by Sharon Sala
Angel knew her lips were trembling, but her composure had not shattered. All the while she'd been sitting in the dark, she'd been thinking of the path that had led her to this place. Only a few weeks ago she hadn't known these people existed, and now they were the most important people in her life. She thought of the storm that had raged over their heads and of the home they had abandoned. She saw the beam of Royal's flashlight as he started down the steps. He was back, and she was afraid to ask if there was anything left.
"Royal?"
"It's still there," he said.
"Thank God," Angel whispered, and then looked down as Maddie suddenly whimpered in her sleep. "Poor little girl," she said softly. "She's had a very rough night."
"We all have," Royal said and bent to lift her from Angel's arms as Angel looked up.
In the act of scooping Maddie and her covers, the backs of his hands slid the length of Angel's thighs. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. Her skin was warm and soft … so soft. Then he looked up. Their gazes met and held.
Even though the rain was still pouring down, he heard the rhythm of her breathing shift to an uneven gasp. He was close, too close to that sensuous mouth. All he would have to do was lean forward and he would know how she tasted. And then Maddie cried out in her sleep. He jerked and stood up, and the moment was gone.
An awkward silence ensued. It was all Angel could do to look at him, and Royal was at a loss as to what to say. It was the cold sifting into the cellar that prompted his return to sanity.
"Here," he said shortly, handing Angel the flashlight and then pointing to his sleeping daughter. "Trade me."
Angel stood. Once again the transfer was made. The moment Maddie was taken from her arms she felt weightless, as if the anchor holding her to earth had suddenly disappeared.
"Is it okay to leave?" Angel asked.
"Yes, and when we get out of the cellar, be careful where you walk. There's quite a bit of debris."
Angel nodded and thought of her shoes once more. Then she started up the steps, pausing at the top and aiming the beam of the flashlight into the cellar to light Royal's way.
The downpour had lessened to a drizzle. The thunder and lightning were moving away. As she waited for Royal to ascend, she shivered. She was wet and cold and about as tired as she'd ever been in her life.
"Do you want me to close the cellar door?" she asked as Royal cleared the top step with Maddie in his arms.
"Can you?" he asked. "It's pretty heavy."
"I'll try."
She laid the flashlight down, aiming it toward the opening. A few seconds later, the door fell shut with a thud.
Once again, Royal's estimation of this woman had to shift to make way for another fact. Angel Rojas was physically stronger than she looked. She stepped backward to pick up the flashlight, and he saw her legs, then her feet.
"My God, woman, you're barefoot! What were you thinking?"
The abruptness of his shout startled her, and she stumbled.
Burdened with Maddie's sleeping body, he had to watch her struggling to catch her balance.
"Be careful!" he cried. "There's all kinds of debris out here. You could cut your feet to shreds."
She picked up the flashlight and turned, aiming it to the right of his face, pinning him in the beam. The sarcasm in her voice was impossible to miss.
"I know that," she said, enunciating each syllable slowly and precisely. "I'm not stupid."
"Then why—"
"I couldn't find them. So I decided I'd rather be alive and barefoot than well-dressed and dead. Now for Pete's sake … and Maddie's … will you be quiet? You're going to wake her up."
Without waiting for his permission, Angel waved the flashlight at him, indicating he was to follow, and took off across the yard.
Even in the dark, even in the rain, Royal felt the heat rising on his face as he followed her. All he could see was her silhouette, but it was enough to know she was ticked off. Maddie whimpered again, and his focus shifted to getting them all inside the house, into dry clothes and into bed.
"You might want to wait here," he said as they stepped on the porch.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because there's broken glass all over the place. Give me the flashlight. I'll put Maddie in bed and then I'll come back for you."
"But I…"
Before she could argue, he disappeared. All she could see was a faint trail of light and then nothing. Struggling against the urge to throw something, she folded her arms across her chest and slumped against the doorjamb. There were times when that man's attitude got on her last nerve, and this was one of them. She stared into the kitchen, peering through the darkness and telling herself she didn't see anything broken. Testing the theory of possible exaggeration, she took a tentative step into the kitchen and felt nothing but floor beneath her feet.
"Humpf," she snorted, and tried another step.
It took a second for the cold water to register, and when it did, she gasped and bolted outside. Her heart was pounding and she had the makings of a headache when she finally got her bearings. She hated to admit it, but it would seem that he'd been right. So she would wait. No big deal.
When she heard him coming, she braced herself for another confrontation. It never came. Before she knew what was happening, he handed her the flashlight and scooped her off her feet.
"I couldn't find your shoes, either," he said. "So don't wiggle. I'm too tired to argue."
Angel looked at him. At the hard angles of his face and the glitter in his eyes. She remembered how fiercely he had fought the storm to keep the cellar door shut and them from being sucked out into the storm.
"I'm sorry you have to do this," she said quietly.
As soon as she spoke, the tension on his face disappeared. He sighed. "And I'm sorry I snapped at you. I wasn't mad, just worried."
"I know. I shouldn't have been so defensive," she said. "I've depended upon myself for so long that I've forgotten how to accept help."
Royal nodded and kicked the door shut behind them after they entered the house.
"Aim the light straight ahead," he said. "And don't worry about what you see. There's nothing that can't be fixed."
She did as he said, absorbing the chaos of the house in the bits and pieces the light revealed. Although it was still standing, there was enough obvious damage for her to realize how dangerous it would have been had they stayed inside. She knew that most people killed in tornadoes were killed by flying debris, rather than by the twister itself.
"Oh, Royal," she said softly, and went limp in his arms.
He felt her shock. "Don't worry about it," he said quietly. "All that matters is that we're safe."
She nodded, but the images stayed with her. He passed her bedroom.
"Wait," she said. "You missed my room."
"You can't sleep in there," he said shortly. "The windows are broken. There's glass and water all over the place, and it's the same in Maddie's room. But we got lucky. Somehow my room escaped being damaged. We'll be able to spend the rest of the night in there."
Lucky? She was going to sleep in his room and this was lucky? Crazy was more like it.
"All of us?" she asked.
He set her down just inside the doorway.
"All of us. Right there in my bed, with you on one side of my daughter and me on the other. And before you balk on me, consider the situation. It's after three in the morning. If you're as tired as I am, you won't care who the hell you're in bed with as long as they leave you alone."
Angel bit her lip. A thousand questions were begging to get out, and she didn't have the guts to voice a one.
Royal leaned forward, pinning her with a cool stare.
"Do we have a problem?"
She glared at him. "No."
"Is there something you want to tell me?" he asked.
She clenched her jaw. "Like what?"
"Do you snore?"
"No!"
"Then we have nothing further
to discuss." He thrust the flashlight in her hand. "We need to get dry. I've already changed Maddie's clothes. My clean T-shirts are in the bottom drawer. Get one on and then get in bed. I won't be more than a couple of minutes behind you."
"Uh, um—"
"On a practical note," Royal added, "if you need to use the bathroom, don't flush. The power's off, and that means the tank won't refill."
"Right," Angel said, and was thankful for the darkness because her face was flaming.
Having said all he needed to say, Royal stood, waiting for her reaction. When she neither moved nor spoke, he sighed in weary defeat.
"Woman, what the hell are you waiting for?"
She was as tired as Royal and probably twice as cold. Her feet felt as if they'd never be warm again. But she would have died before giving him a reason to complain.
"I guess nothing," she said shortly, and then turned her back to him and started pulling her wet T-shirt over her head.
"Oh, yeah, right," Royal muttered. "I was just leaving." He bolted out the door.
Long after they were both in bed, with Maddie sound asleep between them and the sound of rain falling softly on the rooftop, Royal lay without moving, staring through the darkness to the place where Angel slept. Even though the circumstances were extraordinary that had led to this event, he couldn't quit thinking that he'd never slept with another woman in his life except Susan. He'd had plenty of what he liked to call "encounters," but to lie down and sleep with someone was invoking a trust he held dear.
After a while, the uniqueness of the situation became less and less important. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, it was morning.
* * *
Somewhere between a dead sleep and light slumber, Royal heard someone calling his name. He groaned and shoved his nose into the pillow. All he could think was that he ached all over and hoped he wasn't getting sick.
Then he heard it again and rolled over on his back. Whoever it was was persistent, he would give them that. He yawned and stretched, and as he did, felt the shape of little feet digging into his side. He frowned. Maddie? Why was Maddie sleeping in his bed? And then he remembered.
The storm.
He sat straight up in bed.
The door flew open. Roman's wife, Holly, burst in. Her short dark hair was loose and flying, her eyes filled with fear. When she saw them, the look on her face was somewhere between shock and relief. She turned in the doorway and shouted down the hall.
"Roman! In here! They're in here!"
At the noise, Angel woke with a start, and like Royal sat straight up in bed.
"What's happening? Is it storming again?" she asked, and started to reach for Maddie.
"No," Royal groaned. "It's my brother."
"Good Lord." Angel sighed and fell back to the bed with a thump, her hand plastered over her chest in dramatic fashion. "That probably shortened my life by a good year."
Royal grimaced. He knew just how she felt. But he should have known that Roman would come. The Justices had a way of looking out for each other. He was crawling out of bed as Roman ran into the room.
Roman's face was pale and his voice was shaking as he gave Royal a fierce hug.
"We heard about the storms when we woke this morning. Four people died and more than a dozen houses were destroyed. It's all over the news." He glanced over Royal's shoulder to the bed, and his eyes widened perceptibly.
Royal lifted a sleepy Maddie into his arms as she began to come to. "We're fine," he said. "Luckily this room escaped damage. The other rooms were uninhabitable."
Roman nodded. "We noticed," he said softly. "When I topped the rise leading to the house, I was afraid to get out of the car. And when you weren't in the cellar and you didn't come out when we called, we started to worry."
Holly leaned against Roman and sighed. "Actually, it scared us silly. I was afraid to look and afraid not to," she said, and started to cry.
Maddie frowned. "Don't cry, Aunt Holly. I don't like it when you cry."
Holly lifted Maddie out of Royal's arms and hugged her tight. "You've got quite a cleanup job ahead of you. Let us take Maddie. At least you won't have to worry about her getting hurt during the repairs."
Maddie's lower lip slid forward. "I want to go home with Uncle Roman and Aunt Holly. This house scares me."
Royal didn't bother to hide his relief. He glanced at Angel.
"It would make things easier for us."
Angel wished she could disappear. Nothing in her past had prepared her for the embarrassment of lying in her boss's bed, in full view of his family, while a disaster cleanup was being discussed.
"Is there anything you need?" Roman asked.
Royal nodded. "Yes, call the electric company and the phone company for me. I left my cell phone on the table last night. Needless to say, the tree limb and the rain didn't do it any good."
Roman whipped out his cell phone and handed it to his brother. "Use this one until you get yours back on. You'll need to make all kinds of calls. And as soon as I get Holly and Maddie into Dallas, I'll come and help."
"Bring breakfast when you come," Royal said.
Roman grinned. "Done."
"I want breakfast, too," Maddie said.
Holly grinned. "We'll stop at McDonald's, okay?"
"Yeah!" Maddie shrieked. "Beanie Babies."
Royal frowned. "I thought you were hungry."
In total female fashion, Maddie ignored the absurdity of her father's remark. Everyone knew that toys came with food at McDonald's.
Holly looked at Angel, feeling sympathy for the predicament she was in. "Are you all right?" she asked.
Angel nodded and ventured a look at Royal. "Thanks to him, we're all okay."
A little embarrassed, Royal shrugged off the compliment. "I'm glad I woke up in time. Just let me get my boots on and I'll get Maddie some clothes."
"Let me," Holly said. "I know where most of her clothes are kept."
"I'll show you!" Maddie said.
"No, baby. You can't go in your room until we get it all cleaned up," Royal said.
Maddie frowned. "I didn't mess it up, Daddy, honest I didn't."
Royal grinned. "I know that. Now let's get you to the bathroom and your hair brushed. As soon as Angel and I fix the house, Uncle Roman and Aunt Holly will bring you home, okay?"
Maddie shrugged. "Am I staying all night with them, too?" she asked.
Roman tweaked his niece's nose. "Yes, Little Bit, you're staying all night. Now quit worrying and do what your daddy says."
Royal and Maddie disappeared into the adjoining bathroom, and Holly went to Maddie's room to search for clothes. Angel was trapped beneath the covers and Roman's all-seeing gaze.
"Rough night?" he asked.
Angel glared. "I've had better." Then she added, "Maddie has some chigger bites on her leg."
Roman nodded. "We'll see to them."
"Don't forget to take her chewable vitamins. They're in the kitchen on the shelf to the right of the sink."
Roman nodded again, but his estimation of this woman had just gone up five notches. In spite of everything that had happened, her worries seemed focused on Maddie.
"Got some at the house," he said softly.
Angel sighed and looked away. "I just…"
"Don't apologize to me," Roman said. "I'm with you. Along with Holly, Maddie is one of the most important females in my life."
Angel almost smiled. "Well, then," she said softly, fidgeting with the covers and wishing someone would hurry up and come back. To her relief, Royal and Maddie emerged from the bathroom.
The silence in the room was impossible for Royal to mistake. He stared at the blush on Angel's face and gave Roman a hard-edged glare.
"Roman?"
Roman met the glare with a cool, unaffected stare. "Yeah?"
"Are you messing in my business again?"
Roman winked at Angel and grinned. "Nope."
Angel slid a little deeper beneath the covers and wis
hed herself invisible.
"Surely there are more important things to dwell on this morning than this," she snapped.
Both men jerked as if they'd been slapped. Before they could respond, Holly was back with Maddie's clothes. A few minutes later they were gone, and Angel was left with the growing feeling that she'd just lost her safety net.
Wearing a pair of Royal's boots, she picked her way through what was left of her bedroom to find some clothes of her own. In the process, she stumbled. When she looked down, she saw the toe of her shoe sticking out from beneath the dust ruffle on her bed.
"Finally," she muttered, and gathered the shoes up with the rest of her things.
Dressed and shod, she began searching for Royal. She found him standing on the porch. She paused in the doorway behind him, absorbing his stillness. He stood with his feet apart, his shoulders back, as if bracing himself for a blow. She smiled. Just as she might have expected. The storm had passed, but if need be, Royal Justice was still ready to go to war.
* * *
Chapter 11
« ^ »
"What do we do first?" Angel asked.
Startled by the sound of her voice, Royal spun around. Separated by a yard of space and the screen on the door, he still felt as if she'd invaded his skin.
Do first?
He wondered what she'd say if he told her the truth of what he was thinking. With her, he didn't know where to start … or even if he should.
Angel pushed the door open and walked outside. His silence was unnerving, as was the look in his eyes.
"Royal? Is something wrong? Did the storm—"
"No," he said, and looked away. "My mind was somewhere else."
That she could understand. There was debris as far as she could see. One of the small outbuildings had completely disappeared, and others were missing roofs. There was a section of rafters lying across part of the main corral fence. The large tree at the edge of the yard was missing several large limbs, one of which had gone through her bedroom window. It was such a mess, and Royal seemed so solemn, her compassion overruled her head. She walked to where he was standing and took his hand.