Angel After Dark (15 page)

“Can you give me a minute or two to get organized, Chris? It’s been a really long day, and I’m a little scattered right now. I’m going to get some water, and then I should be good to go.” Angel looked up at the young woman briefly and then flipped open the folder before letting the flap fall closed again.

“Will we be blessed with Darian’s presence tonight? He hasn’t called, so I’m not sure if he’ll show. Have you heard from him?”

Angel rolled her eyes in disgust, huffing. “He won’t, if he knows what’s good for him!”

Christina’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened at Angel’s shortness and tone. “What? Why?”

“I’ve had enough of him tonight, that’s all.”

“Ah…” Christina began but it was clear she was filled with trepidation at asking the questions she wanted the answers to. “O… kay.” It was obvious to Christina that if she wanted more, she’d have to push.

“Thanks,” Angel answered.

The other woman’s brows shot up and she pursed her lips as she turned to leave the booth and take her place on the other side of the glass. Angel sat down and leaned back in the chair.

Christina continued talking but Angel wasn’t listening. She nodded in response to something about Glenn, the scruffy jock who just ended his shift, and then moved out of the booth to get a bottle of water from the refrigerator in the small break room at the opposite end of the building.

What the fuck is my problem?
she asked herself with a slight shake of her head, glancing at her watch. Only ten minutes until she had to be on air.

Alex Avery
. The name bounced around in her brain along with images of the crooked grin and mischievous look in his deep green eyes as they sparred with each other at the bar. The contrast against his almost black hair was striking. And that fucking voice, even more mesmerizing in person than it was on the phone.

“I should have known that bastard would be freaking perfect,” she mumbled as she made her way back into the booth again. Was it too much to ask that he’d be bald or fat with pockmarks covering his face? Did he have to be the dream guy? He was even more killer in a suit.

Despite Alex Avery’s charisma or his incredible looks, Angel was more affected by how her body involuntarily responded, her heart racing and her skin flushing with heat. She sighed in disgust as she sat down at the desk once more. She prided herself on her self-control, in both her personal and professional lives. She sure as hell didn’t fall into a quivering pile of goo at mere words or sight of a man.
Ever
. So the events of the evening were leaving her somewhat shaken.

She flushed as she remembered the electricity that raced through her as his heated gaze raked her body or how he never took his eyes off her as she sang that stupid song. When he touched her while helping with her blazer, the tangible connection was impossible to ignore. It was all she could do to keep her voice under control. She felt vulnerable and unsettled.

And, his body! Her imagination ran wild with pleasurable possibilities. The broad shoulders that tapered to the slim waist and narrow hips and those goddamned sinewy forearms were enough to make her mouth water, even without that glorious mane of hair that begged for her fingers to rake through. He was tall and rock hard. Rock
fucking
hard.
Rock hard
fucking
, her brain protested. She huffed and pulled the file toward her and took out the top sheet of paper, trying to get her mind on anything other than Alexander Avery. At least she could understand the poor girl’s plight that had called in two weeks ago. No woman with hormones stood a snowball’s chance in hell against all that blatant masculinity and polished confidence. It was no wonder.

Even as Angel tried to maintain her bravado and banter back and forth with him, there was a palpable undercurrent she couldn’t deny and it was obvious Alex felt it as well. He hadn’t tried to hide it, but she’d be damned if she’d allow him to reduce her to another notch on his very long list of conquests.
No
, she admonished herself; she would remain in control if it was the last damn thing she did. “Why do all the beautiful ones have to be pricks?” she said, still mumbling to herself, sorry now that her fantasy might be dashed. At least before, she could build him up as perfect and not some slick womanizer. She should be glad this happened. She hadn’t thought about that bastard Swanson’s court case since last week when Alex called into the program. She sighed. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure one bad boy was easier to deal with than the other. Just different.

“What?” Christina had returned and overheard Angel’s quiet musings.

“Oh, nothing. Darian lambasted me tonight, most likely thinking I’d go all wet and weak like his stereotype of the typical woman.”

“What happened? If you don’t mind my asking?”

“Yeah… that guy. The
voice
. Remember?”

Christina sat down slowly on the other side of the desk as her eyes widened. “Oh, shit. It was like warm honey. I wanted to take a bath in it; he sounded so damn good.”

“That’s the one.” Angel nodded. “I was out for my best friend’s birthday and Darian, that bastard, showed up on some bullshit pretense of talking to me about the show, with this guy in tow.”

“Holy crap. He’s not Alex Avery?
 
Darian’s friend?” The younger girl’s face lit up in obvious interest when Angel flashed her a look. “What’s he like? Does the voice match? I mean, is he as beautiful as his voice?” She leaned on her fisted hand toward Angel over the desk and the series of questions tumbled from her eager lips. “Um… maybe I don’t want to know? It will ruin a fantastic fantasy if he’s a schlep.”

“Ugh. Not you, too,” Angel lamented.

When Christina didn’t respond but only stared at Angel with rapt interest, she pushed her hair off her face and kept talking. “Oh, you know… able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Angel smiled and was rewarded with a small chuckle from her companion. “Hell yes, it all fits. Unfortunately. He’s…” she shook her head, “gorgeous, confident, and extremely intelligent, sexy as hell… man candy personified. Just the type of guy that can fuck up a woman’s life in a gargantuan way and make her think he’s Santa Claus in the process. He’s a taker, and from what I can gather, he thinks he can have anything he wants, whenever he wants it. I’m sure he leaves a trail of women crying in his wake.”

“You obviously talked to him then.”

“Chris, I deal with relationship bullshit every day. We talked a little, but nothing that meant anything. My observations are simply that. Nothing more.”

“Did he move you in any way?” Christina and Angel weren’t friends, per se, but she’d gotten to understand Angel’s controlled demeanor. She’d expect Angel to kick the shit out of any man whose attentions she didn’t want, and she knew she could do it, hypothetically speaking. Angel was the female version of the man she’d just described, and Christina had seen the way Darian drooled over her when she wasn’t looking… however, Angel was completely indifferent.

“I’m human. He’s hot, and after I got over being pissed, he was sort of disarming. There’s no getting around it, and as my friend, Becca, so aptly points out to me constantly…” Angel paused, her eyes widening for emphasis and she smiled. “I
do
have a vagina. Good thing I have a brain to go along with it. His relationships are purely physical but at least he’s honest about it. If he lied and made promises, now that would be unforgivable.”

Christina burst out laughing. “Yes, my vagina is talking to me about him just from your description! But, I thought Darian, I mean—” she stopped.

“Darian, what?”

“I thought he was into you, so why would he introduce you to Superman?”

“Eh… no, he’s not. Besides, he’s my boss.” Angel shook her head. “I like him, but I don’t want to date him.”

“What about his friend?”

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I find him more than a little tempting.” Given how silly she already felt she sounded, Angel didn’t feel the need to fill Christina in on their earlier encounter. “I’d literally have to be dead not to notice. He’s quite disarming and he knows it. It’s not even a matter of opinion; every woman there was practically touching herself, just looking at him. But, he’s not dating material. He’s not someone you mess around with if you want to come out unscathed. I’m not one of
those
girls. I hope he got that message tonight.”

“What do you mean ‘those girls’?”

“You know, the kind he’s used to. The mewling, needy, ‘
I’ll do anything
,
just please don’t leave me, baby
,’ kind.”

“Yeah. I get that about you. You’re more the,
‘don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out
,’ type.”

Angel flashed a big smile and nodded. “Am I that bad? We can talk more about it later. I have to start the show.”

“Okay. Alex Avery, huh?” Angel nodded again and cued up the first song of her set. “Google, here I come.”

Angel smiled and shook her head as she settled the headphones in place. “If Darian calls, tell him to fuck off.”

“All righty, then,” Christina spouted happily, as she flounced out of the booth to her position behind the glass partition with the phone.

“This is Dr. Angeline Hemming and this is After Dark on KKIS FM. I’m waiting… so give me a call at 800–555–6900 and let’s talk.”

As the song started to play, Angel couldn’t help but wonder if Alex was listening. Part of her wished he was, but she wasn’t conceited to think a man like him would take the time. Tonight had been a fun bit of interaction, but that’s as far as it would go. She’d made it clear it wouldn’t go any further, and he wasn’t the type of guy that wasted effort or resources on a dead end.

As the song played, Christina pressed on the intercom. “What if the voice calls? Do you want to talk to him?”

Angel made a rueful face. “He won’t,” she said, matter-of-factly.

“Are you sure?” Christina paused, with a soft laugh and Angel’s head snapped up. “Line two.”

Angel’s stomach lurched, and she could feel her cheeks start to burn as a flush infused the skin of her face and neck. This was unexpected, and she hesitated and then sat up and picked up the phone, pushing the correct line. “This is Dr. Hemming.”

*****

“Angel, I thought we were at least on a first name basis now.”

“Hardly, Mr. Avery. What is it you need?”

“Well, that’s a loaded question if I ever heard one.”

“That isn’t what I meant, and you know it. I’m working. I don’t have time for this.”

“I only called to apologize. Darian shouldn’t have launched us on each other like that. He didn’t even tell me that you’d be there until I saw you in front of me. And, what a sight you were. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Again
.”

Angel flushed but remained silent, processing everything, until Alex continued. “I’d like to make it up to you. Have dinner with me tomorrow night.” It sounded more like a command than a request, no doubt because he wasn’t used to anything other than blatant adoration from his female friends.

“I appreciate your apology, but no. Thank you.”

“Why not? Are you afraid you might like me?”

“I have my own reasons, and I don’t intend to share them with you.” She already liked him. That was the red flag.

“Angel, don’t be difficult. I really want to see you again.”

“How inconvenient for you, since what you want doesn’t really concern me.” She bit her lip, trying to hold in her amusement. Why did she enjoy this so damn much?

He laughed. “Are you sure about that?”

“Very.”

“You’re such a bad liar, Angel; a trait I find extremely attractive. Your face is very expressive. So is your voice. And I’m very happy to pick up the challenge you’re throwing down. It will be my pleasure to make what I want become of
major
concern
to you.”

“Do you have a genie in a bottle or some magic potion that I should know about? No? Then go away. I have to work.” She was smiling so hard her face hurt. This was so damn fun.

“You know I won’t give up. All I’m asking for is to share a meal with you. I always,
always
get what I want.” His voice was husky, and Angel swallowed hard.

“Men like you never ask for anything. You just expect it to be served up on a silver platter. It’s utterly repulsive. I’m not the airhead-type so you’re barking up the wrong tree entirely,” she quipped.

“Don’t assume things about me, please. I know what type you are and what type you aren’t… That’s why you intrigue me so much. I want to
talk
to you.”

“Wow. How original. Hey, baby, I want to get into your pants… uh, I mean your
mind
. That’s just brilliant. I don’t hear an ulterior motive in there
at all
!”

Alex couldn’t help a chuckle. “Why are you always busting my chops? I’m a man, you’re a woman, and I want to know more. What’s the damn mystery? Yes, I’m attracted to you. Extremely. And, I’ve thought about you several times since the home improvement store. At least I have the balls to admit it.” He was laughing his ass off, and she couldn’t help but smile in response.