“That is where you are wrong Angel. You are the sexy one I am a mere mortal compared to you.” She loved how he made her forget about all the horrible things in her life in an instant.
James came out of her house with his phone attached to his ear. When he was done he walked towards the car and opened the back door allowing Angelo and her to exit.
“Axel wants me to stay in the house while he is at Heather’s.” James said as he walked behind her. She glanced at him over her shoulder and frowned.
“Is everything okay with Heather?” Evangeline knew her assistant lived alone and she didn’t have any family here. All of Heather’s family lived in California.
She turned around to face her new bodyguard, and she didn’t feel as safe as she did with Axel. She knew he would do anything to protect her and she barely knew this other man. “Yes, ma’am. He just wants to make sure she is settled. I guess she has been a little jumpy since he took her home.”
She understood that because since this new stalker cane into her life she hated getting any type of mail. “Okay. Well you are welcome to any of the bedrooms, the kitchen and the bathroom.” For the first time she saw something more on his handsome face.
“Thank you so much, Ms. Skyler.” She smiled at him and pulled away from Angelo. She walked to her new bodyguard and placed her hand on his arm.
“Please, if you are willing to take a bullet for me then call me Evangeline or some form of it.” She tried to squeeze his arm but it was too hard.
His dark green eyes stayed on hers as he slowly nodded. “Evangeline thank you for opening up your home to me.” Something haunted his beautiful eyes and she removed her hand from his arm and took a step back.
“You’re welcome James.” She said and turned around to find Angelo watching her carefully. She sauntered past him and into her house. James had already turned on the lights.
“Are you hungry Angel?” She was starving even though he had forced her to eat all day. First he had Heather get some fresh fruit and she picked at it all day. Then for lunch he ordered pizza and she had two slices.
“I am starving.” She said and headed towards the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out butter, cheddar cheese and some fresh tomato soup Axel made for her a few days ago. He told her that food would help her get over the Italian, it hadn’t helped at all.
“What are you making my love?” she glanced at him before she bent down to get the pan.
“Grilled cheese and some fresh tomato soup.” She stood up and felt dizzy.
“Crap,” Angelo said as he rushed to her. He took her in his arms and she closed her eyes. Resting her head on his shoulder she forced her tears not to fall. When he sat her down she opened her eyes. He was kneeling in front of her and he looked concerned. “Angel, you need to take it easy. You almost…died and your body needs to heal. I will cook for you.”
She wanted to break down and cry because she wasn’t this weak woman. She was strong and independent. “Fine, I will take a shower.” But he narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“Evangeline, I don’t think that is a good idea. I don’t want you to black out and hurt yourself.” She wanted to scream and tell him to leave. But she knew if she did that she would hate herself.
“I could cook and you can help her. Unless you want me to take care of her in the shower?” James said from the doorway. Both Evangeline and Angelo turn their attention to her new bodyguard. She had forgotten about him and was pretty sure Angelo did too. She laughed at him because she didn’t think he would ever step out of line and flirt with her. She liked him a little more.
“Thank you James, but I think I can handle Evangeline myself.” Angelo said as he draped his arm around her shoulders. James’ somber face broke with a huge smile.
“Very well, enjoy your shower Evangeline.” He said as he strolled into the kitchen and she stood up with Angelo’s hand in the middle of her back. He led her down the hallway and into the bathroom.
He closed the door behind them then she turned to face him and he leaned against the door. They were just starting out but so much had happened to them already. She knew she wasn’t the easiest person to deal with let alone love. Her life was insane with the press always trying to take her picture and following her where ever she went.
“Will you take a bath with me and just hold me?” she needed him to touch her so she could forget everything else. He was good at making her forget all the bad things and just concentrate on just him.
Angelo stared at her and she wasn’t sure if he was still mad at her because of Axel. She didn’t have the energy to fight about Axel. He took her by complete surprise by taking her into his arms and gently lifting her up. He carried her and sat her on the marble countertop. When his lips crashed down on hers she wrapped her arms around his neck.
His lips were demanding on hers and she treasured it. She opened her mouth to permit his tongue to tangle with hers and she moved her hands to his hair. The way he kissed her made her want more, she forgot that her body was covered in bruises and that she hurt all over.
He kissed liked he had never kissed her before, it was penetrating but mind numbing at the same time. His hands gently roamed over her arms and then to her back where he held her closer to him. He removed his lips from hers and left tender kisses down her neck.
“Evangeline, I love you and I don’t care who else loves you.” He said and raised his head. As soon as his eyes claimed hers she was lost to him, she would do anything to keep this man with her.
She captured his face in her hands. “Angelo I will do everything in my power to keep you. If I need to hire a new head of security I will do that.” He stared at her and then finally smiled. Slowly he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You don’t have to do that Angel.” He brushed his sinfully beautiful mouth against hers. “I’m going to start your bath.” He moved back away from her and winked. He walked to her sunken tub and started to run the water.
He took off his shirt before he walked back to her. Her mouth went dry as she gazed at his naked torso. She had seen many men naked before and she had reacted to them but Angelo was different. He wasn’t the most muscular man she had been with and she thought that was the reason he appealed to her more.
“Angel, I need to undress you.” The tone of his voice made her look up at his face. Slowly she nodded because she knew he needed to touch her like she craved his touch. He raised his shaky hands to the hem of her shirt and slowly lifted it off of her. He lowered his head and kissed her side were one of her large bruise rested. “I am so sorry that you were hurt this bad.” He said as he brought his eyes to hers.
She rested the palm of her hand on his cheek and smiled affectionately down at him. “I am alive and with you that is all that matters to me.” He closed his eyes and nodded against her stomach.
He moved away from her and unbuckled his belt, she observed him as he gradually lowered his pants. “Angel, are you able to walk?” she thought she was, slowly she dropped down to the floor and his hands were on her waist.
“I don’t feel dizzy anymore.” She said and he nodded as he backed away from her. Undoing her pants she allowed them to fall to the floor and she walked towards her sunken tub.
She stepped into the hot water and she sighed. It felt amazing on her tender body as she descended in the hot water.
Angelo sat across from her and took her foot in his hand. Gently he started to massage it and she groaned. Resting her head on the pillow behind her she closed her eyes. She could definitely get used to this.
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning Evangeline was sitting at the kitchen table with her cup of coffee. Angelo was in the shower and James was standing outside the kitchen. She liked to be alone sometimes because she always did her best thinking when she had no one distracting her. Her phone chimed with a new email, and she grabbed it. One new email from Hayden sat in her inbox. She took another sip from her coffee as she started to read it.
Eva<
br />
I made it home safely and thank you for making me go. Lisa didn’t tell me how much she needed me here because she knew you were hurt. She was bleeding a little and I had to rush her to the hospital.
Everything is fine though, and if anything changes I will make sure you know. I also want you to keep me updated with your situation. If I wasn’t needed in London Lisa and I would be there with you. Please don’t do anything stupid like last time and keep Axel close to you. That man is in love with you and will take a bullet for you in a heartbeat.
Well, Lisa wants me to take her shopping. I will talk to you later and don’t worry about anything here. I have it handled.
Hayden Miller, Vice President of Sky Tech
Before they opened the offices in London, she and Hayden talked about who would go. She said she could but Lisa had already lived there a few years previously and loved it. So it was decided that her partner and his wife would run the London office and she would stay at the main office.
She got up to rinse her coffee cup and exhaled. A month ago she would have flown to London and been with her friends. Lisa and she grew close when they opened Skyler Tower. Evangeline still thought of Lisa as one of her best friends even though they rarely got to see one another. They tried to Skype or call on the phone a few times but she didn’t know about the pregnancy.
She sat the cup on the countertop and turned around. She grinned when she found Angelo observing her. “I will say you are nice to look at Mr. Giovanni.” He was wearing a charcoal pinstripe Burberry suit with a bright red tie that matched her red heels. It was tailored made for him and she realized he looked just as good in that suit as out of it.
He smirked at her as he crossed his arms against his impeccable chest. “Angel, your beauty steals the last breath from my lungs. When you smile you make my heart skip a beat.” She couldn’t help her smile that spread across her face.
“Wow, I love how you can make me smile even when I am feeling sad.” She was missing her friends and loathed knowing Lisa was in pain. Yes, now she is better but she wanted to be there for her. Angelo lost his sexy smile and moved to her. He took her in his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. In her heels she came to his chin. Without them she could rest her head on his chest.
His hands gently rubbed her back and she closed her eyes enjoying the affection he was giving. “What’s going on Angel?” His voice was tender and she felt his lips kiss the top of her head.
“My business partner’s wife is pregnant and had a little complication. She is fine now but I hate that I can’t be there for them. It just shows me how much I am missing in everyone’s life.” She knew her father was sick and no one told her. It was her own fault for not visiting more. She used her business as an excuse because she didn’t want to run into her sister.
She made sure her parents were taken care of by paying off the family home and made sure they had the best of everything. “Do you want to visit them?” She moved her head off of his shoulder and just looked at him.
“No, not now at least. I am needed here.” Besides she needed to find her stalker because she couldn’t keep living like this. But she knew he would never agree to let her put herself as bait.
His chocolate eyes searched hers and she knew he was trying to read her; she just smiled at him and backed away. She was happy when James walked in, he glanced between her and Angelo.
“Sorry if I am interrupted anything but Axel just called. He said he wants to see you at the tower.” It was weird to not have Axel here with her in the morning. Since he had started to work for her he had always been the one to bring her to work unless she had a “late night”.
She shook her head and put on her best smile. “You didn’t interrupt anything and we are ready to leave when you all are.” She walked out of the kitchen to retrieve her purse that was in her bedroom.
Angelo followed her and closed the bedroom door behind him, she twisted around and glared. “Angel, I need to tell you something.” She put the strap of her purse on her shoulder; she arched her eyebrows and he walked towards her. “Axel told me how you used yourself as trap to get your last stalker caught. I won’t let you do that again, because now you have someone that loves you.”
She narrowed her eyes because she didn’t like that he and Axel were talking about her. “You may love me but I still won’t allow you or anyone to control me.” She had thought about using herself again but hadn’t decided on it. She wasn’t stupid she knew if she did use herself as bait again it could end in a different way.
He crossed the room to her and took her by surprise by dropping to his knees in front of her. He tilted his head back and gazed up at her and it reminded of her of the first time he done something similar in her office.
“Evangeline, no one could ever control you. You are the most independent woman I have known and that is one of the things I love about you.” He closed his eyes and rested his head on her abdomen. “You made me come alive again. I never thought it would be possible to fall in love again. Not after my wife was killed. You took away all that pain and replaced it with so much happiness.”
Her eyes filled with her tears, this man on his knees in front of her truly loved her. “Angelo,” he shook his head and moved his head to look at her again.
“I’m not done Angel. I can’t lose you and if you put yourself out there as lure to catch your pursuer I just might.” Tears filled his eyes and started to roll down his chiseled cheeks. She placed her hands on his cheeks and brushed his tears away with her fingers.
“You won’t lose me Angelo, because you are stuck with me.” He smiled at her and she fell to her knees. She captured his lips with hers and dipped her tongue between his enthralling mouth. Gently he wrapped his arms around and held her to his hard body. She had missed being with him but loved that their relationship was more than physical.
He took his time pulling away and when he did he was grinning at her. “Promise me you won’t do anything foolish.” She didn’t ever want to lie to him or break a promise. So she just nodded her answer and he stood up offering his hand to her; she didn’t even think about it as she rested her hand in his. He helped her up and she looked up at him.
Angelo’s phone started to ring and he reached in his jacket pocket to retrieve his cell phone. His eyes grew large and as he touched the screen. “Antonio?” he said in a thicker accent than she was used to hearing. She searched her mind and remembered that Antonio Giovanni was Angelo’s younger brother. He was still in Italy and was running their family’s company.
Angelo listen to whatever his little brother was saying and he looked like he was going to have a panic attack. “I will meet you there in about an hour.” Angelo said before he placed his phone in his pocket.
“That was your brother?” she already knew the answer and when he looked at her he looked miserable.
“Yes, I am so sorry but I have to leave you. I need to see what Antonio wants, and he said he will tell me when he sees me.” He took her hand in his and they started to walk out of the bedroom door.
“You can take the car after we get to the tower.” She said and he glanced at her and grinned.
“Thank you love, but we aren’t meeting far from Skyler Tower. I will walk.” He stopped and kissed her cheek.
On the way to Skyler Tower no one spoke, and she and Angelo sat in the back seat holding hands. Axel was waiting for them when they pulled up and he opened her door, she was the first one to get out.
“Good morning Evangeline.” He said and she smiled at him. She momentarily wondered if he did more than just watch Heather last night. “And good morning Angelo.”
She liked that the two men in her life were getting along. “Good morning.” She said and turned to face the man that had stolen her heart.
She didn’t like that he was meeting his brother when the stalker could go after him to hurt her. “Hey, why do you look so unhappy?” he wrapped an arm around her back and drew her close to his hard body.
&n
bsp; “There isn’t much that would hurt me. But losing you will destroy me. Will you at least take one of the guards with you?” his face softened and he gradually nodded.
“If it would please you then I will.” He looked past her to where she knew Axel was standing. “Who am I taking?”
“You can take Ryan.” Axel answered and Angelo turned his attention back to her.
“I will be back Angel.” His lips lowered to hers and he brushed his wonderful lips against hers. “And later maybe we can do more.” he whispered against her lips and laughed when she shuttered.
He was still laughing as he and Ryan walked away. “Smart choice in making him take a guard. You two have been together in public and the best way to hurt you, is through him.” Axel said what she already thought of.
“I can’t lose him.” Because she would lose herself if anything happened to him.
“Then we will make sure he sticks around.” Axel said and she nodded as she turned around and walked into Skyler Tower.
She waved at Mike but didn’t stop because she wanted to get to her office and email Hayden back. She wanted to know how Lisa was doing. Before she could walk into the elevator Heather walked out looking pale.
“Ms. Skyler, I am so sorry but I’m not feeling well. I need to go home…I just threw up in the bathroom.” Evangeline took a step back because she didn’t want to get whatever Heather had.
“Go home. Do you need Axel to take you?” Evangeline asked her assistant.
“That would be perfect, I’m scared to drive right now.” Heather covered her mouth and groaned.
“Go,” Evangeline ordered and Axel pointed at James.
“You stay with her.” Axel said and James nodded. “Do not let her do anything without you being right by her side. Understand?”
James stood a little straighter. “Yes, sir. I will be everywhere she is.” Axel nodded and placed his hand on the middle of Heather’s back.
Evangeline walked into the elevator and waited for her new bodyguard. “Axel must really trust you to let you babysit me.” She said as the doors shut and James glanced at her over his broad shoulder at her.
What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 3) Page 178