Page 6 of His Tempting Angel

She plants her little fists on her wide hips and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. “I’m no charity case, Max! Don’t treat me like I am one or I’ll be out of here like a fucking shot. I work and pull my weight or I walk. Don’t ask me for any less than you’d ask from anyone else.”

I lean across the counter, getting right in her face but she doesn’t flinch. “Ask anyone here. I’m happy to pay for anyone else to get something done as well.” I point at Mel. “Ask Mel. I paid for her daughter’s braces and she’s insisting on paying me over time for them. I didn’t ask her to. I would have considered it part of helping her out because she’s family to me. Every fuckingperson who works here is family to me.” I point at another waitress. Or server. Hell, I always mess that shit up.

“Anyway, that girl over there…Sasha? She’s having trouble with her car. She was late three times last week. You think I docked her? Nope! I talked to Micah at the garage and he’s worked out a deal where she’s paying it off over time and she thinks she’s getting a special discount, but I paid for part of it,” I hiss. “She needs this job. She’s paying her way through school and she’s got an aging grandma that’s in a nursing home. I can’t pay everything for her or anybody else because we all have our pride. But if there’s a way to help my family out, I’ll fucking do it and not even think twice about it. So come in late if you need to but don’t act like I treat you any different than anybody else. You’re family too.”

Shame coats her face and she sighs. “I’m sorry, Max. I’m really touchy about not paying my way.”

I shake my head and smile at her. “You’re a pit bull with shit like that. But I’m always happy to help anyone out. This is my hometown and they helped me when I was hurt. They brought me food after I came home and they all did their best to help me out. Got me through those damn days when I thought I’d rather kill myself than accept anyone’s help. When I thought that this ugly face was gonna drive all my friends away.”

She gasps. “Your face is not ugly. Who said that.” She bristles with anger.

I chuckle. “Take it down a notch, killer. You don’t need to hunt anybody down. That’s me talking.”

Her arms cross again and she sighs. “You need to find a better mirror. You’re a handsome man, Max. I think you’re not seeing things well. Maybe you need glasses.”

“I accepted my lot, angel. I’m not blind so I know what the hell I look like.”

“I bet the ladies don’t give a damn about that,” she huffs, her pretty pink lips turned down like something’s not agreeing with her. I like to think that she’s jealous but I doubt it.

“I have not dated anyone in years.”

Her brows lift and she smiles. “I’m not talking about dating and you know it.”

I lean across the bar again, my fingers brushing her jaw, holding her steady. She gasps.

“You asking if I’ve fucked anybody lately, angel?”

“N-no,” she whimpers. But her pale cheeks flush and I see her pupils dilate.

“You offering, angel?”

“Max? The water?” She whispers. I’m pushing her and I know it but my fucking dick is hard as a rock right now thinking that she might have been wondering about my sex life.

I drop my hand from her soft, silky skin. I can still feel her under my fingers though. Warm and so damn tempting.

“Gimme a sec and I’ll come up and take a look at it, angel.”

She nods and steps back, her breasts rising and falling quickly under her soft sweater. Those jeans she’s wearing are painted on her gently-rounded thighs. “Thank you, Max. I appreciate it.”

“Don’t thank me for taking care of you, angel. It’s my pleasure.”

She flushes and darts out the back door and up the back stairs. There’s a separate entrance out the back door. My heart races when I think about her out there in the dark. I hate it.

But I also hate the thought of her going upstairs from the bar. Neither is safe enough for something as precious as her.

The only place I’d feel right would be if she was with me and I had my hands on her, watching, protecting.

Is that something that can happen? I don’t know.

But if I get my Christmas wish? My angel will by lying under my Christmas tree, naked, and I’ll be taking care of all her needs.

I just wish that my mind and heart would stop fighting with me. Because the confusion I feel just won’t go away.

I know that she’s all that I want and need. But am I good enough for her? Does she really want me? Was that desire I saw in her eyes, darkening them to deep purple pools?

Am I what she’s wishing for too? Fuck, I wish I knew.

CHAPTER 5

---