Practically Angels Read online

  I had zero intention of grabbing anything on him. That was until the motorcycle sprang to life and suddenly lurched forward. I found myself wrapping my arms around his waist, just like he’d instructed.

  Picking up speed, we cruised out of town and up the winding road which led us up and away from Angel Bay. It wasn’t yet a full moon, but the way it rose from the dark shimmering horizon, it seemed as if it grew three sizes larger than normal.

  It was truly a beautiful sight.

  My hair whipped wildly behind my helmet, and for once, the exhalation of the experience lived up to the marketing hype. It didn’t hurt that I could feel Zane’s rock-hard abs rippling beneath the palms of my hands.

  Slowing down, he turned into a dimly lit lot and navigated into a parking spot. Our destination was a stone building, perched high on the cliff overlooking the water, with the words Trattoria Stefano over the door.

  Huh. And here I thought we were just out for a ride. But this.. this was a pleasant surprise. Who would’ve thought Zane would opt for a fancy Italian restaurant over a greasy barbeque joint with hordes of drunken bikers?

  “Not what you expected?”

  “I honestly didn’t expect to be going anywhere. But I love Italian, so it’s a nice surprise.” I tried combing the knots out of my windblown hair with my fingers.

  “How bad is it?” I asked.

  “It’s perfect. You look like you’re young and alive.” He led the way up the path to the restaurant.

  What an unexpectedly cool thing to say to me.

  Once we were inside and seated, Zane took a sip of his water. “This place is open really late on Saturdays during the summer. I figured if you hadn’t eaten, we could grab dinner or just order some dessert if you like. The tiramisu here is great.”

  I couldn’t help laughing as I looked over the menu. Here he was trying to act all cool, but in reality, he really just wanted to impress me. It was sweet in an odd sort of way.

  “What’s so funny? Let me guess, you were expecting I only ate at greasy barbeque joints filled with loud bikers.”

  “Something like that,” I replied.

  It’s like he’s a freaking mind reader or something.

  “I wanted to save that for our next date.”

  I peered over my menu at his handsome face, trying to judge if he was being sincere or just kidding. “Next date? So, this is a first date?”

  “Look.” He pointed to the flicker of the electronic candle placed in the center of the table. “We’ve got a candle and everything.”

  “Wow. Nothing impresses your first date like battery powered ambience,” I said just as the waiter returned to take our order.

  “And what is your impression?”

  “Confident, cocky, borderline rude even. You definitely have a wildness, and a dark side. How dark remains to be seen, but it intrigues me. On the other hand, you are quietly thoughtful and considerate. You’re a gentleman. You managed to keep that a secret. You’re a complete paradox, which I find strange. Why keep your good qualities hidden?”

  “Uh, I was referring to the restaurant and the romantic atmosphere.” Zane leaned back against his chair while the waiter placed our food on the table.

  “Oh.” I felt like a fool.

  He shrugged. “Everyone has their secrets. The key is what they share with you. You can learn a lot about what someone thinks of you by what secrets they share. Don’t you think?”

  “Sure. I’d say it’s all about trust.” I took a deep breath.

  And I have a big giant secret that had to remain a secret from him and everyone else on Earth. I started this shrink session, might as well hear what his analysis was of me.

  “Your turn, Zane. What have you figured out about me?”

  “Most girls, at least the ones I’ve met around here, are so caught up in themselves and their social lives and pleasing their little cliques. Don’t even get me started on their worship of material things. They are all uninteresting to me. You, on the other hand, aren’t afraid to be yourself. You speak open and honestly…and it comes easy for you. It’s just your nature. You’ve started a business, so you aren’t afraid of hard work or taking risks. You seem like a really good person. It’s like you’re practically an angel, but at the same time, I can see you have this hidden part of you that wonders what it would be like to let go and be...wild. And that intrigues me.”

  “Practically an angel.” I had to laugh at his choice of words. He had no idea how close he actually was to the truth—a truth he could never discover.

  “Assuming you are correct, why is my supposed appetite for wild abandon so interesting to you?”

  “Because it makes me wonder how far you’d be willing to go.”

  I could tell by the look in his eyes, he wasn’t kidding. He looked more than a little intrigued at the prospect of my corruptibility. He looked absolutely excited by it.

  “So, you want to be the bad boy in our story. To be my bad influence? To corrupt me?” I teased—at least partially.

  I tried to be playful, but nothing rubs my fur the wrong way like being told what I really want by someone who doesn’t even know me—even if there is a grain of truth to it.

  “Allow me to dash your hopes, I am nobody’s social experiment or psychological guinea pig.”

  “Our story? Nice. See? You don’t hold back when it comes to what’s really on your mind or your true feelings. I like that. I respect it.” He smiled.

  We sat in silence for a moment, each taking a bite of our food and swallowing not only the tasty morsels but the trajectory of our conversation.

  “So, if I were to walk into a bookstore, where would I find our story? Adventure? Romance?” Zane asked.

  Dang it. Why do I always say too much? Did I really have to say, “our story”? Couldn’t I have chosen my words better, so I didn’t tip my hand about my feelings for him?

  “Murder mystery,” I said, taking a bite.

  Let him chew on that for a bit.

  “Truth is, I have no desire to change anything about you, Emmy. I’m just trying to get to know you better. After all, if this is our story I deserve to know what I’m getting into.”

  “In that case, there will be no skipping ahead. We’ll take it one chapter at a time.”

  I thought it was funny how we were totally comfortable getting to know so much more about each other and so quickly.

  But there was something else I needed to know before we went any further.

  “Speaking of mysteries, I’d like to hear your theory about what happened to Midge. It seems everyone who I’ve talked to so far has one—especially since they never found her body.”

  He shrugged, his indifference catching me off guard.

  “People disappear. Sometimes by accident, sometimes people make them disappear, and sometimes people choose to disappear. Either way, it’s none of my business.”

  “I believe the truth needs to come out. It’s not fair to Midge, or her friends. And I’m determined…I mean my friends and I are determined, to find out what that truth is.”

  “Like I said, people disappear for all sorts of reasons. I’d be careful about who you talk to. Not everyone shares your passion for the truth.”

  “I suppose.”

  Our banter slowly gravitated toward more of a typical first date conversation which basically ended up with me lying my ass off. A necessity I loathed, when it came to the customary questions like, where are you from or what’s your family like.

  Zane, I learned, traveled a lot doing construction work. His mother lived in the area, so Angel Bay was like his home base.

  “I want to show you something.” Taking my hand, he led me through the back door and onto the patio overlooking the bay. The only light came from the moon’s glow on the shimmering bay and its reflection.

  Hand in hand, we stared silently off into the romantic moon drenched vista. It was absolutely beautiful and absolutely perfect.

  It was weird, we hadn’t known each othe
r for very long at all. In fact, we just recently met. Yet, it felt like there was something between us. Not quite the spark I’d imagined and read about in any number of romance novels. It was more like an electrical storm building up on the horizon.

  I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to say a word, thinking it might bring an end to whatever was brewing between us.

  It wasn’t until we noticed half the dining room lights going dark that we decided to head home, walking hand in hand toward his motorcycle.

  Zane seemed to take the winding turns a little faster on the downhill ride back to town, forcing me to hang onto him tighter. This time, I didn’t mind the closeness riding on his motorcycle demanded. By the time we cruised into town, I was happily pressing myself against his back.

  After I’d slipped my hands off his body, he pointed to the rubber coated handles on either side of the seat and didn’t have to say a word.

  “You could’ve told me about those from the beginning.” I was suddenly mortified by the way I’d held onto him so tightly.

  “Is that how you get girls to get their arms around you? By tricking them?” I teased.

  “No tricks. I figured you saw the handles but just couldn’t help yourself. And you’re the only girl I’ve had on the back of my bike.”

  “Really?” I asked, stepping up onto the porch with him.

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  “Kind of.” I eyed him up and down, drinking in each of his features. I wasn’t even trying to be discreet.

  “I told you, none of the girls here in town held my interest,” he said, lightly brushing aside a lock of my windblown hair from my face.

  “You did.” His touch sent chills racing through my body.

  “Being our first date and all, local custom dictates that I kiss you goodnight.” His lips moved slowly closer to mine.

  I was shocked, surprised and excited.

  Could he be daring me? Just to see what I’ll do? I wondered.

  He probably thinks I’ll just push him away and we’ll have a big laugh. My internal debate continued.

  I’m calling your bluff, big guy.

  Every nerve in my body braced for what would hopefully be an event of monumental proportions—something I had waited so long for.

  Closing my eyes, I impatiently waited, wondering if he’d deliver my first kiss. Within seconds, I got my answer.

  His lips lightly met mine tentatively. They were soft and warm and sent a tingly feeling through my body.

  My first kiss. And it seemed so perfect, so easy and so natural.

  And so freaking exciting.

  I felt him start to pull back, but I wasn’t ready for the kiss to end. It had just gotten started!

  I couldn’t help myself. My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. I imagined I’d sent him some silent signal known only to those initiates of the ancient kissing ritual.

  Zane’s reaction was swift, parting his mouth over mine as he pulled my body flush against his. Following his lead, our tongues soon danced together slowly, back and forth.

  In my twenty-one years, I had never been kissed by a boy. Not once. I’d read about it—many times. Heck, I’d even dreamed of what it would be like. I’d have to say, all the accounts I’d read were wrong.

  Dead wrong.

  I didn’t feel any slow flutter in my stomach or slow burn rising up through my body. Oh no. My body felt like the power had just been turned on in an arcade. All the pinball machines and video games lit up, chiming and ringing. “Play me!” each shouted simultaneously, competing for attention.

  We bounced against the wall like moths bumping into a light until a large wicker chair caught Zane behind his knees. Collapsing into it, he pulled me onto his lap. We gasped in surprise at our sudden position.

  His lips quickly found mine again—more frantically this time. Our hands roamed over each other. Each new touch seeming to awaken another part of my body.

  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know what this would lead to if we kept on going. The question for me was how far I would allow myself to go.

  Somewhere during the hormone fueled storm, I found myself straddled over his lap, rocking lightly against him. My arms wound around his neck while kissing him. His arms were fastened to my hips.

  You need to stop, I told myself

  I’m not ready to stop, I argued with myself.

  Not ready. The internal debate went on.

  I wasn’t ashamed by what I was doing. It wasn’t like I’d ever been with anyone else or multiple someone else’s. I was just not ready for what might certainly would come next. Determined to look as confident as I could, I pulled away from Zane and sat in more of an upright position—as upright as I could be straddling his lap.

  God, that look in his eyes. He looked like a wolf closing in on his prey.

  I patted his broad chest a couple times, allowing myself to smooth my hands over his muscular chest. “Is this the customary kiss goodnight in Angel Falls?” I asked.

  His hands slipped from the small of my back, up to my shoulders. Guiding my body closer, he kissed me again—slower, softer this time before releasing me.

  “It is, but only in our story,” he said.

  Quietly releasing his hold on me, he returned to his bike and sped away into the darkness.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sunday was a day reserved for the three of us. The bright blue skies were inviting me to do something outside. And I desperately needed something to distract me from my thoughts about Zane.

  “We’re nearly out of herbs. It’s time to make a list and take Eve up on her offer. What do you say? It would be a beautiful day to ride our bikes out to Eve’s farm.”

  My true, unspoken curiosity was to find out more about Eve. If there was even the slightest chance a witch was in the area, we needed to know.

  “So, we’re riding right into the witch’s nest. It sounds perfect for a relaxing Sunday morning ride.” Chloe was the first to offer her thoughts on my idea.

  “I’m way ahead of you. On the herbs that is.” Jade tapped her notebook. “I’ve been keeping track of what herbs we don’t have, but should, and what we’re running low on.”

  Chloe leaned over the table, scrutinizing me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You had two dates in one day. Hogging all the boys for yourself isn’t very angelic, you know.”

  “I was not on two dates. Daryl just gave me sailing lectures about ropes. That was definitely not a date.”

  “And the biker guy?” Jade asked, becoming the latest member of the inquisition.

  “Zane wanted to take me for a ride on his bike. It wasn’t a date, per se.”

  At least it hadn’t started out that way.

  “Really? Because when I glanced out the window last night to see if you were home, I nearly got pregnant just watching the two of you kissing on the front porch. You were like a werewolf in heat, Emmy,” Chloe laughed.

  “Hey, now. We didn’t go that far.” A fresh wave of heat surged through me. I was blushing like a little kid caught sneaking into the cookie jar.

  “It accidentally turned into a date, I guess.” I smiled, unable to hide my giddiness.

  “Accidentally making out with a hot date?” Chloe arched an eyebrow at my admission.

  “Let me guess, it was a tragic accident. So tragic, I’m jealous,” Jade added. “I don’t know about you, Chloe, but my accidents usually end up with a stubbed toe or a scraped knee.”

  “Do you guys think I made a huge mistake? Kissing him? Like that?” Honestly, they were making me doubt myself. “Because I got pulled into this...I don’t know…magical undertow. It’s like there’s an aura about him or something—a sort of magic that just pulls me toward him.”

  “That would be hormones. But we’re just kidding. You have every right to kiss whoever and however you want. We’ll help keep you from getting into too much trouble,” Jade said, turning to shoot lasers from her eyes at Chloe. She addressed
her directly. “Right, Chloe?”

  “Exactly. As your best friends, we solemnly swear to have each other’s backs in all matters, especially romantic ones.” She tossed my backpack to me.

  “To our bikes,” I replied, eager to change the subject.

  Ascending the winding hillside was quite the workout and my legs burned from exertion, but at least the ride was scenic. Finally reaching the top of the hill, we stopped to enjoy the view of the bayside town from a real angel’s eye view. Looking inland, the terrain was much less dramatic. The low hills were covered with a mix of green pastures and thick woods.

  “There. That must be Eve’s farm up on that hillside. We’ve only got another mile or so to go,” Jade said, pointing to a meticulously kept farm with a yellow, two story Victorian style farmhouse, a red barn, and a variety of smaller outbuildings.

  Pedaling faster, I had an uneasy feeling, like we were being followed, or otherwise watched. Passing through a thick patch of trees, I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and it caught my attention. My breath hitched in my throat as I spotted something dark running parallel to our bikes before quickly disappearing into the heavy foliage.

  Talk about instant goosebumps. I was relieved when we were finally through the shadowy wooded section and had returned to the open pastures and fields.

  “This place looks like it should be in a painting or something,” Jade said.

  Turning up the driveway, the gravel crunching under our tires acted like an announcement of our arrival to a pair of cows who looked up from grazing.

  “Moo.” Chloe mimicked the cows, apparently trying to strike up a bovine conversation.

  The farm had a peaceful idyllic atmosphere. Horses, goats, and cows freely roamed the pastures and blossoming herbs carpeted the lush fields.

  “See? It’s hardly a witch’s lair,” Jade said, stepping onto the porch.

  I spotted a motorcycle with a dark red paint scheme parked along the side of the house. “That looks like one of the Hellions’ motorcycles. I think I remember seeing one of the older guys on a bike similar to this one.”

  Jade knocked repeatedly on the door, but there was no answer. “Well, Eve did say it was okay for us to stop by and pick what we need. So, let’s go.”