Page 27 of Fallen Angel
A woman with a sturdy figure, draped in a brick red flannel, flashed Angel an amused smile. “You won’t be needing that spatula. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Angel lowered her batter-covered weapon. “Right,” she said, embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m a little jumpy.”
The woman stepped forward and outstretched her hand to Angel. “My name is Sarah. I’m Ethan’s housekeeper.”
“I’m Angel. I’m Ethan’s…” Angel realized that she didn’t know what she was supposed to say. Was she Ethan’s girlfriend? “I’m Angel,” she said again and shook Sarah’s hand.
Sarah gave her an appraising look, but then the harsh lines of her weathered face softened. “So, you’re Ethan’s Angel,” Sarah said with a wink as she picked up a mop and bucket and headed down the hallway. “It’s real nice to meet you, Ethan’s Angel.”
“Ethan’s Angel,” a deep voice said behind her. Angel turned around and found Ethan leaning casually against the wall. “I like that.” With his usual ease, he crossed to stand in front of her. “It smells amazing in here. What are you making?”
Angel smiled. “Pancakes.”
“Youarean Angel,” he said and kissed her long and hard. When he pulled away, he smiled. “I’ll set the table out on the porch.”
A short while later, Angel sat down next to Ethan and began buttering the full stack of pancakes on the plate in front of her. Her stomach growled. “I’m so hungry.”
Ethan smiled and picked up the small, blue ceramic pitcher from the center of the table and offered it to her. “Maple syrup?”
“Yes, please,” she said and bit her cheek to try to rein in her smile that had begun to make her cheeks ache. “It’s been so long since I had real maple syrup.” She watched the thin, deep amber liquid spread out over her pancakes. Just the sight alone made her stomach growl again. “This is going to be amazing,” she said as she brought the first bite to her lips. The pancake’s buttery sweetness made her groan with pleasure. “Mmm…so good.”
Ethan’s lips curved in a sideways smile as he watched her. “I love how much you enjoy good food. It’s sexy.”
She blushed. “Really?” She pushed a bite of pancake around with her fork. “You think I’m sexy?”
He raised his brow at her. Then he set down his fork, stood up, circled around the table, and reached for her, crushing her against him. His tongue plunged into her mouth with bold, languid strokes. She moaned, the soft noise filling him with fire.
“Never doubt how wondrous you are,” he whispered in her ear before he crushed her close once more, kissing her with all his passion.
When he pulled away, she smiled up at him. “I’ll never doubt again.”
∞∞∞
After they finished breakfast, Angel packed up her things. It was time to head back to the city. Ethan had to check on the progress of his newest design, and she had to work. Suzi had been kind enough to give her some time off, but she didn’t want to push her luck and miss another day.
Together, they headed toward the door. Just as Ethan was about to open it, a knock sounded. Putting Angel a little behind him as if he were shielding her, he opened the door. Standing in a crocheted beach cover-up, was a woman with thick, bleached waves and honey-tanned skin. Her beauty was undeniable. Still, she looked like she was molded from plastic and clearly some parts truly were.
Ethan wrapped his arm around Angel’s waist. “Angel, this is my new neighbor. I’m sorry,” he said to the woman. “I don’t believe I got your name the last time we met.”
The woman smiled sweetly at Ethan, but her eyes turned to daggers when she looked at Angel. “It’s Natasha.”
“Natasha, this is my Angel.”
“I see,” Natasha said. She turned on her stiletto heels and started walking down the stairs, her round, tight bum peeking out beneath her short skirt. But then she stopped and glanced back at them. “I’ll see you soon, neighbor. Angels always fall.”
After Natasha climbed into her black Hummer and drove off, Ethan crooked his thumb under Angel’s chin and tilted her head back. She met his gaze.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said. “Believe me, Ethan—since meeting you, at no point did I think you were a virgin, too.”
He laughed. The sound was deep and rich and flooded her heart with warmth. Hand in hand, they walked toward Angel’s car. He opened the passenger-side door. She pressed a kiss to his lips, but before she slid into the seat, Angel said, “Natasha did have an incredible ass, but I have to ask, was there anything real about her?”
Ethan shrugged and pulled Angel in for another kiss. “I’ve never wanted anything real until I met you.”
