Just got back to the mainland. Was hoping 2 reach U 2nite. Call when U have a chance. No worries about the L8 hour. I’m still on Hawaii time.
Dean. It amazed her at how fast she’d forgotten him, when only two weeks ago she’d been willing to start birth control pills on the off chance they would start a relationship.
God, she was so stupid.
She tossed her phone back into her purse, the text unanswered, and climbed from the car.
The pub was busy even for a Friday night. It appeared half the town had the same idea as Dianna. Relax, hang out, get drunk and then walk it off.
“Hey girl!” Kate hurried over, apparently spotting Dianna as soon as she entered the pub. “Wanna come sit with us?”
Us referred to Kate’s husband, Jake, her sister, Susan and her husband, Josh, and his very sickly looking wife.
“What’s wrong with Trish?” Dianna asked.
“Morning sickness.”
“The poor thing. Let me get a beer and then I’ll come sit with you.”
Dianna turned to the bar, hoping it would be Kate and Susan’s sister, Valarie, who waited on her rather than Sean. But when she made her way through the crowd of patrons, she noticed Valarie bussing tables while Sean manned the bar.
Shit.
She almost turned back to the table where her friends sat to wait until one of the barmaids came over to take the table’s order.
No. This is nonsense. Why was she hiding? Why had that even been a thought in her head?
Because, despite what she continued to tell herself, things between her and Sean were not back to normal. And she feared they never would be again.
As she reached the bar, she plastered a smile on her face and waited for her friend to notice her.
“Princess, you made it! I was beginning to think you weren’t coming tonight. You want a beer?”
She was about to answer, but her voice froze when a hand touched her shoulder. “Dianna, so glad you’re here!”
Her body remained frigid as she turned to accept Trudy’s hug. She then somehow forced words out of her mouth. “Good to see you too. How are you?”
“Relieved.” Trudy let out a musical laugh and batted her eyes at Sean. “I was beginning to think your friend here was blowing me off when I hadn’t heard from him in a week.”
A week. Well, at least now she knew Sean had put all other potential relationships on hold while he was attempting to seduce her.
Well, wasn’t that nice of him?
“So how about that beer, Princess?” Sean’s voice sounded stiff, but when she finally looked at him he was wearing a grin, holding a mug under the tap.
“You know what? Make it a white wine instead.”
His brow furrowed. “Are you sure? Wine has a weird, wonky effect on you.”
“Well, I don’t have anywhere to be tonight and feeling wonky sounds appealing right about now.”
Sean’s frown deepened, but he didn’t say anything as he replaced the mug and pulled down a wine glass.
Taking her drink, Dianna smiled her thanks and turned away.
“Oh, you’re not staying here?” Trudy asked.
“No, a few friends invited me to sit with them.” She gestured in their direction. Kate was on her feet, waving Dianna over.
“Looks like there are two empty seats. Mind if I join you?”
Yes, I do mind! “Oh, sorry, I figured you’d hang with Sean while he works.”
“That was my plan, but since you’re here and he’s so busy, I figured, why not?”
Why not? Because I want to bitch slap you for no damn good reason, that’s why not. Of course she didn’t say that. Instead she led the way to one of the few booths tucked in the corner of the pub and made introductions.
Everyone greeted Trudy cordially. Within an hour, they were treating her like an old friend, while Dianna drank wine and tried not to sulk. Trudy was fun and friendly, completely at ease with their small group. Somehow, someway Dianna had to dig past the tipsiness and find it in herself to be happy for Sean. Trudy really was a super person. And if she was the one to finally bring her friend some happiness, no way in hell would Dianna stand in the way.
Easier thought than done.
Everyone appeared to be having a good time except for her, and Trish, who, after her second trip to the ladies room finally gave in to Josh’s nudging to go home so she could throw up in her own bathroom.
They stood, but before they left, Trish placed a hand on Dianna’s wrist. “You’re coming to our barbecue next weekend, right? You’re not just dropping off the dessert and leaving?”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And she wouldn’t. She loved Trish and Josh’s end-of-summer barbecue. The fireworks alone were worth the potential mosquito bites.
“Can you try to talk Sean into coming then? He said he doesn’t think he can make it this year, but he wouldn’t give me a reason why.”
“That’s odd.” She tried to appear as shocked as her cousin, but inside she was a mass of turmoil. Josh and Trish’s yearly barbecue had always been their night, spending the whole day together, entertaining with music as Sean played guitar and she sang. They’d never missed a year, and now he was saying he might not go?
Why? And why hadn’t he told her?
“I’ll see what I can do,” was all she could choke out.
Trish blew her a kiss, waved to everyone else and left with her doting husband.
A few minutes later, Valarie came by and asked if the table was ready for another round. Most declined, but Dianna eagerly held up her empty wine glass.
Okay, yeah, she was a little tipsy.
“Really, Dianna? This was your third glass. You sure you want a fourth?”
“Sure, what the hell.”
Trudy placed a hand on Valarie’s wrist. “Hang on one second.” She faced Dianna. “I was kinda hoping to go home with Sean tonight, but I’d already promised Matt I’d attend a party with him so he didn’t have to go alone. Maybe you can do a pal a favor and go in my place so I can stay here?”
Dianna’s head swam. Help Sean get laid? Oh, fuckity-fuck-fuck no! “Gee, Trudy, normally I’d be all over that suggestion, but right now I don’t think I’d make a good impression with Matt.”
Which was true. Right now, she doubted she’d make good company for anyone.
Trudy’s face reflected disappointment, but she smiled. “It was just a thought. I wish I had thought of it before you had a few.”
Thank God she hadn’t. The non-wonky Dianna probably would’ve just said yes and dealt with the churning in her gut for the rest of the evening.
“So I’ll bring you that wine, Dianna.” Valarie jotted that down and then cradled her drink tray. “I don’t see what the problem is Trudy. Sean is working late tonight anyway. Why not just go to the party with your friend and then meet up with Sean later?” Sean’s barmaid winked. “You can have your cake and eat it too.”
Dianna could bake a cake. With laxative in it. She loved Valarie, but right now she wanted to toss Susan’s half-empty water glass at her.
“Well, that makes a lot of sense. I’ll ask Sean to text me when he gets off work and then maybe we can get together. Thanks Valarie.” Trudy rose from the table. “Nice meeting all of you.”
After Trudy left, Dianna stared at the flickering tea candle at the center of the table trying to zone out all the upbeat chatter about their newfound friend. A part of her wished they’d hated Trudy, even plotting ways to get her away from Sean. Instead they spouted such gems as isn’t she a great match for Sean and, what a refreshing change from the other women he’s dated.
Suddenly, Dianna didn’t want her fourth glass of wine. All she wanted was to go home, have a good cry and pray everything would be all right in the morning.
But Dianna Lillian Sheldon had never run from anything in her life. She wasn’t about to start now. In fact, she was determined to stay until closing time.
She sipped her wine instead o
f chugging it like she had the first three. Several villagers had stopped by their table. Tucker, who’d bragged about making expert marksmen down at the shooting range. Roxanne Henderson, Kate’s former sister-in-law, sat down to share that she’d just been promoted to personal manager at the firm Tucker and Dianna’s brother, Derek worked at. Even Detective Rocker, who’d dropped in for a beer after the end of his shift, seemed less his old grumpy self. Everyone had happy news to share, but as the alcohol’s effects slowly subsided they were replaced with that sense of loss that had become a common friend to her lately.
Kate, Susan, and the gang had left about ten minutes ago and Valarie had just finished up her shift when Dianna braved a glimpse of Sean as he cleaned up behind the bar. Why had she never noticed how charming he was as he called out and waved good evening to his customers? Why had she never noticed how sexy he was while coaxing car keys from the hands of a less-than-sober driver?
Why had she never noticed him before?
Just as she was about to look away, his cell vibrated against the granite surface of the bar and the tone he used to signal a text message resonated to her soul. She knew who the text was from the moment his lips formed a sexy grin.
Trudy.
Oh, how she wished he’d direct that sexy grin toward her.
Whoa! Where had that come from? Maybe she wasn’t as sober as she’d thought.
Sean must’ve sensed her staring because his gaze suddenly shot to her. His grin faded as his eyes shifted between her and his cell phone.
Dianna’s heart tripped a beat. What was he thinking? Was he actually considering blowing off Trudy to spend time with her?
Her tripping heartbeat turned to a burning pain when he glanced back to his cell and typed a message, his sexy grin back in place.
Enough of this torture, time for her to go. She stood, gathering her sweater and purse.
“Hey, Princess, you heading out too?”
“Well, it is almost two in the morning. I need to get some sleep. I’ll be working on a birthday cake for most of the morning tomorrow.”
She headed for the door, but stopped, her head still a little woozy. Turning back to Sean she asked, “Is Valarie still here?”
“No, she left about five minutes ago. Why? Is something wrong?”
As much as she hated to admit he was right, she’d be damned if she’d let her pride get in the way of being smart. “I had too much wine. I don’t want to chance driving.”
To her surprise, he didn’t gloat or say I told you so. Instead he grabbed his keys. “No problem. Hal and Jorge can lock up. I was just about to leave anyway.”
The entire walk to his car, Sean talked about Trudy. No guessing now. He was definitely going to see her after he dropped Dianna off. On the short drive home she sat through the same speech she’d listened to so many times before.
“She’s so great. I really like her. She may be the one.”
Unlike those other times when she’d smile and nod knowing it would probably end in a few months, she actually believed he might be right this time. And that feeling made her heart ache.
God, she wished she had something or someone to take her mind off things tonight. She didn’t want to face being home alone with thoughts of Sean having sex with Trudy running through her head.
Pulling out her cell, she opened her messages and reread the text Dean had sent her earlier. What would his reaction be if she contacted him at quarter past two in the morning? How crazy would it be to ask him to come over? At least this time he’d have to come to her since she was in no condition to drive, and her car was still in the parking lot behind Donovan’s Pub.
Wanting nothing more than the hurt to go away, she pressed the message box and started typing.
Chapter Sixteen
JACK GRUMBLED to himself as he inserted the key into their apartment door, twisting and jiggling them in various directions. He always seemed to have trouble getting the lock to cooperate.
If not for the fact they didn’t need sleep, Angie would think his grumpiness was due to fatigue. More likely it was because she’d dragged him to the beach at one in the morning in the hopes of seeing the northern lights. She knew it was a long shot to see them this far south, but solar storms had been strong and frequent lately, so there was always a chance. Despite Jack’s reluctance to go, he’d sat with her on the beach for well over an hour, staring at the night sky without complaining once. She could at least help him with the sticky lock.
With a grin, Angie concentrated, jerked her finger and the lock popped open.
He glanced over his shoulder at her, his lips in a tight line. “Did you do that?”
“Uh-huh.”
He pushed the door open and stepped out of the way. “Oh, sure, it’s too Goth to walk through walls anymore, but it’s okay for you to pick a door lock?”
With her chin in the air, she switched on the overhead lights and walked past him into the small living room. “You never know, that might come in handy some day.”
Jack closed the door and tossed the keys into the dish sitting on the small table alongside the door. “We have the clouds now. We don’t need to pick locks.”
“If you remember correctly, the custodios weren’t working very well. That’s how I knew about the solar flares.”
“Right, angels can move Heaven and Earth, but throw in a few sun storms and it fucks up the whole works.”
“Jack, your language!”
“Am I wrong? Anyway, how did you learn that neat little trick?”
“I read the instruction manual.”
Jack plopped down into the loveseat, leaving the evil wicker chair for her. “You just want to show off.” He grabbed the TV remote and turned it on, mindlessly flicking through the channels.
“Maybe.” Angie shifted, trying to get comfortable. “Maybe I just like annoying you.” She grinned. “Remember Jan’s wedding? I made you wear a suit fully knowing it was a casual affair.”
“How can I forget? A wedding in your parents’ backyard in July, of all things. It was like a hundred degrees in the shade.”
“Yes, and you kept tugging at your collar, but wouldn’t change despite me offering to lend you one of my father’s polo shirts.” She rearranged herself again. Okay, angel or not, she deserved comfort. They were going to Ikea for a new chair tomorrow!
“I didn’t want you to think you’d bested me—oh, for the love of God, woman, come sit by me before you break that chair from your squirming.”
“Fine, but don’t hog it.”
Jack scooted over and patted the seat next to him. Angie sank into the thick cushion. “Want to watch a movie?” he asked.
“Oh, yes! I believe we were up to the fifth Harry Potter. If it’s anything like the book it’s pretty intense.”
“Okay, I’ll get the lights.”
Jack went to rise, but Angie stopped him. “I got them.” She gestured toward the switch, a click echoed throughout the room and then the lights went out.
She glanced at him and felt the heat rising in her face as he studied her. “What?” she asked.
“It just occurred to me …you remembered something from our past on Earth.”
The realization startled her. Maybe her memory was finally returning. But as much as she wanted to remember, a part of her feared what had been hidden from her since their return to Earth. “I did. And I'm amazed at how much I loved annoying you.”
Jack snaked his arm around her neck and pulled her into a headlock. “And I remember how much you hated this.”
Angie shrieked before she burst out laughing. Here they were, two souls who had lived fifty-one years, died, had gone to Heaven and been sent back to Earth as angels, wrestling on a loveseat like a couple of kids.
She twisted out of his headlock, but his arm still remained around her neck. He was so close she could smell his subtle cologne. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Had he always smelled this way? Citrus and ginger spice. Had it always sent a shockwave of awarenes
s through her?
“Angie?”
She opened her eyes, startled that he was now fully facing her. Oh, gosh, had he noticed her reaction to him?
“Angie,” he whispered and leaned closer.
He was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her.
But before his lips touched hers, his eyes shifted to over her shoulder. “What the hell…oh, shit.”
“What?”
He jumped up, his gaze focused on a glow coming from the direction of the kitchen they hadn’t seen before they’d turned out the lights. “Angie, did you leave a custodio open?”
“I might have. It wasn’t working, so I may have just left it alone.” She shrugged. “What’s the big deal?”
He looked down at her, his face a mask of concern as he inched closer to the entranceway. Then his features changed again. To angst. “It’s purple.”
“What?” That had her jumping to her feet. “Purple? Oh, no, that means—”
“A sexual act.”
Angie ran into the kitchen, but stopped a foot away from the fluffy purple cloud blocking the exit into the backyard. “This can’t be good.”
Jack followed close behind. “Whose custodio was it, Sean or Dianna’s?”
Angie shook her head as panic threatened to take over. “I—I don’t remember.”
Jack hurried next to her. “We need to know whose cloud this is.”
“Go look.”
“I’m not going to look, you look!”
“I can’t! It’s wrong. Whosever cloud it is they’re doing…stuff.”
“There’s got to be a way to figure it out.”
Angie thought for a moment. “The instruction manual.” She headed into the dining room where she’d been reading it last. Holding her hand over the old book, she concentrated hard on what she needed to find. The book sprang open and the pages flipped over until they stopped on a page with colorful clouds and a heading that read Custodios.
She scanned the page, relieved when she found the answer she was looking for. “Hover your hand over it until you can feel its aura, close your eyes and the owner of the cloud shall be known to you.”
Jack did as instructed. Closing his eyes, his face morphed into a guise of deep concentration. Angie prayed it was Sean’s cloud. It wasn’t the best-case scenario for their assignment to have one of their charges in a sexual relationship with someone other than his soul mate, but at least it was salvageable.
Angels in Seashore Cove (Love and Laugh in Seashore Cove Book 2) Page 18
