Staring out at the traffic and the rushing people, he wondered again where his angel went. She couldn't even say goodbye? Last night she was so chatty. This morning she seemed less ebullient, more solemn, reflective. Perhaps she felt, as he did, that this was something more, something they couldn't let go.
How lovely you are. Don't ever forget me.
He'd find her. He had to.
* * * *
So there she was again, standing in line at the Angel Gabriel's Office, waiting to explain herself this time. Her appearance, complete with broken wings tucked under arm, was even more bedraggled than before, but Tabitha kept her chin up, carefully not making eye contact with her fluffier peers. Let them preen all they wanted. They never had a night like the one she just experienced. Whatever her punishment now it was worth it.
"Sixty-nine, come through!"
Uh oh, a private audience. Bravely she tucked her wings more firmly under her arm and walked into the next room.
Rick was there and another figure she didn't recognize. Neither spoke for a moment; they just looked at her—and at her broken wings. Tabitha chose to let them speak first, otherwise she was likely to ramble stupidly, trying to explain herself.
"It seems you had an accident," the unknown figure remarked at last.
"I...fell."
"So it would seem. No doubt you want new wings."
She perked up a little, but kept it hidden, aware of Rick glowering at her. "I will earn them back. Whatever I must do."
"And you returned without the soul you were sent to collect."
Tabitha sighed and looked at her toes. "I did. I failed again."
The unknown figure rose up from its chair and reached a hand under her chin, making her look up again and meet its gaze. "Clearly, you are not cut out for collections, Tabitha."
Tabitha? Not sixty-nine. Suddenly she wanted to weep. The hand under her chin was soft, cool and comforting, the fingers gently stroking her skin before it slipped away.
"I wonder why no one has realized this sooner. We really ought to find a better place for you," the figure said softly. "Where you are better suited. Hmmm?"
Now they would send her somewhere awful. She'd be cleaning up for those mischievous cherubs, laundering Cupid's diapers. Her mouth was dry, but liquid pooled under her lashes, ready to spill.
Henry. She would never see him again. Never know that love again.
"How would you like to be a Guardian Angel, Tabitha?"
She thought she'd misheard. Swallowing hard she opened her eyes and stared through a thin mist of tears. "But I haven't passed the exam." There was red tape —even in heaven.
The kindly stranger smiled. "For special cases we can make exceptions."
"But—"
"Not much point being in charge and having all this almighty power, is there, if I can't break the rules occasionally?"
So she was a special case. And for once it wasn't meant in a bad way.
"You'll need to fill out forms," Rick muttered sourly.
The graceful being turned to him and laughed. "Forms! Where would we be without them?" The pile of papers in Rick's hands suddenly burst into blue flames and a shower of sparks—all that remained of his precious forms— rained down around his feet.
Even E.X.A.G, that most daunting of expense forms, was now but a shimmer of grey dust.
"I always wanted to do that," the stranger whispered. "Now lets get you on your way, Tabitha. Back where you belong."
* * * *
As he left the interview, Henry checked on the overdose patient and heard that he was in stable condition.
"In fact Doctor Sheffield, I think he'd like to see you, if you have a moment," said the harried nurse.
He thought about making his excuses, but this once he was curious, so he followed her to the room where lanky, leather pants lay on a bed—now clad in the regulation hospital gown— propped up and looking surprisingly wide awake. No doubt he had a high tolerance, thought Henry.
"Sorry to cause all the trouble," the man exclaimed when he recognized Henry. "Disturbed your night a bit, didn't we mate?"
"Just a bit."
"Wanted to thank you for what you did. Thought I was a goner this time." He laughed jovially and scratched his tattooed arm.
"Hmmm." Henry had thought much the same. He'd treated patients at Death's door before, and several already beyond it, but never one who was already settled in and ordering dinner.
"Even saw an angel in the corner of my eye," leather pants continued. "Thought she was ready to take me up. She changed her mind though."
Henry smirked. "I would advise you to scale back on the drugs and alcohol, if I thought you might listen." Just as he turned away he sneezed violently.
Lanky leather pants waved. "Better take care of that cold, mate."
* * * *
The hotel front desk was mobbed that morning with guests complaining about last night's noise and this morning's ruckus. Rather than wait in line, Henry looked around for the young porter and found him at last, just stepping out of the elevator.
"Bill, isn't it?"
The boy looked up and went a little pale. "Yes, sir...doctor. Everything alright, sir? I thought you checked out." It was plain he expected another reprimand for something he'd done or not done.
Henry attempted to soften his expression. "I came back to pay you the tip I promised you last night."
"Oh...right." His bony shoulders heaved in relief. "Thank you, sir."
As Henry passed him a twenty dollar bill he remembered another thing. "Have you seen that Nook, by any chance? I think I left it in the suite." It was his one link to Tabitha and he wanted it back.
The boy stared at the note. "No, sir. And the housekeeping staff would have found it when they cleaned if it was there. Another guest is in the suite already, sir. Just checked in this afternoon."
Disappointment shot through him. "Well, never mind. Perhaps you can look for it when you get the chance. You have my card so you can contact me if you find it."
"Yes, sir. Will do, sir." The boy beamed, thrusting his tip into the pocket of his uniform pants. "Glad you enjoyed your stay sir. Come back soon."
He nodded, turned away and headed for the main entrance of the hotel. Sunlight gleamed in his eyes as the doors swung open to let more guests in. He stood aside, waiting for once, not in his usual impatient hurry.
Bill dashed over and grabbed the door for him. "Let me, sir. Have a good day sir."
"Yes. Thank you. You too." He smiled and walked out onto the pavement.
Now what? Suddenly he couldn't think. Where was he going and why?
Taxi, yes. There was one at the curb. He had a flight to catch.
But he didn't want to leave the city. Not without her. Schedules didn't seem so important anymore. He looked down at his briefcase and saw a small white downy feather trapped in the closure.
Saw an angel in the corner of my eye.
Ready to take me up. She changed her mind though.
"Where can I take you?" the cabby shouted, leaping out to help him with his luggage.
"Airport, please. JFK." Feeling numb, he stepped into the taxi, just as the other door opened and a woman jumped in. "Excuse me," he began, "this is my—"
She was grinning at him. "Thought you got rid of me that easily?"
It was Tabitha. This time she was dressed in proper clothes, a raincoat belted at her waist, hair back in a long ponytail. Tabitha the woman, not the angel. She leaned across the seat and kissed him on his startled lips.
"Where did you go?" he demanded.
There was no direct answer; instead she said, "I'm your guardian angel now Henry. I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
There was nowhere and no one with whom he would rather be stuck. He grabbed her hand quickly before she might fly off again and closed his fingers tightly around hers. "On the contrary, young woman, you are stuck with me." His heartbeat was dangerously fast, but for once he wasn't alarmed by it. For some reason h
e felt safe with her hand in his. Nothing could harm him while she was there. "I'm in love with you," he said. They were words he'd never uttered before, yet they spilled off his tongue today with remarkable ease.
"Good," she replied, "because I fell for you, didn't I? Literally."
When the cabby slipped back behind the wheel they were kissing again. He spared them a wry glance in his mirror. "You two going in the same direction then?"
"Definitely," she said. "But not going up for a long time yet."
Henry moved a stray lock of hair from her soft cheek and tucked it behind her ear. "By the way," he said, "have you seen my Nook?"
THE END
Also by Cat Kelly
The Sweet Escape
The Firefighter and the Virgin Princess
The F Word
Also by Alexandra O’Hurley
Sacking the Quarterback
Catching the Pass
Tackling Her Heart
Return to Her
Crave
His Vow
Being Improper
Mr. Wham Bam
Acquiring Her
The Virgin Who Cried Wolf
Night of the Dragon
Beauty and Her Beasts
Magic, Mischief, and Mayhem
Spice it Up & Park and Ride
Falling for Him
Abduction
Resurrection
All’s Fair in Love and Lust
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Alexandra O’Hurley
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Cat Kelly
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Cat Kelly never met an animal she didn’t love or a stray she couldn’t take in. It’s been both the passion and the bane of her life. She loves coffee, Pot Noodles and the smell of hot tarmac. On her free time you’ll probably find her wandering around graveyards for the peace and quiet. She’s a born and bred country girl who moved to the big city, trading a shot gun for a keyboard and riding boots for high heels. A cross between Ellie Clampett and Mary Tyler Moore with a little bit of The Addams Family thrown in.
Alexandra recently turned the dreaded forty while her teenager legally became an adult—all in the same year. Those events have added more than enough gray hairs into her head. She uses most of her writing income on bad dye jobs and wine. Mostly wine. (You should see her roots!)
Alex is a multi-published, bestselling erotic romance author, despite her bad hair. Or maybe because of it. When one doesn’t want to leave the house or wear a hat, one stays home and writes.
Published since 2008, Alex writes all over the genre map, be it Ménage, Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary, or Sci-Fi Erotic Romances.
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