Independence: #2 Angel (30 page)

“I’m Barbara, by the way,” smiled the tall, lanky blonde. “And this is Andrea.”

“Where’s my clothes?” He demanded, his gaze shifting to the spread food at the same time his stomach made its complaint known to the room.

“In the dumpster,” Barbara answered, her hand out to a collection of bags on the large sofa. “Bought you some new, clean things.”

“Are you giving me to the cops?”

“Are they looking for you?” Andrea walked to the desk and pulled a chair close. She sat down and dug in one of the bags for the tall cup of coffee she knew would be there. Her sigh was grateful.

“I don’t know.”

Barbara pulled another chair over and sat down. He sounded sad and looked so lonely. “We’d rather you stayed with us,” she said carefully, instant suspicion in his glare. “Aren’t you hungry? It’s not poison, I promise. Even got some cookies for dessert.”

“Why do you want me to stay with you?”

“I figure you need us and would it be so bad to be warm and clean?” She studied him. “And to have a haircut.”

He’d lifted a large piece of chicken and tore into it with his teeth, chewing like his life depended on it once his stomach got a taste. It was two pieces, some fries and cole slaw later before he relaxed enough to look confused.

“They asked me about my parents…they knew about Montrose. I didn’t ask at the time and wouldn’t have understood, but Andrea had access to investigative tools on the computer. He had more than a few charges and arrests for domestic abuse and assault,” Colin wrapped his finger around Angel’s. “I didn’t know what to believe. They let me alone to get dressed and I was so exhausted, the instant I had the new clothes on, I stretched out on the sofa and was out. Andrea told me she had time to get her work done while Barbara cleaned up from the feast. Wasn’t much left.”

He pushed around a last bit of potato before eating it. “By the time I woke, it was night. I was groggy and really just wanted to go back to sleep again. They took me to their house, settled me in a room and…told me to think about it. I guess my brain had come back a little at that point, because I asked how was I going to go to school?”

Angel laughed and leaned into his shoulder.

“The school thing seemed to strike something important in them both. They were both putting themselves through schools and believed in education and finding the right path for you. They perched on the edge of the bed and said it would be very important and they already worked it out. That I’d have a few chores to do, be a kid, and study hard. Believe me, it sounded like a dream. I didn’t believe them…but it sounded like heaven. It was weeks before I relaxed enough to let them hug me or believe that I was safe there.”

Angel stared at him. “That’s why you knew,” she whispered, pressing two fingers against her eyes when they threatened to leak again. She blinked quickly. “That’s why you have the patience…”

“Because I went through it,” Colin acknowledged with a little crooked smile. “The last thing I was willing to believe, was that Chuck wouldn’t find me. As I got older, I figured he was glad I disappeared on him. I made damn sure I excelled at school and they are the best parents a guy could ask for. I earned scholarships and spent a little time with the JAG office in the Navy.”

“Do you think they’d come to dinner next weekend? A big…almost family dinner on Sunday?” Nora asked, blinking away the happy tears.

Colin looked at the notepad and reached for it and the pen. He printed clearly over the surface. “I think they’d love it. Here’s their cell numbers.”

“I’ll bring dessert,” Angel told her grandmother with a smile. Then she noticed the clock and almost bounced to her feet. “I’ve got to…oh, heck, I should help you clean up this…”

“You go to the shop. I’ll help with clean up,” Colin told her, his head shaking when she began to protest. “Please. And I’ll see you when the shop closes. At my house.”

“Oh, Colin, you don’t have to…” she stopped when he stood and took her hands, guiding her toward the arched opening to the hall.

“Pack some clothes. I don’t want you staying at the apartment and I have alarms.” He bent his head, brushing her mouth with his. “Please. Let me help here and I’ll see you later.” When she nodded he continued. “Be careful.”

“I will,” she nodded rapidly and raced over the tiles to hug her grandfather and grandmother. “No more wild Angel stories,” she cautioned with a shake of her finger at them both. “Bye.”

“Lock your doors,” George ordered as she raced out.

Colin was up and helping carry empty plates to the sink. There was no conversation until they heard the sound of the front door.

“You don’t believe a simple restriction will stop him,” Nora stated, loading the dishwasher and watching the intensity of the question remove the humor from his face.

“I don’t know. Andrea says I hope a lot that the people I’m bargaining with will take the hint and move on,” Colin brought another stack of plates to the sink. “But I honestly don’t know.”

“And your instinct?” George prompted, striding to stand at the stove and refill his coffee.

“Tells me to keep someone with her at all times,” he admitted simply. “But if I do that, I’ll lose her. She needs her control, her…independence.” He met their gaze honestly. “And I won’t take that away from her.”

“She is more worried about what he will do to her friends and family, than herself,” George pointed out. “I have given up believing the man possesses scruples or a sense of right. Sadly, he has passed those traits to his sons. And now this new person, this Earl Leonard…” he shook his head.

“I’m surprised she remained in the area,” Nora commented, absently wiping down the counters.

“She remained for you. I think a lot of her memories were submerged about her childhood here,” Colin smiled. “Don’t be surprised if there are more tears.”

“But they’re good tears,” Nora matched his smile. “You watch out for yourself, Colin.”

“I will do my best,” he lifted his palm but found himself surrounded by her arms. He returned the hug. “Thank you both. I’ll do my best to keep her safe. I’ve got to be going. I think I’ll save her a step and collect her clothing for her while she’s working. Good bye.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

The afternoon at the shop was bustling. But she’d never felt more alive or happier in her life. She never wanted the feelings to stop and she never wanted to lock her friends or family out again.

That was a fairytale, she thought as things finally slowed toward five in the evening. Darkness was all around now, the bright sparkling colored lights throwing a festive glow on the street. She’d made a long playlist of her favorite Christmas music and hummed happily as she cleaned up the kitchen. Two staff members were handling the public rooms and she could hear them chatting about plans and presents and decorating.

She’d let them decorate on Monday. She had a large box just for the shop in the store room. That started her thinking about a tree. But when she stopped moving and closed her eyes, it wasn’t in her apartment. It sat near the patio doors in the large main room at Colin’s house.

Angel finished and was shutting down lights and locking doors when the text came in from him.

“Already retrieved your clothing. Come straight home. I miss you. Colin.”

Laughter bubbled free and she wondered if she should be just a little annoyed. The man was in her apartment. Again. Probably one of her neighbors who liked him, let him inside. Or he stole her spare key. He was the most resourceful…she sighed in defeat. It did save time, she rationalized, doing a final check that things were ready for Monday before finding her warm coat and purse.

Angel raced to her car, shivering at the blast of brisk air zipping all around. She bounced onto the seat and snapped the lock down before starting the car and fiddling with the heater. With the seatbelt in place, she started the drive to Colin’s house. He’d been right. It wasn’t much further than her apartment, just in the opposite direction.

She was smiling as she parked, thinking of the thick logs draped with bright lights. A light rain had begun as she locked the car and ran for the porch, her purse swinging behind her when the door opened.

A severely girly sigh began in her middle and warmed her in all directions at once. She knew instantly that he’d gone for a haircut, which was nicely tapered and still slightly damp. But it was the dark chocolate button shirt with the black vest over it and the black leather pants that sculpted every one of his muscles to perfection that sent her breathing up a notch and moisture headed straight between her thighs.

When his hand rose, hers automatically matched his movement and their fingers clasped. How did he get inside her head so strongly that it overrode the nightmares she’d held close for so long?

Not that she cared. She was just glad they were going away.

“Hi,” Colin pulled her into his arms, his feet, clad in thick leather boots, backed up until he could kick the door closed behind her.

Angel’s smile spread through him with a lick of the finest, most potent wine imaginable.

“You were worried about me,” she eased her hands between them, framing his face. “I put you on my phone GPS. You should be able to use the little app I sent and know where I am. One of my friends gave it to me to share because…” she swallowed the nerves that came from discussing her relatives. “Because I have friends who worry about me.”

“Bailey?”

She nodded.

“It’ll work as long as your phone is with you,” Colin let the contained breath free and nodded. “Thank you. I’ll put it on immediately. While you…go to the bedroom and change. I left what I want you to wear on the bed, even shoes. Since you’ll be with me, you won’t need anything else tonight.”

Angel nodded and stepped back when the arms loosened. She was fascinating to watch, the anticipation and slight hint of apprehension. He had a feeling the items she marked had shifted slightly on her list. Partly because she hadn’t expected to interact like she was now. And partly because she was sensual and curious, a very valuable mix for a man, let alone a Dom.

Reclining on one of the breakfast stools, he had his phone out, finding and loading the little app she’d sent him. One brow arched when it instantly pinpointed her phone on the map he pulled up to view. He tucked it neatly into the outside pocket on his canvas bag, a bit of the anxiety he’d been feeling eased.

He couldn’t ask the police for their involvement unless and until one of them mentioned in the protection order broke it. He’d never cared for that codicil on things. By the time you knew someone had broken a protection order or restraining order, too often, the person you’re protecting was already harmed or worse.

And that was not going to be Angel.

A slight noise had him looking up and he knew immediately that the expression he wore had sent a surge of doubt through his little sub. He corrected that by striding straight to her and framing her face with his hands, lifting it until she met his gaze.

“What I was lost in thought over was not in any way a reflection on how you look, Angel. You’re beautiful and a sub any man would be proud to escort and play with,” he took the slightly parted lips in a long, hard kiss, grateful the sparkle in her eyes had turned to a sweet simmer of fire.

He allowed his palms to slide to her shoulders and down her arms, the filmy fabric slippery and sexy beneath his palms. She was covered from head to toe, a deceptive notion, since what she wore either clung possessively or revealed her in tantalizing bits and pieces by the way she moved. Slits split the skirt, revealing a length of very long, sexy leg when she walked and the top was stretchy and supportive.

Colin held her gaze with his and trailed one finger over the rounded tops of her breasts.

“You’re worried about them, aren’t you?”

“Neither of us trusts easily, Angel,” he said quietly, lifting the jacket she’d tossed to the sofa and draping it around her shoulders. He tugged the edges together without her putting her arms in the sleeves and held it tightly. “I want to believe in the law. Maybe because it’s part of who I became…but I know the intention of it and the practical use of it…just don’t always serve the way it should. It’s a piece of paper that is too often ignored. It puts all the burden on the victim of their behavior.”

“We ran out of most of our baked things today,” she studied the open throat of his shirt. “I could feel people staring at me, but…most were kind and I could see sorrow in their eyes when I caught them watching me. Some just curious, I think. Like I should look differently because of the name I was given.” She mustered a smile and looked up. “I’m glad it was Vianne, though. I like her. She came in for coffee this afternoon with Tanner. I think she was a little worried, too.”

“She’s a good person. I’ve never seen Tanner happier…he’d been in love with her since he was seventeen,” Colin lifted his keys from the hook by the door and slipped the straps of his canvas bag on one shoulder as he guided her to the waiting SUV. “Let’s go. They might be there tonight. I’m taking you to dinner first.”

“I…dinner…in this?” Angel’s feet dragged.

“The club. Yes, dinner,” he repeated with a laugh. “I don’t think anyone will notice other than to comment on your beauty. Nice collar and cuffs, by the way,” he teased before closing the door of the SUV and striding to the driver’s side. He stowed the bag on the floor behind him and slid behind the steering wheel.

“Thank you, sir.” Angel held in the urge to giggle and growl at the same time.

“Hmm…Is that defiance I hear in that sultry voice, Miss Morehouse?” He chuckled and waited while she fastened the seat belt. His amusement and emotions soared with her response.

“Oh, no, sir. Never, sir.” But this time the giggle escaped.

“Hmm…then I’m glad I decided to introduce you to more floggers tonight,” he deliberately kept his features somber, his eyes on the road. He heard her gulp, along with the slightly quickened breathing. He had her full attention now.

Glimpses of the playful Angel were messing with his senses. Seeing her wrestling with children and hugging her friends all brought her closer to his heart. Not a place he thought he’d ever allow anyone to be. He reached over and took her hand, carrying it to his lips.