Page 22 of A Matter of Time
“I don’t want to take advantage of you, Angelina. I’ll be leaving soon and I can’t take you with me.” He sounded so sad, that she almost forgot to be angry.
“Wait a minute. What makes you think that I’d want to go anywhere with you?” The annoyance in her voice had Richard sitting back on his heels. “I don’t do commitment, Richard. I’m my own woman and I don’t need a man to make my life complete. I’m not interested in being a possession – something to be tossed aside at some man’s whim. I’m an independent woman and that’s the way I like it.”
Richard was smiling warmly at her, despite her rant. “I believe that is what I enjoy the most about you, Angelina. You are a precious flower that cannot be picked, because you are strongest when your feet are firmly rooted in the ground.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “I’d like for us to be friends. Can we do that?” She asked him, but she was really asking herself. Could she just be friends with this man, who had such a strong physical presence that her knees grew weak just at the sight of him? It would be hard, but she could do it… she hoped.
“That would make me very happy. I don’t think I could stand it if you stayed angry with me.” He touched her cheek and the now-familiar heat flashed through her body, settling in the one place she was hoping it would avoid.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” she said in a raspy whisper. “Friends don’t touch each other like that.”
He pulled his hand away as if it were on fire. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to overstep my bounds yet again.”
“It’s okay. We’ll figure this out as we go.”
“Are you going to stay here tonight? It seems too late for you to drive home all alone.”
Angelina realized with a shock that Richard’s concerned face was becoming very precious to her. “I think I will, but only if you let me take the sofa.”
“I couldn’t possibly. You are a lady to be respected and that means you shall have the bedroom and I shall have the sofa.”
“You’re doing it again… getting all medieval on me. If you don’t take the bedroom, I won’t stay. That’s final.”
Richard must have known that she meant it, because he rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling as if seeking divine intervention. “If you insist.”
“Okay. You can go to bed now, I’m here and I’m safe. No need for you to worry about me anymore.”
No need toworry about her anymore!What was she thinking? She had no idea how dangerous Malcolm Granger might be. Richard didn’t have firsthand knowledge of the man, but he knew plenty of others just like him – men who would do whatever was necessary to get what they wanted. He himself had been one of those men, so he understood how bad this situation could become. If Angelina was what Malcolm had decided he wanted, Richard was going to do his best to ensure that he didn’t get her. He relaxed back onto the bed, still feeling guilty that Angelina was sleeping on the sofa.She’s a stubborn one.He smiled, thinking of her in that light. Yes, she was stubborn, strong willed and the most beguiling woman he had ever met – and she was perfect for him. What a mess this all was. Why couldn’t he have met her in his own time? It would be hard to leave her, but it had to be done. Damn it, he didn’t even know when that would be. He might be here for a while, which would be sheer torture for him. Seeing her every day, hearing that sweet, sultry voice, smelling the scent of her perfume. He wasn’t sure how he’d be able to do it. He wouldn’t compromise her virtue by breaking their pact of friendship, no matter how much he wanted to.
No. This would be a test of his willpower over his more primal instincts. Again, he wondered if this was one of those lessons Edna had told him he needed to learn. If so, it was going to be the hardest one of them all.
Sleep did not come easilyfor Richard, nor did it last long when it did. He finally stumbled out of bed at the first sign of the morning’s light, yearning to see the woman who slept just beyond his bedroom door. The woman who was now going to be hisfriend.He had never been friends with a woman before, preferring bedding them, to getting to know them. He silently crept down the hall and into the living room. Angelina slept soundly on the sofa and he took the moment of opportunity to drink in her beauty. Her silken black locks were strewn across her pillow, perfectly framing her face. He fought the desperate urge to to run his fingers through them. His gaze lowered to her mouth, where her lips had formed the sweetest little pout. He wanted to kiss them. Her long eyelashes brushed the tops of her cheeks, giving her an angelic appearance. How appropriate. He might have stood there all day, watching every slight movement and listening to every soft sigh, but if she awoke and caught him, she’d surely be angry. Tearing himself away, he decided it would be better to give coffee making another try.
Remembering his lessons, Richard made a passable job of brewing the bitter black liquid. He poured a cup for himself and added cream and sugar.Very good.He smiled broadly at his victory in the kitchen. He was just about to take a seat at the breakfast bar when he heard a sleepy Angelina calling to him.
“Richard? Is that you making coffee?” She stretched, and he groaned inwardly at the sight of her languorous movements.
“Yes,” he answered. “Would you care for a cup?”
“That would be wonderful.” Angelina sat up and pulled the blanket up under her chin. “Brrr… it’s cold in here.” She grabbed the remote and pushed a button to ignite the gas fireplace. “That should help.” She smiled at him through sleepy eyes and Richard’s heart almost burst with an emotion that was quite unfamiliar to him.
Handing her a cup, he sat opposite her, watching as she took her first sip. Her lips curved upwards in a brilliant smile. “You did it. This is really good,” she praised, lifting the cup to her lips again.
“Do you think so? I did everything you taught me,” Richard responded, pleased with her approval.
Angelina nodded shyly.
The unfamiliar feeling that had overtaken him was making it hard for Richard to focus on anything but Angelina. He gave himself a mental shake and smiled warmly at her. “How are you feeling this morning, m’lady?”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. He assumed the ‘m’lady’ was responsible. “I’m fine, I slept really well. How about you?”
“I also slept well,” Richard lied.
“I have to go back to Pacifica this morning and I’ll probably meet up with you guys later at the warehouse.”
Richard was so wrapped up in the fantasy of Angelina that was playing out in his head that he didn’t hear her speak and he was startled when she raised her voice.
“Hello. Earth to Richard!”
