by Sharon Sala
A deep frown settled between her eyes. Christmas was her favorite holiday.
"Is it okay if we go back to bed?" Angel asked. "I think she's getting cold."
Royal nodded. "I'll put her to bed just as soon as I get back."
"I'll do it," Angel offered, and then felt as if she'd stepped over a line. "If you don't mind, that is."
The beam of the flashlight Maddie was holding suddenly stilled. Her voice shook.
"I don't want to go to bed in my room."
Royal cupped her cheek, tilting her face to his as he leaned down.
"You can sleep with me just as soon as I get back, okay, baby?"
She nodded and relaxed.
Royal's gaze slipped from his daughter's face to Angel. Her eyes were wide with unasked questions, but to his surprise, she didn't voice one. Her composure surprised him. She was the first woman he'd ever known who hadn't let loose with a barrage of questions in a situation like this.
"I won't be long," he said quietly.
Angel felt herself drowning in blue and then blinked. The notion passed, and Royal left. She shook off the feeling of lassitude and stood, still holding Maddie in her arms.
"Come on, sweetie, it's time to get some sleep."
Maddie sighed, but for once didn't argue. She bunched her blanket beneath her chin and laid her head on Angel's shoulder. By the time Angel laid her in Royal's bed, her eyes were closed, but she still clutched Angel's hand.
"Don't go till my daddy gets back," Maddie begged.
Angel hesitated. It made her more than a little uncomfortable to be in the man's room, let alone sitting on the edge of his bed. Even if he wasn't in it, his presence was impossible to ignore. The covers were thrown back, indicative of his hasty exit, and the pillow still held the indentation from his head. But the little girl's plea was impossible to ignore.
"Okay," she said softly. "Now close your eyes."
Maddie did as she was told, but moments later another bolt of lightning hit the ground somewhere between the house and the barns. Maddie shrieked and began to cry.
Angel slid into bed and wrapped her arms around her, shushing her as she cuddled her close.
"You're safe, little girl. You're as safe as you can be. Feel my arms around you, holding you tight?"
Maddie shuddered on a sob, but nodded.
"I promise I won't let you go until your daddy comes back, okay?"
"Okay," Maddie whispered, and scooted as close as she could get.
Angel smiled and pulled the little girl into the curve of her body. Above their heads she could hear the soft thump, thump of footsteps as Royal moved about the attic. Secure that someone else was taking care of business, Angel closed her eyes. Just to let them rest. Just until he got back.
And that was how Royal found them—wrapped in each other's arms and sound asleep in the middle of his bed. He didn't move and he couldn't speak. All he could do was stare at the image before him.
The woman's long black hair spilled across his pillow. His child lay within the shelter of her arms. Emotion hit him without warning, like a kick to the gut. He reached for the door facing, using it as a brace to steady his knees.
This was what it would have been like had his wife, Susan, not died. Tears burned the back of his throat. Was it the absence of a woman in her life that had caused Maddie's dreams? Could the yearning have been so strong that it had caused her to imagine the lady on her bed? And even if that was so, how did that explain the promise of an angel or of her arrival into their midst?
Royal drew a deep breath and stepped inside, staying only long enough to pull the covers over both of them. He couldn't look at the woman without wanting to stare, and he wouldn't let himself linger over Maddie for fear that he'd wake them both up. He paused in the doorway, looking back one last time before he closed the door.
The storm passed. Clouds were moving across the full face of the moon, dragging dark shadows along the moonlit ground as they blew. The sleepers were bathed in the luminescence of a heavenly glow, and for a moment, Royal could almost believe Maddie's claim of an angel come to earth. But then he shook off the notion and walked out of the room.
* * *
Angel woke up before dawn. The presence of a warm body beside her was startling, but only for a moment. She looked into the sleeping face of Royal Justice's daughter and remembered. She'd spent the entire night in Royal's bed.
This was just great. The thought of that man watching her sleep was unnerving. There was something about his unblinking stare that made her want to turn tail and run. It wasn't as if she was afraid of him. Angel wasn't afraid of anyone. She amended the thought. Except that man in the black truck.
Maddie sighed in her sleep. Resisting the urge to kiss her soft cheek, Angel pulled the covers over her bare legs and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Maddie up.
For a moment, she stared around the room, searching for clues to the personality of the man who slept here. Nothing seemed obvious. It was large enough to accommodate the king-size bed. Except for an oversize picture of Maddie over the headboard, the walls were white and bare. But for a small wagon full of wooden blocks and a pink feather boa wrapped around the wheels, it was neat and orderly, just like the man who slept here.
She shuddered, as if coming out of a trance, and headed for the door. She needed to get her clothes and get herself packed. If she was lucky, she might make Dallas before noon.
She moved through the rooms on bare feet, pulling at the hem of her nightshirt and hurrying as she neared the kitchen. Never had she felt as vulnerable as she did right now. Only a few more steps and she would retrieve her clothes. Dressed, she could face anything—even the man in whose bed she'd slept.
* * *
Chapter 5
« ^ »
Royal was making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when Angel entered the kitchen. She groaned. It had been too much to hope she would be the only one up. It had been bad enough last night to face the man in this threadbare nightshirt, but in the early morning light, she might as well have been naked.
"I'm just going to the dryer to get my clothes," she muttered, and darted toward the utility room.
"The electricity went off before they got dry," he said.
His announcement stopped her cold. She rolled her eyes, then folded her arms across her breasts as she turned to face him.
"Then I'll have to wear them wet. I can't leave looking like this. Besides, they'll probably be wet again before the day is over."
Royal frowned. For some reason, the thought of her out on a highway at the mercy of strangers made him angry. And then he reminded himself they were strangers to each other. She was a grown woman. She didn't need anyone to take care of her. He dropped a spoonful of grape jelly on a layer of peanut butter and smeared it around the slice of bread.
Angel watched in fascination, admiring the way the filling clung to the bread and wondering where he'd spent the night.
"Um, last night, the lightning … was anything damaged?"
"No, we were fortunate, but the phones are still out and so's the power," he answered.
She nodded and tried to think of something else to say.
"Mr. Justice…"
"Royal," he corrected.
Slightly embarrassed, she felt the need to apologize. "I didn't mean to fall asleep last night. Why didn't you wake me?"
He kept spreading jam. "It was late. You and Maddie were sound asleep. I didn't see the need."
"But I was in your bed."
He stopped and looked up. "And I was in yours."
The intimacy of that statement hit them at the same time, and neither moved or spoke. Royal was the first to break eye contact, and he did it by slapping a slice of bread on top of his gourmet creation and sliding it onto a plate.
"Since the power's out, this is going to have to serve as breakfast." He grinned. "Maddie won't care. Except for her uncle Roman's pancakes, this is her favorite breakfast, anyway."
It
was his smile that did it. It changed everything about him in a way Angel hadn't expected. Just for a second she saw the boy he'd been and probably the man he could be with someone he loved, and she knew a swift moment of fear.
"I hate to ask, but I need something to wear," she said.
"I laid some things out in your room," he said shortly. "Wear whatever suits you until your own things are dry."
"But I thought you said the power was out," Angel said.
"It is."
"Then what…"
Royal interrupted. His voice was low and angry. "It's some of my stuff, damn it. Just get dressed." He stabbed the knife into the jar of peanut butter and reached for another slice of bread. "I think better when there's more between us than a few cotton threads."
Stunned, Angel alternated between punching him in the nose and laughing in his face. But then he looked up. Their gazes met and held. She was the one who broke. She bolted from the room as Royal dropped the knife into the jar of peanut butter and stomped out the back door onto the porch. There was a smear of peanut butter on the end of his thumb. He sucked it off as he stepped off the porch, intent on checking on the animals, when he heard a car coming down the driveway. It was Roman, probably coming to satisfy himself they had not blown away in last night's storm.
"Great," he muttered, thinking of what Roman would make of the half-naked stranger in his house.
"Hey," Roman called, as he got out of the car. "I tried to call. Your phones are out."
Royal nodded. "I know. So is the power."
Roman's gaze raked the familiar lines of their old family home. "Everything okay in there?"
Royal snorted. "About as good as could be expected," he muttered.
"What did you say?" Roman asked.
"Nothing," Royal said, and jammed his hands in his pockets.
Roman's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Of all the Justice brothers, Royal was the most open with his thoughts. There was something going on Roman didn't understand. Royal was the kind of man who cursed when he was angry and laughed when he was glad. He wasn't given to hints, yet Roman would swear his brother was hiding something.
"Maddie all right?" he asked.
"Maddie's fine," Royal answered.
"No more visions of ladies and angels?"
Royal resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Not anymore," he growled.
"Uncle Roman!"
Both men turned at the childish screech of delight. Roman grinned and held out his arms as Maddie bounded toward him. He caught her in midjump and swung her against his chest, nuzzling her neck and stealing kisses along the side of her cheek. Her giggles of delight brought smiles to both men's faces, but the smiles slid sideways when the back door opened again.
Royal groaned and gritted his teeth as Angel came out on the porch. She was wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants. Everything was too long and too big. She should have looked like an orphan. Instead, those dark, bedroom eyes were wide and questioning, and her long, black hair was mussed and hanging to the middle of her back. She had the look of a woman who'd spent the night in a willing man's bed. Royal cast a quick glance at Roman and then looked away. Technically, that was exactly what had happened. The only problem was, the willing man had been sleeping elsewhere.
Roman glanced at Maddie, unconsciously tightening his hold in a protective gesture as he looked over her head at his brother.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," he drawled.
Royal's jaw clenched. Roman's sarcasm was too thick to stir. "That's my angel!" Maddie shrieked, and wiggled to be put down.
Roman let her go, not because he wanted to but because she'd given him no option. To his shock, she ran and anchored herself to the woman's leg.
"She's going to be our keeper," Maddie said, smiling at Angel.
Angel cast a nervous look at Maddie's father and shrugged as she bent to pick Maddie up. This was his daughter, his problem. If he wanted to explain, it was his prerogative.
Royal frowned. He should have known Maddie wouldn't be happy to settle for one night.
"Roman, this is Angel Rojas. Angel, my brother, Roman."
Roman tipped his, hat without smiling. "Miss Rojas."
She met his cool stare with one of her own. "Mr. Justice."
Maddie's next innocent remark only added to the furor. "We found her in the rain!" she said. "She came, just like the lady said she would."
Roman's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Royal. "You found her in the rain?"
Angel was tired and uncomfortable, and thanks to Fat Louie and that nut who'd been following her, she was pretty much fed up with men in general. The fact that Royal's brother kept looking at her as if she was a bug in need of squashing was the last straw.
"I wasn't lost," Angel snapped. "I was hitchhiking. They offered me a ride. The rest of this stuff about angels is over my head."
Her unexpected anger silenced whatever Roman had planned to say.
"But your name…"
"Is really Angel. Angel Maria Conchita Rojas, to be precise. I was born in Las Vegas. My mother died when I was small. I was raised in foster homes. I owe no man and no man owns me. And, as soon as my clothes are dry, I'm out of here."
Roman had the grace to blush. "Look, Miss, I didn't mean to—"
"Yes, you did," Angel snapped, then she looked at Royal. "I came out to tell you that the power is on. As soon as my clothes are dry, I will be out of your hair."
"No!" Maddie shrieked, and wrapped her arms around Angel's neck. "You can't leave! You can't leave! The lady promised you would stay and take care of me." She started to sob.
The words tugged at Angel's heart. In her anger, she'd forgotten to temper her words for the little girl's sake.
"But sweetheart, I told you yesterday that your daddy can't just hire a stranger to take care of you. He loves you more than anything in this world, and he would want only the best for you."
"You're not a stranger to me," Maddie sobbed. "I saw you in my dreams. I have pictures of you. Wait here. I'll show you."
She wiggled out of Angel's arms and dashed into the house. Angel glared at Roman without speaking while Royal shoved his hand through his hair in an angry gesture of defeat.
"This is one hell of a mess," he growled.
"It's none of my business," Angel said, "but I'd watch my language if I were you. Especially around Maddie."
Royal's face turned an angry red as Roman grinned. To his surprise, Roman found himself liking this woman for no other reason than her spunk.
Before anything else could be said, Maddie came running. The screen door hit the wall with a bang as she shoved a handful of pictures into Angel's hands.
"See! See? I knew you! I knew you!"
Angel glanced at the pictures, a little surprised to see that Maddie's childish drawings depicted what could only be described as a dark angel. Most people, and especially children, thought of angels having blond hair and long white robes. This angel had brown skin and long black hair. Angel frowned as she looked at them. One picture had the angel wearing braids. That was the way she most often wore her hair. She glanced at Royal, surprised by the understanding on his face.
"Well," she said softly.
He nodded.
"This is my favorite," Maddie said, pulling one out of the stack Angel was holding.
Angel smiled as she looked, then she gasped. The smile froze on her face. Her hands started to shake. Without thinking, she dropped to her knees and pulled Maddie close.
"Oh, my, little girl. Oh, my."
Maddie looked at her father. "See, Daddy. She likes my drawings a lot."
Angel stared at the child, unable to tear her gaze away. It wasn't that she didn't believe such things were possible, but she'd never expected to be part of such a miracle. And a miracle it was. She hugged Maddie gently, then got to her feet, handing the drawing to Royal without explanation.
"Wait here," she said, then took Maddie by the hand and went into the hous
e.
Roman moved closer to look at the drawing Royal was holding. On one side of the page was the figure Maddie called the lady. She was the same in every picture. A woman wearing a long blue dress. On the other side was the figure Maddie called her angel. She was barefoot. Her long black hair was loose around her face, not in braids as in most of the other pictures, and she was wearing a bright pink dress with blue and green decorations around the bottom.
"What?" Roman asked.
"Don't ask me," Royal muttered. "I haven't been in control since yesterday when we were coming back from town. It was raining like hell. I saw a hitchhiker. Didn't even know it was a woman. Before I could pass her, Maddie was screaming for me to stop. I kept on driving. Maddie got hysterical, begging for me to go back. She said it was her angel, the one the lady said would come."
Roman inhaled slowly as the skin crawled on the back of his neck.
"Damn."
Royal grimaced. "You have no idea. Before I knew it, she was in the cab and Maddie was crawling all over her."
Roman's eyes widened. "Maddie doesn't like strangers."
"You forget," Royal drawled. "Maddie claims she's not a stranger. And then there's her name. Hell, when she told me it was Angel, I got a knot in my stomach that still hasn't gone away. While I was trying to think what to say, Maddie went berserk. The next thing I knew, I was inviting her to spend the night. At least until the rain had stopped."
Roman shook his head. "Man, Royal, what are you going to—"
The back door opened, and he never finished his question as Maddie and Angel came out hand in hand.
"Look, Daddy. Now do you believe me?"
Royal stared. First at the woman standing before him, then at the picture, then up again.
"It's still a little damp and needs a good ironing, but you get the picture," Angel said softly, as she smoothed the dress she had taken out of the dryer and slipped on.
Royal was stunned. "Oh, Lord," he whispered.
"Oh, Lord is right," Angel said. "I'm beginning to think He had something to do with this after all." She squeezed Maddie's hand as she continued. "I bought this dress with the first money I ever earned." Before either man could respond, she added, "It was honest work."
