Page 51 of When the Angel Falls First

“Josie? What do you mean? You had a date, and I already?—”

“Shh. It’s okay.”

“It’s not, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or ruin anything—I didn’t even mean to be there. My feet just… took me there. And then I thought I’d make sure he seemed like a safe guy. I was trying to leave when the stupid wasps got me.”

She bit her lip, trying to hold back a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, really funny! I know how ridiculous itsounds, okay?” I threw my hands up in frustration, nearly losing my cell phone in the process. That dark pulse around my vision was tearing me up, but damned if I knew what to do about it.

She placed both hands on my chest and looked up into my eyes, and like silk sliding over stone, that demonic influence slid away to nothing. I was breathless at her complete sincerity when she said, “I forgive you.”

How did she do it?We weren’t meant to be, so how did she wipe away the stain on my soul with a single touch? It flew in the face of everything I knew, but I couldn’t push her away. I slid my hands up over hers to hold them in place. Her touch felt right.

Everything with her was right, easy.

But I didn’t deserve her forgiveness, not this time or the last time. Yet here I was, receiving it anyway. She patted me lightly and stepped back, squaring her shoulders as she turned to face the Showbox, where the streets had emptied as the show got started.

“Now, tell me about this couple,” she said again, prodding me lightly with her elbow when I didn’t answer right away.

“They’re inside, watching the show. Happy, based on their energy signatures. They both love this band. I can sense them talking to each other, and that’s already a step in the right direction after so many failed attempts.”

“So, what do we do now?”

“Nothing. We let them have a good night, and we check on them tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So, I walked all the way over here for nothing, huh?”

I looped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her a little bit closer to my side, against all my better judgment. “CanI buy you a slice of cake for your troubles? Giordano’s is only a block over, and they have your favorite.”

“Italian cream? Really?”

“Really.”

She nearly broke into a jog, tugging me along.

“It’s the other way,” I said with a laugh.

She changed directions without missing a beat, still tugging my hand. “What are you waiting for, Caleb? Let’s go, let’s go!”

The next morning,I was up before the sun, dressed in my nicest casual private-investigator clothes and standing outside Josie’s favorite coffee shop precisely fifteen minutes before the Bookish Cat opened. Which was how I was waiting for her with a smile on my face and her favorite latte precisely five minutes before opening, when she walked up. Her skin shone in the morning sun like a beacon. So much beauty afforded to the woman I couldn’t have; she truly put many of the female angels to shame. But the fact that I wasn’t allowed to love her didn’t mean I couldn’t love the sight of her. And damn, she took my breath away.

“Caleb! What are you doing here? Also, why are you so perky? I’m beat. We stayed out way too late last night.” She stopped, sniffing before pointing to the coffee. “Is that for me?”

“It is. And I didn’t hear any complaints last night when they brought you the second slice of cake.”

“Okay, one, it’s rude to complain when someone brings you cake. And two, shut up.” She took a sip and groaned, the sound sending all sorts of inappropriate thoughts racingthrough my head. Damn, I was jealous of the coffee sliding down her throat. “This is heaven. Thank you.” She smiled and opened the door, letting me in with her.

“I should be thankingyou. Jonathan and Kim are both glowing with happiness this morning, which I think means their unplanned date went very, very well.”

“Excellent. So, do you have to meddle some more today, or?—”

“Josephine Ray!You have well and truly done it this time!”

The front door of the shop flew open with a bang, startling Josie so much she spilled her piping-hot coffee. Anger tore through me at the minor wound, and I didn’t even think before sending out a thread of power to snap the offending liquid from her skin, following it with a cooling rush of healing.

“Mr. Anderson! What’s the matter? You startled me!”

Her aura was turning prickly, but the overwhelming fear had me stepping between her and the angry landlord. Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed the coffee evaporating.

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