Page 15 of Phoenix

There was a tension in his jaw that hadn’t been there before. “Everything okay?”

“Could be worse,” he muttered, holding his hand out to me. “Save all those questions I see in your pretty eyes for after we eat.”

“Eat?” I echoed, my brows drawing together. Food was the last thing on my mind with everything going on, but my stomach betrayed me by choosing now to growl.

Beck’s lips curved, and he nodded. “Sounds like it was a good call.”

“I could probably eat,” I mumbled as he tugged me off the bed and kept hold of my hand as we walked into the hallway.

My gaze darted around the clubhouse as we made our way downstairs and into the lounge. I was surprised by how tidy everything was. With the black leather couches, pool table, big-screen televisions, poker table, and bar, the open space had a masculine vibe, but it was tempered by feminine touches like the red pillows and throw blankets on the couches.

The kitchen was empty when we got there. And huge.

Beck grabbed a container from the fridge, handed me a fork, and pointed at the nearest table.

I sat, and he set the food in front of me. I dug into the Italian pasta salad before I could overthink it. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the first bite hit my tongue.

My skin tingled and heated, feeling his eyes on me.

“You’re watching me eat,” I muttered between bites.

He grabbed a couple of Cokes from the fridge, popping the tab on one before handing it to me. Then he dropped onto the chair to my left and flung his arm over the back of mine. “I like seeing you in my space, enjoying something I gave you.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so I shifted my focus back to the food.

A thought occurred to me, and I swallowed my bite before asking, “Will you take me back to get my car tomorrow?”

I wasn’t excited about being away from Beck, but I didn’t want to be clingy. And I couldn’t leave my car in the hospital parking lot too long or it would be towed.

“Car’s already here, baby.”

I swiveled my head around to stare at him in surprise. “How did?—”

“Eat, baby,” he murmured, pushing the food closer, his expression making it clear that he wasn’t open to talking until I’d filled my stomach.

When I was done, Beck took the empty container from me and tossed it in the trash. He didn’t ask if I was ready to go back to his room—just tilted his head toward the door.

I followed without a word, too tired to argue and too aware that every step brought me closer to a bed I very much needed.

I lingered in the doorway, unsure what to do now that my stomach wasn’t screaming for attention.

“Get some sleep,” Beck said, crossing the room to grab a laptop off the desk. “I have work to do.”

I probably should’ve asked if what he had to do was connected to the community center, but now that my belly was full, I was feeling the adrenaline crash. “Okay.”

He quirked a brow. “You definitely need some rest if your sass is gone.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry, it’ll be back.”

“Good.” He captured my mouth in a deep kiss that left me weak in the knees before stalking over to the closet to grab a big T-shirt that he tossed to me. “You’ll be more comfortable in this.”

“Thanks.”

It was still light outside, but after he left, I used the en suite bathroom to get ready for bed. Then I sent a quick text to my mom.

Me

Hey, I won’t be home tonight. Staying with a friend.

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