers. I let out a mocking laugh.
Maybe he wasn't done with me yet and I would have gotten my flowers next week. My jaw clicks and anger courses through me again. It’s not a feeling I’m used to. It’s foreign and I don’t like it. I hate all these feelings. I want to go back to the love and butterflies dancing in my stomach when I thought I’d found the perfect man. Thought I found the thing that I’d been missing and looking for all this time.
I don’t know how long I ride the subway, but when the car is somewhat empty and the evening rush is gone, I decide it’s time to get off. I want to go home but I’m worried Beau will show up there. Or worse what if he doesn’t. A part of me wants him to show up at my door and tell me he’s a changed man or something. That he’s madly in love with me.
“God, I’m pathetic,” I mutter to myself. I step off the subway, not even paying attention to where I am. I’m going to get something to eat then head home. I don’t have to worry about Tia wondering where I am. I already texted her earlier that I would be with Beau tonight. I really don’t want to tell her everything that happened. Not tonight anyway. It’s all still too raw.
I let out a small scream when I make it to the top of the stairs from the subway and strong arms wrap around me. Beau’s scent fills my lungs and I know it’s him. I try to fight him, but he only holds me tighter.
“Oh no, sunshine. Your ass is mine.” Then I’m in the air. My stomach hits his shoulder, taking me by surprise. I let out another small scream, and Beau smacks my ass.
I hear a catcall come from somewhere, reminding me we’re in the middle of a busy sidewalk.
“Fuck off,” Beau growls at whoever it was.
“Beau, put me down!” I yell.
“All right.” And he does, but into the back of a town car. I scurry to the ot
her side of the car and try to open the door, but it’s locked. I hear the car door shut behind me as Beau slides in. I try the handle again, but nothing.
My mouth falls open when I see John sliding into the driver seat of the car and pulling away from the curb. My eyes dart from John to Beau.
“Not a word,” he says, his voice low and holding no room for argument. This must be the cold persona people were talking about in the articles I read.
“You don’t talk to me like that,” I snap back. The hardness drops away from his face for a moment, and the soft smile he always gives me comes back.
“I’m on edge, sunshine. Give me a moment to calm down. Maybe after I’ve had you a few times I’ll be better.”
I glare at him. “You’re never going to have me again.”
He studies me for a moment before taking a few deep breaths. “That’s where you're wrong. You’ll always belong to me.” There is a hard, possessive edge to his words. I open my mouth to retort, but he cuts me off. “Not a word until we’re alone.”
“I’ll—”
He cuts me off again. “Dove. I have ways to keep you from speaking.” His attention drops to my mouth and I know he’s right. If he kissed me right now I’d probably melt into him. I have no control when it comes to him. And it’s even worse with him so close to me. He looks like he’s about to come unhinged.
I drop back into my seat, scooting away from him, but Beau grabs me, pulling me into his lap and burying his face in my neck. His arms lock around me in a tight hold, making his words about me belonging to him ring true.
Chapter Eleven
Beau
I breathe in her scent, getting myself under control. I lost it when I saw her in the elevator with tears running down her face. Then the doors closed, blocking me from her. I punched the elevator door, leaving a fist size dent in it and making Katie and Carrie both gasp.
My father looked at me in shock. He’d been on me from the moment he walked into my office. Someone opened their mouth about my Dove to him. Likely someone from security since we share the same people. My dad has wanted me to get married for years because he wants grandchildren. The problem with him, though, is he doesn’t care if I stay with the woman I marry, just as long as he gets grandchildren and I have an ironclad prenup.
I don't need a fucking prenup.
Dove doesn't say a word. She’s likely worried I’ll make good on my threat to keep her from talking. I knew it wouldn’t take much. She’s always falling into me when I kiss her. She melts my coldness with her light, shining on areas of my heart I didn’t know I had in me. I love that about her.
In my arms she’s tense and mad, but I’ll take it over the tears. They almost broke me. It was made worse because I know it was something I’d done put them there. I know she heard what my father said about me. She may have heard some other things, too. I need to get things straight with her and to be straight with her. I’ve been hiding my urges from her because I was scared they’d send her running. It looks like my time is up.
“Take the garage,” I tell the driver. Dove might try to run from me when we open the car door. I don't need a scene in front of the building.
“Yes, sir.”
“Does he work for you?” she asks softly. She turns a little, looking up at me through her thick, dark lashes.
“Yes.”
“Did you put him in the flower shop to spy on me?”
“Yes.”
She lets out a breath and relaxes a little more into me. I feel some of the tension leave my body at her speaking to me. How long can I keep her locked away before people would start to notice? More crazy thoughts about how to keep her to myself and no one finding out flood my mind.
Fuck, I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe I could get her to stay on her own.
I move her hair out of the way and start kissing her neck. “Beau,” she warns, but she tilts her head to let me have her. Her brain is telling her one thing, but her body knows it belongs to me.
“Sir,” I hear John say, reminding me we aren't alone. How easily I get lost in her. I see we’re in the garage, and John comes around to open my door. His mouth is set in a hard line.
I’d gone off on him when he’d lost her in the subway. I had to call in a few favors to get her phone tracked so that I could find her. I didn't want her wandering around the city all alone. Worse, alone on the subway. Someone could snatch her up and try and take her from me. I don’t know how she’s been out in the world this long without having been touched before. That’s everyone else's loss because no one else will ever put hands on her but me.
I slide Dove off my lap and then help her out of the car. I think she’s going to fight me, but she follows. She does try and pull her hand from mine, but I have it in a gentle yet unbreakable hold. She does a cute little huff that has me fighting a smile as we wait for the elevator.
We step onto the elevator and Dove keeps her eyes on her feet. I pull her to me, unable to stand the distance. “Sunshine, I promise I’m going to explain everything.”
“I don’t want to hear about all your lovers,” she snaps, her eyes finally coming to meet mine. She glares at me, and I hate that I’ve made her so angry.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
The elevator opens and she starts to stomp off but can’t go too far with my hand holding hers. She stops when she makes it only a few feet, lets out a little gasp.
My home is covered in flowers and balloons. There are lit candles lining every surface and nothing is untouched. It looks like Valentine’s Day exploded in here.
She’s shocked into silence, before she turns around. “Is this for me?”
“Who else would it be for?”
“Probably one of the many women you’ve got all over town.” Her words come out with a bite. I don’t like seeing her angry. It doesn't suit her. She’s made of smiles and sunshine. I have to change this.
I grab her with my arm and turn us around, pinning her to the wall. She tries to push at my chest, but I’m unmovable. I take both her wrists and cuff them with one hand above her head.
“I don't have any lovers.”
“Liar! I make all those stupid bouquets you send them every week,” she yells in my face, and she sounds like a fierce little kitten.
“Dove, I have no idea what you are talking about.” I’m genuinely shocked.
“I made one the other day for Miss Barton. The same woman who sent you flowers today.”
“I didn't send her flowers,” I growl. “I can’t stand that fucking woman. She was a client of mine. I don’t touch clients.” She looks at me in confusion. I’m just as confused, but I’m sure that’s not what my face is showing. I’m pissed that she thinks I’m some manwhore. That couldn't be further from the truth. “There is only you. I haven't noticed women in years. Fucking years. Not until I watched you walk into that coffee shop. Then you were all I noticed anymore. I can’t focus on anything but you.”
I let go of her wrists and pull out my cell phone. I hit Katie’s number, then hit speaker.
“Sir.” Katie answers the phone. “Did you find her?”
“Yes. I found her.” My eyes are locked with Dove’s. “The flowers that were dropped.”
“I cleaned them up and the card was from Mrs. Barton. The note was, well…” She trails off.
“Tell me.”
She reads it and I curse. Dove’s eyes drop from mine. “Can you tell me why Dove says the flower shop she works for has been sending flowers out from me to different women?”
“One second, sir.” The line goes quiet.
“I never touched that woman,” I tell Dove again, and she meets my eyes. “You’re the only woman I will ever want. Never doubt that. You belong to me.”
Her mouth parts as if she’s about to say something, but Katie comes back on the line.
“Well, I guess Carrie has been sending them out after each one of your cases close.”
“She’s fired,” I say instantly.
>
“Beau!” Dove gasps at me. “Don’t be so mean. Just tell the poor girl to stop.”
I think about it for a moment. “Is that what you want me to do, sunshine?” I ask her.
She nods.
“You heard her, Katie. Tell her to knock it off.”
“Consider it done,” Katie says, and I end the call knowing that it’s as good as done. I’m sure Katie is going to issue an ass chewing of her own to Carrie.
Dove bites her lip and I know she’s fighting a smile.
“Want to know why there aren't other women?” I ask her, and she nods.
“My father goes through wives like you wouldn't believe. I’ve almost lost count of them. On top of being a divorce lawyer.” I shake my head. “I might be jaded. I haven't had a great role model for marriage or love.”
“You never want to get married or fall in love?” Her bottom lips puffs out. I know how precious and innocent my girl is. She believes in knights in shining armor, and in this moment I know I’m going to give her that the best I can.
“Oh, we’re getting married. And as for falling in love, I’m already there.” Her eyes brim with tears. “I can’t live without you, Dove. You’re my sunshine. You’re the breath of air I need, and I can’t go back to how I’ve been living since before I met you. Not now that I’ve had a taste.”
“I read about you on the subway.”
I growl at the reminder of her alone on the subway. It was the longest hour of my fucking life.
“They said mean things about you. Things I’ve never seen. That you were cold and calculating. Though, today, I’ve seen hints of that.”
“I am those things, but I never want to be cold with you. It came out today when I thought you were trying to get away from me. I can’t control myself.”
“I kinda like that I make you lose control,” she says, her eyes softening.
“I won’t lie to you, Dove. I am calculating. It’s why I’m so good at my job. You’ve seen part of it already with John.”
“Who is he?”
“Your security.”
“Mine?”
