Page 73 of His One True Wish

Mason walked by and smiled at Angel. “Hey, glad you are back. You get what you need out of the Gulfstream?”

“Sure did,” Angel said. “Your sweet boy, Ethan, dug around for it. Found my charger. I had everything in the plane ready to go, and then the crew let me know that we were not going to take off in a storm.”

Axl exhaled and looked at the ceiling. “I told you that I thought the weather was changing. If you left when I told you to, your crew would have made it out.”

“It’s okay.” Angel reached out and touched his arm. “I think destiny wanted me to stay in Smoke River.”

Axl shook his head, but did not answer.

Angel continued. “I pushed you. You told me we were done. And I pushed you.” She glanced at me. “You get it, right? Sometimes we just want what we want.”

“Totally,” I said, unsure what I was getting or not getting.

“See, Axl,” Angel said. “I told you women just understand things more than men.”

“Yes, we do,” I said, smiling. I liked siding with Angel against Axl. I supposed it was impossible for me to resist that girl-power high.

“Axl and I have had a thing on and off for a while,” she said, leaning closer to me, as if confiding.

“It’s off now,” he repeated.

“Yes, darling. It’s off,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I heard you in the parking lot. Message received.”

“So you were hoping to fly home before the snow came?” I asked, curious to understand this energetic woman. “Where is home?”

“Lauderdale,” she said. “I came out to visit Axl about a week ago. I’d be back in that Florida sunshine if it weren’t for the storm. It came in hard and fast, like you, Axl.” Angel winked.

“Angel, come on,” Axl said, shaking his head.

Okay, so hearing her joke about sex with Axl did make my stomach clench a bit. I needed to remember that Axl’s past or future didn’t matter. Once I left Smoke River, whatever we were was over.

“Mason and the boys were nice enough to let me and my crew wait it out here,” Angel said. “You know, he used to be my pilot, and for a while, so much more.”

“Oh, you worked for Angel?” I glanced at Axl.

“Yes,” he said, his voice low. “I worked for Angel.”

“Oh, those were fun days,” Angel said.

Axl sighed and looked at the ceiling again. “We should go, Billie. I want to check on Cam.”

“I’ll let you two get to it then,” Angel said.

Mason walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel. “Billie, if you are heading back to the cabin, grab some fresh cornbread and some of these cinnamon rolls for your mom. This storm is losing steam. You should be able to get out tomorrow,” Mason said, nodding into the kitchen.

“That’s very thoughtful, Mason,” I said.

Axl zipped up his coat. “I’ll wait for you outside,” he grumbled and walked out the door.

“I’ll help you get what you need, honey,” Angel said.

I followed her into the kitchen. Pots of chili bubbled on the stove.It smelled of peppers and spice. Aerosmith played, mixing with the whir of fans. The warm kitchen felt like an oasis from the storm, just like the cabin. No wonder Angel was happy to be here.

Angel walked around the prep counter, hips swinging. “Alfie,” she belted. “Please change the station. I am so tired of listening to Old Man Rock. I’ve had enough of that in my life.” She tossed her hair and gave me a look. No doubt she was making a dig at Axl.

“Sure thing,” Alfie said. He took out his phone. “How about the Bitches and Witches playlist?”

“Love it, babe,” Angel said. She pulled out an insulated bag and some metal trays. Alfie sliced up pieces of golden cornbread and popped them into the tray. Next, he filled two containers of chili.

---