by Kahlen Aymes
His tuxedo was perfection. “Good evening, Davis,” Angel murmured.
Pleasure flooded the man’s features because she remembered his name. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Angeline.”
“Thank you; you also.”
Davis turned to Alex, who was still watching Angel. “Mr. Avery, the champagne is chilled to the perfect temperature. The 1995 Charles Heidsieck ‘Blanc des Millénaires’ is a wonderful vintage. Excellent choice. I couldn’t recommend better.” There were wine glasses and water goblets on the table above the silverware on the right of each plate. Davis deftly replaced the win glasses with the flutes.
Angel’s lips lifted in a lopsided smile, her lips closed, and a dimple appeared in one cheek. Her heart was starting to thrum as Alex studied her. Even when others spoke to him, his eyes never left her. Her skin flushed as warmly as it had during the frantic session in the limo.
“I’ll bring it right out. Would you like a few minutes, or would you like Dustin to bring the menus right away?” he asked.
“A few minutes, please, Davis.” Alex’s elbows rested on the chair arms, and his tented hands were close to his mouth; still, his eyes were trained on Angel.
“Very good, sir.”
It wasn’t lost on Angel that the sommelier and the waiter were the same they’d had on their first date.
“I’m sorry I didn’t wear the half-naked dress,” Angel murmured.
“This one is beautiful, too. You made up for the half-naked back by the lack of panties.” His voice was low and intense, his body swelling at the thought.
Her mouth curved into a sly smile. “What do you get a man who has everything?”
“You could agree to move in with me.”
Angel swallowed. She’d already decided to make that his gift, and it was amazing how in-sync they were. The truth was, she’d already decided to tell him she was ready to take that plunge, and she planned on telling him tonight.
“I could,” she nodded.
Davis appeared and poured some champagne into Alex’s glass. He took it and inhaled. It was nutty and lemony, fragrant and almost mouthwatering. He took a sip, and the flavor almost exploded in his mouth. It tasted buttery and utterly fantastic. “Excellent, Davis.” Soon both glasses were filled, and they were inconspicuously alone once more.
“I can’t believe you’ve done this. It’s so expensive.”
“Don’t worry. Though the champagne is excellent, it’s not as extravagant.”
Angle picked her glass and took a sip. Her eyebrow went up. “It’s lovely.”
“Isn’t it?” She knew he wasn’t talking about the champagne, and she blushed.
“I’m talking about having this restaurant deserted. How did you manage it?”
“Easy. All I had to do was cover the receipts.”
“Do you always get what you want?” Her eyes challenged, and her words teased.
“Why do you ask questions when you know the answer?” He was nonplussed and undeterred from the original conversation.
“So… you could,” Alex prompted Angel to continue.
“Uh huh,” Angel said offhandedly, taking another sip of the champagne. She could see him sit up a little straighter in his chair. It would be fun to taunt him, she resisted. It was his birthday, after all. “I decided it doesn’t really make sense to have two apartments in the city.”
“And?”
“And, I miss you. I don’t sleep well without you. I like having you close.”
Alex took a breath and smiled brightly. He wanted to kiss her but reached out and took her hand instead. His fingers closed around hers. “Finally.” He squeezed her hand, and rubbed his hand over it.
Dustin came to the table, happy to see them. “Hello, and good evening.” He opened a menu, and placed it in front of Angel, then repeated the action with Alex, then left them to peruse the menus.
“What about a variety, baby?” Alex asked. “So much of it looks very good.”
“It’s your birthday, so, of course, it’s your choice. Anything but caviar.”
He smiled. He’d never acquired a taste for the cold, salty fish eggs himself. “Careful what you promise. Is everything my choice tonight?”
“Pretty much.” She smiled back. She loved him so much. Giving him the moon wouldn’t be out of the question.
They decided on a tasting menu that include things like a crab and turnip appetizer, heirloom beet salad, prime beef rib eye on potato confit, seared foie gras, roasted duck breast, halibut glazed in truffle jus, mint and grape consommé, followed by the amazing bitter almond cake with the sweet milk chocolate ganache.
During the delicious meal, Dustin brought each course and cleared without much conversation Davis appeared to refill their champagne glasses and bring another bottle when the first was gone. Everything tasted amazing.
“Angel, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Beyond moving in?” She was intrigued as she reached for her champagne. Angel was feeling a little woozy from two and a half.
“Yes. Since it’s my birthday, I hope you’ll indulge me.” Alex set his fork down on his plate.
“What is it?” She was wary, and it must be important for him to play the birthday card.
“I want to discuss your position with the D.A.’s office.” Angel’s head snapped up, and her mouth opened to protest, but Alex held his hand up to stop her. “After all of the shit we went through, I’d hoped you might want to choose a less dangerous career path.”
Angel paused, considering her words carefully. “Alex,” she began. “You know how much my work means to me.”
He nodded and pushed his plate forward on the table. “I do, but I also know how much you mean to me.”
His face showed heavy concern, and his brow was low over his amazing eyes. “Psychopaths like Mark Swanson don’t happen every day.”
“I realize that. Once was enough for me.” His voice took on a harder tone.
Her heart fell. Was he saying he wouldn’t be with her if she didn’t change careers? “It’s what I do. I help a lot of people.”
“So, then, don’t take the bad cases.”
Angel shook her head in frustration, her brow crinkling. “How do I know which ones those are, exactly? Figuring out who is guilty, who are the nutcases, and who are homicidal is my part in it.”
“I get it, Angel; I’m not a moron.” Alex expected her pushback, and though part of him didn’t want to discuss this during this dinner, it had to be settled. “But I have a vested interest in the outcome.”
“Maybe you should have fucked me in the limo; it may be your only opportunity tonight,” she said angrily.
Alex sighed heavily and downed his almost-full glass of champagne.
“Would you leave Avery and teach piano lessons if I asked?” Angel asked quietly, her eyes sad.
“No, but my job doesn’t threaten my life.”
“Will you leave me if I refuse? The truth, Alex.” Her voice was tight and tears glazed over her dark brown eyes. He didn’t want this evening to turn out like this, but this was important to him, to their relationship, and to the future of their family, were they to have one.
He looked at her steadily, a certain sadness falling over his handsome features. He shook his head. “Nothing will make me leave you.”
Relief flooded over Angel, though she was hurt that he was even suggesting such a thing. She sucked in a shaky breath.
Alex didn’t know if he should continue or not, but this was more important than any discussion they’d had to date. The gravity of it had weighed on him since their return from Joplin.
He signaled for Dustin. There was low music playing in the restaurant, and even though it was empty, he wanted to go into the lounge. It was more intimate, and he’d be able to sit closer to her and get his arms around her.
“We’d like dessert in the lounge, please. And please bring the champagne.”
Alex pushed back from the table and stood: soon standing b
eside Angel’s chair, he held out his hand and waited, watching the conflict pass over her features. He was sorry he’d even brought it up, but it was done, and it had to be dealt with.
She looked up at him with liquid eyes. Such beautiful eyes in such a stunning face.
“Please come with me,” he requested softly.
She put her hand in his and stood. He bent to kiss her temple, inhaling the intoxicating smell of her perfume as his hand threaded through hers.
They followed Dustin into the lounge, which was filled with more candles and lilies. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, and she leaned into him.
Angel struggled with her convictions when faced with Alex’s concern. She understood; he had a valid argument. She could stomp her feet all day long, pout and scream that he knew her career choice before they got in so deep, but everything had happened so fast, and it wouldn’t change his perspective. Her mind was logical, and emotions aside, she knew how hard it was for Alex. He had solid control of everything in his life, yet he felt helpless. He’d been reduced to consorting with the Chicago mafia and spending millions because she wasn’t open with him, and yet, here he was in front of her, loving her, asking her not to risk her life. He hadn’t walked away, and that was huge. It was proof he loved her, proof he had changed at a base level. True, it was professional ethics to keep her cases secret, but was it more important than making this man happy? No. Nothing was more important than Alex. She had also changed.
He motioned for her to precede him into the same curved booth they’d shared the first time he’d touched his mouth to hers. Once she was seated, he joined her, his left arm curving around her hips and pulling her close, his right hand closing over hers and pulling it onto his thigh.
Dustin refilled the champagne flutes discretely, and withdrew, while Alex gaze held Angel’s gaze.
“I get it, okay?” Alex said. His voice was low and intense, that beautiful voice which groaned her name when he came inside her. Her heart lurched. “I know your job is important to you, and I’m not going to be the asshole who asks you to stay at home and be the little woman. That isn’t you. But this whole situation with Swanson scared the shit out of me and put it all in a different perspective. I have a shitload of money, and yes, women have been like a revolving door in my life, but I don’t want that anymore. I want you. Nothing else.”
“Alex,” Angel’s eyes closed, and a tear fell. His words were honest, sincere, and on the verge of profound. She felt each one as if it reached inside her chest and squeezed her heart.
“Don’t put me through that. I can do anything. I can take anything on, but I can’t lose you. I’ll suffer it if it’s the only way I can have you, but I’d rather not. I’d rather just enjoy every second with you.”
Angel swallowed at the tightness in her throat. She wanted to speak, but it was difficult.
“I’m not asking you to stop counseling people, but I just don’t want you working with these dirty lowlifes anymore. I love you, and I don’t want to lose you.” Her eyes filled up, and first one, then another fat tear tumbled down her face. “Even when you’re crying, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Even when you’re busting my balls and we’re fighting like cats and dogs, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Angel put a hand to his mouth to stop his words. “Stop. You don’t have to say any more. My job means a lot to me, but you mean more.” Her voice trembled; her shaking hand traced his jaw. “I love you, Alex.”
20
With Every Breath
Alex kissed her soundly on the mouth, his hand going to the back of her head to hold it. He sighed in relief. He backed out of the booth and pulled her with him. There was soft music playing, and Angel wondered why.
“Do you want to dance?” she asked.
Alex shook his head. “No.” He stood facing her, both of his hands holding hers. “I mean, yes. Any excuse to hold, you, but in a few minutes.”
“I love you, Angel. Those words were hard for me to say before I met you, now they fill me up, and I want to shout them out. You make me very happy. You’re all I could want. Almost.”
“Almost?” She frowned a little bit. He was acting very strange.
“Yes, almost.”
“Alex, what’s wrong?”
“Not a thing. Everything is amazing. Thank you for saying I’m the most important thing in your life, because that’s what you are to me.” Alex drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs to capacity. This was a moment he never thought he’d be facing, but here it was, and it was the most important of his life so far.
“Angel.” He looked down at their hands and rubbed his thumb over her empty ring finger.
“What is it, Alex? Whatever it is, just say it.”
He looked up into her eyes. “I didn’t believe in love until you. You are surprising, and brilliant, beautiful, and just everything to me. To say I love you is not enough. Seriously, I can’t breathe, I love you so much. My life was good before you, but now it’s brilliant. I don’t ever want to be without you.”
His heart was thundering in his chest, and he took her left hand and placed it over it, leaning his forehead against hers. “Feel that? That’s what you do to me.”
Her fingers curled into the fine Egyptian cotton of his shirt as the gravity of what was happening registered in her head and heart. Alex erreached into his pocket for the ring box and opened it.
Her chin lifted, his words making her heart pound. She wanted his mouth on hers, to be closer than close. He gave her what she wanted; it was what he wanted, too, but the kiss was gentle and deep, his tongue moving with hers in a gentle ebb and flow, giving and taking. It was perfection.
Angel’s breath left her chest when he pulled back. Alex couldn’t help placing two more small kisses on her mouth. His heart and body quickened. He could just kiss her forever and be happy, but he had something to do first.
He took one step backward, went down on one knee, and took her left hand in his.
Angel’s hand flew to her mouth, her own heart seizing in joy, and pain, and love. The moment was surreal, and she knew this was what the entire evening had been about. This was what all of the flowers and the empty restaurant were about, not his birthday. Was this really happening? She knew he loved her. He’d proven it over and over, but they’d only been together eight months, and he was who he was. Angel’s soul was overwhelmed and so full of him she couldn’t breathe, her chest and throat ached, and her eyes welled with tears.
“Oh my God.”
Their eyes met and held.
“I never thought this moment would come. I never believed I’d want to spend my life with one person, or that I could love someone at all, let alone this much. I never thought I’d want to have children, but I want it with you. It’s humbling to know that the perfect life I thought I had was a hollow existence. From the moment I saw you: I wanted you, from the moment I heard your voice, you intrigued me: and when I kissed you, I’d never been so consumed with desire. But more than all of that, I love you. I’ll be miserable for the rest of my life if you’re not with me for every breath I have left. Angeline Marie Hemming, will you marry me?”
By now, Angel was shaking, and silent happy tears dripped from her eyes. He was amazing and more of a man than any she had ever known. She might as well have been flying, so much happiness engulfed her, yet it was as if her heart was breaking. She loved him so much it hurt. “Yes,” she said softly, nodding. “I love you, so much. So, yes, Alex.”
He slid the ring on her finger, and she barely noticed more than it sparkled in the candlelight, and the white gold was cool against her skin. She didn’t look at it: her eyes were riveted on Alex.
In an instant, he was on his feet, enfolding her in his arms and kissing her as if it were the last kiss they’d ever share. He lifted her up off the floor to bring their mouths level. Alex’s strong arms held Angel tight, her soft form melting into his harder one. Their mouths fed on each other; their tongues began
an intimate dance that couldn’t be finished in their current location. He laughed softly against her mouth.
When the kiss ended, Alex hugged Angel tight, and her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her hands holding his head. A deep, relieved breath filled his lungs and caused her full breasts to flatten against his chest.
“Oh, babe,” he said and placed a smaller kiss on her mouth as he lowered Angel to the ground. “I’m the luckiest bastard on the planet. Thank you for saying yes.”
“Like I could refuse.”
He pulled back just enough to look at her. “You could have.”
“I don’t think so.”
His hands still on her hips, he twisted at the waist to look for Dustin. The young man flushed, discovered with Davis and Karen, watching the entire proposal. Alex smiled. They all had sappy looks on their faces but scrambled to compose themselves, embarrassed he’d caught them eavesdropping, and worried he’d be angry with them. Alex was too elated to be angry. He smiled brightly in their direction.
“I’d like a bottle of the champagne and the cake to go, please.”
“Right away, sir.” Davis, Karen, and Dustin said simultaneously, all three of them beaming.
Five minutes later, Alex and Angel were back in the limousine and on their way to Alex’s apartment. There was palpable energy vibrating between them as Angel sat close to Alex, and his arm stretched across her lap to hold her opposite leg. They were as close as they could get, their hips and legs touching, Angel leaning into Alex. For the first time, Angel allowed herself to take a good look at the ring on her finger. The dark in the back of the car only allowed a limited view. She could see it was simple and good-sized, though not obnoxious. She sighed and laid her head on his broad shoulder.
“Do you like your ring?”
“It’s too dark to really look at it, but I’m sure it’s beautiful. Though, I don’t need a huge ring.” The fingers on her right hand ran over it, trying to feel the style. It was a solitaire and the band simple.
