Tin Angel

by Raine English

  * * *

  Alice’s stomach was in a knot as she closed the door. Somehow she’d managed to pull off the story of the brother from upstate New York. A huge feat, especially for someone who’d never been able to lie—and to think she’d lied to Jack, of all people—but what else was she to do? He’d never believe the truth. A wave of anxiety swept through her. Relax, she told herself. You did no harm. Jack’s appeased, and you’ve nothing to fear.

  She slumped back to the parlor and stared at the top of the Christmas tree, where the tin angel used to sit. “What now? Jack must think I’m some kind of nut.” With a sigh, she turned out the lights and padded toward the bedroom, her shoulders hunched and her mood grim. A mountain of clothes covered the bed. She held up the black blouse and matching skirt and shook her head sadly. “I might be young and beautiful, but I’m still alone, and the loneliness has never been so great.” It didn’t seem fair to look like a college co-ed on the outside and feel like a reclusive old woman on the inside.

  With little joy, she put away her new clothes, then slipped into the soft blue nightshirt she’d purchased at Lorelle. After turning down the bed, she slid between the flannel sheets and closed her eyes. Jack’s image filtered behind her eyelids. He wore his straight, jet-black hair fingered back from his classically handsome face. With his striking blue eyes—the color of the sky on a perfect spring day—and sensuous lips, he was a man few women could resist. And she was no exception. Hormones she hadn’t had in decades now raged.

  Not only was Jack something to look at, but he was exactly the type of man Tom would approve of. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Could Jack be the one? Could he be her true love? Nah, he seemed completely unaware of how he made her pulse race. And when he looked at her, for some reason his eyes reflected nothing but scorn. Why? When she was an old woman, he’d never looked at her that way.

  As she drifted off to sleep, her dreams endowed him with an entirely different emotion. His desire for her was obvious by the way his lips pressed hot and hard against hers, and his strong muscular arms held her firmly against his broad chest.

  Through the fogginess of her dream, she heard a bell ring. Was that the telephone? She forced her eyes open and grabbed for the receiver. “Hello.” Her voice was husky from sleep.

  “Ally? I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Jack sounded almost friendly. Quite a change from earlier, when suspicion had laced his words.

  “Have another question for me?”

  He chuckled smoothly. “Yes. Have dinner with me tomorrow.”

  Alice sat up and switched the phone to her other ear. Had she heard him correctly? Perhaps she was still asleep.

  “I’ll take your silence for yes. Be ready by eight.”

  The phone went dead. It took Alice a few seconds to hang up the receiver. When she finally did, she flopped back in bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile. Maybe her golden opportunity would shine after all.

  * * *

  Jack stared at the phone long after he ended his call to Ally. It wasn’t like him to intentionally deceive someone, and he didn’t feel good about doing it now. He knew Ally assumed he’d asked her to dinner because he was attracted to her, which wasn’t untrue, but that wasn’t his reason for wanting to spend time with her. He knew her type only too well. He’d been surrounded by them his entire life. Memories of his mother’s country club friends sprang to mind—women who were obsessed with their looks and a fear of growing old. All were gorgeous and used to men vying for their attention, catering to their every need. Not that he wouldn’t mind catering just a little to Ally.

  He had to admit he’d wondered what it would feel like to kiss those delicious lips, but he wasn’t fool enough to actually carry it out. He’d been trounced on enough in his last relationship. He’d never let that happen again. Though Bethany might have convinced herself that she loved him, women like that never truly loved. They didn’t even know the meaning of the word. Thankfully, he wasn’t so naïve to think Ally was any different.

  Propping the pillows up behind him, he lay back on the bed. In the corner, where the wall met the ceiling, an intricate spider web glistened. In its center, a fly struggled to break free. If Jack wasn’t careful, he could find himself in the same situation—the victim of a cunning adversary. His forehead furrowed. He didn’t want to hurt Ally, but he was going to have to make her think he was interested in her in order to find out what happened to Alice.

  It took him a while to fall asleep, and when he did, he tossed and turned all night, tormented by weird dreams of Alice needing his help.

  The next day at school, he had trouble concentrating on his students’ lessons. His mind kept drifting to Ally. There was a lot more to her story than she’d told him. He was sure of it, and that made him even more determined to get the truth out of her at dinner.

  * * *

  Alice ran her hand over the black lace outfit lying across her bed. If it hadn’t been for that sweet little sales clerk, she never would’ve bought it. Thank goodness she had, because here she was getting ready for a date with Jack. Jack Billings—her friend, and an extremely attractive man. A tremor of fear soured her excitement. She had to be careful tonight. What if he recognized her? How could she possibly explain that she was really Alice? Would he believe her if she told him an angel had granted her wish to be young again? Of course not. He’d think she was insane.

  Many times throughout the day, she’d come close to canceling their date. Even now, she was tempted to tell him she couldn’t make it, but she’d waited so long to look into a man’s eyes and see desire…to hear her name whispered like a caress… No, she wasn’t about to risk losing that chance, even if it meant she had to be on guard. She might have little time to live life, but she intended to do just that. Maybe…just maybe…she’d fall in love. And this date would be good practice. Lord knew she needed the practice in case Mr. Right did appear.

  She glanced in her dresser mirror. Surprisingly, she’d done a good job with her hair and makeup. She’d even managed a straight line with her eyeliner. She dressed quickly, sprayed some eau de parfum, then gave her hair a fluff. At eight o’clock on the dot, she heard a knock at her door. Jack never failed to be punctual. It was one of the many things she liked about him. She grabbed the little black bag the girl at Lorelle had insisted she buy to go with her outfit and rushed to the front door.

  Alice tried not to gasp when she saw Jack, but was there ever a more beautiful man? His jet hair skimmed the collar of his camel-colored overcoat. Beneath it she caught a glimpse of a charcoal suit. She breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been afraid she might be over dressed; after all there weren’t many fine restaurants in Silvercreek, and, for all she knew, he could have been planning to take her to Mac’s Diner.

  He seemed pleased with the way she looked as well. His gaze traveled slowly over her, stopping briefly at the curve of her hip, then again at the top of her scooped-neck blouse. Her skin grew warm, as if he’d touched her. His eyes locked with hers, and what she saw caused her heart to thunder. There it was. The look she’d been waiting for. Desire. And he made no attempt to disguise it.

  “You look gorgeous,” he murmured.

  She smiled shyly. “So do you.”

  Grabbing a black velvet coat—another purchase from her shopping spree—from the hall closet, she let Jack help her into it. He took hold of her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, and led her outside to his car. She sank into the soft leather seat. Her knees quivered. She hadn’t been on date in…well, she hated to even think about how long. Calm down, she told herself. You’re out with Jack, not some stranger. But that only made her legs shake more.

  She watched as over six feet of hard-bodied man slid behind the driver’s seat. A shadow of stubble, which she found very sexy, covered his chin and upper lip. She had a strong urge to run her fingertip across his face, but common sense took over, and she turned her attention to the road. Jack wound his Acura around the streets of Silvercreek as if he’
d lived there his entire life.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, unable to suppress her curiosity.

  He flashed her a smile as bright as one in any toothpaste ad. “It’ll be more fun if it’s a surprise.”

  Alice wanted to say, I don’t care where we eat. I’m happy just to be with you. Instead, she stared silently through the window into the dark. The moon’s silvery light danced over snow-covered trees, making her feel like they were driving through an enchanted forest. “Thank you,” she whispered, hoping the tin angel could hear her. If she had only this one night with Jack, it would be enough. A tear threatened to spill onto her cheek, but she blinked it back.

  They drove in silence, leaving Silvercreek behind, and headed toward Hartford. She was glad Jack wasn’t one for idle conversation. She didn’t want anything to break the spell she was under. When she stole a glance at his handsome profile, her skin prickled into gooseflesh. She was on a date…a date with Jack. She needed the reminder it was real and not a dream. Up ahead, the lights of the city gleamed brightly. A few minutes later, Jack pulled into a parking lot. Overhead, a huge neon sign with Mario’s Restaurante spelled in purple and pink fluorescent letters lit up the sky. Alice waited for Jack to come around and open her door. He offered his arm, and she stepped gracefully onto the pavement.

  “Ah, old-fashioned values?” He smiled down at her. “I like that.”

  If only he knew just how old-fashioned, she thought.

  With his hand on the small of her back, they crossed the parking lot. Upon entering the restaurant, a tingle of excitement coursed through her. She never imagined she’d dine in a restaurant with Jack. Large, exotic-looking plants lined the entrance. Dimly lit, with dark wood paneling, the atmosphere inside was rustic and homey. Not at all what she’d expected.

  They were given an intimate table in the back. After listening to the maître de recite the specials, she opened her menu. Her brow wrinkled at the many choices offered. How would she ever decide? Dinner at home was zapping something frozen—usually macaroni and cheese—in the microwave.

  When she looked up, Jack was studying her. “Shall I order for you?”

  She sighed, appreciative of his insight. “Yes, please. That would be wonderful.”

  “You take after her,” he said softly.

  “Who?”

  “Your aunt.” He reached across the table and lifted her hands, studying them. “They’re slender and graceful, just like hers. It’s amazing. And to think you barely know her.”

  Alice pulled her hands back and stuck them under the table. “Some things can’t be helped.”

  “Such a shame. She’s a wonderful woman.”

  Alice noticed the sparkle in Jack’s eyes. He obviously admired her.

  “And your father. Is he like her too?”

  She dropped her gaze from his intense blue eyes. She hadn’t expected him to bring up her imaginary father. “No, he wasn’t. He’s not…much like her. Tell me about yourself. What is it you do for work?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.

  His face lit up as she’d expected. Jack loved his work—especially the children—and she knew it was a subject he could talk about for hours. Many nights after he’d had dinner at her place, he’d stay past midnight, talking about school and the children.

  “I teach music over at the elementary school. Music is my passion,” he said.

  “M—” Alice bit back her words. She’d been about to say, Mine too, then realized her mistake. She couldn’t appear too similar to a woman she was supposed to barely know.

  “Merchandising,” she spouted, looking down at her skirt. “Fashion merchandising. That’s what I do.”

  The sparkle left Jack’s eyes. “And I’ll bet you’re quite good at it too.” From his tone, she knew he hadn’t meant it as a compliment. She’d better be careful, or Jack would become more suspicious of her than he already was.

  Thankfully, the waiter arrived. “Are you ready to order?” he asked, putting an end to that uncomfortable conversation.

  “Yes, we’ll each have the braised beef short rib,” Jack said, “and bring us a bottle of your best red wine.”

  She watched him over the rim of her water glass. The copper lamp in the center of the table cast a warm glow over his swarthy complexion. His raven hair glistened. Oh no! Her thoughts were beginning to wander to places they shouldn’t. She’d best control her reaction to him, at least until they were through with dinner. She lowered her lashes and studied the tablecloth’s red-and-white-checked pattern.

  “Is something wrong?”

  When she looked up, worry shadowed his expression. He was a compassionate man, one who didn’t deserve to be deceived, but it was impossible for her to ignore the powerful feelings churning inside. “I was just thinking how happy I am to be here with you.” At least that wasn’t a lie.

  The lines creasing his forehead disappeared. He rested his elbows on the edge of the table and leaned in toward her. “I’m enjoying your company too.”

  Although she didn’t doubt his sincerity, she couldn’t help but wonder if, given a choice, he wouldn’t rather be with Alice. How odd that she should feel that way. After all, she was young and beautiful—the object of every man’s desire. So why in the world would she think he’d prefer the company of an old woman? Deciding to ignore such crazy musings, she accepted his compliment with a wide smile.

  “That boyfriend, the one you left back in New York, must be crazy to have let you go.”

  A heated blush stole up her neck. He did desire her. For a sinful moment, she wondered what it would feel like to spend the night wrapped in his arms.

  With impeccable timing, the waiter interrupted with the wine. He popped the cork, poured Jack a glass, and waited silently while Jack swirled, sniffed, and sipped. When Jack nodded his approval, the waiter poured a glass for Alice.

  She brought the goblet to her lips, then quickly set it back down, nearly splattering wine over her lap. Doc Brooks was headed toward their table. In his mid-sixties with a mop of white hair swept to one side and slicked down with hair spray, the short, heavy-set man moved with amazing agility.

  “Charlie, great to see you,” Jack said, springing to his feet and shaking the doctor’s hand.

  “My wife and I love this place. We don’t miss a week.” He glanced at Alice through thick bifocal lenses. “Pleasure to meet you…”

  “I’m sorry, this is Ally, Alice’s niece,” Jack said.

  Doc Brooks frowned. “That’s funny. I’ve known Alice for years, and she never mentioned a niece.”

  Both men stared at her. Her knees began to shake. “I hadn’t seen my aunt since I was a child.” She hoped her nervousness wasn’t taken as a sign she was lying.

  “I see. How’s Alice doing?” the doctor asked, his tone anxious.

  “She’s spending the holiday with my dad.” Alice prayed Doc Brooks would hurry up and leave.

  “That’s odd. She never said a word.”

  “Not to me either,” Jack chimed in. “Ally’s father took sick. She left suddenly, isn’t that right?”

  Her fingers trembled in her lap. “Yes.”

  “I hope she’s careful. Alice has such trouble getting around.” Doc Brooks’ small, round eyes focused on her face. “It’s nice to have met you, Ally is it? Quite a striking resemblance.” He scratched his ear as he walked back to his table.

  When Alice turned to Jack, he was still staring at her. “What?” she asked, her defenses on high alert.

  His sensuous mouth turned up into a smile. “You look amazing tonight.”

  A nerve twittered at the side of her cheek. “Thank you.”

  He took hold of her hand and rubbed his thumb over her skin. Electricity seemed to arc through her. A man hadn’t touched her that way since Tom. She’d forgotten how wonderful it felt. She closed her eyes, and her nervousness evaporated. She was beautiful, and Jack desired her. All the feelings she’d kept bottled up inside were dangerously close to erupting. She wo
ndered what his kiss would feel like. Would it be soft or deep and sensual? The all too vivid image of him pressed hard against her made her mouth go dry. She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. What had happened to her common sense? She mustn’t have these kinds of daydreams.

  Alice opened her eyes. The look on Jack’s face brought back all her worries. Was that suspicion she saw? But when he realized she was watching him, his expression changed to one of warmth.

  The waiter set a plate in front of her. She lifted her fork and took a bite.

  Jack filled her wineglass to the rim. “Tell me, what do you think of Silvercreek?”

  She set down her fork and looked over at him. His eyes were friendly, not probing as they had been a few moments ago. “I haven’t seen much of it, but the people I’ve met are charming.” She held his gaze.

  He smiled, and she liked the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Allow me to remedy that by becoming your tour guide.”

  She took a quick drink of wine to calm her rapidly beating heart. “I’d like that.”

  The delicious dinner and glass of wine combined with Jack’s charm put Alice at ease. By the time they’d polished off a wonderful dessert and were sipping coffee, she was getting the hang of being her alter-ego, Ally. She’d produced an answer to each of Jack’s politely probing questions.

  “How long have you been teaching?” she asked, directing the conversation away from herself.

  He took a drink of coffee, then set down the cup. “This is my first year at Silvercreek Elementary. I taught at a school in Boston for nearly four years but began my career at the school I attended as a child. I was there for a while, then got the itch to try big-city life.”

  “How did you like it?” she asked.

  Jack leaned back in the chair. “Shock and awe about sums it up. Boston’s only an hour from my hometown, but they’re worlds apart.”

  Alice sipped her coffee. Although she knew his feelings about the city, she enjoyed listening to him talk.

  “Growing up, I knew most everyone in town,” he continued. “When you’re young, you don’t necessarily see that as a good thing. I sure didn’t. Having the whole town know my business made me long to be anonymous. I’m sure you can relate to that.”