Charmingly Wicked

by Teresa Gabelman

  “I killed him.” Vance answered without hesitation, his eyes searched hers.

  “Good.” There was also no hesitation in her reply. “Though I’m sorry you had to do something as such, but good that he can no longer hurt anyone else.”

  Vance nodded, then stood. “I should be going.”

  “Oh, okay.” Angel stood also. “I, uh, okay.” Goddess she sounded like an idiot. She hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable or upset. She should have kept her mouth shut.

  “I’ll walk you to the house.” Vance made his way around the fire to her side.

  They walked toward the house in silence and Angel felt worse by the minute. Stopping at the door she opened her mouth, then closed it not really knowing what to say. He reached around to open the door, but to her surprise she stopped him by grabbing his arm.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.” Angel said, then quickly let him go. “Sometimes I don’t think and—”

  Vance stared down at her and she wondered if he was going to say anything at all. When he didn’t she sighed, then turned toward the door.

  “Be careful.” She said, something she always did with anyone leaving. She had even said it to complete strangers.

  “I’ve never really talked to anyone about what happened before.” Vance’s voice stopped her. “It took me by surprise that I did with you.”

  Angel tilted her head as a small smile appeared on her lips. “I’ve been told I’ve just got one of the faces that makes people want to tell me everything.” She teased hoping to ease him somewhat. “My dad always says keeping things bottled up inside you isn’t good for the soul.”

  “Your dad is a smart man.” Vance once again reached around her and opened the door. “Good night. I will see you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” Angel walked inside and was about to turn around when he said her name.

  “Angel.” Vance’s voice was rough. “Thank you.”

  He closed the door then turned and walked away. She watched until he was only a shadow. “You’re welcome.” She whispered, then locked the door. A tinge of hope filled her as she went through the house turning off the lights.

  Chapter 12

  Angel yawned as she pulled up to the house. Sleep last night was fleeting. A few minutes here and there. So instead of lying in bed letting her mind run rampant she got up and was out the door a half an hour later.

  Her eyes fell on Vance’s truck and she frowned. Parking she got out of the car looking around. Hearing a noise from the roof she frowned and, headed that way looking toward the roof. He wasn’t in his truck so he must be on up there.

  Putting her stuff down she spotted a ladder laying against the house. She tried to pick it up, but it was too long and heavy. Using her magic, she crossed her fingers that she wouldn’t put it through the house and moved it so she could climb to the top. Once it was in position she smiled proudly as she started making her way slowly to the top. How in the world had he gotten up there? Did the ladder fall once he got up there and now he was stuck? She had never been afraid of heights or ladders. Once at the top she climbed over and saw Vance on the other side of the roof writing something down on a pad of paper.

  “Hey.” Angel called out.

  Vance turned surprised. “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s my house.” She cocked her eyebrow at him. “Guess I could ask you the same thing.”

  “Stay there. I found some soft spots up here.” Vance cautiously made his way toward her. “I don’t want you to fall through.”

  Angel nodded then looked around. “Wow.” She sighed. “You can see the whole property up here.”

  Vance stopped beside her as he also looked around. “I did a lot of thinking on this roof.” He pointed. “See that path there?”

  Looking that way she nodded.

  “There’s a small pond filled with catfish.” Vance said proudly. “Dad dug it and took us boys fishing all around the area so we could stock it.”

  “I love to fish.” Angel clapped her hands together. “I didn’t know there was a pond.”

  “I haven’t been back there for a while, but I’ll make sure the path is cleared out so you can get back there.” Vance promised. “But first I need to put this order in for the roof supplies. I have a few connections so I should be able to get it here by late tomorrow.”

  Angel came back to reality. She knew the roof needed to be fixed, also knew that was going to be her biggest expense. “Does the whole roof need to be replaced?”

  “Unfortunately.” Vance glanced around then looked back at her. “This roof is probably twenty years old with patch work me and my brothers did.”

  “Do you have an idea what it will cost.” She didn’t want to sound worried, but she needed to make sure she had enough money. She still hadn’t gone job hunting and his answer was going to determine just how quick she was going to do it.

  Vance continued to stare down at her silently until she shuffled her feet nervously. “I have an account where I’m getting the supplies. They will put it on my tab so you won’t have to pay right away.”

  “Oh, no.” Angel shook her head. “I’ll pay, it’s just I have a certain amount set aside, but I have to make sure I have enough money for my dad’s medication and doctor appointments. I can’t dip into that.”

  “You won’t have to.” Vance assured her.

  “I’m not asking you to…” Angel didn’t know exactly what she wasn’t asking him to do. “I’m going to be looking for a job, I just haven’t gotten to it yet.”

  “It’s fine, Angel.” Vance grabbed her elbow gently leading her toward the ladder. “Let’s get down so I can make the order.”

  “I like it up here.” Angel smiled with a sigh. “I need to have a way to get up here instead of that ladder. How did you get up here when you were a kid?”

  “I’m a shifter, Angel.” Vance gaze shifted away which surprised her. Was he afraid she was judge him?

  “Are you a monkey shifter?” Angel teased knowing he wasn’t. “I mean the ladder was laying on the ground, so I know you didn’t use it to get up here.”

  “Wait a minute.” Vance glanced toward the way she came up. “How did you move that ladder to get up here.”

  “I’m a witch, Vance.” She threw his words back at him. Vance’s head fell back as he laughed at her wit. “Seriously, what kind of shifter are you?”

  “Wolf.” Vance replied, then quickly picked her up. “And I’m an excellent jumper.”

  Before Angel realized what was happening, they were sailing through the air. The landing so smooth, she didn’t even feel a jolt. “That was great!” She laughed excitedly. “Can we do it again?”

  Vance smiled as he let her down slowly. “Maybe later.” He chuckled. “Right now, I need to place this order. Rain is coming in later this week and I want to get this roof done before then.”

  “Is it hard for you to be here?” The thought hit Angel suddenly. Maybe being here was too hard for him and that made her feel selfish whether she was paying him or not.

  “No, it’s not.” Vance replied with a deep breath. “I only had good times here other than when my mother died. My father didn’t live long after that. But no, it’s not hard. It’s actually nice remembering the good times.”

  “Where are your brothers now?” Angel asked, then realized time was ticking and he just said he needed to order the roofing supplies. One thing about Angel was she liked to talk once she was comfortable with someone. It was the curious side of her to learn about people. Okay, maybe some would call her nosey, but she didn’t see it that way. Curious was a better word to describe her. “Wait, don’t answer. Go make your call.”

  Vance laughed at her total switch in direction. He nodded, then grabbed his phone. He stared at it for a minute before looking at her. “Have dinner with me tonight.” Vance asked, his eyes searching hers. “Then you can ask me anything you want.”

  “Anything?” She cocked her eyebrow then laughed. “Kiddi
ng. Sorta. I am kind of what people would say…nosey, but I like to call it curious.”

  “Yes, anything, but on one condition.” Vance countered with a teasing smirk.

  “And what is that condition?” Angel crossed her arms trying to keep a grin off her face. She liked his teasing nature. He was by far the only man she had ever felt truly comfortable talking to, which was odd. She just met him yesterday.

  “I get to ask a few questions myself.” Vance threw that out there, but it didn’t faze her.

  “I’m an open book. Nothing to hide.” Angel gave him a nod. “So, you can ask away.”

  “So, you’re agreeing to having dinner with me?” Vance questioned with a smile.

  “How can I pass up a chance to let my nosey, or, ah, curious self ask questions with dinner included.” Angel snickered. “Yes, dinner sounds great.”

  “Good.” Vance gave a single nod as if sealing the deal. “Now I need to make this call.” He turned to walk back toward his truck.

  “Go, but one more question before you go.” Angel just couldn’t help herself. He stopped and turned to look at her. “Can I meet your wolf?”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged.” Vance winked at her before turning away.

  Angel wanted to melt in a big pile of goo right there on the spot. “He’s leaving ding-a-ling. Stop setting yourself up for regret.” She told herself, but obviously herself wasn’t listening to a word she said because the excitement she felt about dinner was off the charts. “Just friends. Good friends who like each other’s company. That’s all this is.”

  Unlocking the door Angel walked in prepared to paint the day away, but her mind kept having a war with itself on whether she really believed all she wanted with Vance Walker was a friendship. Yeah, it was going to be a long day.

  Chapter 13

  Vance walked to his truck with the phone in his hand wondering what in the fuck he was doing. Asking her out to dinner hadn’t been in his plans, but the question just fell out of his mouth. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with her but was it smart to do so. He didn’t want to lead her on. He was leaving, that was a fact. Would he be back? Probably, but when he didn’t know.

  Running his hand through his hair in frustration, he cursed a few more times before pulling out his notes. He stared at the notes, but it was like looking at a blank page. He felt guilty, which was something that didn’t sit well with him. His wolf was as restless as the man. When she asked if she could meet his wolf, he had to use every ounce of control he possessed to keep said wolf in check.

  Oh, he was fucked. That much he knew, but he could handle it. At least that was what he kept telling himself. It was Angel he was worried about.

  “Fuck!” Vance turned and headed back toward the house. Walking inside he spotted Angel bent over with her ass pointed straight at him as she stirred the paint. He moaned; his wolf howled inside his head. “Fuck!” He cursed again.

  Still bent over she looked at him with her head upside down. “Hey.” Slowly she straightened.

  “Listen…” His voice actually cracked like he was an adolescent. Clearing his throat with a shake of his head he tried again. “Uh, about dinner. I’m not sure—”

  “I’m not picky.” Angel obviously misunderstood. “Anywhere is fine.”

  He wanted to punch himself in the face at her sweet smile. “Yeah, ah…” Dammit what was wrong with him? He couldn’t even get the words out. Because it’s a dick move asshole, that little voice inside his head screamed at him. He started to open his mouth again, but the sound of a car door caught his attention. Turning he went toward the front door with a frown hoping it wasn’t Gavan coming back to finish what was started yesterday.

  It wasn’t Gavan, but Mac and Zelda coming up the steps toward him and he had a bad feeling he knew why.

  “Hello, beautiful.” Vance went to hug Zelda, but Mac put a hand on his chest stopping him.

  “What yourself, Walker.” Mac warned with a narrowed gaze.

  “Stop it.” Zelda pushed Mac’s hand away as she hugged Vance. “I heard you were back here helping Angel. That’s very nice of you.”

  “I figured who better to help fix the place than someone who spent most of their life here.” Vance replied, but saw the gleaming glint in Zelda’s eyes.

  She leaned close to him with a small grin. “It wouldn’t happen to be the pretty witch that bought the place.”

  Vance also grinned leaning even closer to Zelda. “That doesn’t hurt.”

  Zelda laughed and even Mac cracked a smile. “Where is Angel?”

  “Right here.” Angel said as she walked toward them with a paint brush in hand. “Sorry for the mess.”

  “Honey, why do you have a paint brush.” Zelda frowned staring at it, then at Angel.

  “Um, to paint.” Angel said, then laughed. “I know magic would be so much easier, but I kind of want to do it the normal way.”

  “I’ll never understand that type of thinking, but hey it’s your arm.” Zelda snorted then put her arm around Angel’s shoulder. “Come on and show me what you have planned so the guys can talk guy talk.”

  Vance frowned as he watched the women disappear to the kitchen. He then looked at Mac who looked concerned. “Guess this isn’t a social call.”

  “No.” Mac shook his head. “It’s not. Did you attack Gavan yesterday?”

  “Yes.” Vance didn’t hesitate in his answer.

  “Dammit Vance we had this settled.” Mac ran his hand over his face. “You know you just gave him a reason to start his revenge quest again.”

  “He put his hands-on Angel.” Vance didn’t blink as he stared straight at Mac. “He’s lucky he’s still breathing.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Mac cursed.

  “I’m sure while he’s running his mouth he left that part out.” Vance snorted not surprised.

  “Does Angel know about your history with Gavan?” Mac glanced toward the kitchen before looking back at Vance.

  “No.” Vance didn’t bring that up last night, didn’t see a reason to, but now he may not have a choice. “What’s being said?”

  “Same stuff he has said in the past, but Wanda heard him talking about Angel.” Mac once again checked the area to make sure the women were still in the kitchen.

  “What did he say?” Vance’s voice rumbled deep in his chest. His wolf clawed to be set free. Yeah, this wasn’t good.

  “She’d be lucky not to end up like your mom.” Mac grabbed Vance’s arm just as Vance went for the door.

  “I’ll kill him.” Vance tried to jerk his arm away from Mac, but Mac’s grip was brutally strong. “Let me go.”

  “He was drunk, Vance.” Mac said as if that would calm him down. “He probably didn’t realize what he was really saying.”

  “Bullshit.” Vance hissed. “What if that was said of Zelda?”

  “He’s already been dead.” Mac responded point blank, a growl edging each word.

  “Exactly.” Vance once again tried to pull away, but Mac wasn’t having it.

  “But she is my mate, my wife.” Mac put that weak ass comment in the air.

  “And Angel is an innocent.” Vance spat, his anger soaring.

  Mac stared at him for a long moment. “You sure that’s all she is?”

  Vance didn’t answer right away because in truth he didn’t know the answer to that question. He heard the women coming from the kitchen toward them.

  “You need to tell Angel.” Mac nodded behind him. “Now. I’m going to talk to Gavan next and try to end this once again.”

  “It will never end, Mac. We both know it.” Vance shook his head before turning to look at Angel who gave him a curious smile. He knew his face showed his anger at unwillingly putting her danger.

  Chapter 14

  Seeing the look on Vance’s face she knew something was wrong. She was very good at reading people, or some would say reading the room. Angel became proficient with that after her father got sick and would lie to her about how
he was really feeling. Now she didn’t even have to ask, she just knew.

  “What’s going on?” Angel looked from Vance, to Max and then back to Vance.

  “I’ll call you later after I take care of the business we were just talking about.” Mac said, then gave Angel a nod. “Any…issues…call me right away.”

  Vance only gave Mac a nod as Zelda gave her a quick tight hug, then took Mac’s hand and they disappeared out the door leaving them alone.

  “Well, that was odd.” Angel frowned staring at the closed front door. Her eyes went back to Vance. “I take it you got some bad news.”

  “You could say that.” Vance began, then frowned when another car pulled up to the house. He cocked his head listening, then grabbed Angel’s hand pulling her toward the kitchen. “Stay here.”

  “What is going on?” Angel was confused and a little nervous by the way everyone was acting. Was it her dad? Oh, Goddess. “Is it my dad? Is he okay?” She panicked and started for the door not waiting for his answer.

  “Angel, no. It’s not your father.” Vance stopped her, but when they heard the front door open, he pulled her behind him using his body as a shield.

  She felt his body begin to shake. It looked like he was getting bigger which shocked her making her take a step backward.

  “Don’t move!” The voice that came out of Vance was not a voice she knew. As frightened as she was, she obeyed and didn’t move, but her eyes were wide with fright as she watched Vance begin to change in front of her eyes.

  Thorne appeared with Wicked at his side, but as soon as he saw Vance he pushed Wicked behind him. “It’s me Thorne.” Thorne held his hands out. “Vance there is no danger. Stand down.”

  Even from behind Angel could see the struggle he was having. Not understanding anything she felt the need to touch him, as if he needed her touch or someone’s touch. Slowly her hand rose but stopped inches from his back. Swallowing hard, she placed her hand on the center of his back.

  His head snapped to the side, his breathing was harsh. His eyes had changed, even though she wasn’t seeing him head on she knew he was in a war with his body. It suddenly dawned on her that he was shifting. Or trying not to shift. She wasn’t sure, but she did feel his pain.