In A Heartbeat (31 page)

“Elizabeth keeps nightgowns here so she has more room in her suitcase. I thought you could borrow something to wear for tonight.”

Angie pulled the top garment off the stack, a bright pink floor-length satin gown sized to fit a six-foot model. She considered her own short stature. “I think I might be more comfortable in something of yours rather than Elizabeth’s. Do you have a pajama top or a T-shirt or something?”

“I don’t wear pajamas.” For a moment she thought he blushed, but it might have been a reflection cast by the bright gown. “T-shirts didn’t make sense for Ohio this time of year. I have some clean undershirts. Would you like one of those?”

She thought about wearing one of his undershirts, one that had rubbed against his chest and been tucked in his pants. No matter how many times it had been washed, she imagined it would probably carry his scent. So intimate, so close. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that. Instead, she gathered up Elizabeth’s garments. “I’ll just look through these. I’m sure I can find something.”

She took the lingerie back to the room across from Hank’s. Sorting through the vibrant stack, she found a blue baby doll nightie that probably teased the top of Elizabeth’s buttocks, while on Angela, it dropped to mid-thigh. Still, it didn’t drag on the floor. She checked her reflection in the mirror. The puckered, gathered bodice scooped low, exposing her scar and an ample amount of cleavage. For the first time, she hardly noticed the scar. Instead she focused on the valley between her breasts. She had cleavage! After so many years of turtleneck sweaters and concealing blouses, she’d forgotten. The form-fitting bodice molded to her figure, detailing every curve. Scandalous. She loved it.

A knock on the bedroom door interrupted. Hank stood on the other side, a legal pad his hand. His eyes widened, his jaw slacked open. She rather enjoyed rendering him speechless.

“I found one that fits,” she said, twirling in front of him.

“I see.” He swallowed. “You look fantastic.”

She pointed to the legal pad. “Is that for me?”

“Yes, you were looking before, and I found, well, I thought—“ he rambled— “Can I get you something? Anything? A glass of water? I know you don’t drink scotch. Maybe a glass of warm milk?”

She yawned. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll just go to bed.” She pulled the legal pad very slowly from between his frozen fingers. “Good night, Hank.”

THE ROOM WAS too quiet, or too noisy, or too dark, she couldn’t decide which. More probably, she was too scared. Having charted everything that had occurred, she came to one conclusion. Someone at Hayden didn’t want her there. Nothing happened the week she was unemployed, but the moment she showed up at Hayden, trouble followed. It had to be connected to her suspicions of theft. No one was targeting her dog. They were targeting her. Oreo just got in the way.

Outside, the wind blew in sudden gusts and the house responded with unfamiliar creaks and sighs. She missed Oreo and the comfort of her mother’s familiar quilts. She tossed and turned and pounded the pillows into misshapen blobs. A tree branch scraped across the window. She sprang straight up immediately imagining a break in. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears. She’d never fall asleep in this room.

The last time she’d slept in this house, Hank’s arms curled about her. No tree branches scared her then. Nothing scared her then. Deep in her memory, she could almost feel his breath on her neck, his chest pressed against her back, his cock pressing her backside. Her mouth went dry.

“Water,” she announced to the empty room, hoping the sound of her voice would give her comfort. It didn’t. “I should’ve said yes to Hank’s offer.” But it was too late for that now.

She opened her bedroom door to the hallway, then noticed Hank’s door ajar. An invitation? Without thought, she slipped into his connected office without a sound.

“Hank?” she whispered from the bedroom doorway. She didn’t want to wake him if he was asleep but if he wasn’t…

“Angel?” She heard the mattress shift. “Is everything all right? Where are you?”

“Here,” she answered. “I couldn’t sleep. Maybe I’m a little scared. I don’t know. After everything—”

“Come here,” he commanded. “Let me hold you.”

She crossed the dark room, buoyed by the timbre of his voice. He held the sheets apart, inviting her in. Any lingering doubt about the appropriateness of her aggressive behavior vanished the instant his arms closed around her, pulling her tight against his chest.

“I feel safer all ready.” She relaxed into his warmth.

“You are safe, Angel. You’ll always be safe with me.” He kissed the top of her head while his fingertips traced lazy circles on her back.

Indeed, she felt both protected and accepted. Her lips pressed against his chest in silent gratitude.

“I couldn’t sleep either,” he said. “I’m glad you came to me. I was afraid if I went to your room, you’d—”

“Slam the door in your face?” Her fingertips on his chest mimicked the pattern of his on her back. She dipped lower, stretching to circle his navel with her little finger.

“Something like that.” His knuckles skimmed her side, igniting every nerve ending in her body. She stretched her fingers lower, teasing his tight curls. She felt his sharp intake of breath. The sheets rose a little higher.

“Angel, if we start this, I can’t promise I’ll stop. So if you have—”

“Ssh.” She placed her fingers over his mouth. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I’m alive today.” She propped herself up on her elbow and faced him. “I want this. I want you.”

He hooked a finger in the bodice of her nightgown, pulling it down until her straining nipple poked over the top. He captured it with his knuckles, playing an adult game of hide and seek. “You sound like a woman in control. Next you’ll be telling me you want to be on top.”

“On top?” She liked the sound of “a woman in control”. That’s what she wanted to be, needed to be. “Yes. I want to be on top.” Although she wasn’t exactly sure what that entailed, she’d always been a quick learner. She pushed back the sheets and blankets and rose on her knees to study the situation.

He twisted to reach the nightstand. “Better let me take care of this first.”

“No,” she pushed him back, a new idea dawning. “Not yet.” Remembering her response when he laved her with his tongue, she bent low and rimmed him with her tongue.

“My God!” He groaned. “Where did you learn that?”

“From you.” Delighted with her newfound power, she continued experimenting, licking, sucking, and in some cases, teething all aspects from the smooth rounded head to the rough skin at the base. “Do you like this?” she asked, already suspecting the answer. “Do you want more?”

He grabbed one of her legs and pulled it across his chest. Soon her knees straddled his neck while his penis bumped her lips. With his forearms securely trapping her buttocks, he separated her with his fingers then tongued the most sensitive parts of her anatomy. Just that quickly she lost the battle for control. He had usurped her power, but she didn’t mind a bit. She tried to duplicate with her lips all that he did with his own, but he was too skilled. Her legs quivered with the mounting internal tension before exploding waves of pleasure racked her body. She collapsed on his torso.

“Did you like that?” he mimicked, then kissed the inside of each thigh. “Do you want more?” She pulled her legs back to his side, then rested her head on his belly.

“I like being on top.” Her voice sounded weak as if her heart was sick. But the strong, pounding rhythm reassured her it was not.

He stroked her hair from crown to shoulder. “That’s not what I meant –-”

“No?” Her interest piqued. “What did you mean?” She rose up on her knees.

“Maybe we should save it for another time,” he said. “You’re probably tired.”

“No. Show me.” She didn’t add that there might not be another time. After a day like this one, she didn’t want to take “another time” for granted.

“Then you better let me take care of this first.” He slid his legs over the side of the bed and reached inside the nightstand. “I doubt I can hold it much longer.”

Once he had applied the condom, he instructed her how to straddle him. This time facing his head, not his feet. With his help, she eased herself down, feeling his length fill her deep inside. There was no pinch, no pain, just an urge to move. Hank’s hands guided her hips in a rocking motion. Soon she took over the rhythm and continued, building until the tension higher and higher. Just as she peaked, Hank gripped her tight and held her still while passion tightened his face.

She was powerful, sexy and very, very satisfied.

After a moment, Hank pulled her down for a kiss. He locked his arms around her while she rested her head on his chest. “I like being on top,” she whispered.

“I can tell.”

Feeling protected and safe for the first time that evening, she slid to his side and cuddled close. She only intended to rest her eyes, but suddenly the weight of the covers eased over her, lulling her into a delicious and much needed deep sleep.

THE ALARM JARRED them both awake. Hank pounded the irritating thing into silence. “You go back to sleep. I need to go into work.”

“No!” She sat up in panic and grabbed his arm. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I don’t want to go either, Angel, but I’m expected. If I don’t show, it would signal the bad guys that something is up.”

“You think it’s someone at Hayden, don’t you?” He’d obviously been thinking about the series of events, much as she. When he nodded, she collapsed back on the pillow. “So do I.”

“You stay here,” he insisted. “If someone is trying to scare you off, we’ll let them think they’ve succeeded. That should stop these attacks. I need to talk to Wilson about taking that physical inventory.” He kissed her. “I’ll make some excuse and come back early. You’ll be safe here. I’ll check all the locks. You just stay and get some sleep. You had a late night.”

“You did too,” she said, a smile spreading at the memory. He kissed her. The thick male length of him stiffened against her thigh. Her hand began a slow exploratory venture down his side, but he caught her hand in his.

“Hmmmm…” He groaned deep in his chest. “Tonight,” he whispered, his warm breath caressing her ear. “Tonight, Angel, we’ll have more time. Get some rest while you can.”

She feigned sleep while he dressed and left the room. Once she heard the garage door close, she hopped out of bed. Slumber could wait until her safety wasn’t at issue. After her shower, she dressed in her wrinkled clothes from the day before and took her morning regiment of pills. She walked around the silent house. Now what? She couldn’t just sit and wait for Hank’s return. She needed to occupy her mind, work with her hands, do something constructive.

“I shouldn’t have left everything at the office,” she muttered to herself. Of course without a computer, research would be difficult, unless….

She wandered back to Hank’s office. Sure enough, a flip of a switch and a fully equipped workstation sprang to life with beeps, whirls, and flashing lights. The main menu displayed an icon linking into Hayden’s system. Perfect. All she needed was a password and she’d be in business. She telephoned Hank.

“Somehow I knew you wouldn’t listen to reason and go back to sleep.”

“I would have but all the warmth left with you.”

“Are you cold? The thermostat is in the great room on the far side of the fireplace.”

“Thank you, but that’s not what I meant.” She laughed. “Listen, I’d like to do some research on the web, but I need a password.” He gave her one. “How about for the company internet?” He gave her another. “One last thing, can you bring home the papers I left in Owens’s office? I think I can finish what I started using your setup.”

“Is everything else all right? Have you talked to the vet?”

“My next call.”

“Stay safe, Angel. I’ll be home soon.”

The vet wanted to keep Oreo another twenty-four hours. She was progressing well, but she shouldn’t be moved just yet. Angie agreed and gave permission. She glanced at her watch. It might be a bit early, but she had to call her brother sometime.

“Stephen? It’s Angie.”

Her cell erupted with shouting. She moved it away from her ear. “What in the world is going on? Mom says someone shot Oreo and you had an accident. Now she can’t stay in her own house. She’s staying with us. What the hell is going on?”

“Slow down. I can’t answer if—”

“Where are you right now? Are you at home? Is Mom there?”

“I’m okay, Stephen. I’m staying at Hank’s place. You remember, you picked me up from here about a month ago.”

“No you’re not. I’ll be there in five minutes. Then I’ll find that sonofabitch and I’ll—”

“Stop it. Hank is helping me.”

Stephen snorted. “No offense, little sister, but you don’t have the experience to deal with a man like that. You can stay with me and Mom until this whole thing blows over.”

“No. I’m a big girl now. I make my own decisions.” Her whole body shook with her proclamation. “And I choose to stay right where I am.”

“You could have called me last night. You didn’t need to run off with a stranger.” Hurt resonated in his voice. She hadn’t realized how much he relished his big brother role. She softened her voice.

“I know I can always call you. But Hank was already there.” Before he could utter another insult, she hurried on. “He’s a good man, Stephen. He’s not a stranger. I won’t listen to you say bad things about him.” That stopped him. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m all right.”

He sighed. “That’s all I care about, Angie.”

“Thanks, Stephen. Thanks for caring. Just care enough to let me grow up on my own.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I may need some time to adjust,” he teased.

“Fine. And while you’re adjusting, I had the Civic towed to Classic Limo.” She knew once she explained he’d come around. “Can you check it out?”

“Sure. First thing. Where can I reach you?”

She gave him Hank’s number and expressed her thanks. Stephen reluctantly agreed to deliver a suitcase of clothes to carry her over for a few days. Time to get to work. She’d barely clicked off her cell, when Hank’s land line rang. She froze. It could be Hank or her mother, but then it could also be the shooter trying to find her. The phone jangled its fourth discordant ring.