He’d been watching the clock and knew Becky’s schedule. Her last class was over at two thirty today. She had a shift at the grocery store at six, and he suspected she wasn’t going to listen to a word he’d said. Her stubbornness was in everything that made her who she was. She wasn’t the kind of woman who meekly did anything, and that only had him wanting her more. Worse, he still couldn’t believe she hadn’t told him to go fuck himself. The desire and chemistry, the wanting of him, was something she couldn’t hide. He could see it every time he crossed every decent line with her.

Her father, though, had been a rude enough awakening. Brad Friessen wasn’t a man to be taken lightly, and messing with his daughter would in fact be a one-way ticket to a trauma center, where he would be the one in need of urgent critical care. He’d never considered before the dangers of what he was doing with women, particularly a sassy college student who was the daughter of Brad Friessen. He was stepping into vastly unfamiliar territory, but he had enough street smarts to know the civilized man he met was a facade that masked a dirty street fighter who’d do anything to protect those he loved—and Brad loved his daughter, his family.

He finished up his notes and sent a quick text to Becky: Be waiting for me in the school parking lot. Be there in fifteen. Then he headed to the residents’ lounge to change and grab his coat.

“Hey, Campbell, wait up.” It was Higgins, an OB resident who owed him a favor after he’d caught an error, missing the warning signs of a placenta abruption that could have cost a mom and baby their lives.

“You got that prescription for me?” Tom said, knowing Becky was unlikely to take care of it as he’d asked.

Higgins pulled a scrip from his pocket. “For your girlfriend, right? In light of the fact that she’s not a patient and I don’t know her medical history, be sure there’s no history of heart disease, blood pressure… You know all this. Still, have her come in for an exam.” He was holding the paper, and Tom took it from him, sensing his hesitation.

“I’ll take care of it and see she comes in. Thank you,” he said.

Higgins walked away. He was the kind of doctor who got by but wasn’t exceptional. No, Tom would get Becky in to see Winterbaun, who was the top OB/GYN around, even though he was a prick.

He checked his watch again as he slid behind the wheel of his Durango, seeing he was late again. He pulled out his phone to send another text to Becky when he saw her reply.

No can do with my tutor.

“Stubborn…” he said under his breath as he felt his irritation climb. Yeah, she wasn’t meekly about to listen to him, and that had him smiling as he thought of the fun and the rush of getting her to see things his way. All this feisty stubbornness was only making him want her more. It was twisted, and he knew that as he pulled out of the parking lot. He stopped first at the coffee house by his place where he’d found Becky the first time. He knew that was likely where they’d be. Maybe.

There was her car.

“Hmm” was all he said as he parked in the empty spot beside it. The parking lot was almost full, and he took in the busy coffee house and started to the door. The noise from the chatter hit him as he opened it, and he glanced around at occupied tables. Some people were standing, and everyone was chatting, college students and others, the espresso machine and blender going in the background. There was a lineup for ordering, and Tom had to step around a young couple in each other’s arms, kissing and hugging. He saw her over by the window with the tutor, Ian. Both had coffee, and no books were out. The only thing they appeared to be doing was talking far too intimately for his liking. He stood there for a moment.

“Who’s next?” he heard one of the three clerks call out behind the counter. He turned away.

“Tom? I thought that was you,” a woman said. It took him a minute as he took in the red hair cut in a short bob, the blue eyes, and the green wool cap. Robin? How long had it been? “You look good.” She had a nervous smile, but then, she always had.

“You too,” he said, taking in her dark coat and the coffee to go she was holding. He couldn’t remember what her body looked like. She was just one of many who had blended together.

Her eyes lit up. “You’re still at the hospital?”

“Yes,” he said. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember anything about her, what she did. She was just sex, and she’d been there every time he called, having readily agreed to his terms, never hers. “And you?” He should have felt bad for how he’d used her, taking from her what she had freely given to satisfy him. He was a selfish bastard, and he felt nothing for her.

“I was given a promotion at the firm, assistant to VP of marketing.”

“That’s great, good for you.” He didn’t have a clue what firm or business it was.

She was still there and glanced off to the side. It was hesitant, and he recognized it now, the insecurity and willingness to do anything he asked. It was tiring, and he wished she’d stop. “So are you here with someone?” she said. There it was, hope.

He couldn’t have that. He didn’t want it. The only thing he wanted was the feisty smart-mouthed chit across the room who would never look at him with starry eyes and wait much like a loyal dog for any bit of affection he just happened to toss her way. No, Becky Friessen, he realized, would likely tell him where he could go, and likely with directions how to get there.

“I am,” he said and noticed the moment disappointment dimmed the spark. “And she’s waiting for me.” Yeah, now he’d crushed it. “Listen, it was great to see you,” he said and then watched as Robin, a woman he couldn’t muster any fondness for, walked away out the door.

He looked over once again to Becky, who was sitting with a guy he’d demanded she not, and he realized that Robin and every other women he’d bedded would have without question done exactly as he’d asked.