Page 29 of Fallen Angel
Chapter Fourteen
After nearly two weeks of being on the receiving end of Brooke’s death glare, Angel was determined to befriend her. Balancing a confectionery box on the palm of her hand like a waitress, Angel swung open the door to Ethan’s garage. “Good morning,” she said, smiling at Brooke, who was behind the counter, applying mascara.
Brooke glanced up from her compact at Angel. “How can you be so cheerful this early in the morning?”
“Hazard of the job,” Angel said as she crossed the room. “I’ve been up since three this morning baking.”
“It’s only eight o’clock. Why are you out of work so early?” Brooke asked as she set down her mascara.
“Suzi overstaffed the morning, so I have a couple hours off,” Angel explained.
Brooke brought an eyelash curler to her eye. “Lucky me,” she said dryly.
“Lucky you, indeed. I’ve brought fresh baked donuts.”
Brooke eyed the box through her glittery lashes. “What kind?”
Angel knew this was her chance to win over Brooke. The beauty’s body had that sinewy, starved look—the kind of figure that could only be the result of endless workouts and meals of iceberg lettuce. Angel opened the box and placed it on the counter in front of Brooke. “You get first pick.”
“Oh God,” Brooke said as she quickly piled her makeup back into her hot pink leather satchel. Then she gripped the box between manicured fingers and stared at the puffy pastries. Several boasted a thick chocolate glaze that shone under the fluorescent lights. Others tempted the eye with a confetti of rainbow sprinkles.
“I’ll have to do double duty at the gym,” Brooke said, her voice strained. Chewing her bottom lip, she seemed to consider each one.
“You have to treat yourself occasionally,” Angel said soothingly. “You deserve it.”
Brooke smiled at her. “I do, don’t I?”
“Absolutely. That one is really good,” Angel said, pointing to a chocolate frosted donut. “It’s Boston Cream, but like no Boston Cream you’ve ever tasted.”
Brooke moaned softly. “Oh God,” she said as she pinched the thick donut between her turquoise, diamond-studded talons and took a bite, making a sound that was almost orgasmic. “Oh God. It’s amazing.”
Angel smiled at the frosting dotting Brooke’s pouty lips. “I’m glad you like it.”
Brooke flashed Angel a genuine smile for the first time. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I really needed this.”
“Hold on,” Angel said, smiling. “It’s not quite perfect yet.” She crossed the room to the coffee station and poured a cup. “How do you take it?” she called to Brooke.
Brooke covered her full mouth and mumbled, “Black,” between her fingers and giggled.
Angel smiled. “A girl after my own heart.” She returned to the counter and placed a steaming mug in front of Brooke. “Now, this is how you start the day.”
Brooke’s smile stretched from ear to ear. And just like that, Angel knew she had won her over thanks to the irresistible power of fresh baked donuts.
Angel smiled and gave her new friend a little wave before popping into the garage to offer Nathan and the other guys a pick from her goodie box. Then she headed into the bike room.
“I only have a few left,” she said, holding up the white, confectionery box.
Ethan took the box from her hands and passed it off to Lucky. “I prefer the baker.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. She savored the taste of his warm mouth.
“I think I prefer the baker as well.”
Angel froze in Ethan’s arms. She glanced to see who had spoken, and for the first time, she noticed a stranger standing off to the side. He was tall and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. From his stance to his gaze, he oozed confidence. He had startling green eyes, dark hair, and he had spoken with a refined English accent.
Ethan kept his arm possessively around her waist. “Only the bike’s for sale.”
The man walked toward her, his movements unhurried while his gaze traveled the full length of her body with a predatory glint in his eye, making her feel instantly wary. She tucked herself a little behind Ethan.
