ANGELA

CHAPTER 20

“ Don ’ t you want to get that? ” Nolan said when Angela ’ s phone rang for the second time in fifteen minutes. “ Might be important. ”

“ Nope. ” Angela shut the device off. “ I already told you. An unknown number is an unimportant number. At least tonight. ”

“ The first one was unknown. That one was Deidra. ”

“ Or her elbow. I ’ ll find out in the morning. ”

They cuddled on the back bench of the speedboat, eating popcorn and watching the stars. There were only a billion visible.

“ I imagine this is what it was like being at a drive-in movie. ” Angela popped a kernel into Nolan ’ s mouth.

“ There may have been a screen somewhere and perhaps a movie of some sort was involved. ”

“ This is better. ” She offered him another kernel from her fingers.

“ This is better. ” He opened his mouth to receive her gift. He closed his lips on her finger and sucked the butter.

She pushed her finger further in.

He indulged her a moment before exploring the rest of her hand. He nipped and kissing her wrist, her arm, her shoulder.

She slumped against him with a sigh and closed her eyes, giving in to the craving.

It wasn ’ t a surprise to either of them, this moment. It had to come. They had days to dwell on it, to fan it. The desire had been building from the beginning. The conversation, the looks, and the touches were all leading toward this intensity. This smoldering heat was spiraling out of control. Nolan claimed her lips and neither of them wanted control. His heart galloped as he pulled back only to return again and again. The scratch of her nails trailing across his pecs, the silk of her thigh under his palm … It had to happen. But he needed to be sure. “ Is it time? ” He spoke against her throat and licked her pulse while he waited for her answer.

Is it time? No … yes. “ What ’ s time? Day, week, ” she could hardly talk around the sensations, “ month, year … What ’ s the difference? ” Was any of it going to bring Mitch back? Was prolonging her need for Nolan going to change it?

“ It ’ s all eternity when you ’ ve been waiting. ” He slid his tongue between her teeth, his fingers beneath her bikini and his heart into her hands.

She felt the rush of heat, the aching need he created with his touch. She moaned and clung to him, rid ing the wave of passion.

Long minutes passed while they lingered in foreplay, but not too long that Nolan lost sight of his objective. He wanted to make love to Angela, not screw her. That would come later. Tonight, he would take her to bed. He would worship her body long and slow. He would use the whole night to make her his.

Carried by the thought of anticipation, he released her. Her lips were kiss-swollen, her eyes glossed over. The glow on her skin gave him a sense of pride — possessive pride. He did that to her.

“ Let ’ s go home. ” He pulled her with him to the driver ’ s seat. Angela sat on his lap and steered the watercraft for him. Nolan kept control of the foot pedals, but his hands were otherwise occupied.

Nolan marveled at how easily dreams came true. Last night, he dreamt of her breasts. Now, those luscious globes were in his hands. Her curvy ass drove him to distraction. It was marvelous. He pressed his face into her back and branded her.

She wiggled, trying to get closer, trying to get away, trying to get more of him. He liked the way she moved. Undulating and bouncing, the sounds of her pleasure carried on the salty air. This woman was made for loving in all its forms.

Nolan made quick work of docking the boat. He assisted Angela in climbing onto the pier. Here, he asked one final time, “ Are you sure you ’ re ready for this? ”

She stepped in close, fitting herself snug against him. “ I ’ m sure of you. I ’ m sure I want this. I ’ m sure I won ’ t have any regrets. Any of that count? ”

“ All of it. ” He held her to him, unable to keep his hands off her. Long minutes and several kisses later, Nolan said, “ If you ’ re certain, then go ahead. I ’ ll tell Mom to keep Lexie there tonight. ” He kissed her once more, then released her. If they didn ’ t move now, he was going to take her right there. That wouldn ’ t be right, but in a minute his brain was going to disintegrate and it wouldn ’ t matter.

“ Okay. ” Her voice had taken on a husky, inviting quality. “ If she ’ s awake, tell Lexie I said, ‘ Go to sleep, alien. ’ Quote me. ”

They held each other as they walked. The touching was glorious.

“ You want me to quote you insulting my daughter? ”

“ Precisely. ”

“ If she insults you back? ”

“ We ’ ll know all is right in her world tonight. ”

Nolan nuzzled her hair and caressed her ass. “ All is right in the world tonight. ”

She rested her head against his shoulder and let him guide her. It was such a lovely thing to do. “ It will be better once we ’ re sure Lexie ’ s okay too. I have to check on her. She ’ s my buddy. ”

Nolan smiled. Those easy words made him feel complete. “ Are the insults some sort of code? ”

“ Yes, they are. For her, being a wiseass is a shield. If I like her when she ’ s bratty then I ’ ll like her when she ’ s not. I won ’ t let her down when she ’ s afraid or vulnerable. Also, it ’ s fun to have an adult playing her kind of game. ” Angela snickered.

“ Sounds like you ’ ve got it under control. I will pass on the snark and leave the rest to you. ” Nolan stopped her at the fork between the houses. Pressing his erection against her and letting his hands do what they pleased, it was a minute before he said, “ Are you sure? ”

“ Shhh. ” She stopped him with a hot, needy kiss. “ I ’ m going to get ready for bed. ” She kissed him again. “ Yours. ”

He groaned and sucked on her tongue. “ I ’ ll be back in five minutes. ”

.     .     .

Hilda assigned Kasey a lovely room at the back of the house, away from the television and those gathered around it. Tapping away on her keyboard, engrossed in her notes, it was a small wonder she heard them. Soft murmurings wafted up through her open window: husky whispers followed by inaudible sounds, the kind of sounds lovers make.

The nosy reporter hurried to the window. There they were. Oh yeah, they are all over each other, going at it like rabbits. It had to be less than fifty yards to the nearest bed, but it didn ’ t look as if they were going to make it. She reached for her camera.

When she thought it was about to become porn, Mrs. Pointe and her lover separated. She went toward their house, but he came to the Enn. Kasey stuck her feet into her shoes and snatched up her pocket recorder. She would snag an interview with Mr. Hot-and-bothered. Distracted people let things slip.

.     .     .

Angela got in and out of the shower in no time, too keyed up to measure out lotions and creams or dwell overmuch on scents. She wanted to feel soft and smell good. She didn ’ t care which bottle or jar accomplished it as long as she was ready when he got there. She chose a long, satin, midnight-purple nightgown with a neckline that plunged to her waist and a split that left her thigh exposed. She twisted left and right. Every angle offered a peek-a-boo glimpse of flesh. The lace panties underneath were the same midnight-purple, but see-through. There was no point in having them on other than to give Nolan something to do. She had never worn this nightgown for Mitch. She had so many and he had his favorites. She was glad. She didn ’ t want memories and sentiment. Not tonight.

She ran the brush through her hair but let it hang free. A touch of lipstick and she was ready. Still, she was nervous. Going into his bedroom crossed a non-returnable boundary. She didn ’ t want to return. Her future was on the other side. Catching her reflection in his mirror, she wondered about the woman she saw. Widowed for only a few months and giving herself to another man. Why not? No amount of dwelling or grieving would bring Mitch back. Moving on didn ’ t diminish her love for him. Emotions she vaguely recalled. Here and there some feelings had returned. But they were distant and elusive, triggered by Nolan, not Mitchell. What was she supposed to do about it? Mitchell was a man of action. He wouldn ’ t want her languishing over something they couldn ’ t change. Hadn ’ t that been the problem before? Her inability to move on after learning she was infertile. Their last months together were miserable because she was stuck.

Now, she was moving. She had help. She had Nolan. It was a new, different love with its own focus and passions. With Nolan, she was recovering from both her losses. Lexie was already the daughter of her heart. Should she not accept a gift because abstract people had opinions? It wasn ’ t rushed. A heart can only take so much grief. Life had to be lived, regardless of timing. Love had to be given. Because she had it to give.

The grandfather clock downstairs chimed. It had been more than fifteen minutes. Was Lexie still awake? She pondered what excuse he ’ d come up with. It was doubtful Lexie would buy any. That girl was too smart for anyone ’ s good. Angela removed herself from Nolan ’ s room, just in case he didn ’ t return alone.

She noted her phone beside her bed, where she tossed it and thought about giving Deidra a quick call. She didn ’ t want to talk, but she was giddy with excitement. It was the type of thing girls giggled about. She ’ d call her later , when she had something to report. Maybe Deidra called her to report something interesting about a guy. Hmmm , Angela thought. That would be funny. The f ront door open ed and Angela stopped caring.

Nolan took the steps slow and steady. She was in his bedroom, in his bed. Waiting. His heart thundered, and he struggled to take a breath. He was at the top of the stairwell when she surprised him by coming out of her room. His eyes filmed over. She was so damned beautiful. He wanted to take her. He wanted to have her right there in the hall and then he wanted to grab her and run.

“ Nolan? ” The intensity of his gaze melted her. Angela had never experienced the kind of heat coming off him. She sucked in her breath, heady with want of him.

“ Mitch is alive. It ’ s on the news. They were rescued. ”

THUNK.

Angela ’ s legs shot out from beneath her. She landed on her bottom as if she had been struck by a forceful blow. She had been struck by a forceful blow. She stared at Nolan with wide, horrified eyes. Mitchell was alive. What did that mean? How did that happen? What was she supposed to do? She was falling in love with Nolan. They were about to make love. Mitch wouldn ’ t like that. Was he okay? What kind of wife was she?

Nolan was there in a flash, helping her to her feet. Her entire body trembled, but he didn ’ t notice beyond his own shaking. He brushed a light kiss against her temple. “ Get dressed. I ’ ll make us some coffee. ” He beat a hasty retreat down the stairwell.

.     .     .

Jeans, sweatshirt, socks, shoes — she covered every inch of skin except her hands and face before she walked into the kitchen and sat down. He placed a steaming mug in front of her. She inhaled the rich brew and waited.

Nolan leaned against the counter. “ You just missed the update. ” He used his mug to point to the small television he had on. “ They were stranded on an island near La Habana. It belonged to some drug lord who ’ s on the run. The police thought he may have run there and investigated. They didn ’ t have any communication, but they don ’ t appear to be any worse for wear. ”

She spoke her first word. “ They? ”

“ Three of them. Mitchell and two crew members. They were taken to a hospital to observe them overnight. They ’ re flying them home tomorrow. ”

Three sips of coffee. Mitchell was alive. “ I guess that ’ s what Deidra was calling about. ”

“ She left a message on the house phone. She ’ s catching the first flight down. When you call her back, tell her, Mom will leave the door unlocked. ”

Angela nodded. She ’ d wait up for Deidra; there was no way she ’ d be able to sleep. She wanted to ask about them, her and Nolan. But what was the question? She was a married woman, not a widow in the process of falling in love.

“ Angela. ” Nolan had something to say. He was afraid if he didn ’ t say it now, there wouldn ’ t be another opportunity. “ I can ’ t take back what ’ s already occurred. I wouldn ’ t. But, I realize, you can ’ t make a relationship work when three people are involved. So, I won ’ t interfere. But I will always be here. Don ’ t forget that. ”

The television interrupted him with a live update of the rescue of two crew-members and a passenger from the ill-fated yacht, the Siren ’ s Fire.

They watched in silence as the happy trio disembarked from the coastguard vessel amid cheers and waves from a small crowd who gathered to greet them.