“I… I, ah... I, I don’t know what to say.”
He moved his face to within inches of hers and reached up with one hand to touch her soft cheek. “Angel,” he begged. “Are you ever gonna let me kiss you?”
Slowly, she reached out to place a trembling hand upon his cheek. She closed her eyes and traced the edge of his bottom lip with her thumb. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at him, her eyes pleading for him to understand. “Just kissing—we can’t let this go any further than kissing.”
“That’s all I’m asking for,” he said, holding her gaze.
Moving closer, she barely grazed his lips with her own. She backed away and brought her fingertips to his mouth, caressing his lips once again before sliding her hands into his hair.
He felt the desire in her tremulous fingertips, the unspent passion evident in her touch. She took a deep breath and leaned back into her chair, pulling him to her. “Kiss me, Kevin,” she whispered before she wet her lips and brought his mouth to hers.
As he slid his tongue along the inside edge of her bottom lip, she moaned. Instinctively, it seemed, she wrapped her legs around his, pulling him closer to her body. She slowly slid her hands around to his chest, lightly grazing his nipples through his shirt. He moaned into her mouth, then leaned back to look at her, his breathing labored. “Angel,” he said in between breaths. “I can’t believe…I’m saying this,” he muttered to himself as he reached for her hands and held them still. He wiped his face on his sleeve and tried again. “Angel, we need to stop.”
She opened her eyes and looked stunned and then thoroughly embarrassed, jerking her hands away, holding them tightly against her chest. “Oh God, You must think I’m horrible. I made such a fuss over…” Her voice trembled slightly.
Kevin smiled and leaned back. “I don’t think that at all.” He gently brought her hands up to his lips, kissing one palm and then the other. “But I do think that you’re a very passionate woman…who hasn’t been properly made love to…in a very long time. There’s no shame in that.” He gave her a sly grin as he held her palms close to his heart. “And I have to admit, I kind of like the fact that I turn you on.”
She blushed and pressed her lips together in an effort to hide her smile. “You do, huh?”
He suggestively wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Yeah, I do.”
She giggled and reached up with one hand to run her fingertips along the edge of his bottom lip once more. “In my defense, I do have to say that ah, you are very kissable.”
He smiled and kissed her lips one more time before looking at the clock on the living room wall. He leaned back, pulling her upright. “We better call it a night. It’s getting late, and the great and powerful Dr. Conner will be coming in soon.”
She reached out a hand to smooth his hair back from his face. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“For just kissing,” she answered.
“My pleasure.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “Can I ask you a question, though?”
“Okay.”
“Why just kissing?”
She looked embarrassed and turned away. “You’ll laugh.”
He turned her back to face him, serious when he spoke. “Try me.”
She took a deep breath. “Well, there are two reasons.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not on birth control.”
“That’s easily fixed. What’s the other?”
She turned a deeper red. “We’re not married.”
“And that’s important to you?”
She nodded quietly. “Very.” She evidently saw uneasiness in his eyes and grinned slightly. “Don’t look so serious, Kevin. You can relax. I’m not ready to get married, not today anyway, but someday, maybe. Don’t you want to get married someday?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid that trap.”
“When you’ve met the right woman, it won’t feel like a trap.”
She started cleaning the debris from their picnic. He definitely didn’t feel trapped when he was with her. In fact, he felt freer now than he ever had in his life.
She turned to give him a look that said he’d better not simply stand there. “Oh, sorry,” he said as he bent down to help her clean up. When the table was clean and the trash thrown away, he walked her down the hall to the door of her room. “Good night, Angel. Thank you for spending this evening with me.” He kissed her lightly on the lips one more time.
She smiled as she slowly backed into her room. “Good night, Kevin. And you’re very welcome.”
10
Kevin picked up the picnic basket Luisa had prepared for him and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Luisa. I don’t know how I ever got along without you.”
She gave him a conspiratorial wink. “De nada. You better hurry. It’s getting late.”
He left the community center kitchen and headed for the clinic. He had started up the stairs when he met Teresa and the other assistants on their way down to change out of their uniforms. “Hey, have any of you seen Angel?”
“Sure,” said Teresa. “She’s in her office.”
“Thanks. I want to surprise her.”
Teresa arched an eyebrow. “I think you’ve already done that.” She gave him a wink and a big grin. “See you later, Kevin.”
He smiled back at her and ran the rest of the way up the stairs to let himself into the clinic. The place was dark except for the one light in Angel’s office. She sat behind her desk, staring out of the window, lost in her thoughts. Kevin could tell they were pleasant thoughts. She looked like the girl next door, comfortable and relaxed, sitting there in her khaki shorts and black tank top with her bare feet propped up.
He knocked lightly on the doorframe and asked, “Anybody hungry?”
Angel smiled. “Hey, come on in. I was just thinking about you.”
“Good things, I hope.”
“Extremely,”
He walked in and held up the picnic basket. “I was hoping I could I interest you in another picnic.”
She blushed profusely. “You’re not expecting a repeat performance of last night, are you?”
“Who, me? The thought never entered my mind.” When she gave him a disbelieving look, he confessed, “Okay, it did cross my mind, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“Okay, then why are you here?”
He began to feel impatient. He knew he needed to get her away from the clinic before Miguel and the others arrived. “Come on, Angel. Don’t you want to get away from here for a couple of hours?”
“Ah.” She nodded, swung her feet down, and gave him a knowing look. “Okay, which one of them put you up to this?”
He tried to look innocent. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Was it Miguel or Miranda?” He started to deny everything when she spoke again, pointing her finger at him accusingly. “I can see right through you, you know. Are you sure you’re cut out to be an actor?”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe not. Come on,” he begged. “I’ve already got a blanket in the van, and Manuel says there’s a real pretty spot not far from their house that’s perfect for a picnic.”
She threw up her hands in defeat. “Okay, I give up.” She laughed at Kevin’s victory dance.
“Yes! Come on, we’ve got to hurry!”
He whisked her out to the van and drove them to a wooded area behind the Santiago family home. He followed the road Manuel had told him about and drove up to the small private pond. They both sat for a moment looking out over the landscape. The flowers were blooming, the grass newly mown, and the pond and surrounding area well-kept and clean. It was gorgeous.
Angel spoke first. “Oh wow. This place is beautiful. I wish we had towels. We could go for a swim.”
Kevin gave her a conspiratorial grin and reached behind her seat. “Your wish is my command,” he said and pulled two towels out from behind her.
She ga
ve him a sly grin. “You’re not fooling me, you know. I know you only want to see me in my underwear again.”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
She rolled her eyes and grinned. “Okay, come on. Let’s get this stuff set up first.”
They grabbed their supplies and headed for the pond. Angel unfolded the blanket and laid it out under a tree a few feet from the water. Kevin put the picnic basket down on the blanket next to her and laid the towels down on top of it.
“How about that swim?” he asked.
“It’ll have to be a short one,” she said, reaching for the bottom of her shirt. “We’ll still need time to eat and get back for a shower before the surprise party.”
He grinned, enjoying the sight of her stripping off her top. “What surprise party?” he asked innocently. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Ha-ha, you’re very funny.” She unzipped her shorts.
Angel finished undressing in record time and stood in her black bra and panties watching Kevin peel off his jeans. He threw his pants onto the edge of the blanket and stood. “I’ve never seen a woman come out of her clothes as fast as you do.”
She put both hands on her hips and gave him an indignant look. “Are you suggesting that I’m a hussy?”
He laughed and reached out for her, pulling her close to him. “No, but I do suggest that you kiss me. What do you think about that?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think that’s a great idea.” She kissed him full on the mouth. “Hmm, you are delicious, Kevin,” she growled sexily when they finished their kiss, before running into the water. He grinned and took off after her.
Thirty minutes later, the two of them sat under the tree eating their food in a companionable silence.
“Kevin?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you going to do when you leave Mexico?”
He swallowed his last bite and sat his plate down. “Well, I don’t have any immediate plans, but in a couple of weeks, my brother and I are going to be recording some songs that we wrote.” He finished his bottle of water and threw the empty bottle into the picnic basket.
“Oh. Are you going to record the one you sang last night?”
“You mean the one I wrote for you?”
She blushed and looked away. “Yeah.”
“I’d like to. Would that be okay?”
She put her plate down and turned back to him. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
“What about you? What are your plans?”
“Well, we’re going to stay in Mexico for a little longer. Hopefully I can arrange for the adoption of Isabel.
“What about your job?”
“I’m taking a short leave of absence.”
He eyed her inquisitively. “But you’re a single parent. How can you afford to do that?”
She laid back on the blanket and closed her eyes. “We’ll be fine. I’ve got some money put away.”
He looked out across the pond and the surrounding woodland for several minutes. “Angel?”
“Hmm?”
“Would it be okay with you if I stayed with you for a while, while you’re in Mexico?”
She opened her eyes and gave him a questioning look. “What do you mean ‘stay with me’?” she asked. “Are you talking about living together?”
He lay back and rolled onto his side to face her. “No, I mean stay here and see you. Maybe we could take the girls to a museum or something? I could rent us an apartment. Separate apartments if you prefer.”
Angel sighed. “I don’t need your money, Kevin. I can afford to pay for my own apartment.”
“I don’t want to buy you, Angel.” He heard the unspoken comment in her voice. “I want to spend time with you.”
She put both hands under her head and turned to look thoughtfully up at the sky through the trees. “Can I think about it?”
He put his arm around her waist and leaned over to kiss the sensitive spot on the side of her neck. “Sure, Angel. No pressure here.”
She giggled and playfully hit his arm as he kissed his way up her neck to nibble on her earlobe. Winding her arms around his neck, she let out a sigh of contentment. “What am I going to do with you?” she muttered.
He looked her in the eye and whispered. “We’ll figure it out.”
It was seven o’clock when they reached the community center. Before they opened the door, Kevin stopped, taking both her hands in his. “Now don’t forget. You have to look surprised. Are you ready?”
She looked beautiful in her red skirt, sleeveless black zip-up top, and black cowboy boots. “Almost.” She reached up to straighten the collar on his blue chambray shirt. “You only forgot one thing.”
“What?”
She moved in closer. “You forgot to kiss me.”
“Ooh.” He made a face. “That’s a major oversight there.”
“I know.”
He grinned. “I can fix that.” He pulled her close and touched his lips on hers, lightly grazing her mouth.
A few moments later, she moved back to look up dreamily at him. “Hmm, now I’m ready.”
He opened the door for her, and the crowd roared, “Surprise!”
Angel spent the next twenty minutes hugging her friends and family and opening presents. Then Diego took the stage, and everybody lined up for their lesson. Kevin, Angel, and her children lined up with the other dancers and spent the next forty-five minutes laughing at themselves and one another as they tried to learn the line-dancing routines. When the lessons were finished, the dancers were left to dance on their own.
Later that evening, Kevin and Angel sat to talk with her girls. He smiled when Hope took the seat next to him and Faith climbed up on his knee. “Well, what have you three been up to?” he asked them.
Grace smiled at him from her mother’s lap. “Grandma and Grandpa have a pond, and I got to swim in it!”
“You did?” Kevin asked as he looked over at Angel. “I like ponds. I bet that was fun.”
She blushed and then looked back at her girls. “What else did you do?”
“We fed the animals and rode the pony,” Faith answered.
“Yeah, and one of the horses is expecting a baby any day now,” added Hope.
“Wow,” said Angel. “I bet you guys didn’t even have time to think about me?”
“Yes, we did.” Little Grace smiled and hugged her mother. “I missed you, Mommy.”
Angel wrapped her arms around her daughter. “I missed you guys too.”
“Family hug,” Hope shouted. Angel laughed as Hope put her arm around Kevin and the rest of them in a big group hug. They all hugged, kissed, and laughed until Diego took the stage to announce, “We’ve only got time for a few more songs, so if you have a request, please come up and let us know right away. We’ll try to get it on for you.”
Kevin had an idea. “Come here, girls. I need a favor.” All three girls huddled around him. Angel peered suspiciously at the four of them. The girls giggled and turned to look at their mom. All three nodded, and Faith asked Kevin, “Then can we have some more birthday cake?”
“Absolutely,” he answered.
The three girls took off to the sound booth to speak with Diego while Angel looked suspiciously at Kevin. “What did you do?”
He smiled and waved at his three little co-conspirators. “You’ll see.”
The music ended, and Diego put on a new song. Angel’s mouth fell open as she obviously recognized the familiar stains of “Doing Something Right”.
He stood and held his hand out to her. “I’ve always wanted to dance with an angel. Will you dance with me?” She looked at his outstretched hand and then back up to his face. For just a moment, he saw panic in her eyes. “Trust me,” he whispered.
Angel took a deep breath and firmly placed her hand in his. He led her out onto the crowded dance floor and gently pulled her into his arms. Then, ever so slowly, he moved her around on the floor, their bodies swaying softly to the music.
Kevin smiled and winked at Grace, who was dancing with her Uncle Tomás nearby. Miguel and Brandi were in their own little world, dancing not far away. The floor was crowded with family and friends, but it didn’t feel that way. The crowd, the noise, the colored lights all disappeared from view. When the song was almost over, Kevin whispered, “Do you think you could ever love me, Angel?”
She tensed slightly and laid her head on his shoulder. “I, I think I already do,” she whispered.
He pulled back so he could see her face. “Why are you so apprehensive? What is it you’re so afraid of?”
“I don’t really know you.”
He smiled. “Yes, you do. Remember when I first saw you on the ship? You looked at me then and I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“I knew you saw something other than my career. You didn’t see Kevin ‘the actor’ or ‘the musician.’ You saw the real Kevin, me as a man.” He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “You already have my heart whether you want it or not. Give us a chance, Angel.” He pulled her closer and leaned down to gently kiss her on the mouth. “I love you,” he said softly.
She smiled up at him. “I love you too.”
Grace struggled to get down out of her Uncle Tomás’s arms and ran across the room. “I told you the falling-in-love song would work, Aunt Miranda. She said she loved him.”
Kevin grinned to see Angel’s mouth fall open. She turned to hide her face in his chest. He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “I’m afraid our secret’s out, honey.”
She sighed. “I never have been able to keep a secret.”
Thirty minutes later, Kevin and Angel stood in the driveway saying goodbye to Tomás, Miranda, and the girls. Miguel and Brandi had already left for the evening. Kevin turned to shake Tomás’s hand and Miranda hugged Angel. “He’s a good man, Angel,” Miranda told her.
Angel gave her a fierce hug back. “I hope you’re right,” she said as she took a step back and held tightly to her friend’s hand.
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