CHAPTER 53

Angela stirred. It wasn ’ t dawn yet. Bits of jumbled memory flitted into her consciousness. They were in Nolan ’ s bed, but they hadn ’ t started there. It began at the inlet. Nolan ’ s proposal, a passion-fueled kiss, and all their pent-up emotions erupted.

As if sensing her state of semi-awareness, Nolan moved. She lay on her side, while he was flat on his stomach with an arm draped across her waist. He shifted, so they were spooning and held her against his chest. “ You promised to marry me, ” his husky whisper made her neck tingle.

“ I did. ” She snuggled into his warmth.

Comfortable, sated, and high on happiness, they drifted back to sleep.

.     .     .

“ Ohhhhhh noooooooo … . ” Angela opened her eyes, covered her ears, and banged her head against the pillow. She was alone. Nolan was more than likely on his morning ride. Or, “ Oh no …” It was almost ten. Everybody was awake by now. Her whereabouts were, without doubt, common knowledge. Nothing would make this right. She didn ’ t know how it happened. She didn ’ t know what happened. She was in Nolan ’ s bed; of course, she knew what happened. She knew how it happened and how many times. She just didn ’ t understand why it happened. Sleeping with Nolan was not on the itinerary. Nolan. Beyond her shock, inside her guilt, hidden within the rapid beat of her heart, Angela remembered his hands, his lips, the way he undressed her. How strong he felt moving inside her made her exhale and glow.

.     .     .

There was a mountain of bacon on the counter beside a half pot of coffee. Nolan had gone, come, and gone again. Just as well, she didn ’ t want to see him while she was wearing yesterday ’ s clothes. She grabbed a cup and a handful of bacon and made a beeline for the Enn. “ Morning, ” Angela waved and kept her head down. “ Be out in a little while. ” Rob and Tank were painting the treehouse. They ’ d want her to inspect it. She ’ d stop by on her way out … of town.

The voices were in the dining room. Angela was glad. Straight up the steps without a confrontation. She ’ d see people when she was ready.

It took her a half hour to bathe and dress. She still wasn ’ t ready to see people, but she ran out ways to procrastinate. Fine. Get it over with . She used attitude to propel herself back into the world.

Deidra and Hilda made lists. The dining room table was littered with bridal magazines Hilda picked up from the Quik Mart. Deidra had Rob ’ s laptop open while they talked and planned.

“ Hey, Ange. ” Deidra glanced up from the screen. “ Get over here. We need a tiebreaker opinion. ”

Hilda jotted something on a to-do list. “ About time you showed up. I wondered if he had you tied to the bed. ”

Angela ’ s jaw dropped.

Deidra snickered.

Hilda flipped a magazine page.

Hilda was Hilda. Best to get on with it. “ Yes, I slept with him. ”

“ I hope he did something more exciting than missionary. ”

“ Hilda! ”

“ You don ’ t look like you got much sleep. That ’ s encouraging. ”

“ This is your fault. If you hadn ’ t snatched Deidra ’ s wallet, none of this would have happened. ” Despite herself, Angela relaxed.

“ I got you laid. Go me. ”

Deidra laughed outright then asked. “ What now? ”

“ I go away. Far away. ”

“ You are not messing up my engagement celebration, you chicken. ”

“ Deed. We haven ’ t figured out anything. We ’ re not a couple, but I had sex with him … a lot. That entitles me to be a chicken. I should already be gone. ”

“ He should have tied you to the bed, ” Hilda mused.

Deidra nodded. “ I want the absolute truth, Ange. My engagement-bliss is on the line here. Before I make an executive decision, I need answers. ”

A long minute passed. Then Angela released the truth. “ It was a dream come true — the greatest night of my life. I love him so much I ’ m numb. I ’ m never going to get over him and I ’ m never going to be able to tell him no. ”

The back door opened. Angela ’ s declaration hung in the air as all three women turned toward the sound. Nolan and Rob laughed as they came down the hall.

“ Breathe, ” Deidra quietly commanded her sister.

Angela sucked in a breath and forced herself to exhale.

“ There you are. ” Nolan entered the room, golden in his splendor. His brilliant blue eyes took in everything. “ Everybody ’ s here. Good. That makes it easy. ” Lexie and Tank bounced around behind their dads. Rob moved beside Deidra, and Nolan stood toe to toe with Angela. From the possessive way he assessed her, his thoughts were clear. “ You promised, ” he said. “ Lex, ” he held out his hand.

Lexie reached into the small jewelry bag she held. She produced a fancy ring box, removed the top, and proudly offered it to her father.

“ Thanks, hon. ” Nolan took the ring in one hand and Angela ’ s trembling fingers in the other. He gave his full attention to her and locked her in the intensity of his gaze. “ Did you mean it? ”

She was never going to be able to tell him no. “ Yes. ”

“ I love you, Angela. ” He slipped the ring on her finger. Amid the cheers, the exclamations, and Hilda pointing out Angela neglected to mention the part about the ‘ promise ’ to them, Nolan gave in to his all too obvious desire to kiss his intended.

With a happy shriek, Deidra threw herself against the entangled couple. “ Let me see the ring! ”

“ I picked it out, ” Lexie announced.

Deidra pawed at Angela ’ s hand. “ Oh, it ’ s beautiful. You ’ ve got good taste, kiddo. Hey! I have a great idea. We should get married together. ”

“ No! ” Angela shook her head. “ I ’ m not messing up your day. ”

Deidra made a face. “ You were willing to mess it up a few minutes ago. ”

“ Shut up. ”

“ Anyway, it ’ s perfect … unless you want your own day. ”

Hilda said, “ You ’ re going to have the same people. It would save some bucks. Besides, it ’ s a nice corny-theme: two sisters marrying two brothers. ”

“ As far as corny-themes go, sisters and brothers get my vote. ” Rob made a ridiculous puppy face at Angela.

“ Mine too. ” Nolan offered her a crooked smile. His happiness was so, so obvious.

Angela didn ’ t want her own day. She wanted Nolan. She wanted him forever. She wanted him now.

Lexie discussed their good fortune with Tank. “ We both get a mom and an aunt. ”

“ At the same time! ” Tank added.

“ Best. Christmas. Ever! ”