“Let’s go home, Nancy Drew,” Gabe pulled Bailey toward the door. “Where’s your pack?”
“I can’t leave her…” Bailey scowled at him, her gaze shifting to the pack that lay beside the sofa, untouched.
“I think Colin’s got things under control,” Gabe assured her, grabbing her pack with his free hand. “If you need anything, call.”
“Thanks,” Colin said without taking his gaze from Angel. “She won’t be alone, Bailey, but we appreciate your help.”
This seemed to wake Angel from her thoughts, dark lashes blinking as if she was returning from far away. She was up and around the table, hugging Bailey and unaware of the surprise on her friend’s face.
“I’m okay. I am,” she ignored the tear that slipped free. “Thank you for not letting me be an idiot.”
“Don’t make me cry,” Bailey’s growl came out just a little watery. “I’ll see you at lunch tomorrow.” She cast a quick look at Colin before nodding and trailing behind a tugging Gabe.
“Oh, god, now she’s in trouble…” Angel glared at Colin. “You see why…why…” frustration set in and she stormed into her bedroom, the door slamming behind her.
Angel leaned against the door for a long couple minutes. She really hadn’t believed he’d stay out of her room or her life. And contrary as it was, she was glad he’d returned.
She hadn’t allowed herself to think about her friends. Her father always found some way to make her regret making friends. Usually, though, they disappeared on their own once they realized who her parent was.
She sighed thickly and walked to the covered bench seat that made up the bay window. That’s where Colin found her a few minutes later. Curled into the corner and staring into the darkness as it fell. Clouds, rain and night. A perfect ending to the weekend.
“I’m not feeling very social,” she told him without looking in his direction.
“And you don’t think I could change that?” Colin leaned against the bed, his arms over his chest.
“You aren’t very good at listening sometimes. You’re very good at…” she let her head fall to the knees she had her arms wrapped around. “That isn’t true. You do listen well. You simply chose to ignore what I say if you don’t think it’s fitting into what you believe I should think or feel.”
“I’d be willing to bet…” he kept his voice low, waiting until she looked over at him before continuing. “That the first time I came home from a really bad ending to a trial I worked hard at and was in a horrible mood…don’t smile, pet, it happens, believe me. But I’d bet you would do everything in your power to lift that mood, even be a brat so I could work my frustrations out on you.”
“I…” she dragged her tongue around her lips. “You make it sound as though you intend for this to be more than play dates at the club,” Angel was positive her heart would thump right out of her chest.
“I thought you were smart enough to see that possibility the first night we met,” he replied with a casual shrug. “I saw possibility…just not how much.”
“Why did you go to Gabe?” She raised her gaze to his and saw too much but couldn’t look away.
“We’ve been friends for a long time. If anyone had answers to making a relationship work, I was pretty sure it would be him,” Colin grinned at her. “Although, I’m not sure he’s always at the top of his game since he met Bailey.”
“She loves him very much,” Angel nodded and turned back to the darkness outside the window. “I hope she’s not in too much trouble for coming here. She just…” she faltered, tears in her voice.
“Won’t allow you to lock her out,” Colin finished for her. “Why is it acceptable that you protect people but won’t allow them the same courtesy, Angel?”
“Because what I’m protecting them from is my fault. He wouldn’t be in their lives if it weren’t for me. And here…stupid me…thought it would be simple and cut and dried,” she let her head fall back. “But no, of course not. I wonder if my brothers are involved in that scheme, too? I could never really tell…I thought…when they got older…maybe they’d see what they were doing…how they were behaving…was wrong.”
“Fanatics don’t see wrong. All they see is their point of view and the justification they tell themselves, Angel.” Colin unfolded his arms, his hands settling on the side of the bed. “I’m not leaving tonight. And I’m not leaving you alone unless you can look me in the eye and tell me it’s what you want. Not what your father wants.”
“I don’t think you realized how messed up…” Angel shook her head. “Logically, I know I did not cause my mother’s death. Logically, I know I am not an evil person. I know that…that all the things he says are mean and cruel.”
“But he’s still the figure in your head of your father,” Colin said softly. “Come over here, Angel. What would you say if I asked for a hug?”
Chapter Sixteen
Dark eyes turned away from the night and peered at the calm, rugged man watching her. Maybe it was the blue eyes, sparkling even in the dim light that came from the lamp in the other room. Shadows had begun to fill the apartment. A quiet, peaceful feeling that didn’t quite mesh with the anxiety inside her.
“If I were a good sub, the answer should be, yes sir,” she said with the hint of smile finally lighting up her face. She turned her feet to the edge and stood up, drawing in a slow breath as she crossed the room toward him. She stopped, puzzled, when he held up his palm facing her.
“Strip,” Colin said softly, tension poised in every inch of him despite the casual pose he’d adopted.
He watched the moment’s confusion in her luminous eyes before her hands moved to remove the top and jeans, leaving the underwear until she looked at his features. One patiently arched brow and the panties and bra joined the small pile at her feet.
With his arm extended and palm up, he beckoned her forward with his fingers until she stood inches away.
“Are you afraid to hug me, Angel?”
“No…no, sir…”
“How do we get him and his words out of your mind, pet?” Colin asked softly, his fingers closed around her wrist and very slowly stroked along her arm. She’d frozen the instant he touched her. There was a short space of time and silence until she relaxed and took the last half step closer to him.
“I don’t know…” came the honest answer, her hands shaking slightly when she raised them and circled his neck. Her chest pressed against his; his hands moving to her hips and onto her behind before stroking heavily along her spine to her head.
“I think it’s been a long day and you need some sleep,” Colin closed his arms around her, cradling her with one hand stroking slowly over her head. It would be too easy to take her now; to empty himself and feel triumph that he wasn’t on the other side of town, sleeping alone. “Get in the bed, Angel. I’m going to check the locks and put a little something extra on the front door. The more we learn, the less I trust they have any common sense.”
Colin wrapped his hands around her middle and set her away from him. He drew his finger around one nipple and smiled as her body responded to his touch. And this time, she didn’t jerk away or freeze. The rest of the world might have a longer wait, but his touch was breaking down the barriers.
He bent forward and handed her the clothing from the floor. He stopped her when she made a move to dress. His head shook just enough to let her know clothing was not an option in their bed.
“I want you accessible at all times when we’re alone and together,” he smiled at the heat in her cheeks. “Pretty…” one finger trailed down her hip. “I’ll be right back. Get in the bed and wait for me.”
Colin went through to the main room and out the front door. He kept himself alert, watching. He doubted her father would try anything for a few days. At least, that was his hope. Between the police and the personal charges he was going to have filed against them, he wanted them too busy to want to bother with Angel.
He grabbed the garment bag and duffle from the in
side of his SUV, set the alarm and returned to her apartment. He had a bar braced across the door before checking the patio lock and carrying his things into the bedroom.
She was sitting up in the bed, the blankets arranged just above her breasts, her knees drawn up and arms around them. He walked into the closet and hung the garment bag up; then he set the duffle on the chair and disappeared into the bathroom.
Angel fell back against the pillows and closed her eyes.
So much for being independent. Shouldn’t she at least be a little annoyed that he was ignoring her request? Although, to be honest, he had wanted her to go to his place, and she’d managed to stick to her guns. Technically.
She sighed.
She didn’t want to be alone anymore.
But she couldn’t cope with the possibility her friends could be hurt because of her. The mind games her father played had always been bad enough. To believe he’d hurt one of them if they got in his way…
“You’re thinking too hard again, pet,” Colin came across the room wearing a pair of black pants that seemed to shimmer and cling to him as he walked. “Honesty, pet,” he said when she remained silent as he slid into the bed.
“It’s hard not to worry,” she said simply. “I can’t wear my pajamas?”
“No.”
“What if I get cold?”
Colin lay back and opened his arm, a sigh offered by her before she settled against him. “That’s what I’m for…it’s a tough job,” he teased with a wink before tapping the rocker switch on the lamp on the nightstand. Darkness settled around them, the softest patter of rain striking the windows.
“Do you always win?” She asked, wanting to grumble about the enjoyment in his heat and his presence and losing to the good feelings instead.
“When I want something badly enough, yes,” his smile was evident in his voice. “Good night, Angel.”
“G’night,” she murmured, her lips brushing the side of his chest. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“Thank you.”
****
She wasn’t really sure how she managed to slip from beneath the possessive arm, but the pillow substitute definitely helped. Angel gathered her clothes and quickly went to the bathroom in the main part of the apartment. A hot shower, lots of fragrant soap and shampoo and she actually felt pretty good as she ran for her car.
She’d made fresh coffee for him and left a short note about heating the breakfast rolls she left on the counter. The drive to the shop seemed to pass more quickly than usual and for whatever reason, she felt really good and happy.
She should be worried. Shouldn’t she? She’d allowed friends into her life and that meant exposing them to her family. And she’d actually slept through the night. Again. The last time she’d felt so good was college and culinary school. And at her grandparents when she was very little.
So many good memories she’d allowed him to take from her. She thought of her grandparents and smiled. They would like Colin. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. She could almost see the smile on her grandmother’s face when she…
She shook herself and parked the car to the right of the shop. Her special parking spot very early in the darkness of a November morning. Cold nipped at her as she ran to the side door, her key sliding in quickly. She locked it behind her and went straight to her office, leaving her coat and pack on the old chair she’d put in there. She had a business to run. No time for daydreaming about taking your boyfriend to meet the sane half of your family.
Angel laughed. And it felt good for the first time in a very long time.
Her boyfriend. A giggle broke free and she almost did a little happy dance.
She had a boyfriend!
A shiver ran through her as she made certain the front was clean and ready before she started blending, labeling and prepping for the morning. Three weeks before Christmas. And she had a guy who wanted her. Now and then her hands stopped moving and she could almost see him watching her with those thoughtful blue eyes.
The scents of coffee and fresh pastries, cookies and small cakes began filling the inside of her shop. Kerry showed up for her morning shift, semi-bright and cheerful as she flipped the ‘OPEN’ sign and pushed a smile into place.
Angel was still pondering having a boyfriend when the questions began floating around about shopping and prepping for the holidays. She wanted a little tree and to find some ornaments. Angels, she thought with a smile, thinking of the small collection she had so far. Each year she found one or two more and packed them safely away for a time when she had a tree of her own.
And she’d imagined her Christmas shopping finished for the year. Her half dozen friends all had nicely wrapped packages in the closet at her apartment. Then along came Colin. Definitely a visit to her grandmother’s next weekend. Her gift shop and quilt shop were the perfect place for presents. She took a break and left a message on her grandmother’s phone, hoping she didn’t sound too much like a fifteen year old with her first ever crush on the best guy in school.
When she saw Bailey come running down the street with Patsy at her side, she had a quiet table near the back for their lunch and joined them. She smiled when they caught sight of her at what they’d dubbed the owner’s table and went to the kitchen for her own lunch. Her staff knew this had become important to her, so they left her alone with her friends as much as possible.
“Hey, girlfriend,” Patsy eyed Angel up and down before winking. “Heard about your new hunk. And look at you? All glowy!”
“Ignore her,” Bailey said with a laugh, pulling containers from inside the pack they’d brought from the cafeteria. “You let him stay last night, didn’t you?”
“Let isn’t a word in their vocabulary,” Angel answered before taking a big bite of the ham and fresh croissant she’d made for herself. “You didn’t get into too much trouble, did you?”
“Me?” Bailey looked surprised. “Why would you think…oh…because of the Dom thing. No…no, I didn’t. We worked out the personal as opposed to other sort of thing. Most times. Occasionally, it’s really hard for him to turn it off…and he’s so damn sexy, it melts me from the inside and I just…” she said with a sigh.
“Oh, you poor dear,” Patsy teased with a laugh that matched Angel’s.
Angel looked form one to the other. “It’s not something you can talk about with just anyone, either,” she said after another bite of her sandwich. She picked at the flakes of croissant on the plate and thought about it. “He slept over…and put some kind of bar on the door so I’d feel safe if he wasn’t there.”
“He was really worried about you when he came to the house, Angel,” Bailey told her, noting the surprise on her friend’s face. “Yes, he came to our place after you kicked him out.”
“I did not…” she puffed out a breath. “Okay, I did. It’s so easy to forget about their behavior…my father and brothers. I know they only do what he tells them. I don’t even know anything about the stuff you talked about yesterday.”
“I turned everything I had over to the Lieutenant,” Bailey said with a shrug. “Nothing was obtained illegally. It’s just most people wouldn’t think of some of the things I do to find stuff.”
“Excuse me,” Abby had a dish cloth between her hands and stopped next to Angel. “There’s someone here asking for you.” She turned to the side with a little nod in the general direction of the well-dressed woman.
“It’s okay, Abby. Bring her back here,” Angel pulled another chair to the table. She doubted the older woman would sit with them, but she would be polite. “Good afternoon, Elizabeth,” her smile was forced even as her breathing picked up. “You know Bailey and Patsy.”
“I haven’t come here to socialize. I want to speak with you. In private,” the older woman announced primly, her thin shoulders back and head up. She was dressed in linen crème slacks and a dark green blouse that buttoned straight to her throat. Her hair was cut in a flattering, smooth style that barely touched her shoulders
and was side parted. It curled perfectly under just enough to make it look sleek. She wore a heavy leather coat that went to the tops of the short boots that barely showed beneath her pants.
“These are my friends. They know about my family and my life,” Angel said in a voice that surprised her. Usually the sight of one of them sent her stuttering and obeying. She was still quaking inside and her gaze swept the large main room. She peered through the wall of glass. “You and father have made the bad portions public. My friends know both sides of things, the good and the bad.”
“I’ve come here alone, Angelica,” she looked over the other two women, her light green eyes a perfect foil for the honey colored hair. She moved the chair closer and removed her coat. Laying it over her arm, she sat and turned her attention on Angel. “You’re as much like your father. Wanting all your personal business aired to the world.”
“Why are you here?” Angel finally found the words to ask.
“I had hoped to discuss the type of wedding you would like,” she said simply, her expression impassionate when Angel gulped in air and shook her head. “Earl Leonard is a man unworthy of the type of behavior you display, but nonetheless, he is the man your father wants to present you to. And for some unknown reason, the man is willing to suffer your ill-manners.”
“No,” Angel dropped the last half of her sandwich, her head shaking adamantly and voice stronger. “No. I am not marrying Leonard. He’s mean and…and just no. I’m…I’m involved with someone else. Someone I care a great deal about. So you’re wasting your time.”
“I tried for so long to convince your father to abandon you to those heathen grandparents,” her head shook sadly. “For a time, he was almost in agreement. Then he discovered how much it increased donations when he spoke of his trials as a father of a child such as you.”
“There is nothing wrong with me. All I want is to work in my shop and be left alone. I don’t bother you. Any of you. No one in your congregation needs to know a single thing about me or my life. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Independence: #2 Angel Page 16