10. Beckett

10

BECKETT

T he office cleared out an hour earlier, and I checked the time to realize I needed to shut down my computer then head to Stanton's place.

We'd been dating for three months now. He made everything right. Treated me as if I was the most precious thing in his life. A day never went by without him doing a little something for me, usually a surprise present he'd noticed I'd looked at when we were out or a special date. For the upcoming weekend, we were actually going away, but he wouldn't tell me where.

I pushed up from behind my desk and packed up what I would need if I had a chance to work. On occasion, I brought files with me while I'd sit on the floor between Stanton's legs, he'd speak on the phone with vendors or his employees about an upcoming event. All of it seemed too easy, and it had from the beginning. But what Stanton and I had was my first relationship where we were public from date one.

He seemed all in for whatever. Stanton made sure that I understood if I needed him to, he'd back off and give me space. That rarely happened, though. The rare nights I didn't spend at his place were lonely, and my apartment was too quiet. I gathered up the last of my things and headed for the elevator with my only thoughts about getting home to my Daddy.

The thought always brought a smile to my face and made me happy. Daddy always took care of me. That part of him so ingrained he did it unconsciously. He did everything for me, made my plate, bathed me, and sometimes even dressed me for work. When that started, I'd assumed it would wear thin at some point, yet it hadn't. I loved being his entire focus. I loved the fun trips to the park. He'd even taken me to a Rage Room one night after a particularly stressful day at work.

He'd helped me put on coveralls, safety glasses, and a face mask. Then he sent me into the room with a pat on my backside to beat the shit out of things. I hated to admit how much fun I'd had and how free I'd felt just destroying everything I could.

The elevator doors opened, and I froze to find Clora standing there, a smile curving her lips.

"Leaving awful late, Beckett."

"I just realized what time it was," I said as I stepped inside. We hadn't interacted since the day she'd shown up in my office, and I'd started to wonder if his mother didn't approve of him dating an employee of her company. I turned on my toes and saw she'd hit the button for the parking garage. "Are you done for the day?"

"Yes, I got stuck on a call with an old, old college friend who's organizing a sorority reunion. I'd rather have my teeth pulled without pain meds with rusty pliers."

I snorted embarrassingly loud as I glanced at her to find her rolling eyes that perfectly matched her son's. That's when I realized Stanton was a male copy of Clora.

"That doesn't sound pleasant."

"I only pledged because it was a family tradition. Besides, I met my husband at a frat party. Why would I want to celebrate those horrific years?"

"I take it you weren't a fan of his. "

Stanton had told me many stories of his non-relationship with his father. I'd known the man to be cold and brutal in his expectations. There was no room for failure. I'd assumed he'd show some caring and love for his family. Yet it appeared the senior Sanderson was the same unrelenting man even in his personal life. Stanton told the tales with almost no emotion—sometimes, he seemed almost amused by the animosity between him and his father.

"His dick was pretty much the only thing I miss, and I can get a better model at a sex shop, and not have to hear him sound like he was fighting for his life with his pumps."

"You're, um…" I cleared my throat.

"You're dating my son, so we're your family now. Be prepared for mine and his crazy. I raised him, so Stanton is the way he is because of me. I'll apologize, I should've done that months ago when he told me he was going to seduce the head of my legal department."

"He what?" I was surprised my voice didn't crack.

"My son took one look at you, and you were unquestionably his. He'd have moved heaven and hell to make sure of that."

My body had tensed at the word seduce but faded away when I realized it wasn't meant as something disrespectful. As if he'd viewed me as a joke—something to possess and use then discard when I was no longer useful. An instant overwhelming guilt hit me for judging him by my past experiences. Stanton hadn't done anything but adore and focus on me, even when I knew he was too busy to think some nights.

"I've never seen Stanton like he is with you. He's trying so hard to get you to love him as much as he does you."

"I'm sure he doesn't love me. It's too soon for that." It took everything in me to push those two short sentences past the lump in my throat at thinking Stanton had fallen in love with me. I'd started to fear that was happening on my side. The younger man was so different from what I was used to, but he also showed me in a hundred small ways that he'd do anything to make me contented.

"People have this preconceived notion that time has anything to do with love. There are people together for fifty years and can't stand each other, but others meet someone… the instant their eyes connect, and there's nothing you wouldn't do for them."

As I was about to ask what she meant, the doors slid open, and I motioned for her to go first. Instead of saying goodnight, I walked with her to make sure she got to her vehicle okay. Our steps echoed in the cavernous space—a hollow sound that rang off the cement floors and pillars. The spots were almost all empty.

"Do you have an issue with Stanton dating someone so much older than him?" I asked because as much as I didn't feel I needed her approval; she was someone I respected for how much she'd grown the company since her husband passed. She'd surpassed him. Dating Stanton was different, though. That broke the barrier between professional and personal lives.

"Of course not. He's sometimes impulsive but in a fun and quirky kind of way, but he's always smart about important decisions. Admittedly, I may have tried to talk him out of seducing one of my employees." She winked at me, and I chuckled. "Yet I could see how much he wanted a chance. Although, me being me, I had to give him shit."

"Can I be honest with you?"

"I'd prefer it."

"I was insecure about holding Stanton's attention, but he's proved with every action that he wants us to work."

"He's an adult with a successful business and a fulfilling life, but I've seen a change in my son since you two started seeing each other. Make sure he brings you by for dinner or something soon. He's been keeping you to himself."

"I'd started to wonder if he was embarrassed to bring me around." There'd been a few dinners at her home, but something always came up, or he just wanted to spend time with me.

We stopped beside a luxury vehicle, shiny and top-of-the-line. My boring sedan looked shabby beside it. I'd never been the type of person who spent much on material items besides my suits for work and the occasional splurge item that I absolutely didn't need. I succumbed to retail therapy when I had nothing to occupy me.

"Hush, he's been telling anyone who asks what's new about his amazing boyfriend. He's an extremely busy man who doesn't like to share. When he gets alone time with you, he wants you all to himself. I understand that. Give it time to fall into a routine." She dug into her bag for her keys, and I stepped back as she unlocked her door. "Get home. Thanks for walking me to my car."

"Stanton and I are having dinner. I'm headed straight there."

"Have fun. And just relax. My son adores you and is so proud to have you as his."

I didn't know how to answer that, so I pushed out a goodnight and a stay safe going home . Once she was on her way, I headed off in the direction I'd come from to get to my own vehicle and reminded myself to text Stanton to let him know I was on my way.

He loved to know where I was. The old me would've found it stifling, but as Daddy's boy, I felt treasured and needed. All the dreams I had in my twenties about that man who'd be mine started to come back. Even closeted, I'd had an almost fairy-tale-like vision of the person I'd find and spend the rest of my life with. At thirty, I'd felt I'd found that in Tanner, but I'd seen my ex-husband through some distorted lens—the crack in the closet door.

My phone started to ring in my pocket, and I pulled it out to check the display to see Stanton's name, along with a picture of him smiling at me. I connected the call .

"Hey, Daddy," I whispered, smirking as I heard his groan.

"Baby, that's mean. Are you on your way home?"

"Yes, I was about to send you a message that I was pulling out of the garage in a few minutes. Your mother was leaving the same time as me, so I walked her to her car."

"Such a gentleman. Did she try to talk you out of continuing to date her annoying son?"

I snorted. "No, she didn't. She told me you needed to bring me for dinner soon."

"I will. I plan on it, but summer is always a crazy party season, even more so than holidays. Christmas time is always a nightmare. I'll finish up dinner for when you get here. Be careful, okay? No using your phone while you're driving."

"Promise. I'll be there in about thirty minutes. Do you need me to stop and pick anything up?"

"Thank you, but no, I have everything I need except you."

My face flushed, and I felt a silly grin pull at the corners of my mouth. My man was almost sugary sweet. I'd never thought that would be a surprising turn-on for me. I told him I was getting in my car, and I'd be there shortly. When I disconnected the call, I instantly missed his voice.

Was Clora right? Did Stanton love me? I knew damn sure I was falling for him and hard. The walls I'd always kept in place to protect myself weren't there with him. He made it safe. I felt as if what I had with Stanton was the chance I'd never had with Tanner. It was a love in the open. It was filled with communication and honesty, trusting my complete well-being to him because he'd never abuse the bond I developed with him.

Settling into my driver's seat, I tossed my bag into the backseat and then turned the engine over. As I backed out of my spot, I felt a sense of contentment that had everything to do with Stanton. Hopefully, that was what I'd needed, but denied myself, because I hadn't felt worthy of the care a Daddy like Stanton could give me.