Green Eyed Temptation (Halos & Horns

by Lori Leger

  She wiped hastily at her eyes and tried to pay closer attention to her driving. After a torturous trip home, she finally entered her apartment. Exhausted from her feelings of turmoil, she threw her purse on the floor and dropped belly down onto her living room couch.

  Tears made a trail down her face as she admitted the truth. She had taken Mike for granted—that he’d always be there, he’d never concede to Liam, and he’d never look at another woman. What would she do if he suddenly stopped being there for her? She’d asked herself that question before, but it had never bothered her … until now. Would she feel the same way if Liam walked away from her? She strongly suspected she would.

  “God help me. I’m so confused,” she said, covering her eyes. She closed her eyes, hoping to clear the fog of futility from her mind for just a little while.

  Mike came in from his run and waited for his breathing to steady before pouring himself a glass of water. He drank deeply then walked around his kitchen, trying to keep his leg muscles loose. When he thought he could participate in a conversation without sounding like a heavy breather, he called the one person who must have been put on this earth to drive him crazy.

  It had been over two hours since she’d left him and he hadn’t heard a peep from her. After the third ring, he told himself that surely he’d given her long enough to cool off. He looked at the phone as her voice mail picked up after the sixth ring—or maybe he hadn’t.

  Angelique reached for her chirping cell phone and cracked her lids enough to see Mike’s name flash across the screen. No way could she talk to him yet. She set the phone carefully on the end table to let her voice mail pick it up. She glanced at her watch and groaned as she realized she’d slept for two hours.

  Raising herself from the sofa, she waited for the fogginess to clear from her mind. What would she say to that man when she spoke to him again? She got up to fix a cup of chamomile tea, knowing the coffee she craved would keep her up all night. Just as she sat down with the cup palmed between her hands, her phone rang again. This time she answered without checking the caller ID.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey Angel, how are you today?” Liam’s voice boomed from the other end.

  “I’m good.” She sat back against the cushioned arm of the sofa and curled her feet under her. “I just woke from a nap and I’m trying to snap myself out of it with a cup of hot tea.”

  “You need me to call back later?”

  “Nope,” she said. “I’ve been gone all day and I have some laundry to do. I went to visit my parents today.”

  After a slight pause, Liam spoke up. “Alone?”

  Angelique took a sip of tea. “No.”

  Liam grunted. “I bet your folks are crazy about Harper.”

  Angelique pictured the earlier scene as her parents had spoken French with Mike. Her dad had enjoyed teaching him several more words and phrases from the Creole French language. “They like him.”

  “I guess they were pissed at me for taking off like I did,” he added.

  “At first they were upset with you, but now they know what you’ve gone through. They both admire you for doing what you had to do to get your life back.”

  “They know about the fire?” he asked solemnly.

  “I told mama; I hope that’s okay.” She listened as Liam took a deep breath and released it.

  “Yeah, it’s fine,” he said. After an uncomfortable silence, he continued. “I almost forgot; I acquired a new client yesterday.”

  “Mike told me about her,” she answered. “It’s good of you to take Sarah’s case on pro bono. I met with her this afternoon, and hired her as my replacement in the Lake Coburn office.”

  “Your replacement?” he asked. “You’re leaving the clinic?”

  “I’m transferring back so that I can be closer to my parents.”

  “To the Lafayette office,” he stated dryly.

  “Yes.”

  “Lafayette … Where Mike Harper happens to live.”

  “It’s also where my parents happen to live.” Dead silence. “This has nothing to do with Mike,” she added, when she could no longer bear Liam’s stony silence.

  More silence followed. Finally he spoke. “So you say.”

  Anger started as a slow burn in her belly, and quickly built to a fiery rage, and still she remained silent.

  After several agonizing moments he finally broke the icy silence.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yes…” Her voice low and controlled.

  “Angel?” he said, after another prolonged silence.

  “I’m trying to get my head around the fact that you just called me a liar.”

  “I’m not calling you a liar, but I do think you’re in denial when you say your transfer isn’t about Harper,” he replied.

  Angelique managed to respond in a tight voice. “My mother will be having hip replacement surgery, and my father needs both knees replaced. Not that I owe you or anyone an explanation.”

  After several icily silent seconds, Liam tried owning up to his mistake. “I screwed up, huh?”

  “In a big way,” she returned.

  “I’m sor … ”

  She cut off his reply with a push of the power button. “Men,” she muttered, dropping the phone on the couch on her way to the bathroom for a hot shower.

  CHAPTER 14

  On the day of Sarah’s release from the hospital, she was accompanied by two off duty cops and her personal bodyguard, with her daughters in tow.

  Mel pushed Sarah’s wheelchair up to the opened door of her personal car. She helped to seat her comfortably, while Liam and Mike each secured a child into their car seats in the back seat.

  Leery of taking another uncertain step into her future, Sarah closed her eyes and recited a silent prayer. Needing a familiar face around, she had asked Melanie to drive her to her new temporary home on the outskirts of Lake Coburn. She felt safe having her at the wheel, and the fact that Liam and Mike followed in Nash’s vehicle also comforted her.

  Melanie pulled slowly out to the roadway. “It’ll be alright Sarah. I know the McAllister family and anyone associated with them is bound to be good people.”

  Sarah opened her eyes to look at her new friend. “I know that, Mel. I was just praying that all of this mess is straightened out while my girls are still babies. I don’t want them to have any memories of this.”

  Melanie reached over to lay a comforting hand on Sarah’s. “It will be.”

  “Eventually, maybe. But it’s more than just the situation with Troy. I want my girls to remember me as a good provider, not as someone who had to survive on handouts from total strangers. What kind of example am I setting for them?”

  Melanie nodded as she maneuvered the car through the Lafayette traffic. “The fact that you’re concerned about it is proof enough that you’re setting an excellent example. Every now and then, people need a helping hand. You’ll be strong enough to stand on your own two feet soon.”

  Sarah dropped her head back onto the seat and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I hope you’re right, Mel.”

  Mike buckled his seat belt as Nash pulled out behind Mel’s car. Once they knew for certain they weren’t being followed, both men relaxed back into their seats.

  Nash glanced over at the other man. “How’s Angel doing?”

  Somewhat surprised at the question, Mike turned his head to face him. “I figured you could tell me. I haven’t heard from her since Sunday.”

  “Neither have I,” Nash said. “She’s not returning any of my calls.”

  Mike grinned. “Mine either. What’d you do to piss her off?”

  “You first,” Nash replied.

  “I’ll pass.”

  “Me too.”

  The two men looked at each other and laughed.

  “She’s something, isn’t she?” Nash murmured.

  Mike grinned and nodded. “She certainly is.”

  “She’s the second woman I’ve ever loved,” Nash
commented.

  Mike turned toward his old friend. “She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. I expect she’s it for me.”

  “Yeah, well. I’ve thought that before, but I was wrong. You could be, too, Injun Joe.”

  A deep chuckle rumbled through Mike’s chest. “Nobody’s had the balls to call me that in years. It must be that crazy English blood of yours, you son of a bitch.”

  “Irish, man … I’m Irish!” Nash said, letting the r’s roll off his tongue. “Me great, great grandfather came over in the eighteen hundreds as just a wee lad,” he added, his voice thick with the Irish brogue.

  “Aye, and bringing a bit of the old Blarney Stone with him as well, I’d wager,” Mike volunteered in his own passable Irish accent.

  After the laughter slowly died down, Mike turned serious again. “I love her so damn much.”

  Nash gave him a sympathetic look. “I know you do, man, and if I thought I loved her any less, I’d walk away. But I don’t—so I can’t. I guess it’ll be up to her to choose.”

  Mike snorted. “If that’s the case, she could tell us both to kiss her ass. As it stands now, we’re both as cold as a brass witch’s tit in a blizzard.” He turned to watch the scenery as it passed quickly outside the truck’s window. “How’d you do it, Nash? How’d you live through that?” He shook his head slowly. “Knowing how I feel about Angel, if I lost her that way, I’d want to die.”

  “Who says I didn’t?” Nash drove through the next green light in silence. “I wished I’d died instead of her. Hell, I wished I’d died right along with her … or them, rather.” He paused, visualizing something from a past that he sometimes wished to forget. “When I saw Kim holding our son in her arms—I cursed God for making me miss out on the chance to hold him myself. But, now I realize how merciful he was by taking Nicholas before I got a chance to bond with him. If I had, I think I would have drunk myself into an early grave, instead of stopping when I did.”

  Mike groaned at Nash’s words. “And here I am, praying Angel will pick me over you. I feel like an egg-sucking dog.”

  Mike’s heartfelt confession gave Nash the chance to crack a grin at his old friend. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. It’s not your fault I screwed up and walked away from her. I’ve already survived the worst thing that could happen to me. If she chooses you over me, I’ll live.”

  Sarah and her entourage arrived at Daniel and Leah’s home around ten a.m. on a bright Tuesday morning. Melanie turned off the ignition and popped open the trunk of her car. As she circled around to help Sarah out of the passenger’s side, Red and Tiffany McAllister walked outside to meet them. She smiled broadly at the tall, good looking, auburn haired man and his pretty wife.

  “God, it’s good to see you again, Red,” Mel said.

  “You too, Melanie. Have you met Tiffany?” he asked, as his wife walked forward.

  “Only once; how are you?” she asked, opening Sarah’s door.

  “I’m good, thanks. I’m dying to meet Dad and Leah’s house guest and those gorgeous twins I keep hearing about.” Tiffany leaned in to help Sarah out of the car. “Hi Sarah. I’m Tiffany McAllister and this is my husband Red. It is so good to finally meet you.”

  Sarah smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” she murmured. “It’s beautiful out here,” she said, gazing at the well-tended yard and fenced in pastures surrounding the ranch style structure. “Are the LeBlanc’s here?”

  “They’re putting the final touches to the nursery. They already had one crib up for our daughter, so they went out and bought two more for the twin’s use.”

  Sarah’s eyes widened as she stammered. “Oh they didn’t have to do that.”

  “Don’t worry, honey—they’ll get used. Annie’s will be here soon, so they were going to get another one anyway. The nursery is huge.” She leaned over and spoke quietly to Sarah. “Leah couldn’t have children of her own so she dotes on any baby that’s around. Believe me when I tell you this is no imposition on them at all. They begged us to let you stay with them.” Tiffany helped her inside and got her settled on the overstuffed couch.

  Melanie and Red brought the twins in just as Leah entered the room, followed by Daniel carrying a baby girl.

  “You’re finally here!” Leah gushed as she sat beside Sarah and took her hand. “I’m Leah and that’s my husband Daniel holding our granddaughter, Briana. Welcome to our home.”

  Sarah studied the lovely woman sporting a tan and freckles, she assumed from spending time outside training her horses. Her gaze travelled to Daniel LeBlanc, a large man who towered over his wife. He smiled down at her while gently cuddling his granddaughter.

  “Thank you both for this. You can’t possibly know how much this means to me.” Overcome by her emotions as well as physically exhausted from the trip, Sarah wiped frantically at the escaping tears. Daniel sat in the chair beside the couch and rested the infant on his knee.

  “Sarah, we want you to feel safe here. This place is as well protected as Fort Knox, and either Leah or I will be here with you at all times. You and your girls are safe,” Daniel told her. “We want you to relax and concentrate on getting better.”

  “That’s right, and speaking of your girls, let’s get a good look at these little beauties,” Leah said.

  Red and Melanie placed the car seats on the floor in front of her. As soon as the twin gazes focused on their mother, their chubby legs kicked as they emitted similar squeals of delight.

  “Oh, how adorable,” Leah exclaimed. “They are identical, aren’t they?” She looked over at Sarah. “Any identifiable markings?”

  “Sammi has a birthmark on her right leg,” she told her.

  “Good, now I know who I’m talking to, don’t I, Sammi?” Leah said, finding the mark on her leg. She picked up Danni and placed her on her hip.

  “Someone hand me Sammi so I can see what this poor woman has been going through,” she said.

  Red picked up the other infant from her seat and held her in midair. “Hello beautiful.” The child rewarded him with an earsplitting grin as she cooed endearingly. “Aw, I bet you say that to all the guys,” he murmured, before handing her to his mother in law.

  Leah took a spin around the room carrying a baby on each hip then turned toward Sarah. “I am so going to enjoy having the three of you here,” she gushed.

  Suddenly overwhelmed with all the kindness, Sarah got teary-eyed again. “I don’t know how to thank you all.”

  Leah gave her a reassuring smile. “You must be exhausted, hon. How about if we show you the guest room and nursery now?”

  Tiffany helped her up from the couch and gave her a tour of the large nursery and her luxurious suite just next door. After Leah caught her in a yawn, Sarah agreed to lay down for a nap while they took the babies back to the living room.

  The plush bed enveloped her like a warm hug, making her feel safe and secure. Even then, it took some time for the pain meds to kick in, numbing her mind as well as her body enough to succumb to a deep, restful sleep.

  CHAPTER 15

  Sarah stirred the pot of spaghetti sauce, stopping to inhale the aromatic ribbons of steam drifting up from the pot. Herbs simmered with onions, bell pepper, and fresh Portobello mushrooms, while chunky tomato sauce merged with lean ground beef to a create a delectable array of taste bud tempting bliss.

  She turned off the burner and covered the pot before heading out to the huge back deck overlooking the picturesque horse pastures. After two weeks of being here, the beauty of this place still overwhelmed her. Taking the steps slowly, she reached ground level and made her way to where Leah and Daniel stood by the fence, each holding a baby in their arms.

  “The spaghetti’s done if anyone’s ready to eat,” she said, reaching out to brush her daughter’s stray lock into place.

  Daniel faced her. “Good, because that trip to Houston about did me in; I didn’t even have time to stop for lunch.” He held Danni up in front of him and kissed her cheek. “And I missed these munchkins like the dicke
ns,” he said.

  Leah grinned at her husband. “I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d be replaced by someone younger and prettier.”

  Daniel rewarded her with a kiss. “You’re irreplaceable, babe. I know where my bread’s buttered, don’t you worry about that.”

  Sarah watched the older couple enviously. In the two weeks she and her girls had been there, Leah and Daniel had only had one disagreement. It had been a minor one, with no name calling or attempts at humiliation, no bullying by Daniel, who towered over his wife, and no slaps or punches involved. Seeing them together had given her hope that maybe relationships could be good, after all.

  She still feared that Troy would return and try to get to her and the girls, but Daniel hadn’t exaggerated when he’d said this ranch was as safe as Fort Knox. When she lay her head down at night, with the LeBlanc’s just down the hall from her and her children, it was with a peace of mind she hadn’t felt in years. Not only that, but both sides of their families seemed to be involved in making her feel safe and secure. She’d never in her life been treated with such kindness from virtual strangers.

  At the sound of a vehicle crunching along the gravel drive, the group walked to the front of the huge ranch house. Tiffany and Red drove up in his truck, followed by two people in a Lexus SUV.

  Recognizing the tall brunette from the hospital, Sarah broke into a wide grin. “That’s Angelique, the lady who’s responsible for hiring me to work for Dr. Maze.” Her face suddenly turned serious. “I hope she’s not here to take back the job offer.”

  Leah draped an arm over her shoulder affectionately. “You can borrow trouble like nobody I’ve ever seen, Sarah. What did I tell you about losing the pessimism?”

  “You’re right,” she agreed. “I’m sure she’s just here to let me know when I can start.”

  “That’s more like it,” Daniel said, sounding pleased. He walked over to his daughter and gave her a hug. “Hello, baby girl.”

  Tiffany beamed up at him. “Hey Daddy, how’s everything going over here?”

  “Wonderful! Where’s my gorgeous granddaughter?” he asked, bending low to look into the back seat of the truck. Briana kicked her feet and squealed loudly at the sight of her grandfather. “There’s Paw Paw’s big girl!” he said, handing off Danni to Tiffany, who immediately began loving up on the baby, causing the twin to erupt in giggles.