The Cowboy and the Angel

by Lietha Wards

  “Angel, I can’t change things. I already apologized. I meant it when I said that I wanted to remain friends.”

  “Alex, I told you how I felt about you. I can’t lie or ignore this.” Her voice cracked and she swallowed, trying to stop the tears from falling. “Can you at least tell me why? Why Lucy?”

  Alex ran his hand through his hair and turned away from her. “Hell, Angel, I would tell you if I could.” He walked over to his desk and rummaged through the drawers until he found a pack of cigarettes.

  “What’s stopping you?” She came up behind him as he unwrapped the new package, fished one out, and lit it.

  “I can’t tell you that.” He turned to her. “I can’t tell you anything without hurting you more, and I won’t do that.” His eyes searched hers, and she thought she saw a pleading look in them.

  “Is it the child?”

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation.

  She had been reflecting heavily on the past week and the way he was acting. Even though he hadn’t told her anything, she thought she might have it figured out. “I understand that part.” She did, knowing that she was going to have a child of her own in a few months that would be born out of wedlock as well. She would give anything for her baby to know his father. However, Max was his first child, and Alex was trying to do the honorable thing.

  Angel was smart enough to know that Lucy was using Max to get what she wanted from Alex. It was obvious from lunch the other day that he didn’t care about that woman like he did for her, but because of the boy, he had made the choice to be his father. She could see that now, and she didn’t want to be like Lucy and make him responsible for the child she carried. She wanted him to want to be a father to their baby, but it needed to be his choice. It hurt so much not to tell him, but it was excruciating not to have him in her life. They’d known each other for forever, and it felt as if she’d lost a part of herself in letting him go.

  “Do you?” He sighed heavily, studying her lovely face. “Of course you do, Angel, because you’re damn sweet.” He reached out and lifted her chin. “Any man would be lucky to have you,” he said roughly, “but you shouldn’t pine after me. I’m not good enough for you.”

  “You should’ve let me decide that, Alex,” she said softly. “As for moving on, I have.” She nearly choked those last few words out because she didn’t believe any of them. An odd look entered his expression, and it looked as though he wanted to say something. It was as if she’d hurt him by saying that, but that wasn’t possible. Was it? He’d easily picked Lucy and Max over her, so he couldn’t possibly feel the same way about her as she did about him. “I’d better get back or people are going to talk,” she said, turning towards the door.

  Alex reached out and stopped her by grabbing her arm. She looked up at him as he put out his cigarette in an ashtray on his desk, and then he stepped closer to her. “I meant every word I said that day we made love.” He could feel her tremble under his hand.

  “Alex, don’t—”

  “I still do,” he added as he slid his hand around her waist.

  “I—I can’t do this,” she murmured, feeling more helpless by the second.

  “I miss you something fierce, baby.” He drew her against his body.

  “Lucy—”

  “Screw Lucy,” he said right before he crushed his mouth to hers.

  Outside, Seth scanned the crowd and saw Priscilla talking to his mother, but two people were missing from the gathering: Alex and Angel. This isn’t going to go well, he thought. He’d seen the way Alex had looked at her earlier and knew what that hungry look meant. Angel was vulnerable around him and there was no doubt he’d gotten her alone.

  Without taking his mouth from hers, Alex pivoted Angel around and cupped her bottom so he could lift her up onto his desk, pushing himself between her thighs. He hurriedly pulled her blouse out of her skirt, and then undid her bra in such a smooth movement that she didn’t even realize he’d done it until his hands were on her breasts. She wanted to protest; she even tried saying the words, but as soon as he started caressing her bare skin, the words were lost and only a moan tore from her throat.

  Alex lifted her skirt and pulled off her panties, tossing them over his shoulder. Then he gripped her thighs and pulled her towards him until her soft junction was against his erection, causing her to release a loud gasp.

  “Alex—” She finally found it within herself to protest, but God, she wanted him so badly!

  “I haven’t touched her, Angel,” he murmured against her mouth, knowing what she was going to say. “I swear.”

  She pulled back and looked at him, her wide blue eyes searching his. She’d known him her whole life, and she knew him well enough to tell when he was lying. He was telling the truth. “Why?”

  “Don’t you have this figured out yet, honey?” he asked huskily. “There’s only one woman I want.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll never touch her either, even if I don’t have you,” he added seriously, meeting her eyes with a long stare. “I swear to God.”

  She wanted to cry at his confession. All along, she’d thought he loved the other woman, and that he was marrying her because of renewed love and the child they shared. The conflict within her between what she’d witnessed and what her heart told her had been tearing her apart for months, but his confession was genuine and she believed him. “You don’t love her?” She needed to hear it.

  “Absolutely not!” he said just before he took her mouth again.

  Angel felt hungry—hungry for his touch and his mouth—and a deep aching developed low in her pelvis. She groaned against his lips. Faintly, she heard the unbuckling of a belt and a rustle of material, but the crush of his mouth and the toying of his tongue against hers were driving her wild. She finally broke free and gasped from the sheer pleasure of it all as his mouth moved down her jaw to her neck. She spun in a whirlwind of arousal and need and could barely think beyond it.

  “Oh God, Alex,” she moaned, tightening her fingers on his thick shoulders. “I can’t…take this!”

  “Hush, baby, I’m in no hurry. I want to taste and feel every inch of you,” he whispered against her skin.

  “The party—” she started to say, but he interrupted her.

  “Fuck the damn party,” he said, taking her mouth again and cutting off her laugh while his hands moved up the length of her thighs and pushed her skirt up higher around her waist. Then he shifted, released her for a moment, and brushed everything on his desk onto the floor with a sweep of his arm.

  She didn’t have a chance to respond before he moved one hand up between her breasts and flattened her out on the shiny surface. He bent over and his mouth followed the path of his hand, caressing the soft texture of her warm flesh. Noises were flooding from her now, and he loved that about her. Everything about her was so full of life and raging with passion. He took her nipple in his mouth, causing her to cry out with pleasure, and at the same moment, he adjusted her hips and entered her with a growl of intense satisfaction.

  He wanted to take his time and give her as much pleasure as possible, but the sounds of pleasure she made did amazing things to his resistance. His own noises mixed with hers as he found a rhythm that she reacted to in body and voice. “God—” he choked out, bending over her and taking her mouth. “I’ve never had a woman feel so good!”

  She faintly heard him as her legs tightened around his hips, and the tightening within her made her cry out. “Oh, Alex!” she moaned against him.

  “Again,” he rasped. “Say it again.”

  She did. Over and over again.

  He felt the familiar tightening as he thrust deep within her and changed his rhythm to match her pleasure, causing her nails to dig into his shoulders. Then with a shout, he came perfectly in time with her orgasm. He thrust once more and groaned, feeling himself spill within her. Angel took a deep breath, and he lifted himself to relieve the pressure on her chest. Her eyes were on his and full of wonder.
r />   “Wow.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, I agree.” They were both still breathing heavily.

  “We’re in trouble, Alex,” she said, sadness filling her sapphire gaze as she stared up at him. “Big trouble.”

  “We were a long time ago, honey.” He straightened himself and pulled her up with him, then fastened her bra and buttoned her blouse while staring down at her. “I’m having a terrible attack of conscience,” he admitted while moving her hair off her face with a gentle sweep of his hand. Then he nudged her chin so she’d stare up at him.

  “You are,” she groaned as their actions came flooding back into her mind.

  “Not about that,” he said, meeting her gaze and knowing what she was thinking. “Nothing could make what we just shared less than it was. It blew my mind. I was talking about you.” His arms tightened around her, and he pulled her against his chest. He was still standing between her thighs, enjoying the moment of intimacy.

  “You were serious when you said you didn’t love her, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, I don’t love her,” he said as he released her. He kept his eyes on hers while pulling up his slacks and refastening them.

  “But the boy?”

  “I do, in my way…as much as I can, given the circumstances,” he said, lowering his gaze and stepping away from her to straighten her skirt.

  “Something is wrong here, Alex,” she finally said as he helped her down from his desk. “You’re right, I do know you. However, for some reason, you won’t tell me what’s really going on.”

  “I always knew you were perceptive,” he said, retrieving her underwear from the floor and dangling them on his finger with a sly grin.

  Angel flushed and snatched the panties from him. “We shouldn’t do this again,” she told him sadly.

  “I know,” he agreed. “It was wrong.” He stepped up to her. “But I needed to feel you once more.” He cupped her chin and made her look at him. “Call it a farewell present for both of us, especially if you’re still set on leaving me.”

  “You left me first.”

  “I did,” he agreed solemnly, and then he turned and looked over his shoulder at the door as music floated in from outside. “You’d better go, Angel. I’ll stay for a bit so it doesn’t look like we’ve been together.” Unfortunately, her swollen mouth and stubble-scratched face gave enough evidence of that. “Stop in the bathroom in the hall and freshen up. It looks as though you’ve been ravished.” He took delight in her flushing cheeks.

  She nodded and turned to leave, but he grabbed her and planted another devastating kiss on her before she left the room. Alex watched her go, wondering if he should have told her everything. It actually hurt him not to tell her about Lucy and Max, or about how he really felt. For the next few minutes, he silently cursed his father, hating him anew for having to give up someone he loved.

  Priscilla made her way over to Seth’s girlfriend and introduced herself. The woman seemed kind enough, but she wouldn’t let that distract her from her purpose. “So how did you meet Seth?” she said casually starting a conversation.

  “We used to date years ago when I worked at the flower shop on campus part-time. He came in to order roses.”

  “For his girlfriend?”

  She smiled. “No, for me.”

  “Oh?” That shouldn’t surprise her. Seth knew how to charm a woman like no one else.

  “Turns out we were in the same philosophy class.” She let loose a delightful laugh. “I never even noticed him. Then we bumped into each other a few months ago. Of course I remembered him. Who wouldn’t? It wasn’t hard to get him to go out with me.”

  “He’s considered quite handsome around here.”

  “I see that.” She gave Priscilla a suspicious look. “Does that include your opinion?”

  Prissy stared at the woman for a moment and saw something odd in her gaze. “It does.”

  “That’s good to know,” she said, running her gaze over Priscilla. “Does he even know?”

  Prissy managed a false smile. “Everyone knows.” People might think she was an empty-headed blonde, but Priscilla only did that to get what she wanted. She was more intelligent than people thought. She wasn’t blind enough to think that how she acted towards Seth and her feelings weren’t obvious.

  “Well, it’s too bad, honey. You don’t know how to get him. All I had to do was play the sweet, vulnerable college girl, and he fell hook, line, and sinker.”

  Priscilla’s mouth dropped open. “I would never manipulate him.”

  “Don’t play all innocent, and don’t tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing. A girl that looks like you knows what a man likes and how to get them. Why else would I be in this hick backwoods town. I like big city glamour, but I’m willing to endure Seth’s little friends to get what I want.” She paused and gave her a cold smile. “If you tell him what I told you, he won’t believe you. He’s crazy about me.”

  “Does he know you don’t care about him?” Priscilla tried to keep her anger out of her voice.

  “I never said I didn’t care about him, but I like money more. And the man is a machine in bed.” She rolled her eyes. “Definitely a keeper. Did you know they have a private jet?”

  No, thought Priscilla, you don’t care about him. All you care about is his money.

  “So take some advice. If you want to get out of this town, find yourself a man like Seth. Then play up to him so you can get what you want, and before you know it, he’ll be willing to give you anything to keep you. That’s all these guys want anyway. A trophy wife.” She gave her a smile before turning and walking away.

  Priscilla narrowed her gaze at the woman’s back.

  Angel was standing near the house outside on the patio, where the majority of people were circulating, when Alex walked out with Lucy clinging to his arm. About thirty seconds later, Priscilla appeared and latched herself onto Alex’s other arm. “Alex, that girlfriend of Seth’s has a dark side. Do you know what she just said to me?”

  “Leave it alone, Priscilla,” he said tersely.

  “You don’t understand,” she said, giving him a pleading look.

  “Angel, I think you’d better take your sister home before she ruins my mother’s party with her selfishness,” he said over Priscilla’s head, knowing where Angel was standing the entire time.

  Angel went and took Prissy’s hand from Alex’s arm. She knew the tone in his voice—he was on the verge of exploding. She was pretty sure it wasn’t her or Priscilla that set him off. He’d come outside looking like he was furious. She’d rather avoid a scene and her sister’s embarrassment, but it still wasn’t Prissy’s fault.

  “Come on, sis,” she said, casting Alex a scornful look, but he stood there as if he was etched in stone. He showed nothing of the man who’d made love to her a short time ago. Was it all just a ruse to get what he wanted from her? Instantly, she felt the familiar tightening of dread in her stomach. What if it was? How could a man be so cruel?

  Without a backward glance, she led her sister out of the backyard and to her car. Unfortunately, Angel couldn’t drive, and Prissy had started to cry. It distracted her as they left the house, and she wiped her eyes constantly while telling Angel about the incident.

  “You’re sure?” Angel said, believing her, but not believing the coldness of the other woman. Priscilla knew a lot about relationships—and she certainly knew how to read the competition.

  “She doesn’t love him, sis,” she sobbed. “She pretty much told me that she was after his money and she’d stop at nothing to get it. I would never do that to Seth. She even told me to try and tell him, but that he wouldn’t believe me.”

  “She’s wrong, Prissy. Seth loves us.”

  “I don’t know about that.” She swiped at her face again with the back of her hand.

  “Alex told me once that a man has needs, so maybe that’s all she is to him.”

  Prissy looked at her sister. “I’m so selfish! I never even thought that this ni
ght would be horrible for you.”

  Angel didn’t want to talk about her and Alex. It hurt too much, even though he’d let her know that he didn’t love Lucy and that he was only marrying her for his son. Still, Lucy was beautiful and no man in his right mind would turn her away if she crawled in his bed. Would he? “I’m fine,” she lied, then quickly changed the subject. “You aren’t like that, Prissy.”

  “She said I was just like her!”

  “You’re not,” Angel said fiercely. “Just because you’re beautiful doesn’t mean you’re a tramp.”

  Prissy swiped at her eyes again. “I would never treat him like a piece of meat.”

  “I know you wouldn’t.” Something brushed against the windshield, drawing her attention, and then the car slid a little. “Sis, I think this is the wrong road.”

  “Oh, darn it. I must’ve turned too soon. This is the road down to the creek. That woman got me so upset,” she sniffed. “I can’t turn around up here, it’s too narrow. I’ll need to go down to the creek.”

  They heard a loud metallic clunk, and Angel felt the floor beneath her feet vibrate. “What was that?” She turned her attention to her sister, whose face took on a look of horror. “Oh God, Prissy!”

  ***

  It was midnight when George phoned the Harrisons’ ranch. His wife was frantic. The girls weren’t home yet.

  This was common for Priscilla, but not for Angel. George was becoming worried himself. In fact, he was so worried that he half-hoped that Alex had Angel with him. All kinds of horrors circulated through his mind over the fates of his daughters, and even worse, of his future grandchild.

  “Yeah,” came a rough voice on the other end. It was obvious that they were already in bed.

  “Alex?”

  “Seth. Is that you, George?”

  “Are Prissy and Angel still there?”

  “They’re not home?” The last of the partygoers had left just under an hour ago.

  “No, they’re not. Catherine’s beside herself, and I’m starting to get worried.”

  “Hang on, I’ll ask Alex if he’s seen them.” He was already troubled. He was sure the women had left hours ago. Although Priscilla was a little reckless, Angel wasn’t, and most likely her sister would have dropped her off before she went anywhere. If not, Angel was responsible enough to at least phone her parents and tell them so they wouldn’t worry, especially since she was pregnant. The last thing she would do was risk the health of her baby.