“Simeon’s obviously not stupid.” He pulled his hand away and stuffed it under his head. “Out of all the Angels, he picks you to mess with. He saw that you weren’t the typical Angel and took advantage of it.”
I rewound Judd’s words in my head and played them back. I was pretty sure I was offended. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I perched up on my arm to glare down at him.
“I didn’t mean anything by it, Abby. You know you’re different.”
“So you’re saying he can’t possibly be attracted to me. The fact that he likes me couldn’t possibly be the reason why he’s helping me and giving me attention.” I willed any tears from forming. I was not a superficial person and wouldn’t allow myself to get upset over one of Judd’s idiotic remarks.
“Oh, hell. That’s not at all what I’m saying, honey. Listen.” He yanked me back down and trapped me under his arm. “You know what I think of you.” His dark eyes pierced into me, begging me to come to an appropriate conclusion.
I wouldn’t make it that easy for him. “No, I don’t, but I’m beginning to figure it out.”
“Shit. Don’t make me say it. You see how I look at you sometimes.”
“How you look at me?”
“Yeah, and I’m constantly flirting with you. I wouldn’t do that if I didn’t find you attractive.”
I stared up at him for a moment. He looked pained. As if what he was saying might cause a reaction he didn’t want to hear. Or deal with. I’d realized a long time ago that Judd had a commitment phobia. A huge fear of marriage and everything that entailed. Even so, I’d never mentioned it or pushed him toward conquering the phobia with me or with anyone else.
His Adam’s apple moved up and down. “You understand now, right?”
“Sure.” I understood nothing, but I didn’t like that Judd was uncomfortable around me. It wasn’t normal, and I really needed normal when it came to my best friend. I wiggled out from under his arm and sat at the edge of the bed, giving him his space back. “Did Pauline talk to you last night?” I asked, desperately wanting to lighten the conversation.
“Pauline?” He sat up beside me, pressing his jean-clad thigh to my gray sweats. “Not really. She came into the break room and opened the soda machine for me with a key I didn’t know existed. Didn’t say much, that I can remember. Why? Something happen on duty?”
“I found out she’s got a crush on you.” I didn’t know why I was telling him. Maybe this was the wrong change of subject. All I needed was for Judd to miraculously overcome his irrational fear and send me a postcard from their honeymoon.
“She told you that?”
“Yep.” I looked up to see his reaction.
A broad smile covered his face, and he laughed.
“What?” I asked, not finding the humor in it.
“I’m trying to picture having sex with a frigid robot. It’s not exactly turning me on.”
“Well, apparently, you could have your pick of frigid robots. I got the impression that more than a few Angels have been checking you out. Maybe it’s time you started dating again. You were so good at it the first time around.” I tried not to sound bitter but failed miserably. I knew Judd wasn’t my property. I knew he’d eventually fall in love with someone. I just didn’t want it to be anytime soon.
He gave me a familiar look from the corner of his eye. “What about you? Do you have a crush on me?”
I grinned, glad to have a glimpse of my friend back.
He continued to badger. “I know you want me. Why even deny it?”
Playing along, I jumped up, grabbed his shoulders and placed my leg on his thigh. “Judd, darling.” I attempted to make my husky voice sultry. Sad attempt. “One of these days I’m going to take you seriously, and what are you going to do then? Run?”
He chuckled and gathered me against his hard chest. “You’re too chickenshit to take me seriously. Plus, I thought you’d given up on men. Remember?”
Again, the idea of him being on my bed staggered me a little. I can’t say I hadn’t fantasized about what sex with Judd would be like. There had been some weak and lonely moments now and then, alone in the middle of the night when he’d crept into my mind. But it hadn’t been until right now that I’d entertained the notion of him having the same thoughts about me. Flirting was one thing, action was another. And Judd had never once acted out anything more than a peck on the forehead. It would’ve been silly to think that he’d want anything else from me.
Now as he mellowed and stared into my eyes with what appeared to be desire, I felt something. A possibility. Could Judd be attracted to me? Might there be something besides friendship between us? Gathering courage, I decided to test it out. What could it hurt? The only other person interested in me was a half-breed, so why not?
I brought my hands up to caress his strong jaw and felt his fingers tighten on my waist. Encouraged, I moved on by pressing a kiss to his nose. It was innocent enough. He didn’t react much. I wet my lips a little and kissed his stubbly cheek. He closed his eyes, and I took another step, softly kissing the corner of his mouth. And then―
“I, uh―” He eased away from me, his face flushed. “I should go, Abby. I told Eli I’d grab breakfast with him.”
He stood, and I gulped down a big dose of humility. Oddly, the rejection hurt more than I thought it would’ve. What had I been thinking trying to make a move on Judd? He probably thought I’d lost my mind. Heck, maybe I had.
“Yeah, I have to get ready,” I said, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve got an appointment with MOG later.”
“Oh?” He jangled something in his pocket. Probably loose change. “Let me know how that goes. Okay?”
“Sure thing.” I retreated to the bathroom in a hurry and listened as my front door opened and shut.
Darn it. If I hadn’t known where I stood romantically with Judd before, I certainly did now.
Chapter Eleven
I had a few hours until it was time to see MOG, so I decided to grab some lunch. And maybe stop by Simeon’s office. I believed an interrogation on my part was in order, and I wasn’t inviting anyone along, despite Judd’s advice. It wasn’t as though I’d be alone in a house with Simeon this time. With Harley, his great-niece, at her desk, I’d have no choice than to sustain some self-control.
Self-control? Hmm... That was something I’d been lacking lately. Making out with a demon and attempting to do the same with my best friend―within hours―were probably two of the most despicable things I could’ve done. I was turning into a hussy before my very eyes.
Damn. I really needed to add more cheesecake to my diet.
Shaking the depressing thought out of my head, I picked up my fully charged cell phone from my passenger seat and dialed Simeon’s office number.
“Keller Temporary Employment Agency,” Harley answered in a monotone voice. “How can I help you?”
“Hi, this is Abigail Angel. Could I speak with Sim—er, Mr. Keller, please?”
I heard her blow a breath into the phone.
“Sure. Hold on,” she said, sounding like the young college student she was.
A jazzy piano tune played into my ear until Simeon picked up. “Hello, love.”
I ignored the “love” comment. “I’m coming over. Do you like hamburgers?”
“I’m more a sushi kind of guy,” he mocked. “Kidding. I’ll like whatever comes with you. No onions though.”
“You got it.” I hung up and drove through the nearest drive-thru.
Ten minutes later, I dropped a bag of food on Harley’s desk, interrupting her typing. “Are you hungry?” Why not make nice with the fam?
She eyed the greasy paper bag, her brow piercing standing at attention. “I’m a vegetarian.”
“Oh.” I picked it back up in a hurry. “Sorry. I can take off the meat part, if you want. There’s some onions and ketchup in there too. And the bread has sesame seeds.” I shut up before I could make a bigger fool of myself.
Harley’s lips puc
kered up into a scowl. “That’s disgusting.”
No point in furthering this conversation. I didn’t have a clue how to handle humans. Demons were my specialty.
“I’ll just take this in to Sim—Mr. Keller then.”
Simeon’s door opened, and a gorgeous man with dark skin and green eyes exited. A demon, of course. He inhaled my Angel scent, winked at me, and then turned to Harley. “Good afternoon, ladies. Stay out of trouble.”
“Bye, Mr. Adams,” Harley said, rather enthusiastically. “Good luck with your new job.”
He nodded and smiled before the elevator door shut and took him back to the first floor.
Harley turned to me, all civility gone from her face. “You know, you can’t stop in here anytime you want. Mr. Keller’s a busy man.”
“I understand that, and I wouldn’t be bothering him if my business with him wasn’t important.”
“I’m not stupid,” she said before I could escape from her glare. “I know what you are. And I know what you people have done to my uncle before. I don’t care if he likes you. Just so you know I never will. In fact, I think I kind of hate you.”
What exactly had ole Uncle Simeon said to her? It was apparent she, a human, knew about Angels and demons. But how much did she know?
“What do you mean?” I played dumb, hoping she’d elaborate.
She rolled her eyes at me. “Who do you think nurses him back to health when he returns to Earth all beaten and battered? He’s not evil like the rest of them. He’s human. And if you ask me, I’d say you people were the evil ones for not seeing that. I thought you were supposed to protect humans, not throw them into danger.” She stood and glowered at me. The black hair and heart-shaped face resembled Simeon, but her brown eyes and pale skin couldn’t have been more dissimilar. “Why don’t you stay the heck away from him? He deserves better than you. And if he winds up hurt again because of you, you better believe I’ll track your ass down and show you what Hell on Earth is.”
“Harley.” Simeon’s low voice brimmed with warning from behind me. “That’s quite enough.”
I turned my head to see him standing at his office door, frowning at his great-niece. In a way, I was relieved he’d stopped her, but I wouldn’t have minded hearing more about what this young woman had to say. It was an interesting perspective. One I hadn’t ever thought of. One that made me lose my appetite.
Harley plopped her thin, lengthy body back down with an exaggeration only a teenager could achieve. “Fine. Whatever.” She gave me one more stabbing glare and continued with her work.
Somewhat shaken, I passed by Simeon into his office and set the bags of food down. Before I could turn, I felt him behind me, wrapping the warmth of his arms around my waist.
“I apologize.” His voice was soft against my ear. “She’s seen much more than she ever should have. I’m afraid it couldn’t be helped. The last time I’d served time in purgatory, my sister sent her to stay at my house to wait for my return. They feared for my life, since the first time I’d come back with a head injury. I’d been alone for several days before someone found me.”
Unwanted remorse ate at me for being a part of anything that caused him pain. “I’d never known that to happen to a demon.”
“Well, full demons have a much safer journey, albeit just as mentally agonizing, I’m sure.” He gripped my shoulders and turned me around to look at him. “I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind. I’ll speak to Harley about her behavior. I want you to feel comfortable coming here and to my home. More importantly, I want you to feel comfortable with me.” He leaned in and tenderly pressed his lips to mine.
For a moment, I submitted, enjoying the sweet, enticing kiss. But the little voice—my exasperating conscience—reminded me of Judd’s ultimatum. And I broke away.
“I need to speak to you about Cesar Knight.” I bit my mouth shut and gingerly patted his chest before maneuvering around him and sitting on one of his leather chairs. Distance was necessary when it came to Simeon.
He didn’t respond as he sat in the chair beside me, watching me carefully.
“He wasn’t in the Demon Control database.” Guilt and anger battled inside me as I spoke. I didn’t want him to be punished for helping me, but I also felt deceived he’d given me false information when Angels’ lives were at stake. “Is that his real name? Or did you send me on a wild goose chase?”
He shook his head and focused on a paper he’d pulled off his desk. “Have any more Angels been hurt?”
“Not that I know of.” It irked me that he wasn’t giving me his full attention. I grabbed the paper from him and set it back on his desk, forcing him to take notice. “Am I wasting my time seeking help from you, Simeon? I understand if you can’t help me, and if that’s the case, I won’t bother you anymore. Either way, I don’t want to be made to look like an idiot.”
“An idiot?” He relaxed back in the chair, spreading his leather-clad legs and eyeing me suspiciously. “Did that Judd character make you feel like that? When you couldn’t find Knight?”
“No.” I waved a hand to dismiss the irrelevant subject. “Judd doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“I doubt that’s true. It seemed he was very much in your business outside my home this morning.”
“You were listening with your superpower hearing, I assume,” I said scathingly.
“I’m sure all of Denver heard your argument, Abigail. And I can’t say I liked it very much. Who is he to tell you whom you can and can’t see? Does he have some sort of control over you?”
“Of course not.” I hated to think of it that way. “He’s worried about the backlash I’d get if I were to...you know...do it again.” I gestured shyly toward his large desk. “Sex with you hasn’t exactly made me the most popular person at Angels, Inc.”
“And that matters to you? To be popular?”
“Popular? No. Respected? Maybe.”
In a lithe move, Simeon slunk out of his seat and kneeled before me, wedging his body between my legs. He settled his hands on my outer thighs and drew me close.
“I’ve lived my life neither human nor demon,” he said. “Only some creature in between, fitting in nowhere. If I spent every waking moment worrying about what someone thought of me, I’d be one clinically depressed bastard.” He smiled and pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “Abigail, you’ve got a heart, a soul, and a beautiful head on your shoulders. Trust yourself to know what’s best for you.”
If it were only that easy, I thought. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’ve made some really bad decisions in the past.”
“According to whom? You?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes it’s easier not to overanalyze.”
He chuckled, showing his youthful side. I couldn’t help but tilt my head and stare into his beautiful eyes. They made me forget my worries, if only for a moment, soothing me, allowing me to overlook that his lips were drawing closer to mine. A content sigh escaped me as we met and molded together. His arms wrapped around me while his mouth made quick work of making me forget everything and anyone else that existed.
This was heaven on earth. This was why my self-control was nearly nonexistent.
MOG help me.
“Mr. Keller,” a voice called off in the distance. I ignored it, but it grew more insistent. “Mr. Keller... Simeon,” Harley yelled through a speaker on the desk.
Simeon pulled away, not looking pleased and made his way to his phone. He spoke in short answers to Harley while I gained my composure, straightening my clothes—a simple T-shirt and jeans today—and applying fresh lip gloss.
I was getting tired of damning my actions, battling what felt right or wrong versus what truly was right and wrong. If I were the judge and jury, I’d have myself locked up in a padded cell and the key thrown to the depths of the Bermuda Triangle weighed down by a ton of bricks. Thankfully, I didn’t have that power as an Angel.
“It appears my next appointment is here,” Simeon said,
setting down the phone. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to eat. Or...talk.” He smiled, and my dim brain finally lit up. He’d successfully avoided answering any questions about Cesar Knight and had achieved another make out session in the process.
Damn half-breed. How did he do it? How did he turn my mind into mushy pulp in a matter of minutes?
I stood and clenched my hands together. “You are the most conniving, scheming, son of a bi―”
“Wait a minute, sweetheart.” He put his hands up and moved quickly to stand in front of me.
“Stay away, Keller. I swear if you touch me again I’ll deport your ass without thinking twice.”
His grin grew larger, as if holding back a laugh. “Your cheeks and lips get extra rosy when you’re mad. It’s very sexy. I could look your forever.”
“Take a picture then.” I swung around and strode to the door. “I’ll find those assholes on my own.”
I grabbed the doorknob. Blood pumped through my body, heading straight up to my face. I was furious and humiliated and...and...let down. I couldn’t pinpoint what my expectations for Simeon had been, but he certainly hadn’t met them. The jerk.
“Abigail?” His voice was close to my ear, and it wasn’t until then that I realized I’d frozen. My body wouldn’t move. Not until I’d given him a piece of my mind. For whatever reason, he’d become too significant in my life to let him go this easily.
I turned around and glared up at him. I intended to yell at him. I intended to make it so he’d sorely regret messing with Abigail Angel. However, the look on his face gave me pause and all I could say was, “What?”
“You might find Peter Piper somewhere around the Lawrence Street Shelter.” His voice was so low I could barely hear him. “He hangs out there sometimes when he’s unemployed.”
“What took you so long to tell me this?” I tried to sound snippy, but it came out all wrong as relief flooded through me.
“Do I still need to take a picture?”
“We’ll see.” If what he said was true, he’d get so much more than a picture.
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