by Graham, Jan
“I went to the shop and upped the order. Hope you don’t mind.” Steve smiled as he opened the box to display an extra large meat pizza. “Where are your glasses? I also have cola.”
“Did it not occur to you that you could have gotten the pizza I actually ordered, just in a larger size?” Angel stared at the unappetizing thing in the box.
“Yours didn’t sound nice, but I got extra bacon and pepperoni on this one for you,” Steve said as he opened cupboards looking for glasses.
“Gee thanks, you’re so fucking male it nauseates me,” Angel said, pointing to the end cupboard as she flopped onto one of the chairs.
“Where is the ledger, Angel?” Steve spoke calmly as he poured two drinks and sat down at the table. “It wasn’t in the lockup.”
“I have no idea. The only place I haven’t looked is in the garage. I’ll clean it out in the next couple of days. Hopefully I’ll find it. If not, I don’t know what I’ll do.” Angel took a bite out of her slice of pizza.
“When you find it, you need to give it to me, not Adrian. If you work with me, then I can protect you. If not, you’re on your own and I will arrest you for conspiring to conceal evidence from the police.” Steve didn’t make eye contact with her as he started on a second slice of pizza. “Do you understand what I’m telling you? You need to work with us. You don’t have any choice.”
Steve had decided he was just going to tell Angel what she needed to do. He couldn’t risk her going to Hastings, and neither could she. He would simply tell her what to do and hope she obeyed. After all, she had done whatever Barnard had wanted her to do. Yes, admittedly they had been in a dysfunctional and violent relationship, but she had still done what she was told. Steve wondered if she was one of those women that just needed a man to decide for her, and he was going to be that man.
“And if I don’t find the ledger, will you still protect me?” Angel asked quietly.
“If you don’t find the ledger, then we have nothing to protect you from. We’ll pull the surveillance on the house, and hopefully Adrian will leave you alone.” Steve looked at her blankly. He knew she was in danger, but without any reason to protect her, unless she could help the police, Steve had been told there would be no assistance for Angel.
“I have no idea if I’ll even find the ledger, and if you want it, then you might consider at least attempting to be a bit nice about trying to protect me. Why would I even consider helping you if you sit here and tell me help is only being offered if I play the game your way? I assume I’m in even more danger from Adrian if I don’t find the ledger. And don’t think you can bully me and tell me what to do even if I find the damn thing. As far as I see, I’m under more of a threat from Adrian than your piss-poor attempt to threaten me with jail.”
Steve sighed. It looked like he had been wrong about telling her what to do, but he certainly didn’t think she should accuse him of being a bully. He was simply stating a fact that she needed to hear. God, even putting on his best don’t fuck with me Dom tone hadn’t swayed her. He was never going to figure this woman out.
“I don’t want to lie to you. If you give us the ledger, then we will give you protection. If not, you’re on your own.” Steve hated himself for being so harsh, but facts were facts. “And I am being nice. I bought you your pizza and saved you delivery fees.”
Angel glared at Steve. “Yes, under your you must obey me tone, you’re a big marshmallow, aren’t you, Steve? So, how much do I owe you for the pizza?” Steve was pleased to see that Angel seemed to have regained some of her brash attitude. He also thought she looked better than the last time he had seen her. She would need that strength and attitude if she was going to battle Adrian Hastings.
“Nothing, it’s on me.” Steve smiled at her. “So what do you think, do we have a deal?”
“What I think is this…I’m going out.” Angel stood up from the table and left the room. She returned wearing jeans and a top. “Thanks for the pizza I didn’t order, Steve. Lock the door on your way out, would you?”
Angel picked up her bag, mobile phone, and keys from the kitchen table. Then she walked out the door, leaving Steve wondering what would happen if she didn’t find the fucking ledger. Being a brat would only get her so far. She made him so angry at times. She was helpful to a point, but then her stubborn streak would emerge and she would clam up. He went back for some more pizza, wishing he hadn’t been so blunt with her. Maybe he had been a bit harsh. Dealing with his beautiful wife and even her single friends was never this difficult. Obviously Angel was impervious to his charms, which made her unique among women. Steve needed to talk to Angel when she wasn’t at home. He couldn’t tell her what he really wanted to while their conversations were being monitored. He needed to let her know that he had made a decision in relation to the case. He had to somehow let her know that no matter what the police decided, he had no intention of leaving her to defend herself against Hastings alone. Steve knew he would help her no matter what happened. He had failed to protect her against Samuel Barnard. He would defend her against Hastings…even if it meant he had to compromise the case and his job.
Steve laughed as he downed another slice of pizza in the now-quiet house…Kathy often told him he was a sucker for a damsel in distress. Not that Angel technically fit the bill of the weak-willed damsel. She was more like a stubborn mule refusing to move to safety.
As Angel reversed out the driveway, she had no idea where she was going. She just knew she had to leave. Steve infuriated her. He could be nice sometimes and a total pig at other times. Like all men she had known, he was happy to help her if she did something for him. If she had the ledger, then he’d help. If not, then she could basically go to hell. Angel thought back to her conversation with Daniel and Christian. Would they be the same? If she allowed herself to get to know them, would they turn out to be the same as every other man, only interested in her for what she could do for them? Angel pulled into the car park of the local pub. It probably wasn’t the best place to go, but she needed to get lost for a while, and a crowded pub seemed as good a place as any.
Angel hadn’t been there long when she ran into Gavin Clark. Gavin was a friend that had come in and out of her life over the last ten years. He was a nice guy, quiet, friendly, and a local business man who would now be in his late fifties. He wasn’t anything to look at, and the last few years hadn’t changed him much. Angel had never really been attracted to him sexually even though they had fucked, but he was good company. He chatted to her and seemed to take an interest in her work. She had cut all contact with him three years ago to protect him from any of the threats that Samuel could make. The sex had never been great, but she enjoyed the affection he showed her. He was safe, boring, actually, but that was what Angel had needed at the time. Gavin was about twenty-two years older than Angel and lived in a small apartment thirty minutes from her house. As they talked, Angel learned that Gavin still lived by himself. He looked older but had the same jovial and carefree attitude he had when Angel had first known him. For Gavin, the friendship had been just that, a friendship but with the added benefit of sex. Angel enjoyed the fact that Gavin always took her out for dinner or a movie before taking her home for sex. Tonight he suggested they have dinner and get reacquainted over a few drinks.
It was just the thing Angel needed. After all, one slice of pizza could not be called dinner. Gavin was full of information about everything that had happened since he had seen her last. By the end of the night, Gavin had persuaded her to go on a business trip with him. She and Gavin organised to meet at his unit the day after next and they would be away for two, maybe three days. There hadn’t been any talk about sex, but Angel knew he would probably expect it to happen. She also knew if she decided to say no, he would still be fine with that as well. Angel thought that having sex with Gavin again might be nice. He always held her afterward, and he was always considerate enough to ensure he made her come before he did. As before, Gavin was not after any kind of permanent attachment a
nd didn’t want to be in a serious relationship or even get married. Gavin had made it perfectly clear he was just after female company, someone to spend time with. All of these conditions were fine with Angel. She wasn’t in a position to want anything permanent. For the moment, if he provided a brief relief, she’d take it. Angel felt a slight twinge of regret. Maybe she should look to the brothers for relief rather than Gavin. Unfortunately, she knew that wouldn’t work. If Angel became involved with Christian and Daniel, she wanted it to be more than a brief fling, and she hoped they had similar feelings regarding her.
As she drove home, Angel decided she was looking forward to getting away. It had been so long since she had been taken anywhere by anyone she was involved with. Until recently, she hadn’t really thought about the importance of being seen in public with someone that you were intimate with. However, since Samuel’s death, she had decided it was a must. She would insist on it from any man she decided to spend time with from here on in.
Meeting up with Gavin had helped her decide what to do about the two handsome brothers pursuing her. Until she knew that she was safe and free to move on in her life, she would have to let them go. Unfortunately, timing could be a bitch.
Chapter Six
Angel was nervous as she dialled Daniel and Christian’s number the following day. She knew she should tell the brothers “thank you for the offer but it’s not a good time right now.” She knew she should do it, but she wasn’t sure if she could. She was going to talk to them and see what happened. As she sat herself down on the back steps once again, Angel smiled as she heard Daniel’s voice on the end of the phone.
“Hello, Daniel. It’s Angel. I’m sorry I’m late ringing. I didn’t know if you and Christian had plans today, so I thought I’d leave it a bit later to be sure I’d catch you at home.”
Angel spoke quickly, she was gushing words but was trying to avoid their first conversation being one of reprimand. He had sounded so definite yesterday when he said twenty-four hours.
“Angel, don’t panic. I meant today, not exactly within the twenty-four-hour period.” Angel loved the smooth, deep tone of his voice and the way he reassured her about taking his request literally. “So how was your day?”
“Um, it was okay. I did some cleaning and took myself out for a coffee.” Angel thought she must have sounded so pathetic, going out for a coffee by herself.
“Sounds lovely, maybe one day I could join you for a coffee.” Daniel sounded relaxed, falling easily into conversation mode. Angel wished she was feeling as calm as he sounded. “So have you made a decision?”
“Is Christian there?” Angel asked nervously.
“No, he got called into work. Does that matter? Would you prefer to talk with him?”
“No, I just thought he might like to hear my answer, but you can tell him.” Angel felt really nervous. Even her peppermint tea wasn’t calming her stomach. Her logical mind was telling her to say no but her heart wanted to know them so desperately she could hardly hear herself speak over the pounding in her ears. “I’ve decided yes, I would like to get to know you both um…as friends. Just friends. I’m not looking for a relationship or any…um…Well, anything except friends.”
“That’s excellent. You have made my night, and Christian will be thrilled.” Daniel sounded elated. Angel couldn’t believe what she had just said. Why was it so important to her to hear the joy in Daniel’s voice? Every time she spoke to these two men, she had the desire to give them anything they wanted. Angel was a goner.
“So it’s okay to be just friends,” Angel reiterated, trying to make it clear she was not wanting anything more.
“Friends will be fine. And then, once you know us better, if you decide to look for more, we will take another look at it then.” Daniel stated assuredly. Did he know that Angel was interested in more from them? Could anyone be that confident in another person’s hidden desire?
“So what do you want to do now? I’m not sure what you expect.” Angel was relieved to have made her decision even though she still thought she should have said no. Maybe now the butterflies would go away. She couldn’t believe the feelings rushing through her system. She felt like a schoolgirl talking to a boy she really liked. It was ridiculous.
“Well, are you free to chat? I have no plans, and it might be nice to start getting to know you.”
“Sure, I have nothing on. Oh, I mean, not literally nothing…Oh fuck, I mean—” She was glad when Daniel interrupted.
“I know what you mean, Angel.” He laughed. “I’m glad you have no plans.”
“God, I just made myself blush. How ridiculous is that?” Angel fanned her face. She needed to get a grip on this crush, or whatever it was. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I’m not used to this. I don’t mean to come across as an idiot.”
“I don’t think you’re an idiot, and what do you mean you’re not used to this?” Daniel sounded intrigued.
“Talking to get to know someone, a man, I mean, you know, talking to get to know a man.” Angel laughed. “Silly, isn’t it.”
“Well, tell me, how do you usually get to know a man?” Daniel asked.
“Well, I flirt, and then have sex.” Angel knew she must sound like a slut. “I mean, that’s what I used to do. I don’t do that anymore. I do this, you know, say stupid things and make you think I’m some kind of flake. You’re actually my guinea pig. I haven’t used this method on anyone else.”
“Well, I must say I am surprised by your honesty. It’s refreshing. I am also honoured to be your test subject. And if I could think of what kind of sound a guinea pig makes, I would make it. So why did you decide to change your method of communicating with men? You didn’t find your previous method effective?” Daniel sounded like he was trying not to laugh as he questioned her.
“No, I tended to attract the wrong kind of man.” Angel answered.
“Arr yes, men with no conversation skills aren’t a good choice,” Daniel stated.
“Exactly.” Angel agreed cautiously. She realised he was being facetious, but wasn’t sure what to say in reply.
“Angel, I understand that you’re nervous, but please don’t be.” He tried to reassure her. “I don’t bite. I won’t take offence to anything you may accidentally say. It’s okay for you to just be you.”
“Okay.” Angel took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves and regroup after her bout of blatant honesty. “What do you think of this idea? I’m a freelance writer, so if I’m just being me and wanting to know about you, I would read lots of information and ask questions based on what I had found out. Then I’d compile a topical essay on the subject.”
“Then do that. What do you need to know about me?” Daniel asked kindly. “Treat me like the topic of an article you’re writing.”
Angel exhaled deeply and began to talk to him in a more relaxed manner. The more she chatted with him, the easier it become for her. Daniel talked about his family. Angel was amazed that his father had lived with two sisters, and that he and Christian had different mothers but they lived as a happy family unit for many years. Angel expressed surprise that both she and the brothers had lost their mothers when they were young. Daniel was amazing and as they talked Angel realised he was the only man she had ever spoken to that expressed any understanding or empathy in regard to her loss.
Angel felt close to Daniel as they talked. He appeared truly interested in her. Of course most of what Angel said was censored. She didn’t want to burden him with how horrendous things had been after her mother’s death, especially with her father. Unlike her, Daniel seemed to have such a good relationship with his father. He spoke of him with great love.
Angel decided if she felt she couldn’t be honest about something Daniel wanted to know, she would give a generalised response and turn the discussion back to Daniel. After all, there were some things that couldn’t be said to a person on the first meeting. Some information needed a degree of trust before being said, no matter how comfortable a person felt with anothe
r. Angel marvelled at the amazing life Daniel had led. She felt a twinge of jealousy as he talked about family and his life with Christian, his circle of friends, his work, and the women that had been in his life. Angel wanted to be one of the women Daniel had cared for. He spoke of them fondly. Even if they had broken his heart, his voice contained no malice toward them. She was reminded again how much she had missed in the relationships she’d had during her relatively short life.
“You’ve become very quiet all of a sudden,” Daniel stated, drawing Angel out of her thoughts. “Am I monopolising the conversation too much?”
“No, not at all, I’m just getting a bit tired. I went out to the pub with a friend last night, and today was pretty busy. Shopping and coffee can be so tiring,” Angel joked.
“I imagine it can.” Daniel laughed. “But you only said coffee before, not shopping. Did you buy anything interesting?”
“Just some clothes and bits and pieces. I’m going to go away with a friend on business for a few days.” Angel hoped he didn’t ask too many questions about her trip. “So I bought a new dress and stuff, you know girl things.”
“Girl stuff, so is that code for sexy underwear?” Daniel questioned. Angel didn’t answer, she merely laughed at the cheek of his statement.
“Well, I hope you have a nice time away, even if it is business. I, on the other hand, will be back at work. I start back full-time at the hospital on Monday.”
“Well, I will think of you while I’m having some fun away from the dreariness of everyday life,” Angel replied. “You know we have been talking for three hours? I find that a miracle. I don’t think I have ever had a three-hour conversation with a man before and definitely not one that I’m interested in knowing intimately.”
She wished the words would go back in her mouth as soon as she heard them come out. Talk about a Freudian slip. Angel hoped Daniel missed the end of her last statement. She was about to continue by saying, “Well, I must go now,” when she heard Daniel clear his throat.
