The Cowboy and the Angel

by Lietha Wards

  “Well, he was mad. I’ve heard him swear before, but I’ve never heard some of the things he was calling you.” Her eyes widened in remembrance.

  “Oh God, I’m so stupid!” She covered her face with her hands.

  Priscilla stared down at her little sister, feeling bad for her. She’d never seen Angel lose her composure before—not ever. She sat beside her on the bed and put an arm around her shoulders. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, her voice muffled by her hands.

  “You got it really bad for him, don’t you? Like I do for Seth.”

  Angel raised her eyes to her sister’s face, because she remembered what Alex had said about her. She wasn’t sure if Priscilla could understand the depth to which she cared for Alex. However, if she had Priscilla’s confidence, would she act even crazier around Alex? “I do.”

  “Well, then.” Priscilla gave her a reassuring smile. “I think we have some fixing to do.”

  “Fixing? He’ll throw something at me the next time I see him, I’m sure of it,” she said, wide-eyed. “You should have seen the rage on his face.”

  “Big deal. Alex would never strike a woman, no matter how angry she got him. He’s got too many morals. It’s not much different from Daddy, who rants and raves and threatens, but he’d never hurt either one of us. Now, my dear sister, the only reason he gets all worked up is probably because he’s got it bad for you too.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “First things first,” she decided, ignoring Angel’s denial. She leaned away from her and looked over her clothing. “From now on, we go shopping together, and I’m giving you full access to my closets as of today.”

  Angel barely heard her. She still felt terrible. She’d humiliated Alex in front of his cousin, Red, and probably half the town that day. He’d never forgive her for that. Never in her life had she been so angry or possessive over anything or anybody. Her behavior surprised her.

  Priscilla saw her depressed expression. “Come on, cheer up. If he likes you as much as I think he does, he’ll forgive you.” She stood up and pulled Angel up with her. “Let’s get you dressed up, then we’ll go see him. I’m sure he’ll have forgiven you by now, especially after he sees what I’m going to create.”

  Angel was apprehensive about her sister’s plans. She knew how Alex felt about the way Priscilla dressed and acted around his brother, but she was too much of a coward to tell her, not wanting to hurt her feelings. However, Priscilla was very conservative and dressed her in a light blue v-neck t-shirt and designer jeans. She rolled the hems up because of their height difference, but surprisingly enough, the clothes fit other than that.

  “I was sure I was bigger than you,” Angel said in disbelief, looking at her image in her sister’s full-length mirror.

  “On the contrary, sis, I’m only taller. You look absolutely irresistible.” She stood back and admired her work. “This is the type of gal that Alex likes. Down to earth and—” She smiled. “—intelligent.”

  “You are observant,” she admitted, casting Priscilla a sheepish look.

  “I know men.”

  If she only knew how much Alex disapproved of her chasing his brother, Angel reflected, she would take that statement back.

  “Now let’s go find him,” Priscilla said, dragging her out of the room.

  “Gosh, he’s still going to be mad,” she said apprehensively.

  Her sister waved a dismissive hand. “No, he won’t. Trust me.”

  Angel chewed absently on her fingernails while Prissy drove her over to the Harrisons’ house. Her sister told her that she’d promised Bea she would help her recover the cushions on the dining room chairs, and there was no reason why she shouldn’t bring Angel along. However, Angel didn’t feel as confident as her sister about her presence there. Although Bea always welcomed them and their company, it seemed deceitful. Priscilla was closer to Bea than she had been, though, and it wasn’t because of Seth. Angel knew Pris felt more welcome there than she did at her own house because Bea never judged her or compared her to her sister.

  ***

  An hour later, Angel was helping her sister and Bea cut material for the new seat covers. She found herself enjoying the task, until Alex walked in the sewing room. He was a sharp contrast to the surroundings, much like a panther in a flower shop.

  “What is it, Alex?” Bea asked, raising her head from her sewing machine.

  He said nothing, but his hard gaze settled on Angel. Angel felt her breath catch in her throat. He still looked angry, regardless of how appealing he was in his worn jeans, blue shirt, and tan leather vest.

  “Alex?” Bea repeated, casting a look between the two of them. They seemed fixated on one another.

  “Nothing, Mom,” he finally answered without taking his eyes off Angel. He started to walk towards her.

  At first, she couldn’t move, not sure what to expect and certainly not sure whether he intended to embarrass her in front of his mother and her sister. His expression was unreadable as he approached her, and she took a step back. When he reached her, he took her hand and removed the scissors from it.

  “In case you think of using them on me,” he stated with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

  “I wouldn’t,” she protested, knowing he was referring to the cappuccino episode. She cast a glance at Bea, who just shrugged and went back to her sewing. Then her eyes went back to Alex. Despite her sister’s assurances, and what she knew of him herself, he had surprised her by not being angry. He had every right to be furious with her.

  “Sure, you wouldn’t,” he mused, setting the scissors on the table and taking her hand in his. “I’m borrowing Angel,” he said to his mother as he left the room, pulling her along behind him like a parent dragging a toddler around at the mall.

  “Certainly,” Bea said with a subtle smile. “Borrow her all you want.”

  Angel shot a surprised look at her sister and Bea, who both just sat there with amused looks on their faces. Then Alex tugged her out of the room and down the hall to the stairs that led to the main floor. “Alex—?”

  “I thought you’d like to go riding,” he said over his shoulder.

  Oh, yes, she thought. “I’d love to.” But what about what I did to you? she wanted to ask.

  “Good.”

  Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you still mad at me?” she asked sheepishly.

  He turned and looked at her with no trace of anger in his eyes. “You were jealous, weren’t you, honey?”

  She looked up at him and nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  Alex managed a sloppy smile that nearly made her knees give out. “She’s my cousin,” he explained.

  “I’d never met her, I didn’t know,” she responded. “I felt terrible when Prissy told me.”

  “Now you know how I felt about Red,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “I had some time to think about it, and I know you thought I was trying to prove a point to you. You go out with Red, and I go out with another woman. However, it was just my cousin Tracy.”

  “I don’t feel like that about Red, and it was one lunch,” she explained, feeling worse by the minute.

  “And you thought I was getting back at you because of it?” She nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. “Honey, I don’t operate that way. I have no problem telling it like it is. And aside from Seth and my mother, you know me better than anyone.”

  “I should know better.” Her eyes lifted to his. “I’m really sorry.” As for knowing him better than anyone else did, she was sure he was wrong. There was no way she could predict what mood he’d present to her when she saw him again, or what he wanted from her.

  “I don’t need another woman in my life. Apparently, I only have the strength for one.”

  One? Was he talking about her? “Me?” She gave him a look of utter shock.

  Alex looked at her for a moment before he finally nodded. “Yes.” There was no mistaking the humor in his eyes. “It to
ok me twenty minutes to scrub that shit out of my hair. It was sticky as hell. And your apology is accepted.” He smiled.

  She flushed. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  “I wasn’t embarrassed, I was irate. No woman has ever tossed a drink on me.”

  “That too,” she added more quietly.

  “My cousin thinks you’re insane.” He chuckled. It was funny because Angel was the most down-to-earth person he knew.

  She groaned and looked away. “I don’t blame her.”

  He cupped her chin and brought her eyes back to his. “I have to say, after I cooled down, that I was impressed with your temper.”

  “Honestly, I’ve never reacted like that before in my life.”

  “I know.” He smiled again. “I’ve known you your whole life, and not once have I seen you angry.”

  She shook her head. “You just know how to bring out the worst in me.”

  “The best, Angel, not the worst. I like that you have the ability to stand up for yourself.” He slid his hand to her jaw.

  “Do you?” she breathed, unable to ignore the sensation that his touch gave her. He gave her another sexy smile.

  “More than you know. However, the jealousy is not necessary, honey.” His eyes searched hers. “There’ll be no more reasons why you need to feel jealous. Let’s go for a ride and spend some time together. I’ve been dying to get you alone for years.”

  “Really?”

  “More than you know,” he added.

  “W-what did you mean about only having strength for one of me?”

  “I’ll explain that to you when we go for our ride,” he replied with a smile and a nod. “Okay?”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Unable to help himself, he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers.

  Unnoticed by either of them, Priscilla and Bea peeked around the corner, watching them kiss. “Well, it’s about time,” said Bea, turning to give Priscilla a smug smile.

  “I’d say,” she answered.

  ***

  It didn’t take long for Alex to saddle a sound little gray mare and his stallion, and soon they were through the fence and on their way across one of the sprawling pastures. They came to another fence, and Alex dismounted and opened it, letting her through before he followed and then fastened the gate behind them.

  Soon they were sharing stories and laughing together. In all of the years Angel had known him, she couldn’t remember him being so relaxed, and she told him so.

  He slanted her a sensual look. “Maybe it’s the company.”

  She reined up her horse. “Okay, Alex, I can’t take this anymore. What is it you want from me? I feel like this is some sort of riddle I can’t solve,” she said bluntly. Her sister probably would have understood it, but the uncertainty was driving her insane.

  “I was sure I was as plain as the sky is blue,” he said, raising his brows.

  “I-I—”

  Alex chuckled. “I guess I should know better, it’s not as if you have a whole lot of experience with this.” He shifted and dismounted.

  “Alex, what are you doing?”

  He walked around and flipped his stallion’s reins over a branch, then he turned back to her and held up his arms. “Come here.”

  She tilted her head in confusion.

  “Angel, I’m going crazy from not touching you. If you don’t come down from there, I’m going to haul you down,” he said with concrete determination.

  Angel didn’t hesitate after that statement. She couldn’t resist him—she never could. She loved him. Their mouths met before he’d even pulled her off the horse.

  ***

  The next day, Alex was sitting at the desk in his study, fingering the velvet box that he’d picked up at the jeweler’s well over a month before. He was supposed to be balancing the accounts, but he was distracted. Not a day went by that he didn’t take it out of the desk drawer and look at it at least once—sometimes twice. He was sure she would like it, and equally sure she would say ‘yes’.

  The ride he and Angel went on the day before was prickling his conscience. It hadn’t taken much for him to entice her to remove her clothing and let him make love to her. He knew she was crazy about him. He’d always known it. Unfortunately, it had been months since he’d had a woman, and he’d carried it too far. He hadn’t meant to—he’d just wanted a taste of her, but then things got too hot and heavy. Hell, though, every inch of her was delicious and hot for him.

  He eased back in his chair and lifted his hands behind his head while remembering their afternoon. It wasn’t enough—he already knew that. It probably never would be. He wanted more of her. She hadn’t protested, and there was only slight hesitation when he took her. He knew then that he could have done absolutely anything to her, and she’d let him do it. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes. Angel was a virgin, and she’d let him be her first—and he’d be her last, as far as he was concerned.

  Damn, she was exquisite.

  Finally, he’d seen every inch of her in broad daylight, and he wasn’t remotely disappointed. The Carolina sun warmed her soft skin, but goose bumps arose when he touched her. Little shy Angel was a passionate lover once he got her wound up. As the images flashed through his mind, he felt heat enter his groin. Without looking, he could feel his erection grow. Smiling, he shook his head mentally. The woman completely knocked him off balance. If this had happened with another woman in the past, he’d have been out of there like a flash. However, when he saw Angel in that sexy bikini, the water glistening on her skin, he knew then that he wanted her, but she was too young at only 18. She didn’t know how grateful he was that she’d hidden that stunning body of hers over the years, or he’d be busy beating the shit out of her suitors.

  Opening the velvet box, he looked at the ring again. There wasn’t a time in his life when he’d ever considered marriage before—not once. There hadn’t been a woman that inspired such feeling in him. However, he’d been thinking about it over the past year, and he knew exactly who he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. He wanted children too—lots of them. Just imagining having children with Angel sent another rush of emotion through him.

  There was a knock on the door, and he put the box away before he told whoever it was to come in.

  Maria, their housekeeper, opened the door. “Mr. Harrison, there’s a woman here to see you.”

  He perked up. “Angel?” It was a stupid question. Maria had known Angel since she was a baby and would have given her name, but he could hope. It seemed like forever since he’d seen her last, and it had only been yesterday.

  “No, sir, a woman named Lucy Byers.”

  His face took on an expression of surprise and bewilderment. “Lucy?”

  “She said it’s important,” Maria told him.

  “Show her in.”

  “Hi, Alex,” came a feminine voice as a slender, dark-haired woman stepped into the room. She ignored the housekeeper.

  Alex stood up and nodded for Maria to close the door as she left the room.

  ***

  Angel hadn’t heard from Alex in several days, and she hoped he’d call her soon. She volunteered to pick up some specialty coffees from the bistro for the office staff, and spotted the Harrisons’ ranch truck parked across the road in front of the jewelers as she walked down the street.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if he was getting something for her. No, of course he wasn’t. He was probably looking for a birthday gift for his mother. Her birthday was in a few months. Either way, she didn’t want him to think that she was being hopeful by stalking him at the jewelry store, so she quickly hurried back to work.

  All day long, she felt as though she were floating on a cloud. Maybe he was getting her something. He’d hinted at it the last time they were together—or had he? Alex wasn’t easy to understand, and every time she thought she had him figured out, she’d been wrong. However, it kept her on her toes, and she really liked that air of mystery about hi
m. Regardless of that, they had lots in common. During that horseback ride, she discovered that they read the same books, liked the same operas and ballet productions, and most importantly, he loved her paintings.

  Then there was what else they’d done. Just thinking about it made heat flush into her lower pelvis, and she absently placed her hands there. He was so tender and patient, the complete opposite of what she was used to from him. She shut her eyes as she remembered his tenderness, and how the way he touched her made her feel positively on fire.

  Despite her innocence, it wasn’t what she’d expected. He might not be as handsome as Seth, but he sure as hell knew how to make a woman moan. Oh God, she had moaned, screamed, and moaned some more. He was so patient and gentle with her, despite his rough demeanor. She’d never realized that he had such tenderness inside him.

  She was in love with him. Utterly and hopelessly in love. She’d thought she was before, but now, it was absolutely certain.

  He knew she was a virgin—he’d said so—but he told her that didn’t matter, and he would show her things she’d never even dreamed could happen. God, did he ever show her things. If it had hurt, she didn’t remember it; he’d had her so wild that she’d lost herself completely.

  And the things he said—

  She shut her eyes and tried to focus on her job, but all she saw were images of them naked together in a soft field of wildflowers, their horses grazing nearby. Her eyes snapped open, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She remembered all too well the deep groan of satisfaction he released when he entered her, and how unbelievable it felt to have him there. Then, as he moved within her, he told her how much he adored her and how beautiful she was. She knew she’d missed a lot of it because of the noises she made, but she remembered enough.

  Absently, she reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, remembering once again that she was still at work. Oh, the things that man made her forget. She focused back on her computer screen and the letter she was typing for Jason.

  As for not hearing from Alex for the past few days, she’d expected it at this time of year. It was calving season, and the men were especially busy. It seemed to suck all the social life out of them. Even Jason hadn’t heard from Alex in several days, and they usually went fishing one day a week. She missed him, though. Maybe Prissy would drive her over there after work.