Page 34 of When the Angel Falls First

“I’m glad to hear it.” I took a step closer, letting my hand slip around her waist. We were alone for the first time since that kiss, and it was still fresh on my mind, despite it needing to befake.

“Actually, there’s something I should probably tell you about the last few years—” The words died on her lips as I reached up and cupped her cheek, running my thumb lightly over her soft skin.

The back door burst open. Emily pushed through, juggling half a dozen tiny plates with brightly colored cake on them. “Josie! Need your help. So much cake, so little time. Also, youalready got one hella-good kiss in tonight, so sneaking off to make out in the laundry room is really just rubbing it in.”

Josie jumped to help her cousin, taking half the plates and tossing a guilty look over her shoulder at me. “We werenotmaking out.”

“Uh-huh. I’m not saying I blame you, becausehello sailor.” Emily tossed a saucy wink at me, and Josie elbowed her in the side. “But seriously, there’s so much cake. We need your help.”

“I’ll help, too,” I offered, but put a hand on Josie’s arm to stall her. “We’ll be out in just a moment.”

“Sure,” Emily said with another wink before slipping back outside.

“What is it?” Josie asked.

“Just a little something I didn’t get a chance to give you before Fred interrupted us in your car.” I slipped the first English edition ofDante’s Paradisoout of my blazer pocket, nothing but a bright red ribbon for adornment, and pressed it into her hands.

“Oh.” She breathed the word so softly, it was barely audible. “This is… phenomenal. Where did you find this, Caleb?”

She slid the red ribbon off, carefully cracking the front cover so she could look at the copyright page.

“Italy, a private collector.”

“Eighteen-oh-two! This could be in a museum. It’s so beautiful.” She reverently closed the cover, letting her fingers lovingly dance over the stamped spine. “Thank you, Caleb. I’ll treasure it always.”

“I’m glad. A special book for a special woman.” I couldn’t resist. I let my finger trace the inside of her wrist. It was a selfish indulgence, but the more time we spent together, the more I needed to touch her. Everywhere. There was a flash of heat in her eyes that made me want to push her against the closedlaundry room door, kiss her until her lips turned pink and swollen, and strip her right out of that skirt. We’d have to be quiet, with her whole family on the other side of the door, but I could swallow her screams with a kiss.

She tasted way better than cake frosting.

But we were here to do a job, and this was afakedate, I reminded myself with no joy whatsoever.

“We should get back out there and help Emily with the cake,” I said, the words full of quiet regret.

The last time we’d had cake together, she’d been telling me all those dirty memories. Memories about her coming on my fingers, about her screaming my name. At this rate, I was never going to be able to look at cake without thinking of Josie and getting hard again.

“Right! Oh, shoot. Can you keep this safe for me until we get back home?” She pressed the book carefully back into my hands. The heat of her touch was a brand, promising that however this ended, I’d always feel her soft fingertips.

She was everything soft and perfect and good in life, and my time with her was running out, faster and faster. One day soon, all I’d have left to hold on to would be the memories.

“Of course,” I murmured and then followed her back outside into the exuberance of the party, my devastating thoughts a cruel juxtaposition.

The restof the night passed in an uneventful blur of smiling faces and raucous laughter. Nana Geraldine knew how to party, and I used the free-flowing champagne as cover to pull as many strings as I could, gently starting conversations and mendingold fences, one by one. Now that I had her blessing, I didn’t hold back. It was small in the grand scheme of things, but it was a start toward healing in Josie’s family. By the end of the night, Josie was practically dead on her feet.

As we ambled to the door together, Fred stopped us.

“Wait up!”

We stopped and turned toward him. He ran a hand through his wind-swept hair, the flawless style from a few hours ago long gone. He opened his mouth, then closed it. The tension was already building between the two of them again, and I could sense he wanted to say something. So, I sent him a gentle suggestion to take the leap.

“I just wanted to say… I’m happy for you, about your shop. It seems to be the perfect thing for you.”

Josie’s mouth dropped open, and she cast a surprised glance at me, as if to say,are you hearing this?

I gave her a soft smile and a pointed glance back at Fred, reminding her that she should say something.

“Uh, thank you. It’s a wonderful place. Especially if you like cats, and I know you do. I was serious, earlier. If you ever want to stop by…”

“I’m not in the city often, but maybe. I might even bring Mom and Dad along. Maybe one of these days, we’ll turn up and surprise you.”

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