STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (2 page)

   
“
I'm sorry.  What depends on your mood?
”

   
“
Whether I don the halo persona or devil's horns in my bedroom.
”

    With her cheek against his face, his smile widened. 
“
I see.
”

   
“
Which do you think you'd prefer?
”

   
“
I can adapt to either.
”

    She leaned her head back and grinned at him. 
“
Good answer.  Do you want to kiss me, because I want to kiss you?
”

    He smiled at her and said,
“
How far do you want to take this kiss?
”

    She shrugged. 
“
We're in public, so not raunchy.
”

    He grinned again. 
“
If I get carried away, will you stop me before I embarrass you and myself?
”

   
“
If I can,
”
she said in a hushed voice as his head tilted toward her, and he cocked his head before placing his lips on hers.  His kiss started light, friendly, gentle and then his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer as his kiss deepened.  His tongue didn't touch her lips, and he released her after a few seconds.

    She gazed in his eyes and said,
“
If I had my wings on they'd be ready to take flight.
”

    A frown creased his forehead. 
“
Is that good or bad?
”

   
“
Both.
”

   
“
I'm afraid I don't understand.  Did you like the kiss or not?
”

    She gazed at him with a serious expression on her face and said,
“
The angel in me wanted that kiss to go on and on to a cloud and float in the heavens.  The devil in me wanted to stay here and get down and dirty.
”

    He pulled her closer and then swung her out, twirling her and bringing her close again to the beat of the music. 
“
You're a refreshingly honest woman.  I like you, Angelica.
”

   
“
You should like the one you marry.  Tell me a dirty joke,
”
she said, her sky blue eyes twinkling.

   
“
My repertoire is limited.  I promise to fill a file cabinet with dirty jokes before our wedding day.
”

    Her eyes sparkled. 
“
You must remember one.
”

    He stared at the ceiling. 
“
There is one that comes to mind.  It's old.
”

   
“
Tell me,
”
she said, pretending to be breathless with anticipation.

   
“
Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden and he said......
”

   
“
'Stand back.  I don't know how big this is going to get,'
”
  She doubled over laughing, and the room reverberated with the sound. 
“
I love that joke.
”

   
“
You stole the punchline,
”
he said as though angry.

    Her mouth attached to his and she murmured,
“
I'm sorry.  Forgive me?
”

   
“
How can I not?  I'm in love with your laugh.
”

   
“
But since you're a man you're aware of my other attributes,
”
she said her arms tightening around his neck.

   
“
More than aware, I'm mesmerized.  Do angels cast spells?
”

   
“
I'm not sure, but don't put anything past the demons.
”

    They stayed until the bar closed.  He helped her on with her coat, white wool with a hood trimmed in fur.  She buttoned up to her chin; donned white leather lined gloves and pulled her hood over her straight fall of light blond hair.

    Cray said,
“
Are you expecting a blizzard?
”

   
“
I hate the cold and that's crazy because I was born and grew up in Norway.
”

   
“
When did you come to the states?
”

   
“
At eighteen to attend college.  I went to school in Southern California and loved the weather.
”

    He handed her to the back seat of the chauffeur-driven limo. 
“
What brought you here?
”

   
“
A job offer,
”
she said and then gave the chauffeur her address.

   
“
What do you do?
”
he asked as the limo pulled into traffic.

    She smiled at him and said,
“
You'll never guess.  No one does so I'll tell you.  I'm a professor at Columbia University.  I teach Philosophy.
”

   
“
You're right.  I would never have guessed.  If I had to, I'd say a model.
”

   
“
I did that, too, in California to help with college expenses and grad school.  You can't imagine how boring it is to pose under hot lights hour after hour in skimpy clothes.  God, I hated that more than the cold in Norway.
”

   
“
No, I can't imagine the boredom, but I can picture you as a model.  You're beautiful, Angelica.
”

   
“
A bit long in the tooth to be walking the runway or posing for magazine covers at my age.  Of course, with airbrushing anyone can look far better than they are in real life.
”

   
“
Are you saying you're too old?
”

   
“
Yes, at thirty-five I'm way past my prime, but who cares?  I don't.
”

    He turned her face to him, switched on the side lights in the car and said,
“
There's not a line on your face.
”

    She shrugged. 
“
I did learn the tricks of the trade.  You should see me without makeup when I get up in the morning.
”

   
“
I'd like that,
”
Cray said.

    She patted his hand resting on his knee and said,
“
I'm going to pretend you didn't say that.
”

    He grinned and said,
“
But Angel, when we're married we'll be waking up beside each other every morning.
”

   
“
Be careful what you wish for, Cray Phillips.
”

    The driver pulled up in front of a secure apartment building, and Cray said,
“
I'll walk you to your door.
”

   
“
Thank you.  The building is secure, but it's late.
”

    They exited the elevator on her floor, and he followed her to her apartment where she stuck her key in the lock and turned to face him. 
“
I'm not going to invite you in, Cray.
”

   
“
I didn't expect you to, Angel.
”

    She leaned against the door jamb and said,
“
Do you call me Angel to shorten my name or as an endearment?
”

   
“
Both, I guess.  I didn't think about it.
”

   
“
Cray, what do you do for a living?
”

   
“
I buy failing businesses around the country.
”

   
“
Do you splinter or fragment them to make a killing?
”

    He leaned his shoulder against the jamb opposite her and said,
“
Not if there's any other way.  Often a business is failing because of poor management of the business or financial incompetence.  A lot of what I buy is manufacturing that's trying to compete with imports.  I believe firmly in made in America, so if there's any way to salvage the plant and make it viable, I do.
”

    In one fluid glide, she moved to his embrace and kissed him.  The kiss deepened, and his tongue sought hers, meeting in a tangle of need.  Her body pressed closer to his, but their heavy outerwear prevented an actual connection.  After a long minute, she released his mouth, and he let her. 
“
Three years ago,
”
she said,
“
I became a naturalized American citizen.  I love this country, and I'm glad you do, too.
”

   
“
You might even appreciate this country more than I do,
”
Cray said,
“
although I never heard of hardship in Norway.
”

   
“
No, Norway is a wonderful country, and my parents were upset when I gave up my citizenship.  I plan to live the rest of my life here, so I want to vote and express my opinions as is my right as an American.
”

    He smiled at her. 
“
We won't discuss politics.  Most university professors are rather liberal.
”

   
“
And you're not.
”

   
“
It depends on the subject under discussion.  Angel, have dinner with me tomorrow night.
”

   
“
I'd like that.  What time?
”

   
“
Seven.  Does that suit?
”

   
“
Perfect.  Where are you taking me and what shall I wear?
”

   
“
Northern Italian food if you like it and I'll wear a suit if that helps.  The restaurant isn't fancy, but we can go out dancing afterward.
”

   
“
I love the food and I'll dress appropriately for dancing afterward.  I guess I should have invited you in since we stood out here this long talking.  You're easy to talk to, Cray.
”

   
“
You make it easy, Angel.  I'm leaving now.
”

   
“
One more time,
”
she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on tiptoes.  The kiss lasted longer than the other times and when they drew apart panting she said,
“
You're superb at that.
”

   
“
I credit my partner's influence.
”
  They exchanged phone numbers.  He winked at her and walked away toward the elevator.

    He climbed in the backseat of the limo and pulled his phone from inside his coat.  The thing had been vibrating off and on since he and Angelica left the party.  Six phone calls from his sister Mona.  Too late to call her now. 

    He rested his head against the back of the seat and considered the evening's events.  What a woman.  Gorgeous face, delectable body, intelligent, self-sufficient and funny.  So many of the women he dated were needy, high maintenance or had a train load of baggage from their previous experiences.  If Angel had those, it wasn't apparent and most women he knew started to unload after a few hours together whether the first date or not.

             
He welcomed his thick coat and hers as they kissed because otherwise as close as she stood to him she would have noticed his reaction to her when she so much as touched him, let alone kissed him.  On the dance floor, he didn't allow her to press up against his groin.  Funny, in the past he let a woman recognize his need in the hopes she'd go to bed with him.  It usually worked, too.

    With Angelica he wanted to be in control, not controlling her, but not scaring her off, either.  His libido went into overdrive just being beside her.  Aside from her love of dirty jokes, her penchant for kissing him, he got the sense she wouldn't jump in bed after meeting a man a few hours ago.  He liked that.  It frustrated him, but he liked it.  He decided to let her make the first move since she didn't hesitate to move in for a kiss.