by Lietha Wards
***
Angel was back at work by one in the afternoon. The other secretary practically leaped out of her chair and made her twirl like a fashion model.
“Honey, you look like a million bucks!” Margo smiled appreciatively. “I’m making an appointment with Matthew after seeing you. Maybe he could make me look ten years younger!” Her eyes went to Angel’s hair. “I never knew your hair was so long. You always have it up.”
“Oh, I forgot. I’d better pin it up,” she said, reaching up behind her.
“Don’t you dare!” Margo jumped forward and grabbed her hands. “Leave it the way it is. You look fantastic. In fact, we should put you out in front of the building, you’d bring in clients.”
Angel laughed. “You’d pimp me out?”
“In a heartbeat.” The older woman smiled and cocked an eyebrow.
“Letch.” She grinned while turning and going back to her desk. “Besides, these two don’t need any more clients, or they’ll have us here seven days a week,” she said, pointing a finger back and forth between the two office doors.
Just then, Red came out of his office, and he stopped cold, staring at Angel with an expression of shock. “Wow.”
She glanced up at him as she took a seat behind her desk. “Stop it.”
“No, really—wow.” He strode over to her and held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Red, and you are?”
“Quit it.” She blushed.
“What happened to that other girl—What was her name again?” he said, sitting on the corner of her desk and looking down at her.
“Leave her be, Mr. Soames, you’re embarrassing her,” came Margo’s stern voice from behind him. Margo was old enough to be his mother, and she’d spoken to him like that for the last five years. She was the only one who could get away with it.
He sighed heavily. “All right, but not after I ask you who you’re doing this for. Who’s the man?”
“No one,” Angel responded quickly.
“Liar. You forget, I am a lawyer. Who is he?”
“I swear,” she said, lifting her chin slightly. “I’m doing this because I need a change.”
“A change? This is catastrophic.” He gestured towards her.
“If you two don’t leave me alone, I’m changing back into my old drab, boring self,” she said, giving them a mock glare.
Red held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll give in,” he said with a smile as he stood up. “However, if you’re not doing this for anyone, I want to take you out to lunch next week.”
She blinked twice and looked at him. “I work for you.”
He shook his handsome blonde head. “Technically, you work for Jason. He signs your paychecks, not me.”
“I—I—”
“Good,” he said, cutting her off. “Monday then.” With that, he turned on his heel and went back into his office before she could protest.
Margo shot her a sly look.
Angel glared at her accusingly. “You started this.”
“Not me,” she stated with an expression of feigned innocence, glancing at the closed door of Red’s office. “You walking in here and looking like a movie star did it. He’s a catch, you know.”
“Not to me,” she stated truthfully. Red was single and very nice looking, but she didn’t think of him that way. Margo, being the mothering type she was, would spare no efforts at setting him up on a date.
Margo gave her a look that told her she didn’t believe her.
Angel took a deep breath. “Alex Harrison is taking me to the Lavender Banquet.”
The secretary’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I don’t believe it!”
She shrugged.
“Alex asked you?”
“We’re friends,” she said.
“Yeah, sure.” Margo grinned. “Alex doesn’t have friends who are girls, so don’t even go there.”
“I’ve known him forever,” she defended. “He feels safe with me.”
“Did he actually say that?”
“No, but—”
“Oh please, Angel. Whoever told you that hasn’t got a clue about what attracts a man to a woman. Alex has watched you grow up. I’m sure there are other reasons why he asked you out.” Her eyes lit on Angel’s hair. “I can only see a few, but I’m sure he’s imagining all kinds.”
“Margo!”
“Sorry, honey, I forget how young you are.” She laughed and waved a dismissive hand. “Now listen to me, because I’ve been around the block a few times.” Her expression became serious. “If that cowboy stud asked you out, you be careful. He’s used to a certain kind of woman, a woman who knows her way around a man’s body.” She picked up a pencil and waved it in her direction. “I know you don’t, so you be careful when he’s alone with you. A man with his kind of experience could get you in bed before you even know what’s going on.”
“I don’t think it’s like that,” she said, unable to stop the blush that hit her cheeks like a tidal wave. No one had talked to her about sex before, not even her mother, but she wasn’t completely naïve. She’d read a few books on the subject, but just the way Margo talked about it made it seem so much more—interesting. The thought of Alex touching her made her tingle again.
“Why’d you get your hair done?”
“He asked—told—me to,” she answered.
Margo grinned slyly, then returned her attention to her computer. “You have fun tomorrow night, honey.”
Now what did that mean?
***
As promised, Matthew showed up at five on Saturday to arrange her hair. After he was done, he grabbed her hand mirror and showed her the intricate design at the back of her head. He’d piled most of her hair on top of her head, weaving the strands intricately among one another and leaving a few wispy pieces to dangle and tickle her neck. There was no doubt he was an artist. When he was done, he wished her good luck, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and left shortly thereafter.
Somehow, Priscilla had convinced Red to take her to the banquet, and much to Angel’s delight, her sister helped her with her gown. Angel didn’t know much about fashion, but her sister did. She even loaned her a white faux fur stole that seemed to be a perfect match for her gown.
“I’d never have recognized you if you walked down the street.” Priscilla gave her an exaggerated purr, causing Angel to laugh. “My goodness, no wonder Alex asked you out.” She flicked a look at Angel’s chest. “I’d never have guessed that you even had breasts by the way you dress.”
“Enough already.” Angel blushed.
Just then, Priscilla’s cell phone rang; it was Red. “I’ve got to go. I promised I’d meet him in town, he’s still at work. Good luck, Angel.” She gave her baby sister a quick affectionate kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”
The endearments caught Angel by surprise—her sister usually focused more on herself. Although she had made a few comments about how good she looked in her own crimson form-fitting satin number, she still took time to make her feel good about herself. It was too bad that Alex couldn’t see that side of her; if he could, then maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to criticize her. One thing Pricilla never did was criticize her or her abilities—if anything, she encouraged her.
Shortly after Priscilla left, their mother’s voice floated up the stairs. “Angel, Alex is here!”
“Thanks, Mom!” she hollered back.
Her sister told her not to rush down to meet him, to take her time and make him wait so it would make her appearance seem even more surprising, but she couldn’t help herself. She grabbed the stole and hurried out the door in a billow of royal blue. Her heart was already hammering in her chest, and when she caught sight of Alex, she swore she stopped breathing.
If she thought he would be surprised, she was even more so. Seeing that handsome cowboy in a tuxedo nearly made her trip down the steps. His attention wasn’t even on her—it was on her father, and they looked to be deep in discussion. About cattle, no less. Ever since her fat
her had retired from the military, he’d been obsessed with ranching. It didn’t help that he was raised on a cattle ranch. He and Alex were always sharing discussions on the best feed, breeds, and bulls.
Feeling a little disappointed, she started down the stairs. Then Alex looked up at her, and she felt her insides melt as he smiled. It was a genuine, appreciative smile, and his eyes roved sensuously over her body, making her breath freeze in her throat. She couldn’t help but smile back as she slowly descended the stairs.
George excused himself, but neither of them heard him. Alex approached the bottom of the stairs and held out his hand.
“Hi,” she said, shyly taking his hand.
“Wow,” he murmured, and his eyes glittered as he soaked up the sight of her. “Come here, Angel.” He pulled her away from the foot of the stairs and lifted her arm over her head. “Twirl around for me.”
She blushed, but hesitantly did as he asked. He let out a long, slow whistle that she was sure she felt all the way through flesh and bone. When she’d turned to face him again, she gave him a shy look.
“I knew you were pretty, Angel, but you outdid yourself,” he said huskily.
She swung her eyes to his, expecting some sort of look that would tell her he was teasing, but there wasn’t one. There was something she didn’t recognize, though—something that darkened his hazel irises and made the gold flecks stand out more than usual. Did he really mean that?
“Think I’m lying?” he asked, cocking a brow.
“I-I—”
Alex chuckled. “Fair enough. I guess I don’t give you much encouragement.” He took her stole and wrapped it around her shoulders before he turned to open the door. “Come on, I told Red and Seth that I’d only be a few minutes. They’re saving our seats.” He paused, looking her over again. “Although I’d like to miss this whole damn thing and spend the evening alone with you after seeing the way you look.” Angel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “However,” he added, “my brother would most likely take it out of my hide. He’s expecting us. Not only that, I want to show you off.”
She was still reeling from the compliments, and when he said those suggestive things to her, she almost tripped again. He managed to steady her with his arm while releasing another soft chuckle.
He led her out to his Jaguar, and then opened the door to help her in before he climbed in and started the car. “So, do you think I was too harsh about your appearance?” he asked, casting her an amused glance while pulling out of the driveway.
She was still recovering from her shock at the barrage of compliments he’d fed her, and delayed a bit in answering. Actually, he’d done her a world of good. Over the past few days, she’d begun to feel a confidence that she’d never thought possible, not to mention the attention that she’d started getting from the opposite sex. It came in a look, a nod, a smile of appreciation, or a blatant invitation, but she only had eyes for one man: the cowboy sitting next to her in the car. And he was the only man she knew who didn’t want a relationship. “Not now.”
“All this time, you thought I was just being mean, didn’t you?”
“I thought you were just teasing me, but lately, it seems as though your teasing is more cynical,” she stated honestly, looking at the hands she’d folded on her lap.
“It was,” he replied, looking at her posture. “You act as though you’re a timid little waif, but you have the body and looks of a Victoria’s Secret model.”
She brought her head up abruptly to look at him. “W-what did you say?”
“And,” he continued, “the only time you seem to come out of that comfortable, shy little cocoon of yours is when I piss you off.”
Good lord, he was right. Well, except for the fashion model statement. She was sure he was just being kind after all the trouble she’d gone through for him.
Alex purposely changed the subject to small talk. He knew she could only take so much embarrassment, and he wanted to ease her into this whole thing slowly. She practically glowed tonight, and her dress made her look so beautiful and desirable that it was all he could do not to turn the car towards his place as he pulled out of the long driveway at her house. It was a good thing that it was dark in the car, because he’d developed an erection just thinking about peeling the expensive material from her body. She had a perfect hourglass figure. A man could feel his mouth water just by looking at her.
He pulled into the already-packed parking lot in front of the hotel and helped her out of the car, looping her arm in his. “Hold your chin up, honey, you’re a piece of art yourself tonight,” he said as he tossed his keys to the valet.
Her eyes shot to him, but he didn’t spare her a glance. His expression didn’t give her any hint that he meant what he said. However, she was still reeling from his statement. Did he really mean what he said, or was he just buttering her up? She knew he understood women—probably better than she did herself, even though she was one. Nevertheless, after all his criticism over the past few days, she couldn’t deny that he was making her feel like a princess tonight. The man carried himself with such masculine elegance that many female heads turned in their direction as they walked into the building. It was obvious that he was at home in this crowd. Most of Reidsville’s elite were there, and probably most of the wealthy people who resided in Rockingham County.
The place was packed, and Alex spotted Seth waving at them from their table through the crowd. He lifted his arm and waved back to let his brother know that he’d seen them. “Ah hell,” he grumbled when he saw Priscilla sitting at their table with Red.
“Ignore them, Alex,” she said, glancing at her sister. He’d made no secret of the fact that he didn’t approve of Priscilla’s pursuit of his brother, and he’d probably tell her that himself tonight. She wanted to prevent that. Priscilla might act like a spoiled rich girl, but she was sensitive, and Angel couldn’t bear the thought of her being hurt.
“She pants after my brother without any thought to what it looks like,” he seethed.
“So? She likes him.”
“Lusts after him.”
Like I pant after you, she thought. She stopped walking, causing him to turn and look down at her. “Please be nice. She’s my sister,” she managed to say despite how nervous she was about being there—and about being with him.
“I’m always nice, honey,” he gritted out in a tone that meant exactly the opposite.
It was obvious that he wouldn’t be. “Please,” she asked again.
His eyes sought out hers. Didn’t she realize a look like that could bring a man to his knees? He groaned in surrender and released a frustrated breath. “Because you’ve gotten yourself all dolled up, I’ll try and behave myself.” Something he’d never done for a woman.
He didn’t care what people thought about him and made no secret about it. However, when Angel looked at him with those innocent big blue eyes of hers and tilted that flawless, beautiful face up at him, he was lost. He thought of bending his head and kissing that full, pouting mouth of hers, but reminded himself that he was in a room full of people. A quick glance around the hall showed that many of them were watching. It wasn’t often that Alex took a woman out in this town, and he was certain that not many people would recognize the stunning creature on his arm.
A surge of possessiveness followed that thought. Although he’d known that he wanted her since that day when he’d seen her half naked in his pool, he’d had to wait until she grew up. Even though she was only twenty, and maybe still too young for him, he couldn’t wait any longer. He’d filled the last four years with fruitless, meaningless physical relationships as he waited for her, and like hell would he let another man swoop in and snatch her away after seeing how she looked tonight.
She beamed. “Thank you.” Although he stared down at her with a disgruntled expression, something like amusement flashed in his gold-flecked eyes.
“Let’s go sit,” he said, directing her towards the table through the throng of people.
The
men at the table stood as he seated Angel, then they sat down as he took the seat next to her. Adriana told her she was stunning, and the others said something along the same line as they sat down. She was too embarrassed to say much back except to murmur “Thank you.” Alex put his arm across the back of her chair. Even when his brother engaged him in conversation, and he leaned towards him to hear over the noise of the crowd, he didn’t remove his arm.
Every now and then, she could feel his arm brush the back of her neck. It sent shivers through her. She’d never felt so coveted. Only when Red, who sat to her left, started talking to her did she realize from the coolness at her nape that Alex had removed his arm. However, Alex’s action was soon forgotten as she watched the auction start.
Priscilla was making sure she drew nearly all of the attention throughout the evening. It really wasn’t that hard—she was beautiful and people usually looked at her, especially men. Unfortunately, she couldn’t catch Seth’s attention. He was mostly engaged in conversation with his brother. She shouldn’t be put out by it because Seth and Alex hadn’t seen each other in a while, because Seth had been away for a long time. They had a lot of catching up to do, and they were as close as brothers could get even though they were nearly complete opposites.
When they went to the ladies’ room together, Priscilla told Angel that Seth was just playing hard to get. Angel rolled her eyes, but didn’t say anything. When they got back to the table, Angel asked him where his girlfriend was, and he explained that she couldn’t get the evening off for the event. She was a marketing director in the city.
As the evening progressed, Angel decided she’d never had so much fun in her life. She felt like a queen. It turned out that Alex and Seth had sponsored the auction this year, and the spotlight fell on their table as the two men stood and acknowledge the clapping and cheers of appreciation. She never realized that he had an eye for art, and she told him so. Unfortunately, he didn’t answer her, but instead pinned her with an angry look.
