ANGEL'S KISS (A Dark Angel's Novel)
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Authors: Lynne Stevie
by Lynne Stevie
Edited by Kay Keppler
Cover Art by Jeffrey Kosh
Copyright © 2012 by Lynne Stevie
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Never lose your imagination!
A HUGE thank you goes to my friend and mentor Best Selling Author Traci Hohenstein. You read my one page, single spaced dream scene and said, “WOW, I like this, keep writing.” I still have that one page and that one scene grew into this novel Angel’s Kiss. Thank you for not letting me quit and for helping me be a better writer, editor, and PR person.
A special thanks to my first readers Shane Frampton and Laurel Abbe. I am grateful that you liked it even in its messy stages and I hope you like the polished version even more. A big shout out to Kay Keppler for being a wonderful editor and for helping me corral my ideas. Any mistakes in this book are not her fault, but mine, because I didn’t listen to her.
And an extra special thank you to my wonderful husband and family who never said, “You can’t write a book”. Your encouragement helped me through the late nights and early morning writing sessions. I love you all!
Chapter 1
Carried Away
I watched my prey in the mirrored wall behind the bar, hoping I wouldn’t be recognized. My disguise was good, but in our small Gulf-side resort town, everyone knows each other. Plus, as a descendant of the founding family of Serevan my family and name, Alexandria Hayes-Lewis, are well known. The last thing I needed was for a friend or a business acquaintance to recognize me and start asking questions about why I was out alone tonight. This was my last chance to catch this cheating bastard and I didn’t want anything to screw it up.
The man in my sights, Philip Janeck, had just finished dinner. While watching him tonight, I had to admit our client Mrs. Palma Janeck had a good eye for man candy. Tall, dark, and handsome, oh my! He was over six feet tall with a chiseled jaw and dark wavy hair that looked so silky even I wanted to run my fingers through it.
My bar stool was close enough to Janeck’s table that I could hear bits and pieces of the conversation he and his friend were having. I caught phrases like “Big Ten” and “SEC.” I had to work hard not to yawn as they bantered. As boring as I found their conversation, I noted that Janeck sounded reasonably intelligent, which worried me. I hoped he hadn’t figured out I was bait.
Frustrated he hadn’t hit on me yet, I twirled the rich, buttery wine in the delicate crystal glass that was in front of me. When I noticed him sit back in his seat, I adjusted my position on the bar stool. I moved to keep him in view, but also to make my skirt rise and show off the lace at the top of my thigh-high hose. I needed to get his attention if this evening was going to be a success.
“Can I get you anything else?” The bartender startled me with his deep voice.
“Oh. No thanks. Just the check, please.” And get out of my way, I thought as I smiled up at him. He’d parked himself right in my line of sight.
“I hope your friend’s okay.” The bartender said as he motioned to the empty seat beside me. It took me a minute to remember I’d told him I was waiting for someone in order to keep the seat open.
“Thanks, he’s fine. I just got a text,” I touched my Blackberry on the bar. “Something came up, we’re meeting later.” My target’s head popped up. Where was he going? If he was leaving, I was screwed. I leaned in a little to get a better view.
“It’s a crime that he left you sitting all alone,” the bartender continued.
Crap, I’m attracting the wrong man. Now that I thought about it, he’d asked several times about my friend. I thought he just wanted the seat for a paying customer, but I knew he wasn’t concerned about the customers right now.
“I was going to head home, but I hate to see you drinking alone.” The bartender was leaning over the bar now, too, and I could smell his cologne. Over his shoulder I saw my target turn toward the restrooms. So he wasn’t leaving yet. “Would you like some company tonight? I’m off in…”
“Excuse me.” I cut him off as I slid down from my stool and headed toward the restrooms. I needed to get in front of Philip and get his attention. I’d been trying to hook this bastard for a week. He wasn’t going to slip through my fingers again.
I caught him as he was leaving the men’s room. I pretended to stumble over my own feet, and grabbed his arm for support.
“Whoa,” he said. I must have surprised him, but he stood firm as I barreled into him.
“Oh, I’m soo sorry.” I righted myself, but I didn’t let go of his arm. “Thanks for catching me.” I looked up at him using my best doe-eyed look. “I guess I shouldn’t have had that second glass of wine, he, he, he.” Ugh, that sounded pathetic even to me.
“I’m glad to be of service. Are you all right?” He placed his other hand on top of mine, and I noticed a spark of interest in his eye. Sweet, now we’re getting somewhere.
“I could be…better?” I looked up into his brown eyes and licked my dark burgundy lips.
“Hmm,” he leaned over to whisper in my ear, “you have no idea how much I’d love to help you feel better...right now.” Heat flooded my system and if I didn’t know better, I’d say I was drunk. “However,” he looked back at his friend, “another time perhaps?” My head felt fuzzy and little prickles of goose flesh were breaking out all over my body. He straightened up and pressed his hand down where it held mine on his arm. Then he turned and walked back toward his table.
I stumbled into the ladies room to recoup. Well, that went totally wrong. I’d been in control until he whispered in my ear. What the hell happened?
I looked in the mirror and my face was beet red. Blushing, are you kidding me? I fanned my face, trying to cool off. Shaking myself in a vain attempt to clear my head, I hurried out. My target was leaving as I took my seat. He caught my gaze in the mirror and I quickly looked away.
“Wha, ha, ha.” His laugh floated through the room and I felt the flame of my blush all the way to my toes. I sat stupefied as he walked out of the restaurant.
When the door clicked shut, I picked up my phone from the bar and pressed J. As I waited, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My cheeks were still red, and I was biting my lip while my nails tapped out chopsticks on the bar. I was acting like a school girl with her first crush.
That’s enough. I sat up straight and pulled my fingers into a fist. Time I got back to acting like a professional.
“Yeah, boss,” Joey answered.
“Sorry, you won’t need your camera tonight.” I didn’t let Joey get in a response. “Can you follow? Riley’s waiting at the house to take over once he gets there.”
“Yeah, I’m on it.” I heard his car start. “What happened?”
“Nothing, just…” I noticed the bartender watching me. “Thanks honey.” I raised my voice a little. “I’ll tell you about it later. Okay?”
“Got it.” The line went dead.
“Thanks.” I motioned to the bartender without making eye contact. With my thoughts swimming as I pulled out some cash, left it on the bar and made my way to the door. The host opened the door and the warm night air surrounded me, taking my breath as I stepped out into the empty strip mall parking lot. The beginning of October and still there was no relief from the southern heat. I spotted my car, but I also caught sight of the open sign at Miss Lucy’s Gossip Parlor. Maybe a cup of coffee would clear my head.
“Lexie!” Decaf-grande-mocha!” the Goth apparition behind the huge espresso makers yelled.
I looked around the coffee shop; I was the only person in here. What’s with the yelling and the look—coal-black hair and a ring through his nose? Really, his parents must be proud. I tried to hide my chuckle as I grabbed the coffee and left a tip. Poor kid looked crazy out of place in our little patch of southern coastline that we affectionately called the Redneck Riviera.
The smell of coffee cleared a path in my brain and the first sip was heavenly, just what I needed. “Mmm,” the contented sound slipped from my lips. I made a bee-line for the “Help-Yourself-Cocoa” and stirred in a generous helping as I thought about the evening.
Proving that a man is a cheating bastard is one of my least favorite jobs to work. But my family’s firm, Haynes and Haynes Investigations, has been taking domestic cases since before I was born. I know mom and dad never liked domestic cases any more than I do, but I doubt if couples will ever stop cheating on each other, so there’s job security.
Usually, catching a guy is easy money for me. Show a little leg; mention that you’re vacationing alone. Boom! They’re paying the tab and escorting you back to your hotel. Joey, my photographer does his job and snaps a couple of good pictures before we enter the room. I tell the guy that I had a change of heart, “Oh woe is me,” and I can’t go through with it. He leaves. I deliver the pictures to the wounded spouse, and boom, we’ve earned our fee. It’s sad, really; nine times out of ten, if the wife’s away, the man will stray. Thank heaven I found my husband Alan and don’t have to worry about all this drama; he’s my rock.
My target tonight, Philip Janeck, is proving to be more difficult than most. Damn, I thought I had him tonight. There was no missing that sexy look in his eye as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. What stopped him? ‘Another time perhaps,’ he’d said. What did that mean? He didn’t ask for my name or number; how were we supposed to meet another time? I capped my coffee and hobbled out the door. My new heels were beautiful, but I’d give anything for a pair of Teva’s right about now.
Mrs. Janeck was right to be suspicious; her husband is way too smooth not to have women flocking after him. What would have possessed her to marry him? Okay, I mean I get that he’s hot, realllly hot. At 6'2" with dark wavy hair and an ex pro surfer’s body, he’s a poster boy for tall, dark, and handsome. Plus, that voice…ooooh. I felt a little tingle at just the thought of his voice. But with all her money, you would think she’d have more sense.
Sense—I’d made a joke, a lame one. Money…cents. Man, was that corny. Dad would have loved it, though. I wished he were here. My heart ached at the thought of him. Man, I am tired.