Third Love (Heaven Sent Book 3)

by Mary Abshire

  “Andrew, I’m sorry, but you know we can’t,” she said, hoping to appease him if only a miniscule amount.

  He stopped at the first chair and braced his hands on the back of it. “Answer this for me…” He turned his head over his shoulder. “Do you want to?”

  The answer was an easy one, but telling him wouldn’t help. They’d likely argue and he’d try to persuade her to have sex with him. Clearly, they were both high from the kiss. The best way she could think of to cool down was to get away from him.

  “I’m going to unpack and take a shower. If you would, please put the food in the fridge. The dishes can stay in the sink,” she said.

  With a heavy heart she strode down the hall toward the bedroom. Every fiber within her body wanted to be in his arms and tangled with his body. But the price for sex was too much. Sometimes life really sucked.

  Chapter Nine

  The breeze cooled Andrew’s heated skin as he jogged on the sidewalk. The temperature at the early morning hour helped keep him from sweating much. The birds chirped loudly since he’d started right before sunrise. The sky had a variety of pink, peach, and blue colors. He’d considered taking a picture for Emily, but he had a good pace and didn’t want to stop. Compared to New York, he preferred the quiet and scenic life in Missouri.

  Andrew had jogged for nearly forty-five minutes before he decided to turn back. Running hadn’t encouraged him to sleep yet. After he’d tossed and turned on the inflatable mattress for hours, he’d decided he needed to burn off his energy, and the best way was to hit a gym or run. Since he didn’t have a membership at a fitness facility, he opted to get his legs moving. He’d hoped jogging would help distract his thoughts from Emily, but it hadn’t. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  The powerful kiss remained strong in his mind. He’d wanted her more than air to breathe. She’d given him her lips and tongue. She’d let him tease and suck on it. He’d held her close and she’d given him a taste of her passion. He hadn’t had such a heated kiss in a long time, definitely not while he’d been in heaven for twenty-seven years. God, he’d been so hard for her. He would’ve loved to have ripped off her clothes and made love to her. Every time the memory of her tongue in his mouth surfaced, his cock stiffened. And while she hadn’t answered his question about wanting to take the next step, he was confident he knew the answer.

  The more he replayed the event in his mind, the more he suspected the kisses in heaven weren’t the same. Sure, they’d been good and satisfying. But none compared to Emily’s kiss. Heaven had a bad habit of toning down everything from food to emotions. It wouldn’t surprise Andrew to learn they’d lessened the feelings involved with love and sex. Although he’d greatly enjoyed taking pleasure from the women he’d had intimate relations with, he suspected what he’d felt had been a watered-down version of reality. And if such were the case, sex with Emily would be mind-blowing.

  If only she’d let him show her how much he could please her.

  He inhaled a deep breath and tried to ignore the frustration resurfacing. She hadn’t spoken a word to him after their kiss. She had great control and he respected her for it. But she’d wanted to go to the next level. He’d felt it in the way she’d kissed and held onto him. She was of a rare breed to be able to walk away. Based on her words before she’d left, he suspected she didn’t want their desires to get out of hand because she didn’t want to be the reason for him having to stay an extra year on Earth. Her logic made sense, especially since she carried guilt from leaving her best friend’s dead body in a ditch. Emily had a good heart and conscious. She also had a passionate fire she’d buried deep inside her. If only he could convince her to set it free.

  He’d thought so much about the matter that he’d looked for alternative ways to set her passion free. He considered all the things he wanted to do to her. Then it hit him and he felt like an idiot for not mentioning it sooner. They could indulge in foreplay. There were plenty of hot and fun things they could do. The council hadn’t said he couldn’t have oral sex or foreplay with a woman. Although the things he longed to do would test his limits, and probably hers too, he was willing to give it a try. He would give anything to make love to her and please her, even if he had to stay an extra year on Earth.

  Andrew paused at an intersection. Hands on his hips, he ambled around on the sidewalk. The cool climate soothed his flesh while fresh air filled his lungs. He’d worn a long-sleeved white top to hide the ink on his arm and shorts. If he had worn a regular t-shirt, he probably wouldn’t have any perspiration on him.

  The brakes of the approaching school bus squealed as it came to a stop at the light. Traffic had increased along with the amount of busses on the roads. He’d seen a couple of dog walkers and bicyclists. The streets had marked areas on the streets for bike riders. Andrew considered buying a bike, but then he’d have to find a rack to attach to the Jeep so he could take it with him when they left.

  The signal changed and Andrew continued across the wide street. The school bus eventually passed him as it sped down the road, leaving a trail of diesel fumes in the air. Andrew’s thoughts returned to the young girl the demon had slapped. It had stunned him to see the demon hurt the child. Anger had surged through his veins. The scene seemed to have had a powerful impact on Emily as well. He sensed her concern about his ability to kill the woman. She had no reason to be worried. He was more than ready to kill her and destroy the demon.

  Breathing steadily, he rounded the corner of the neighborhood. After he checked behind him to make sure there weren’t any cars heading his way, he crossed the street. Early morning moisture clung to the grass and the small spider webs in the yards. Andrew slowed his pace as he reached the driveway. He surveyed the lawn and noticed it could use a trim. Since they had a riding lawn mower in the mini barn and he had plenty of time on his hands, he planned on working on the yard later.

  He strode inside the house and instantly smelled bacon. Rock music with a lot of bass and female vocals trickled down the hall. The song was unfamiliar to him and it had a good beat. He strode toward the kitchen and heard Emily singing to the tune. Rounding the corner, he found her dressed in a purple tank top, dancing and holding a fork in her hand while she stood in front of the stove. Her ponytail swung behind her head. Smiling at the woman his heart longed for and his body he craved to explore, he headed for the fridge.

  He opened the door and her gaze shot to him.

  “Hey,” she said.

  He snatched a water bottle from the refrigerator “Hey yourself.” He finished appraising her as he twisted the cap. She wore black shorts and no socks on her feet. The tank top revealed the beautiful curves of her breasts even though she was wearing a bra. A shame she wore one. He’d love to see her perky nipples poking from underneath her shirt. His cock twitched as he imagined the view of her.

  She dipped the fork into the pot on the stove. Grease sizzled and popped. A plate of dark and crispy bacon lay on a bed of napkins near the stove. She moved to the center island where her phone lay. After tapping the screen, the music stopped.

  “Sorry about that,” she said, then returned her attention to the stove.

  He took several gulps of the cold water as he watched her cook. She used a spatula to stir the eggs in another pan.

  “I’m glad you’re back since this is almost done. I wasn’t sure how long you were going to be gone, so I took a chance and started fixing breakfast,” she said as she darted to the toaster. She pushed on the lever and the two slices disappeared.

  “I went for jog.” He set his bottle on the countertop.

  She glanced at him, more at his chest. “I see. Was it a good one?”

  “Yeah, the temperature feels great.” He walked behind her. Remembering where she’d found the dishes, he opened the right cabinet and grabbed two plates.

  “It must not be too hot since you still have your shirt on,” she said.

  “There’s a nice breeze and it’s early enough t
he sun wasn’t beating down on me.” He set them on the counter on the right side of the stove. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Uh … not really, but I did get a few hours of rest.”

  He wondered if the kiss had continued to surface in her mind and had kept her awake.

  “What about you?” she asked. “I thought I heard you watching TV for a while.”

  “I was, then I got bored and tried to lay down again. I might have dozed off an hour. Maybe. When I heard the birds outside I decided to get up and go for a jog.”

  She lifted bacon from the pot and set it with the other strips. The toaster snapped and the bread sprang up, catching his attention.

  “Those are yours,” she said as she transported more bacon to the mother dish.

  Andrew took the slices from the toaster and set them on a plate. The loaf of bread lay open on the counter nearby. He took two more pieces from the bag and put them in the toaster.

  “Eggs?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  She lifted the pan and brought it over his plate. Carefully, she poured the scrambled eggs on his dish, then onto hers. “Will you take the bacon to the table?”

  “Sure.”

  He stepped behind her to get to the bacon. Everything smelled and looked so good. He had such a sweet wife to fix breakfast for him. Dish in hand, he headed for the dining table. Emily’s laptop sat open at the closest end. He suspected she’d been working on it earlier. Passing by it, he stopped at the spots where they’d sat the previous night and set the bacon on the table.

  From the demon’s patio window, Andrew could see the family sitting at the table, eating their breakfast. They sat in the same places as they had before too. The girl kept her head low as she ate from a bowl.

  “I noticed the woman is in a robe,” Emily said as she set his plate on the table. “Her husband and the girl are dressed.” She left and returned to the kitchen.

  “So she’s not going to work anytime soon,” Andrew said, following her.

  “I’d guess not. Butter or jelly?”

  “Jelly.”

  She paused at the fridge and opened the door. He reclaimed his bottle from the counter. The bread slices jumped up from the toaster. While Emily gathered items from the refrigerator, he plucked the toast and put it on her plate. Seeing her hands full, he carried her dish to the dining table.

  “I’ll get utensils,” she said as she set the jelly, butter, and bottled water down. “Sit and eat.” She left before he could stop her.

  Andrew noted she seemed in good spirits. The dark circles under her eyes hadn’t improved from the previous day. His wife needed rest.

  She returned with a handful of silverware. Andrew sat in the chair and scooted it closer to the table. Before she took her seat, she handed him a knife, fork, and spoon.

  “Your phone rang earlier before I’d even started cooking,” she said.

  “Did you check it?” he asked excitedly. Only three people had his number—Emily, Troy, and the hospital. He doubted Troy would call him.

  “No, I didn’t.” She lifted a piece of toast and put a spoonful of eggs on top of it.

  He pushed his chair back and then stepped away from the table. Curiosity surged within him. Given the hour, he didn’t think the hospital would call him, but nobody else had his number. He strode into his bedroom and found his cell still plugged into the cord near the bathroom wall. As quick as he could, he disconnected it. He tapped the screen on his way out of the room. The caller had left a message. On his way back to the dining room he listened to the voicemail.

  “Is it the hospital?” Emily asked, holding the half-eaten toast in her hand.

  He nodded as he reached his chair. His pulse accelerated as excitement coursed through him. After the message ended, he set the phone down. “A woman named June from the hospital called. She said my references checked out and they wanted me to start in the evening. She said to call back at my earliest convenience and ask to speak to her.” He returned to his seat.

  “That’s great news,” Emily said with a bright smile. “Your plan is coming together.”

  Andrew’s level of happiness climbed a couple of notches. Now that he’d secured the job, he could get closer to the demon and find a way to kill her. “I’m hoping it doesn’t take a month, but I’m sure I’ll need to go through training and orientation before I can settle into the job.”

  “You were a nurse before. I’m sure it will all come back to you.” She took a bite of her toast.

  “I’ll call her back after we eat. If I start tonight, I’d like to mow the yard today. I noticed it’s growing and I’d rather take care of it now while I can.” He scooped up some eggs and ate them.

  “You know, I can mow the lawn. Kimberly said there’s a riding mower in the barn. I can probably figure it out.”

  He gathered more eggs on his spoon. “I’m sure you can, but it’s more of a man’s job to take care of the yard.”

  She finished chewing and then swallowed. “Really? This is the twenty-first century. Woman take care of yards. We don’t rely on men to do everything.”

  Emily was the most independent woman he knew. If he were going to talk her out of yard work, he’d have to find a different approach.

  “I realize this, but I’ve always wanted to ride a lawn mower. I never got to own a house before or be married. I might not get another chance. Can’t I mow the lawn this time and then you can handle it next?”

  She rolled her eyes while she chewed on bacon. “Fine.”

  He smiled at her as he bit into a crispy strip. Everything was turning out the way he wanted. They had the house next to the demon. He had acquired the job working with the demon. And he had a beautiful wife he wanted to spend every minute loving. Although he still had a big challenge trying to get her to move beyond a kiss, he made it a top goal and he wouldn’t stop until he reached it.

  Chapter Ten

  Emily stood outside the mini barn with her hands on her hips and the keys in the pocket of her jean shorts. The sun warmed her bare arms and legs. She should’ve changed from her purple tank top into a lighter color to stay cooler, but she hadn’t and regretted it now. Her dark hair soaked in the rays too. Although the hour was still early, she suspected the temperature would continue to rise.

  Andrew moved inside the dark barn, carrying the ladder to a different spot. He’d found the flooring needed to lie in front of the barn so he could drive the lawnmower out, but obstacles were blocking it. He’d spent the last few minutes shifting bags of mulch and other gardening equipment so he could to the floorboard. She enjoyed watching him flex his muscles.

  “Are you sure you don’t want any help?” she asked again.

  He’d pushed his sleeves up. Although he stood in shade, she suspected he was still a bit warm. If he didn’t have to be seen in public, she would’ve encouraged him to remove his shirt. The man had a body she found more and more difficult to resist, especially after the kiss they’d shared.

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it.” He scrubbed his arm over his forehead.

  The hum of a car engine stole her attention. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes and turned in the direction of the noise. The squeal of a garage door led her to believe someone was backing out of their driveway. Since she could only see the backs of houses, she had difficulty determining which neighbor was leaving, but the sounds were coming from close by. She stared at the gap between the demon’s house and the next. Finally, a blue Toyota backed onto the street. A man sat in the driver’s seat. The girl was sitting on the passenger side.

  Andrew stepped out of the barn with the floorboard in his hands. She backed out of the way as he let it fall forward. It hit the ground and small gust of air brushed her legs. He stepped to the side and tugged the flooring closer to the house.

  Emily walked closer to him. “I saw him leave with the girl.”

  He wiped his hands off. “If there wasn’t a little boy in the house, I’d go over now.”

  “Yeah,
but you’d leave prints and can’t exactly stab or shoot her. I’m guessing she’d scream if she saw you coming. Someone would likely hear her.”

  “You’re such a party pooper.”

  “Me?” she chuckled. “Honey, I was hitting parties five nights a week sometimes. I am far from being a party pooper.”

  “Five nights a week?” he asked with brows curved up. “Were you sewing your oats?”

  She made a spit sound and gave a casual wave of her hand. “Hell no, I’m not that kind of girl, but I do know how to have fun.”

  Emily had never been the type to sleep with a lot of men, but she didn’t mind fooling around with them. Because her mom was a nurse, she always got an earful about diseases and germs. Emily enjoyed kissing and touching men, but she refused to sleep with them unless she knew them well enough. Of course, she’d let them touch her back. If they wanted more action, they had to develop a relationship with her. She hadn’t been surprised to learn most men wanted sex. Needless to say, she hadn’t had many boyfriends while she grew up. Troy hadn’t been much help with her keeping companions either. He had a way of scaring them off.

  “So you’re a party girl who knows how to have fun, eh?” he asked with a wide grin. “Maybe you can show me sometime. And if you want to sing that I’m Just a Girl song again, I won’t stop you.”

  She chuckled and rolled her eyes. The angel loved flirting with her. She stepped closer to him. “I bet you’d love that.”

  “You know I would,” he said with the lusty gaze and all too luring deep voice.

  Given the surge of her horniness, she was half tempted to give him what he wanted. Then she reminded herself of the consequences and calmed her carnal urges. She put her hand on his chest like she did so many times before. “Perhaps another time. The yard is calling your name.”