Chapter Nine
Angel gasped for breath. She stood with her back pressed against a cold brick wall. There was only hazy light and creeping shadow. Towering buildings surrounded her, growing taller with every breath she took. Shadows raced at her from every direction, lashing out with stinging fists and jabs, catching her face, her stomach. She tried to shield herself from the blows. “Leave me alone,” she cried, but the faceless villains taunted and laughed, mocking her fear. Terror choked the breath from her body. The darkness was closing in around her. She screamed, but then she froze.
A cool breeze, crisp and clean and good, lifted her hair off her shoulders.
“It’s alright. I’m here,” a deep voice said. His words echoed around her.
She turned, searching the darkness. “Ethan?” she whispered, her heart quaking.
“I’m here.”
She whirled around and glimpsed him emerging from the shadows.
“Ethan,” she shouted and ran to him, collapsing in his open arms. The alley faded away. Nothing remained but the two of them and soft, dewy light.
“I will always chase away the darkness,” he promised.
She stared at the sensual curve of his mouth. She was so hungry for his full lips. He pulled her close. “You are mine now.” His lips seized hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself into him. Her body ached. His fingers wove through her hair as he kissed her so hard, stealing the breath from her body. His tongue plunged into her mouth, caressing, teasing, stoking her need. He pulled away and tore her shirt over her head. Then his fingers hooked her bra straps, easing them down her shoulders, freeing her small, pert breasts. Her nipples hardened, aching for his touch. He bent his head and flicked his tongue over her soft, pink skin. Then he drew her nipple into his mouth. She groaned. “More, Ethan. I want more.”
He turned her around and pressed her back against his hard stomach and slipped his hand beneath the waist of her pants. Softly, he stroked her sensitive skin. Then his touch deepened. His finger gently slid inside her. She threw her head back. His lips and tongue made a hot trail down her throat and shoulders, scorching her flesh as he stroked her again and again. The ache continued to build. Her body was so hot and getting hotter and hotter and…
Angel sat up with a start. Her body throbbed from her nearly-fulfilling dream. The intercom buzzer went off, making her jump. She scooted off her bed, realizing the noise must have been what woke her up. She hurried over to the door and pressed the small, black button. “Who’s there?” she asked, hoping it was Ethan.
“United States Postal Service.”
She crossed the room and peeked out the window. A white postal van hugged the curb, and a man wearing the required blue pants stood on her front stoop with a large manila envelope in hand. Pulling on a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, she slipped on her chef’s clogs, then headed toward the door. But she paused, remembering to grab her keys. One phone call from Ethan and the super had fixed the lock on the building’s front door.
“Good morning,” the man said in greeting while he held out a black electronic pad for her to sign. After she scribbled out her name, he handed her the package.
“Have a good day,” he said and turned on his heel.
“You too,” she said absently as she examined the envelope.
There wasn’t a return address.
She stepped back into the entryway, but she couldn’t wait to make it up the two flights of stairs to her apartment to open it. Peeling back the fold, she peered inside, spying a flash of silver. She tipped it, and a set of keys and a folded note slid into her cupped palm. She looked at the keys curiously, then read the note. “I painted her cherry red.”
Her brow pinched together. What was that supposed to mean? She looked at the keys again and realized they were her old car keys.
“He didn’t,” she whispered as she headed back outside.
A few spaces away from her front stoop was a car that looked just like her old one, but with a new paint job and killer tires.
“Holy shit!” she squealed and raced over to peek inside. Her mouth fell open when she saw gleaming white leather seats. With her hands shaking, she went to insert the key into the door, then realized she now had keyless entry. Ethan had brought her into the twenty-first century.
She slid into the front seat. It was gorgeous, complete with a new touch screen sound system and automatic windows. Then she spotted another envelope on the passenger seat. She snatched it up and ripped it open, her heart pounding with eagerness.
It read Angel’s Mountain Retreat and included a detailed, hand-drawn map. She skimmed the directions, which clearly led up north.
For a moment, she was wild with delight, but then she hesitated as anxiety crept into her thoughts.
Could she trust Ethan?
What did she really know about him?
So far, he had done nothing to hurt her. In fact, he had saved her life. A cold chill shot up her spine thinking about what would have happened to her in that alley had Ethan not shown up when he did.
Closing her eyes, she gripped the wheel and imagined herself driving north to meet him. It felt so right. She wanted to take the risk. For once in her life, she wanted to be bold. She wanted romance. She didn’t want to be alone anymore.
But she was afraid.
Her shoulders sagged. She let the map fall back on the passenger seat face down, but then she noticed something written on the back.
Take a chance on me.
Kissing Ethan had been the most thrilling experience of her life. She wondered what it would be like to go farther, to go all the way. She wasn’t a virgin still because of a lack of interest. She simply had never met a man she trusted to get that close. Could she take a chance on Ethan? Her heart raced while she considered his request.
Did she dare?
A smile spread across her face. Hell yeah!
She slid from the car and raced back up to her apartment, taking the stairs two at a time. After she called Bake Off and got her shift covered, she packed a quick bag. Her paycheck should have been deposited into her account, and there was sure to be an affordable place she could stay so that she wouldn’t have to drive home that night. Then she froze. What if Ethan wanted her to stay wherever the map took her? What if it was a hotel? Her heart started to pound at the prospect of staying overnight with him again and what that might lead to. Just the idea made her face warm. What if he asked her to stay? It was not like she knew what to do. What if she was terrible?
“Shut the hell up,” she said out loud, pretending to be Matty. It’s what he would have said to her if he could hear her inner rambling. Maybe she should call Matty and get some tips. He knew what men liked. Her heart and thoughts were beginning to race out of control. She needed to get a grip, or she was going to scare herself out of going.
Just get in the car and drive.
She grabbed her bag, and before she could start another fight with herself, she threw her door open and slammed it shut behind her. With the same determined stride, she stamped down the steps, passing Mrs. T who had chosen a blue flower for her hair that day.
“Why, hello, Angel.”
“Sorry, Mrs. T, I can’t talk today.”
“Go get him,” Mrs. T called after her.
Angel froze and looked back up the steps at the old lady dressed in a blue silk gown. “How did you know where I was going?”
Mrs. T put her hand on her waist, jutting out her hip. “You look elated and terrified, my dear—only a man has that power. Now, go. Run. Don’t stop until you’ve made Ethan yours, or I might consider him fair game,” she said with a wink.
Angel smiled and nodded. Then she turned about, dashed to her car, and started to open the door. The new cherry red paint glinted in the sun. The fine, white leather seats shone crisp and bright. She hadn’t experienced such luxury since she left home five years ago.
She faltered.
In appearance, Ethan seemed like an honest businessman. He was clearly a successful designer and investor. But how could she be certain?
“Stop it,” she ordered herself. She had to give Ethan the benefit of the doubt—after all he had done for her, he deserved her trust. Anyway, he was also painfully gorgeous and waiting for her somewhere in Maine, amid the trees and fresh air.
Once more, the thrill of the moment coursed through her. She hopped in the car, turned the engine on, and revved it for good measure. After opening her new skylight, she headed out of the city, music blasting from new speakers.