Angel Warrior: An Angel Warrior Romance (Part 1) Read online

ANGEL WARRIOR

  Immortal Angel

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Angel Warrior

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Fallen Press, Ltd.

  Copyright © 2016

  This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the author.

  ASIN B01HC4NU1W

  Other works by Immortal Angel

  Angel Warrior: An Angel Warrior Romance

  Angel Betrayed: An Angel Warrior Romance (Release date 6/22/16)

  Angel Awakened: An Angel Warrior Romance (Release date 6/29/16)

  Angel Captured: An Angel Warrior Romance (Release date 7/6/16)

  Angel Forever: An Angel Warrior Romance (Release date 7/13/16

  To Kiss A Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance

  To Touch A Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance (Release date 6/24/16)

  To Protect A Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance (Release date 7/1/16)

  To Trust A Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance (Release date 7/8/16)

  To Love A Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance (Release date 7/15/16

  For Lisa

  Friend. Writing Partner. Inspiration.

  Thank you.

  Here’s to many, many more collaborations.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  About the Author

  Preview of Angel Betrayed

  Preview of To Kiss A Warrior

  1

  Gillian

  "So, how is your day looking? Do you think I could meet you for lunch?" Doug’s voice comes through the door of the bathroom, and I can tell he's standing right outside.

  I close the door of the medicine cabinet and look at myself in the mirror. There is something wrong with Doug these days, but I can't put my finger on it. It should be okay for a guy I’m seeing occasionally to ask about my job, right? The only thing is, he never took an interest in it until about a month ago.

  And the last time he met me at my office he'd been a little too snoopy for my liking.

  "Uh, no." I try to sound reluctant. “I have to meet my boss for lunch today."

  I open the door and step out, and he puts his arms around me. It used to make me feel special, but now I just feel…worried. On the outside he’s the same man, green button-down shirt and black slacks, raven hair parted on the side. But now I look up into his piercing blue eyes and wonder what’s going on in his head.

  “That’s too bad, Gillian.” His familiar grin is missing its warmth. “Dinner tomorrow, then?”

  “Yeah, sounds great.” Maybe. I don’t think I’ll be seeing Doug again, but I’ll cancel by phone. It’s been a great few months, but I don’t have time to deal with his weirdness. My work comes first. Especially now. I’m pretty close to a breakthrough that could completely change my career forever.

  Better get to it, hadn’t I?

  2

  Brion

  Gillian works too hard. The errant thought startles me.

  I’ve never cared about what the person I’m protecting does before. But there’s something special about Gillian. Something that draws me to her in a way I can’t explain. Maybe it’s her passion for her work. Or maybe she’s just the hottest thing you’ve seen in a long, long time.

  Whatever it is, it makes being assigned to her rather difficult. And keeping my mind on my work is usually not a problem for me.

  She’s finally leaving her lab at 7:00 p.m. As she crosses the street to meet her roommate for coffee at their usual café, I’m struck again by how beautiful she is. Faded blue jeans and a T-shirt, eyes so blue they’re almost purple, shiny blond hair back in a ponytail. I wonder what it feels like to run my fingers through it. She’s natural. No makeup required. And she’s a scientist.

  Brains and beauty.

  Next to her, I’m a beast.

  My story is different. I skipped out on school, did my time in the service, and then built a security company and made a living protecting low-life scumbags from other low-life scumbags. Until I was shot point-blank by someone I’d trusted.

  How I became an angel when I died I’ll never know. I guess Michael just needed people who could fight. Because I sure as hell can fight.

  And I’ve got an instinct when one is coming up. Like right now. Something’s wrong, but I can’t put my finger on it. I knew when Michael assigned me to her that there might be trouble. But he wasn’t very specific on what that trouble might be. Hell. Maybe he doesn’t even know what it is.

  I jump off the rooftop, extending my wings to float down to the ground. It’s a busy downtown metropolitan day, but I’m not worried. Most humans can’t see me when I do miraculous things like extend my wings or fly. There is the occasional exception, but other humans tend to think they’re crazy. Most see me only when I make a real effort to show myself.

  I land in front of the coffee shop window, blocking the view of her from the street.

  A blinding pain slices through my side. My eyes search for the thrower as my hand closes around the hilt of the dagger.

  This is going to hurt.

  I grit my teeth as I pull it out, but a muffled “Fuck!” comes out anyway. That burns like hell. I never said I was a fucking hero. I just said I could fight.

  Another dagger comes flying, this time toward my chest. I block it with my wing. And my eyes have found the culprit.

  It’s a demon. None of the pedestrians react—to them he looks human. But I can see him for who he is. Demons are slightly larger than humans, with grayish skin, horns, and long, thin whiplike tails. Beware the tails. The daggers on the ends of those little bastards hurt.

  I raise my eyebrows in surprise, but don’t have time to wonder why the demons are here. Did I attract them, or is it the woman I’m protecting? The mystery deepens as two more appear out of nowhere.

  I throw up a shield of protection around the window where she sits, then turn back just as the first demon jumps from the roof of a bus and lands on me. I toss him into the air and he flies into the side of the bus. I backhand the other demon that comes from the opposite direction. Two well-placed kicks throw him into the windshield of a taxi, which spidercracks while the occupants inside scream incoherently.

  The third demon has reached me now. I grapple with him, throwing him into the shielded window. I punch him in the stomach with quick jabs, his head banging repeatedly against the glass. I peer inside the coffee shop over his shoulder briefly to make sure the shield is still working.

  Sure enough, Gillian notices nothing. Her roommate is making her laugh with his crazy facial expressions. So innocent.

  Unlike this demon.

  I finally get a stranglehold around his throat.

  “Why are you here?” I use my angelic voice, deep and powerful.

  He splutters and I realize he can’t speak. I loosen my fist. Slightly.

  “You don’t know?” He laughs. “The biggest news in the underworld and you boys upstairs know nothing. Typical.”

  I tighten my other fist. I really want to put it through his jaw. But then he won’t be able to talk at all. “Are you after me?”
r />   He shakes his head and his eyes burn with hatred. “Sometimes your arrogance astounds even me.”

  “Who are you after?”

  His eyes inadvertently roll toward Gillian. Then he snaps out of it. “I’m not telling you anything.” He gasps. “Giving us a fighting chance.”

  Then the body slumps and I realize he’s just a walk-in. The real owner of this corpse is gone.

  “Shit.” The body crumbles to dust at my feet. Long gone.

  I hear a scream and see that the first demon has awakened and is attacking a random woman on the sidewalk. My stomach lurches. If he bites the back of her neck by her spine, then he’ll be able to walk in to her. And that’s the last thing I need.

  They struggle and end up in the street. I look between my charge and the woman. It’s not my responsibility to protect every human on the street, but I know between the demon and the speeding cars, she doesn’t have a chance of walking away alive.

  “Shit!” Sometimes duty is a bitch. I force myself between them and use the dagger I pulled out of my abdomen to stab him through the heart. He crumbles to dust at my feet. The woman runs off.

  “You’re welcome,” I grumble.

  Just then, I hear Gillian’s voice. Spinning around, I’m shocked to find her on the sidewalk right behind me. I’ve never been this close to her before. The late evening sun breaks through in the space between two high-rise buildings, framing her face perfectly. An expression of fear comes over her and she outstretches her hand toward me. I notice the flecks of darker blue in her eyes for the very first time.

  For a moment, she glows.

  I haven’t had feelings this strong since before I died. I step toward her in a trance.

  Hooooonk!

  I look to the left, and the last thing I see is the windshield of a bus.

  3

  Gillian

  As I walk through the door of the coffee shop, my eyes are drawn to the right. The most beautiful man I’ve ever seen stands before me in the street, and I’m pulled toward him by a force I can’t explain. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a bus hurtling toward him. I throw up my hand to warn him and he takes a step toward me. But it’s too late. The bus hits him and throws him across the pavement.

  “Oh my God, Gillian, did you see that?” Keith shakes my shoulder, waving his other hand hysterically.

  My heart is in my throat as I race to his side, but I freeze when I reach him. His white shirt is drenched in blood. A crimson pool spreads beneath his body.

  Did I just watch a man die? We kneel down next to him. His deeply tanned skin is pale against his dark brown hair. I’m afraid to touch him, in case his skin is already growing cold. And for such a large and imposing man, he looks surprisingly peaceful.

  Death reduces us all to just humans.

  Keith touches his shoulders. “Can you hear me?” My friend looks up at me, all color drained from his face. “What should we do? Mouth-to-mouth?”

  At any other time, his suggestion would be funny. There’s nothing Keith would like better than to have an excuse to put his lips on the gorgeous man.

  But there’s no amusement in his words now. Just hopelessness.

  I hesitantly reach down and check for a pulse. For a minute I don’t feel it. Tears gather in the corners of my eyes. But then, I detect it. It’s slow, but steady. “He’s alive.” I put my fingers in front of his mouth. “And he’s breathing.”

  “Do you think he’s going to make it?” Keith asks solemnly, placing a hand on his chest.

  “God, I hope so.” I bite my lip, slowly coming out of my shock. “We should call 9-1-1.”

  “I’ve already done that,” an assertive man in a business suit steps forward.

  For the first time, I notice there’s quite a crowd building around us.

  Keith blinks several times and stands. I can see the resolve coming over his face. With me he’s often a jokester to a fault, but his day job as a lab tech means he has a more serious side.

  “All right. Step aside, people. Step aside.” Keith puts his arms out, blocking them from coming closer.

  “I didn’t even see him,” an overweight man in a faded gray uniform says, his expression distraught. “He stepped right in front of me.”

  Keith puts an arm around him and steers him back into the rest of the crowd.

  With my friend focusing on the bus driver and the crowd, I look back at the injured man before me. My hand reaches out to brush a curl of dark brown hair out of his eyes before I even know what I’m doing.

  The man opens his eyes. They are clear, green, and deep. I can almost feel them pulling me in. I realize my hands are on his chest. I shake my head and physically pull myself back. But when I do, it feels like something’s pulling me back toward him. I wish I could touch him again. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.” He speaks with a deep, husky voice. He tries to push me away and sit up.

  “Whoa.” I push back, trying to keep him flat on his back, gesturing to his bleeding torso. “You just got hit by a bus. An ambulance is on the way.”

  “I’m fine,” he insists. He scans the tops of the buildings along both sides of the street.

  I follow his gaze, not sure what he’s looking for. When his green eyes come back to me, I realize I’m having trouble keeping my focus on his injuries. “You can’t be. No one could be. You’re in shock,” I insist, but he brushes my hands away.

  “I don’t need a doctor.” He rises gracefully from the pavement, showing no sign he was mowed down by a bus just moments before except for his bloody shirt.

  Keith joins me at his side, dwarfed by the massive stranger. ”Are you sure? You should come home with us, at the very least. Just to be on the safe side.”

  Just then two police officers arrive, hurrying down the sidewalk toward us. “Ambulance is on the way,” one of the men says to me. The other one puts out cones to block traffic.

  “I’m fine,” the stranger says again.

  “Just have a seat, sir.” The policeman points to the bus stop bench right behind us. “Help is just a few minutes away.”

  I hold my breath, hoping the stubborn man will do as he’s told. It wasn’t as if he stubbed his toe. This was serious.

  Behind us, someone cries out. I turn to see the bus driver clutching his chest. His eyes go blank, and he collapses to the ground. The police officer in front of us races over.

  I look back at the bleeding stranger. To my annoyance, he turns and strides off down the sidewalk. I look between him and the man who’s currently receiving CPR from the police officer. They really couldn’t just let this guy run off to die farther down the street, could they?

  “We need to help him.”

  Keith nods beside me. “I’m on it.”

  I start after the injured man. “Excuse me!”

  Keith runs past me, his loud voice silencing my own. “Sir! Sir! At least come home with us, just to be on the safe side.”

  The man pauses midstride and turns around.

  I catch up to them, and his green-eyed gaze turns to me. I catch my breath. In that instant, I know he’s going to say yes. The force between us is too strong.

  Keith looks from me to him. “I’m sure it’d make her feel a lot better to know you’re okay. You did give us quite a scare, after all.”

  He is silent for a long moment. “All right.”

  4

  Brion

  I can’t believe I was run over by a bus. If any of the other guys saw me, I’ll never hear the end of it. But it’s worked out to my advantage.

  I’m going home with her.

  Sometimes fate is like that.

  Gillian is walking in front of me, her long, blond ponytail swinging around every time she looks back to see that I’m still here. I’m still here, baby. I can guarantee I’m following those hips all the way home.

  Why do I want her so much?

  I haven’t really thought about women too much since being turned thirty three years ago. I’ve been too
busy fighting. But I’m thinking about one woman right now. There’s something special about Gillian. A kind of sparkle. And her ass looks great in jeans.

  They are leading me back to their apartment, whispering to each other, completely unaware of my superior hearing.

  “Why did you suggest he come home with us? Are you crazy?”

  “Because I saw him before he got hit by the bus. He was looking right at you with a lovestruck expression. It was so obvious.”

  She glances furtively over her shoulder again. “I think there must have been something more in your coffee than what I got. There’s no way that guy was looking at me.”

  “Girl, you don’t know your own beauty. I’m telling you, you are a stunner.”

  I agree. You are definitely a stunner.

  “I’m more worried about his injuries than any look he gave me right about now.”

  Her friend glances back at me. “So, we’ll make sure he’s okay first. But then, just imagine the romantic story you’ll have to tell your tall, gorgeous kids!”

  She rubs her face. “You’re crazy. You really are, you know that?”

  He bumps her shoulder. “Sometimes you find love, girl. But sometimes love finds you. Trust me on that one.”

  We arrive at their apartment and I follow them up the steps. Gillian fumbles through her bag for her keys, so Keith does the honors.

  Inside, she immediately turns to me, her gaze focused on my torso. “Let’s take off that shirt and see how bad things are.”

  I swear my heart stops. She wants me to undress for her? No problem.

  But for some reason, my fingers fumble with the buttons on my shirt. After a second, she pushes my hands away and undoes each one with a distinctly professional air.

  By the time she lets it drop to the floor, I’m excited in a way I haven’t been for over thirty years. I resist checking myself out, just to be sure. Hello down there. It’s been a while.

  Her eyes caress every inch of me, taking in my tattoos, my pecs, my abs. She swallows. “Just a second.” She turns and heads down the hall.

  Keith is busy staring at my chest, his mouth hanging open. A couple of slow minutes pass, without him saying a word.

  “Here,” she says. A second later, a warm cloth touches my chest, and I hiss.

  Her eyes widened. “Does it hurt?”

  “Just surprised,” I mumble, my voice a bit husky.

  I watch her trembling hand as she wipes the blood from my chest and my side. She goes to the kitchen sink and rinses the cloth several times before coming back. The cloth is always warm. I’m thankful for that.

  Her hand drops to her side. “There’s just a little cut.”

  I look down, wishing, too late, that I’d considered what she might find when she finally undressed me. “Uh. Most of it was paint.”

  “Paint?” she repeats.

  I can tell she doesn’t believe me. “Yeah, I was helping a friend paint her apartment.”

  “Well, geez,” Keith cuts in, his mouth finally working again. “Why didn’t you mention that in the first place? See, Gillian, he’s going to be fine.”

  She brings the cloth back to the sink, wringing it out one last time. “I guess that’s good,” she says, over the sound of the running water.

  “I’m glad that’s over with.” Keith says, even though his tone suggests the exact opposite.

  The room goes uncomfortably quiet.

  “Please, have a seat on the sofa.” Gillian gestures to the couch with one hand, while grabbing Keith’s arm with the other. “I’ll be right back.”

  She drags him down the hall.

  I grin. Not far enough, I can still hear them.

  “What am I supposed to do with him now?” she hisses at her roommate.

  “Anything you want, girlfriend. Although I have a lot of suggestions, if you need them, on what to do with a sexy, shirtless man,” he replies, a smile in his voice. “I’m staying the night with Peter, so you’ll have the place all to yourself.”

  Good man. I’m going to have to buy him a beer sometime.

  “What?! You’re leaving me alone with him?”

  “Of course! I only came back here to get my overnight bag. Toodles!” He grabs a bag from his room and walks past me, waggling his fingers back at her. He throws a wink over his shoulder at me before sashaying out the door.

  Gillian takes a while to come down the hall, approaching more slowly. “This is the only one of his shirts I thought might fit you.”

  I take it, grateful. I pull it on, realizing immediately that it’s far too tight. But beggars can’t be choosers, right? And it was definitely better than putting my bloody shirt back on.

  “Um…it’s pretty late. Do you want something for dinner?”

  Her shyness is endearing. Are you on the menu? Because I believe I’m starting to work up quite an appetite.

  “I don’t have much in the fridge.” She unconsciously touches her hair. “But I can order takeout. Chinese. Pizza. Whatever.”

  “Takeout sounds good. I’m not picky about food—it’s your choice.”

  She decides quickly and, after I give her the go-ahead to order whatever she wants, calls it in. The takeout comes ridiculously fast. Her face turns a light shade of pink as she mumbles about being a regular at the place across the street.

  I watch her closely as we eat. She’s very nervous at first, but opens up as we talk about superhero and sci-fi movies. I can tell she loves science fiction almost as much as she loves science.

  After finishing dinner, we go back into the living room.

  “Do you want to stay the night?” she asks, then rushes out. “On the couch, I mean. That way I can keep an eye on you in case you have a concussion or something.”

  I try not to sound disappointed as I say, “Sure.” Even though sleeping in her bed sounds a heck of a lot better.

  “The couch is a pullout. And I have extra sheets and blankets.” She backs out of the room and scrambles down the hall.

  5

  Gillian

  What is it about this guy? It isn’t just that he’s gorgeous. When we spoke at dinner, he listened. It’s been a long time since anyone but Keith listened to me like that. And he draws me in a way I can’t explain. Like gravity.

  I ruffle through the closet, looking for a set without flowers. Something manly. Between myself and Keith, sometimes I don’t know who’s more girly. I finally find a matching set in royal blue. When I turn around, he’s right behind me.

  I shriek. “You scared me!”

  “Sorry,” he says, but he’s grinning.

  He seems overly large in the small hallway, and my racing heart can’t seem to slow down. I sway toward him, brushing him with the sheets. He leans toward me as well, and for a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me. After an awkward silence, I thrust the sheets at him, not sure what else to do.

  “Thank you,” he replies, chuckling as he walks back down the hall in front of me.

  I try not to ogle him too much as he walks. But I can’t help myself. I’ve never seen a man as perfectly formed as him. The guy must hang out at the gym day and night to keep his entire body so tight.

  An image of his naked chest flashes in my mind, and my whole body feels flushed. I remember running the cloth over him in the kitchen, caring for him. How had wiping blood off an injured man become so hot so fast?

  He’s already pulled out the bed when we reach the living room. I don’t know how he did it that fast.

  I stand there awkwardly until he tosses me one side of the fitted sheet. I shouldn’t notice his easy strength, how he simply lifts the corner of the mattress to tuck the corner under. Or the way his long fingers smooth over the sheet. Making this bed together feels strangely intimate.

  “So, uh, what do you do?”

  He pauses. “You mean, for a living?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m in…law enforcement.” For some reason, that pause worries me.

  “What kind of law enforceme
nt?”

  He gives me a level stare. “The kind that enforces laws.”

  I’m not even going to respond to that.

  When it becomes obvious I’m not going to let it go, he sighs. “Look, it’s classified. I can’t really tell you about it. That’s also why I didn’t want to go to the hospital.”

  I search his face, but he seems to be telling the truth. His eyes are clear and look at me unwaveringly.

  “All right, Mr. Classified. Water is in the kitchen, bathroom is the first door on the left. I’ll pull out a couple of towels and leave them in there for you.”

  He places the other sheets on the bed, nodding. “All right, thank you very much for letting me stay here tonight.” He grabs the skintight shirt behind his neck and pulls it off over his head with one hand.

  His incredible body hits me again, but this time I’m not worried about his injuries. I feel almost paralyzed as let my gaze slide over every inch of him. He looks like a magazine cutout, muscular and tanned from the waist up. Every ab is visible beneath taut skin. They ripple as he folds his T-shirt and sets it on the coffee table.

  He looks up, and I can tell he’s debating whether to pursue me or not.

  As drawn as I am to him, we just met. I start backing away. Straight into the wall. “Oomph,” I grunt ungracefully.

  “Are you all right?” His face is filled with concern.

  My face flames in embarrassment. “I—I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow. In the morning. Good night.”

  His mouth quirks up at the corners and I can tell he’s trying not to laugh at me. I flee down the hall to my bedroom, closing the door, and locking it for good measure.

  Maybe the lock should go the other way. I’m not sure who needs more protection. Me from him—or him from me.

  6

  Brion

  My eyes open and I stare at an oddly high ceiling. Oh. Right. I’m still at Gillian’s. I sit up slowly. Argh. My back muscles bunch uncomfortably. Sleeping on human beds always does that to me. We don’t have to sleep upstairs, but down in the 3rd dimension we have many of the same needs as humans.

  Or maybe it was getting hit by a bus yesterday. That was graceful.

  I’m not sure I slept at all last night. Every few hours Gillian came out and pressed a soft palm to my forehead, or simply stood over me, watching the rise and fall of my chest. Her concern warmed me, but the thought of her so close to my bed, wearing her pink pajamas edged with lace, made it impossible to think of anything besides her.

  I shift uncomfortably. I was hard damn near all night. And it had been ridiculously hard to keep my eyes mostly shut, feigning a peaceful sleep.

  I try to smooth down my hair the best I can. A nervous energy fills me and, glancing around the room, I try to find something to do. I can make her breakfast. Maybe that would wrest a smile from her.

  I pad to the kitchen and rifle through the fridge. Eggs. Bacon. Tomatoes. Peppers. Garlic. Bread. Perfect. I can work with this.

  Before long, the aroma of bacon and eggs fill the air. It’s funny, but even though I don’t have to, I still love to cook. And eat.

  I hear her open her door and come into the kitchen behind me. “Good morning.”

  She’s adorably rumpled from sleep, her long, straight blond hair slightly frizzed. Her eyes are wide, and I can tell she doesn’t know what to say. There’s that hungry gaze again. It slides over each of my tattoos, then my chest, then my abs, then lower.

  But I feel much the same. My eyes devour her, wishing I could brush that lace over every inch of her body.

  I can tell the moment she realizes I’m watching her.

  A blush creeps up her neck. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  I clear my throat. “I’m fine. Good as new.”

  “What are you making?” She tries to look around me at the pan on the stove.

  She looks adorable. But way too serious. I want to see her smile.

  I step to the left, then the right, blocking her view. “No peeking,” I tease.

  She grins at that, looking a little more at ease. “I’m pretty sure it’s bacon and eggs.”

  “And I’m pretty sure you know what that looks like already.” I wink. “Do you want coffee?”

  “Yes, please.” She glances at the clock. “I want to get dressed. How long do I have before it’s ready?”

  I turn back to the pan. “Ten minutes.”

  “I’ll be ready in five.”

  When the shower turns on, I try my hardest not to imagine her in there. Wet. Naked. Down boy. Those kinds of thoughts are exactly the ones that will get me in trouble.

  I freeze as I’m stirring the eggs. What’s going on with me? I’m acting like a horny teenager, not the ambivalent angel I’d grown to accept.

  She reemerges just as I finish putting the food on the table, her hair still wet from the shower.

  “This is wonderful.” She looks up at me shyly. “You didn’t have to make breakfast.”

  I laugh. “Of course I did, after you saved my life and everything. Please, eat up.”

  She rolls her eyes, but sits down and takes a bite. Her eyes open wide. “Oh my,” she says with her mouth full. “This is delicious. What did you put in these eggs?” She picks up the plate to look at it.

  “Just veggies and spices. The way my mama showed me how to make it.”

  “Your mama sure knew what she was doing.”

  “Yes, ma’am, she did.” I’m strangely pleased by how much she enjoys the food. She eats almost as fast as I do.

  When she’s finished, she puts down the fork with obvious reluctance and looks at her watch again. “Thank you so much for breakfast. But it’s almost seven and I’ve got to head off to work in fifteen minutes.”

  I nod and begin to gather the dishes, but she stops me by placing a hand on my arm. Energy arcs between us, making my skin tingle.

  She pulls back with a gasp. “Please. I’ll get this. Why don’t you grab a shower?”

  It’s only minutes later that we are standing awkwardly just inside her front door. “Thank you so much for helping me yesterday. And allowing me to stay the night.”

  She laughs. “I don’t think I did much for you, but at least you weren’t alone.”

  I pause at that. “You’re right. I wasn’t alone. And believe me, Gillian, that was enough.”

  For the first time I realize how lonely I’ve been since becoming an angel. I have friends, other warriors, but no family. No love. I put my hand on the door handle, but don’t open it. “I’d really like to see you again.” My stomach jumps a little, and I realize I’m actually worried about what she’s going to say.

  “Me, too,” she says, her gaze locked on her shoes.

  I feel a surge of hope. “How about dinner tomorrow night? We could meet at the coffee shop.”

  “Where you got hit? Isn’t that bad luck?”

  I wink at her. “I heard you can’t get hit by a bus twice on the same street.”

  She looks at me as if I’m pulling her leg.

  And I am.

  I don’t know what to do, so I take the back of her hand and kiss it. An electric shock goes through me as my lips touch her. A glance at the stunned expression on her face tells me she felt it, too.

  “Tomorrow night at seven, then?” My eyes drink her in.

  “Tomorrow at seven,” she agrees.

  I don’t know if I’m allowed to date a human. I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules, in the fine print somewhere.

  But I do know that for the first time since becoming an angel, I feel a spark of hope.

  7

  Gillian

  When I enter the building that houses my lab, Keith is waiting for me. “Oh my God, girl, I’ve been waiting here for an hour to find out what happened last night! Don’t keep me in suspense—give me details, tell me everything!”

  “Be quiet!” I shush him, looking around. “He’d just been hit by a bus—I wasn’t going to jump on him last night.”

&nbs
p; His hand goes to his forehead and he moans in pain. “Oh God, girl, you’re killing me here. Pleeeease tell me I did not leave and stay the night with that horrible Peter, listening to him snore all night long, just so you could do absolutely nothing with the hot, scrumptious specimen of a male that practically landed in your lap!” He’s shaking my shoulders in despair by the end of his speech.

  I try to look chagrined. “I’m sorry I let you down, babe.”

  He looks so crestfallen that I have to console him.

  “But you know what? He asked me out to dinner tomorrow night.” I wink.

  “Oh thank goodness!” He’s almost crying with relief. “The night was not a total disaster!”

  I put my arm around his shoulders for a quick hug. “Definitely not, but I’d better get to work.”

  He nods. “All right, sweetie. See you later.”

  As the elevator door opens before me, he calls out, “Gillian! What was his name?”

  I shrug. “I really have no idea.”

  “What?!”

  After I step into the elevator and the door closes, I can’t stop laughing. Had we really gone through all of that, and I forgot to ask him his name?