“Where’s she gone at this time of night? Have you told her you love her yet?”
“No, I haven’t even seen her. I was going to tell her how sorry I was first, but…” He trailed off and sighed. “I’m an idiot to think everything would be okay between us.”
“Where is she then?”
His shoulders dipped. “On a date, I expect. If it hadn’t been for my pig-headedness, none of this would have happened.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m too late. She’s moved on.”
Ophelia took him by the shoulders. “Don’t you dare give up on Evie. You two are a match made in Heaven. Just because she’s not here doesn’t mean she’s on a date.”
She had a point, but the ache in his heart told him otherwise. “I know, but there’s nothing I can do about it tonight. Maybe I’ll text her in the morning.”
Ophelia shook his shoulders now. “I could knock your block off sometimes, Caleb. Evie needs you, and you need her. Talk to her. Tell her how you feel.”
He changed the subject. “What are you doing here anyway, other than trying to play matchmakers? I swear you two have some kind of affiliate program with Cupid.”
“Us?” Ophelia laughed. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
“If you believe that, you’ll believe anything.” Raphael laughed too. “But seriously, we do have some news.”
“What?”
“Evie’s been approved to become a fully qualified angel.”
Caleb’s chest filled with pride. He never doubted she would make it for one second.
“So,” said Ophelia, waggling her eyebrows. “You’ll have to talk to Evie now. You have to be the one to give her wings their gold feathers.”
“Yes, I do. Now go,” he said, shooing them out of the doorway.
“Don’t you need to leave too?” said Raphael, gesturing towards the corridor.
“I will, but I feel like taking the aerial route.” He smiled. “Bye, you two, and don’t forget to say hello to Cupid for me.”
“Bye, Caleb.”
Raphael looped his arm in Ophelia’s and dragged her away.
Caleb closed the door and headed for the window. He climbed onto the fire escape and soared into the night, his heart filled with renewed hope.
The city’s lights twinkled far below, the hum of life quieter at this time of night, but the city never really slept. Nor would he, not until he’d talked to Evie.
He flapped his powerful wings, imagining Evie’s delighted expression when he gave her wings their golden tips. Smiling, he visualised her pretty face when he confessed his love too.
Caleb touched the jewellery box in his pocket. Yes, everything was going to be perfect; he could feel it in his bones.
Soaring higher, where the air was less polluted, he spread his wings wide and glided for a while on an upward current, relishing in the joy of free flight.
Out of nowhere, his stomach lurched. Maybe it was his angel intuition, but he’d never felt anything so intense in all his life. Something wasn’t right.
Evie.
Fear rose inside his gut and bubbled into his chest.
Caleb changed direction and flew back to Evie’s flat. He landed on the fire escape once again.
The place was cloaked in darkness, as before. Gone two a.m., and she still wasn’t home.
His bones ached now, as though they were trying to tell him something.
If she was on a date, Evie could be spending the night with him. The thought twisted inside his belly, but somehow, he knew in his heart and soul that Evie was in danger.
She needed him.
Caleb raked his hands through his hair. He needed to find out where she’d gone.
Think, think.
Then it struck him; a long shot, but it had to be worth a try.
He fished out his phone from his trouser pocket and typed Love Bites into the search engine. He’d deleted his profile and account days back, but if she was on a date, he might be able to find out who she was with and where she’d gone.
Scrolling the website, he cursed. He’d hoped Jamie’s popup speech bubble would appear, so he could ask if she could give him some information once he’d explained the situation. Dammit! Of course, she wouldn’t be online in the middle of the night.
Another idea came to mind.
He tapped ‘sign in’ on the website and typed Evie’s name.
Yes, it was another invasion of her privacy, and he might be overstepping the mark, but the fear washing over him in waves warranted it—he hoped. She’d probably thump him for what he was about to do.
The popup window asked for a password.
Damn, he hadn’t thought of that.
What would Evie use as a password?
Caleb typed in a couple of possibilities to no avail. He thought harder. If he didn’t get it right this time, he’d be locked out.
Third time lucky. He held his breath and typed SidneySpider. He might have laughed if it weren’t for the sense of foreboding ripping along his spine.
He was in.
Ignoring the uncomfortable prickle creeping around the back of his neck, Caleb went onto her private messages.
He drew in a sharp breath. He’d been right, but it didn’t make him feel any less like a peeping Tom.
Evie was on a date with a demon. Whatever had possessed her to go out with a demon of all people?
To make matters worse, he was one of the diabolical Rossini twins, renowned for having a penchant for preying on newbie angels, taking some sick pleasure in luring them into a world of sin.
Fury speared through him like a white-hot poker.
Caleb scrolled through the messages, hating himself but knowing he had to find out where the leech planned to meet her.
There it was. Infinity; a nightclub in the dodgy part of town.
He leapt off Evie’s balcony and sped to the nightclub.
As he approached the building, Caleb spotted her on the roof terrace, fighting not one but two demons. The Rossini twins. Other people, humans, mulled around the rooftop but appeared oblivious to Evie’s struggle—no doubt the lowlife twins had them under their demonic control.
His heart pounded in his chest, but his beautiful, feisty woman appeared to be holding her own.
He dove downwards with the speed of a peregrine falcon as Evie took out one of the brothers with a powerful swipe of her wing; they’d be even more powerful soon.
Evie twisted her body and broke free from the other demon’s grasp.
Caleb continued his descent. Almost there. He swooped onto the terrace as Evie half stumbled in the other direction and leapt off the roof.
By the awkward way she took off, her wing looked damaged. She was in trouble.
As much as he wanted to beat the demon to within an inch of his life—and his twin already slumped on the floor—and send them straight back to Hell, Caleb didn’t give the leeches more than a passing glance.
Caleb raced after Evie, the powerful thrust of his wings causing a gust strong enough to blow the demon across the terrace as if he was nothing but tumbleweed.
Taking flight, he glanced down.
Fear bit into his chest.
Evie spiralled towards the ground.
Folding his wings close to his back, Caleb dive-bombed past her, zipped underneath and caught her in his arms.
“Caleb!” Her voice came out in an agonised gasp.
He extended his wings and slowed their rapid descent. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Her whole body trembled. One of her wings hung limp and useless behind her, a hand-sized patch of scorched, blackened feathers evidence of the demon’s vile pawing.
She looped her arms around his neck and clung to him as he soared upwards again. “My wing…”
“Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine,” he assured.
In that glorious, joyous moment, he believed it to be true. His heart and soul burst with a happiness that made him want to sing from every rooftop in the city. He kis
sed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair as the wind flicked it across his face.
Evie nuzzled her tear-dampened cheek into his neck and clung tighter still.
His life was complete.
Caleb yearned to fly with her in his arms until the first light of dawn, but he took her home, still carrying her as he landed on the fire escape and climbed in through her window.
Standing next to her coffee table, he put her down gently, noting her swollen ankle and sexy high heels—an unusual choice for her since she’d mentioned she couldn’t walk in heels.
Her gaze flitted to the bottle of wine and two new glasses he’d forgotten he left there earlier and then to him.
Her eyes flashed like a mini thunderstorm. She balled her fists.
Before he could explain, she punched his jaw so hard he staggered backwards.
Evie emitted a garbled scream, but he wasn’t sure if it was one of pain or deep-rooted fury. Given the incensed expression sweeping across her features, Caleb suspected the latter.
His world crumbled beneath his feet.
Everything wasn’t going to be fine. It was all there in the turquoise depths of her eyes, the accusation, the hurt, the betrayal. She would never forget how he left her alone in her bed after they’d made love. She would not forgive him.
Caleb ached to tell her how sorry he was, but it would never be enough. What he’d done to her was despicable, an act lower than even a demon would stoop to. He was no better than the Rossini twins. No, he couldn’t beg for her forgiveness; he didn’t deserve it.
Tears prickled hot and angry at the backs of his eyes, forcing him to focus.
The last thing he needed was to make an even bigger idiot of himself. He would give her wings their golden feathers, and then she would never have to see him again.
Despite the utter devastation dragging his soul into a black abyss, he forged a smile. Rubbing his jaw, he went for a light-hearted tone. “Wow, you pack quite a punch for a rookie. I was going to ask how you managed to fight off two demons, but I guess there’s my answer.”
Chapter Twelve
Evie ground her molars. Her knuckles throbbed now, along with her swollen ankle and scorched wing, but she didn’t regret punching Caleb… Or maybe she did.
She swallowed.
No, she’d been right to punch him. He deserved it for what he’d done.
But he saved me from falling…
Caleb’s grin as he rubbed his jaw did little to hide the sadness in his eyes. It lured her in as if something inherent was calling to her soul.
Were his eyes glistening? She couldn’t be sure with only the moon casting a shard of light through her window.
No, she didn’t want his pity. Anything but that.
She hobbled across her lounge, away from him. “Piss off, Caleb,” she yelled, pain and fury releasing themselves into her harsh words. “This isn’t some kind of joke.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I deserved that.”
“Damn right you did.” She flicked on the overhead light.
Caleb squinted in the brightness. “I should have got to you sooner. I could have helped you fight those demons.”
Evie shook her head in disbelief. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been lying naked in her bed, and when she woke, he was gone. “I don’t care about those demons. I hit you because what you did to me was far worse.” She narrowed her eyes. “I expected more from you, Caleb, and you treated me no better than the piece of shit losers I used to hang around with.”
The more she ranted, the lower his broad shoulders sank. “If you think buying me wine and new glasses makes everything okay, you’re living in cloud cuckoo land.” Tears misted her vision. She blinked them away. “And don’t even get me started on why you thought you could waltz into my flat and tidy around when I wasn’t here.” She didn’t give him a chance to explain, but her flat did look good. “You let me down, Caleb. Thanks for saving me from falling, but it doesn’t excuse your behaviour. I hate you for what you did.” The words caught in her throat. Tears trickled down her cheeks, betraying her further. “But most of all, I hate myself for missing my best friend.”
Caleb didn’t answer for several seconds. “I missed you too, Evie,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t tell you how much I regret what I did.”
In three strides, he stood before her and reached for her hand.
She yanked it away and swiped at her tears instead. He regretted having sex with her. More tears threatened. She didn’t regret they’d made love, not for one second. Those few hours of blissful happiness would be engraved on her memory forever. Damn him.
“I’m so sorry for the way I treated you, Evie. You have to believe me,” he went on. “If it makes you feel any better, I hate myself more.”
It didn’t, strangely. “I don’t hate you,” she whispered. I love you.
“You don’t?”
Hope lit his handsome features, and she knew she’d lost the battle. Her anger slipped away.
Caleb touched her hand. She didn’t move it this time but let it hang limp beneath his warm fingers.
“Let me heal your wing, Evie, then you’ll never have to see me again.” He let go of her hand. “Turn around.”
His words didn’t register. She did as he instructed, wincing at the pain in her ankle.
He held her wing tenderly, his fingertips brushing the scorched area. “You’re taller,” he said.
“It’s the heels.”
“I noticed.”
She frowned at his husky tone.
He continued to stroke her feathers, the movements oddly sensual.
A sensation like being coated in warm honey spread over not only the damaged part of her wing but both wings in their entirety. The warmth trickled downwards, over her coverts, her secondary feathers and then her primary feathers, right down to the tips of her wings.
Closing her eyes, she floated in a heavenly trance. Even the throbbing in her ankle lessened.
“You can open your eyes now, Evie.”
Caleb’s soft words broke the trance, and she opened her eyes, facing him once more. “What did you do?”
“Healed your wing. Give it a go,” he told her, a whisper of a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
Evie circled her shoulder. Sure enough, the pain from where Malcolm’s demon hand burned her was gone. But there was something else too. Power like nothing she’d ever experienced ebbed and flowed through her wings, compelling her to spread them out.
She opened her wings to their full span, the speed of the movement taking her by surprise.
Evie gasped as she caught sight of the golden glow on her wingtips. “Caleb…?”
His smile widened. “Congratulations, Evie, you passed your training.”
She clasped her hand to her mouth, tears of joy welling in her eyes. She’d never seen anything more striking in her angel life… except for Caleb in all his naked glory. She blew out a breath. “I did?”
“I never doubted you would.”
“I can’t believe it.” A sudden, overwhelming urge to try out her new wings had her heading towards her window. Her ankle no longer hurt.
“Believe it. You’re an absolute angel now, you know that?”
She stopped in her tracks, and half smiled back at him, despite everything he’d put her through. “Takes one to know one,” she replied.
Caleb rolled his eyes and laughed; the Caleb she remembered.
“How did you find out I’d passed my training?” she asked.
“Ophelia and Raphael paid you a visit to share the news from Above, but you weren’t here.”
She sobered. “But you were,” she accused, still not sure why he came into her flat in the first place.
His smile vanished. “I’m sorry, I did enter your flat. I should have respected your privacy, but I had this dumb idea…”
“What idea, Caleb?”
“I… I wanted to apologise…” He shifted from
one foot to the other, displaying the vulnerability she found so endearing and so sexy. “I brought a stupid peace offering,” he gestured to the wine and glasses on the coffee table, “because I wanted to tell you something, but it doesn’t matter. You’re a fully qualified angel now. You don’t need me anymore.” He turned away from her, his gaze sweeping the floor.
Hope flickered. She touched his arm. Electricity sparked through her fingers and along her forearm. “Wait, what did you want to tell me?”
He tugged his arm away this time, but she wasn’t going to let him get off that easily.
“Caleb, tell me.”
Caleb expelled a long sigh. “I wanted my best friend back, Evie, but it’s too late. I see that now. I’ve ruined everything between us.”
Friends? He wanted them to be friends, nothing more. How could they be friends when a ragged hole was ripping through her heart? For a single moment, she imagined they could be so much more, but the friend zone? It was almost too much to bear.
But what alternative did she have? The thought of never seeing him again filled her with sadness. If being friends was all he could offer, then she would take his friendship. She’d done it before—how difficult could it be?
“You haven’t ruined everything. I meant what I said earlier. I miss my best friend too.”
He nodded, the slight movement oddly curt. “Back to being friends again?”
She thought she caught a glimpse of sorrow in his eyes, but no, her imagination was playing tricks with her again. Maybe she still had too much champagne in her system. “Yeah, friends,” she replied, her heart heavy with disappointment.
Silence cloaked them, the tension almost palpable, the space between them fizzing with unspoken words.
Caleb held out his hand. “Would you like to fly with me, Evie?”
Evie stared at his large hand, mesmerised, recalling how he’d ripped her pyjamas off and caressed her skin.
Friends, Evie.
She bit her lip and focused. Her new wings twitched with anticipation, not to mention flying would take her mind off Caleb and his capable hands. “I thought you’d never ask.” She took his hand, ignoring how its warmth and gentle strength made her belly tingle.
Dating an Angel Page 8