Page 9 of Beckett the Bad Boy (Suitor’s Crossing: The Caldwells #4)

BECKETT

The next morning, I wake up to a cold and empty bed.

“Beth?” I ask the unusually quiet room after a night of breathy moans and sweet whimpers.

Having Beth in my bed, cuddled into me, was… different.

Amazing.

Totally addictive.

The only issue is that she's not still here. Not snuggled into my side like a warm, purring kitten.

Did she leave already?

Did she sneak out without saying goodbye?

In seconds, I’ve disentangled myself from the cluster of blankets and swung open the bedroom door, prepared to find my missing girl.

Sweatpants hang from my hips, my hair is askew, and my socked feet slip on the floor as I race downstairs to the main level.

Fuck, I didn’t even take my socks off last night?

It’s not lost on me how atypical my behavior has become.

I’ve never brought a woman home with me. I don’t spend the night either. We fuck then go our separate ways.

And I remember to take off all my damn clothes.

But Beth is unique.

She’s more than a fling.

Something I feared yesterday when I thought a kiss would get her out of my system.

Because that particular notion was swiftly dispelled the moment our lips touched. I knew then and there that I craved more.

Which is why I invited her back to my place.

Except now she is gone without a trace.

Ranger lazes in the living room on his phone when he sees what must be my crazy-eyed look.

His feet are propped on a leather ottoman while old cartoons play on the TV, reminding me of a conversation I had with my family about how classic animated shows calmed me.

Ranger and I both discovered their relaxing effects in college.

He smirks then jerks a thumb to the left. “She's in the kitchen.”

I didn't even have to say a word for him to know who I was searching for.

Probably because he’d feel the same way if it were Georgia who disappeared on him.

She’s the manager of Club Wolf 2.0—not its official name—and he’s been spending a lot of time with her since the original Club Wolf burned down. She also happens to be a Reaper’s Wolves MC member’s sister.

Grim will blow a gasket when he finds out one of his MC brothers has a thing for his little sister.

Though considering the other secret Ranger is hiding, maybe that’ll be the least of his worries…

Putting Ranger and his potential problems out of my head, I hurry into the kitchen, my pace stalling once Beth comes into view. She’s seated at the center island eating a bowl of cereal.

“Hey, you disappeared.” No shit, Sherlock. What a stupid way to say good morning .

“My stomach wouldn’t shut up, so I figured I’d eat something before going home to finish last-minute details for tomorrow’s cook-off.” Her body tenses, and a frown tugs at her lush mouth. “I hope that’s okay. That I’m still here.”

“Of course.” I drop a kiss to the top of her head. “Do you have to be home by a certain time?”

The clock on the oven shows that it’s just after 8:00 A.M.

“My Teams chat should show I’m available —” Her fingers make little air quotes—“by 9:00, so we’ve got plenty of time if you need to shower or eat breakfast or whatever. I don’t want to disrupt your normal routine.”

“Don’t worry about it. My next shift isn’t until Monday, so my day is flexible.”

After grabbing a bowl and spoon, I join her at the island. Our knees brush under the marble overhang, and a zing of electricity emanates from the connection.

My theory about getting Beth out of my system with one measly kiss never would have worked. Something I obviously figured out pretty quickly, but this just proves it.

When we touch, there are sparks.

Hell, maybe even heart sparks .

“So, what’s after the cook-off tomorrow? Halloween planning?”

Beth blows out a heavy breath and nods. “Yep. Trunk or Treat on Main Street. Instead of delicious chili, I can gorge myself on sugary candy,” she jokes.

“What’s your favorite?” I ask, eager for more insight into her likes and dislikes, even if it's something as simple as her favorite candy.

“Jolly Ranchers, specifically the watermelon flavor, but I’m happy with whatever I get.”

“Not chocolate?” My sister loves mini chocolate bars. Cookies and cream, peanuts, caramel. The kind doesn’t matter as long as it’s covered, or entirely made of, chocolate.

Beth shakes her head. “Milk chocolate is too sweet for me. I don’t mind dark chocolate, but they don’t offer much of that for kids at Halloween. Too bitter… What about you?”

“Smarties.”

Her nose and forehead wrinkle in disgust.

Laughing, I trace a line down the middle of her forehead before playfully tapping her nose. “Yeah, that’s the same reaction my siblings had when they traded their Smarties for my Skittles.”

Beth chuckles then moves to take her bowl to the sink, but I stop her with a hand on her arm. “I’ve got it.” Stacking the empty bowl beneath my own after one last slurp of cereal-flavored milk, I bump her knee with mine.

“So, after the cook-off tomorrow, I’m guessing you’ll be pretty wiped, but what about Sunday? We could spend it together, then you can join my family for dinner.”

The invitation rolls so easily off my tongue, it’s like they are meant to be—Beth, me, and my family.

It’s strange how not freaked out that makes me. Especially since it’s serious shit to bring a woman home. And practically unheard of, in my case.

Another first for me.

Her brows shoot skyward. “Really? You want me to meet your family?”

“Well, you already know Kennedy, but yeah… Unless that’s too much,” I say, suddenly worried that I’ve gone too far.

Maybe Beth doesn’t feel as strong of a connection as I do.

Maybe all she wanted was a wild night with the Suitor’s Crossing bad boy; she wouldn’t be the first.

Maybe she—

“No, it sounds fun.” A bright smile lights up her face, and the unfamiliar spiral I fell into slams to a halt.

Maybe my girl is starting to rub off on me because I’ve never nervously rambled in my life.

A twinge of unease snakes through my belly.

I’m not sure how I feel about a woman affecting me so easily. Changing me. Will it be for better or worse?