Angels of the Knights (10 page)

“Anthony, what is wrong?” she asked, bending to help him pick them up. Why did he always seem so nervous around her?

“Nothing. You just startled me is all.”

“Are you okay? You seem jumpy about something.”

His eyes hardened. “I guess I am a little jumpy. I found…” He cut off what he was about to say.

“Found what?” she prompted, but he closed down again.

“Nothing. Where is Father Tomas?” he asked and his wide eyes quickly searched the church interior.
He is afraid of something. But, what?

“He has gone back to his office,” she informed him and handed the last paper to him.

The boy visibly relaxed.

“Look, Anthony, I know we hardly know each other, but I’m here if you want to talk about anything.”

The boy shook his head. “No, it’s nothing. I have to go.” With that, he turned and fled out of the front doors of the church. As soon as they closed behind him, she noticed that he had left one paper on the ground. She immediately picked it up and rushed out, but he was already running as fast as he could away from the church. Something was obviously bothering the boy. With a shrug, she put the paper in her pack, deciding she would return it to him tomorrow.

The sun was a bright, yellow ball in the sky and its presence brought out a crowd of people to bask in the unexpected warmth. As Fallon walked among them, she recalled her conversation with Father Tomas with a smile. But, although she was ready to invite Kade into her life, she refused to involve him in Knight business. The less he knew, the safer he would be until it was all over.

Especially when
all over
meant that his uncle would be dead.

“Hello, beautiful.”

She yelped when the voice in her ear developed hands that wrapped around her waist.

“Kade!”

“Boy, for a tough warrior Knight, you’re awfully skittish.”

Oh, yeah? In one smooth move, she reached behind her head and flipped him across her back and onto the ground in front of her. She dropped down and rammed her knee into his throat. “You were saying?”

He laughed. “Okay, you made your point, but let me up! There are people watching us.”

She grinned and stood.

Red-faced, he smiled in humor at the snickers coming from the crowd, but took hold of her elbow and steered her away. “You
are
strong,” he whispered to her. “Remind me not to mess with you again.”

His comment bothered her. “I suppose you’re used to the waif type, huh? The damsel in distress who needs a big strong guy to look after her? Well, that’s not me, Kade.”

“Thank goodness!” He stopped and turned her toward him. “I fell in love with
you
, Fallon, and I love every single thing about you.” He glanced around. “But, I will admit that I’m not sure if my ego can handle you flipping me on my back in public all the time.”

She pursed her lips at him playfully. “You will just have to stay on my good side then.”

“Well, that should be easy since all of your sides are good.”

With a smile, she pulled his face toward her and he gave her an oh, so, sweet kiss.

“Mmm…the lips of an angel. I love you, Fallon Angell.”

“I love you, too, Kade Royce.” There she said it! Right on Main Street, Alden, in the bright afternoon as people walked all around them. She would not deny the gift in front of her any longer.

Throwing an arm around her shoulder, he said, “Come on. I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?”

“Yes. You don’t have plans for tonight, do you?”

Besides going to AU to break into his uncle’s office? No. And, she could always do that
after
Kade’s mysterious surprise. She was very anxious to find out what it was and to spend more time with him. “What do you have in mind?”

He tilted his head at her. “Don’t you know what the word surprise means?”

She growled at him, but he ignored her and took her hand. “I have some papers to finish for school. I’ll walk you home and then pick you up around eight. Okay?”

She nodded. “What do I wear?”

The glint in his eye said it all. “Very little.”

C
HAPTER
11

The Lake

A bathing suit? At night? Really, Kade?
Thankfully, the warmth of the day held and the humidity was still high, draping over the town like a shroud.

She did not know where they were going, but he told her to wear a bathing suit under her clothes. Remembering that she did not even own one, she hurried out to a boutique on Main Street that afternoon. The choices were overwhelming, but relying on the clerk’s advice, she finally chose a white bikini and hurried home.

Now, as she studied her reflection in front of the mirror, she was having regrets. She realized that nobody in her life had ever seen her in so little clothes. Her body was thin and toned from her constant workouts so she guessed she looked all right in it, but the top seemed too small to hold in her full breasts. She knew this style was what the other girls wore, but she felt so exposed. When all of her attempts to stretch the material over her bosom failed, she sighed and threw on her tee-shirt. Hopefully, it would be dark enough that nobody would notice.

When Kade knocked a few minutes after eight, she opened the door and his smile sent shivers racing through her body.

“You ready?”

“I guess. Will you tell me now where we’re going?”

“Where all college kids go on a Wednesday night. A party at the lake. There will be swimming, a bonfire, dancing.”

Disappointment surged through her. She was hoping to spend time with Kade alone. “A party? Kade, I’m really not good in social situations.”

“Why not? You’re smart, funny, beautiful.”

She turned from him. “I don’t know. I’m just not that comfortable. I never know what to say and usually end up saying something ridiculously embarrassing.”

He scoffed at her. “I doubt that.” Turning her by the shoulders, he lifted her chin so she had to look at him. “Look, I haven’t had a chance to laugh or just hang out with people my own age in a long time, and I doubt you have either. Even Knights need to have fun once in a while.”

She frowned at him. “You make it pretty hard for a girl to say no.”

“Then, don’t.”

“Fine.” And, if she sounded petulant, that was just too bad.

He pointed to his face as they walked outside. “It’s the dimples, isn’t it? Am I right?”

She laughed. “Yes, it is the dimples.”

As before, he held open the door of his Jeep Wrangler and she got in.

“What lake?” she asked him when he slipped in behind the wheel.

“Rushden Lake. It’s only a few miles from here.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Stop being so nervous. It’s a party, Fallon, not an execution.”

Not wanting to put a damper on his first night out in a year, she smiled at him. “I’ll try.”

Enrique Iglasias came on the radio with
Tonight I’m Loving You
and the sexy lyrics filled the car as they drove to the lake. Kade continued to hold her hand and kept glancing at her with heat in his eyes.

“Stop it.”

The innocent look was back. “What? I
am
loving you tonight.”

“Just tonight?” she teased.

“Always.”

“Keep your eyes on the road, Royce.”

He laughed and sang along to the song, and she found herself singing with him.

After a short drive, they arrived at the lake, and Kade parked his Jeep among the other cars on a rise that overlooked the beach. There must have been at least fifty people down there either standing and talking around a bonfire or swimming in the lake.

“Is it legal to have a bonfire on the beach?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No, but this is private property owned by Cody Harlen’s parents. Since Cody has been going to AU, he has been hosting a bonfire every Wednesday night. But, since this is his last year at school, they probably won’t be going on much longer.”

Nervously, Fallon picked up her bag, got out of the car and followed Kade down to the shore.

“Officer Royce!” A guy with blonde hair and boyish good looks ran up to them.

“Just Kade, Cody.”

“Oh, right. Hey, dude, none of us ever believed those charges against you. I just want you to know that.”

Even in the growing darkness, Fallon could see that Kade was embarrassed by Cody’s words.

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” He turned toward her. “This is my girlfriend, Fallon.”

Fallon’s stomach tightened with pleasure. She had never been a girlfriend before. She dated one boy in her old life, but it was not anything serious. It felt amazing.

“Hey, Fallon, nice to meet you. Make yourselves at home. There’s plenty to eat and drink so have fun.”

“Thanks.” Kade turned back to her. “Let’s get something to eat and then go for a swim.”

She nodded and found herself relaxing with Kade by her side. He reminded her of Julian with his easy wit and humor. They soon had a group of people around them and Fallon found herself laughing and enjoying everybody’s company.

An hour later, Kade said, “Come on,” and dragged her away from the crowd.

He led her to an isolated spot down the beach and pulled her down into the sand. With a dimpled grin, he leaned over and kissed her. “I have wanted to do that all night,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Me, too,” she admitted.

A full five minutes later, he lifted his head and asked her if she was up for a swim. She nodded, so he stood, helped her back to her feet and then shrugged out of his shirt.

Suddenly, feeling awkward, she set her bag on the sand.
Now that I think about it, there was a perfectly nice one-piece I could have bought!
With a shake of her head, she pulled her shorts down and stepped out of them. Finally, she pulled her shirt over her head.

She did not look up, but could feel Kade’s eyes on her body.

Without a word, he reached for her hand and led her to the water’s edge. He let her get used to the temperature and then pulled her in deeper. When he put his hands on her waist and lifted her, she wrapped her legs and arms around him. It felt so intimate to be this close to him in the moonlight with the water lapping against their bodies. She never wanted to let go.

“Kiss me,” he whispered.

She did. With all of the passion and love she was feeling for the man holding her.

They kissed for several moments before he pulled away with a groan. “I don’t think I can take much more than that. I am not the saint you are, Fallon,” he confessed ruefully.

“I am not a saint, Kade.”

“But…”

“Yes, there is a but, and you know what it is.”

“Marry me.”

She laughed. “You have asked me to marry you twice now and both times you were consumed with lust when you did.”

He looked up to the sky. “Oh, I do lust for you, Fallon Angell. Very much.” Dropping his gaze back down to her, he said, “But, I would take a lifetime of celibacy just to have you in my life.”

Her heart melted with his words and she caressed his face tenderly. “Ask me to marry you again when your tongue is not hanging out.”

“I think that can be arranged. Now, let’s get out of here and get dressed.”

Jumping free from his arms, she said, “Race you!” She dove into the water and swam powerfully back to the shore.

“Hey!”

She heard him laugh as he tried to keep up, but he was no match for her.

When he made it on shore, he grasped her around the waist and they fell to the sand in a giggling fit.

Fallon stiffened when she heard a rustle in the reeds lining the beach behind them.

“So, what do we have here?” said a menacing voice.

She leapt to her feet, followed quickly by Kade.

Two men with greasy hair and leather jackets stood looking at them.

Kade laughed. “Oh, this is going to be good. Gentlemen, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Fallon did not laugh. “These are no gentlemen, Kade. They are Kjin.”

“Stand back, Kade,” Fallon said, her tone deceptively soft as she dropped into a crouch.

“That’s going to be a little tough for me to do, Fallon. You know that whole male ego thing you pointed out earlier.”

She did not turn to him. “I mean it. Stay out of it.”

“But, they’re just human, right? No extra powers?”

She did not get a chance to answer when one of the Kjin took a swing at her head. She easily ducked underneath it and then jumped in the air to land a kick that hit him square in the chest, sending him flying back onto the sand.

The other Kjin did not hesitate.

He tackled her to the ground, but she kept her knees up underneath his body and used the power in her legs to launch him into the air.

“Fallon!” she heard Kade shout out in warning.

The first Kjin stalked toward her again and tried to kick her in the ribs, but she rolled out of the way and vaulted back to her feet. He came at her fast with both fists flashing at her, but she jerked her head out of the way each time. Closing with him, she smashed the heel of her hand into his nose and heard the satisfying crunch of bone.