Chapter Seven

“I don’t understand why you don’t want to come.” Kate stood in Sunny’s kitchen, dressed up for the New Year’s Day party at the Angels’ plantation—an event that Sunny had decided she couldn’t possibly attend. Not after seeing Shay’s prophetic drawing, and the danger she possibly represented for Jamie. Even after spending the past days tirelessly studying the ancient volumes on angels, she’d found no plausible way that she could choose to fal , not without being destroyed or turning evil. Shay had promised to retrieve more volumes, but Sunny just couldn’t put her heart into the quest. Kiel’s warnings stil sang in her ears. Which meant that, despite Jamie’s desire for friendship, it was impossible. Sunny was too attracted to him, out of her right mind when around him. She was lucky that Kiel hadn’t appeared to her a second time to further warn and chastise her.

“Sunny, I just don’t get it. You had a good time out at the Angel place the other day.” Kate glanced at her watch. Dil on was waiting in the car, and they were a little late as it was.

“I sure did. Shay and Mason are fabulous—”

“And you thought Jamie was hot. I saw the way you looked at him,” Kate teased. “And, by the way . . . where was it you disappeared to the other night, exactly? I noticed you both vanished for a good long while.”

Sunny turned back to the counter, focusing al her attention on the dough she was rol ing out for a chocolate-fil ed pastry. Whenever she felt restless, like she did right now, cooking helped settle her nerves and restore her serenity.

“I can’t go anyway,” she argued. “I’m covered in flour and my hair’s a hot mess.”

Kate sashayed to her side and began playing with Sunny’s hair. “I could make it beautiful in five minutes flat. You can change clothes, and you don’t even need mice or a pumpkin—just go to the bal .”

Sunny waved her off with a forced laugh. “It’s a footbal party. No glass slippers al owed.”

“But there is one definite prince who wil be there.”

Sunny planted a hand on her hip. “Now he’s a prince? You despised Jamie until three days ago.”

Kate shrugged. “It was a shocker, but he was pretty nice to me. And to you . . . and you like him, so he’s off my shit list. At least until he makes a wrong move with you.”

Sunny averted her eyes, rol ing the dough some more. Kate didn’t miss her avoidance tactic, and took hold of her arm.

“Sweetie, did Jamie do something to hurt or upset you? Is that why you won’t go?” her friend asked in concern. “If he did—”

“No!” Sunny blurted. She didn’t want Kate blaming Jamie for anything, or trying to press him for details, either. “No, no, he’s fine.” She sighed, burying her face in both hands. “And beautiful! And he was real y sweet to me. Oh, Kate, what am I gonna do?”

“So you do like him?” Kate pried at her hands, trying to get Sunny to look at her. “Then why not go? I mean, I know he’s a hound, but I didn’t just see the way you looked at him. . . . He couldn’t take his eyes off you the whole day. And that kind of attention from the perennial y single Jamie Angel? It’s a downright miracle. So you have to come tonight, Sun!”

Sunny pul ed out of Kate’s grasp and paced the smal kitchen, wringing her hands in agitation. “If I go, he’l start everything up again, and . . . and . . .” I’ll fall in love with him. And I might just fall from heaven if I do. And there could be dangerous repercussions for Jamie as well.

“And?” Kate prompted, rol ing her hand impatiently.

“And he’s got too bad a rep for me. I just can’t trust him,” she lied, offering a quick prayer for forgiveness.

Kate sighed, studying her from across the room. “Al right, then,” she agreed reluctantly. “I guess if you’re sure. Just seems like, I dunno, there could be something between you two. Something worth taking a chance on.”

Sunny pasted a smile on her face. “Now that you’re engaged, you’re in love with love. You want everyone to be as happy as you.”

“Of course I do! I wish there were a whole pack of Dil on Foxes for al my girlfriends. But he’s one of a kind, so I have to work with what’s available. And Jamie Angel is very available.”

Sunny stared past Kate’s shoulder. “He deserves genuine love with a good woman,” she said, her chest tightening. “Someone kind and real, someone he loves deeply. Yes. I pray that Jamie finds that.” Sunny glanced away, blinking at sudden tears. She’d never wanted anything so much as to be that very woman for Jamie. To be the one to kiss away his pain, to chase away that dogged loneliness she’d sensed inside him.

“Oh, my God,” Kate whispered wondrously. “You don’t just like him. . . . You fel for him hard.”

Sunny wiped her eyes, forcing a bright smile onto her face. “How in heaven’s name could that have happened?” she sang. “We only spent a few hours together.”

Kate gave her a knowing smile. “A lot can happen in a few hours. Look at me and Dil on.”

She had to hustle Kate out of the apartment, or her best friend was going to slowly wheedle and cajole far too much out of her. Slipping an arm through Kate’s, Sunny walked her slowly toward the door. “You go to the party with your own prince. Have a great time and text me later, okay?”

Kate stopped by the front door, looking at her uncertainly. “I can’t believe you’re being such a coward about this. It’s not like you at al .”

Sunny’s face flamed hot. “I’m not being a coward!”

Kate wrapped both arms about Sunny, holding her tight. “I’m praying that you find the love of your life, too. Just be sure you don’t tuck tail and run when you do.”

Kate and Dil on entered the foyer, and Jamie just kept staring past them through the stil -open front door. Waiting. Expecting Sunny to come strol ing in behind them, her big dark eyes dancing with light. He leaned a little sideways, trying to see down the steps.

“Uh, Jamie,” Kate volunteered hesitantly. “Sunny’s not coming.”

He blinked back at her. There had to be some mistake. Friends. They’d agreed to be friends.

She wouldn’t have stayed away from him, not if she felt like he did. She couldn’t have managed to keep her distance—it had taken every bit of his self-discipline not to show up at her apartment in the past few days.

“So, dude, just us,” Dil on added, fol owing Lulu’s lead into the house. He careful y passed a gourmet shopping bag into Jamie’s hands, hesitating until he was sure Jamie had hold of the parcel. “Sorry; no Dom Pérignon this time. We did bring some good wine, though.”

But you didn’t bring my Sunshine. Al he could do was blink back at Kate, trying to understand why Sunny would’ve stood him up. Even if it wasn’t a date, they’d had plans for the party.

“Why didn’t she want to come?” he asked, trying to keep his tone bland.

“I honestly don’t know, Jamie.” Kate shook her head slowly, a meaningful expression in her eyes. Had Sunny told her something about him?

He’d spent the past days aching to see Sunny again, fighting the compulsion to go after her, to beg for a way they could be together. Only his absolute respect for her and her wishes had held that plan at bay. Then he’d woken exhilarated this morning, his first thought that he’d be with her again today. The whole morning had been a study in finding ways to expend his nervous energy.

First, a six-mile run that had done almost nothing to calm his libido. Next, several hours spent reading one of the volumes about the Grigori, the fal en angels mentioned in the Apocrypha. He’d read page after page, searching for any hint that Sunny might find a way to become mortal, some loophole where they could be together without it being a grave sin.

His reading had yielded no hope whatsoever. Just like al the other lore he’d studied for the past few days.

So at last, he’d pinned al his anticipation on the simple act of getting to spend time with her. It was a gorgeous, unseasonably warm New Year’s Day and he’d planned to walk her down to the dock. He already had one of their most expensive vintages from the wine cel ar chil ing in a cooler down there—along with a pair of his grandmama’s silver wine goblets. He’d even brought out a hand-crocheted lace tablecloth for them to sit on. It was truly what Sunny Renfroe deserved—the ful -court press.

Full-court press. He’d thrown the words out to her the other day in jest, and here he stood in khakis and a button-down and polished loafers and . . . she simply wasn’t coming.

Kate stared up at him, searching his face; he had no doubt that his extreme disappointment showed in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said with surprising sympathy. “I tried.”

He nodded, scuffing one of his shoes against the hardwood floor of the entry. “I guess she didn’t

. . .” He couldn’t even finish the statement.

I guess she didn’t care about me, didn’t want to be near me. I guess I was wrong about what happened between us. . . .

Even though he knew better—Sunny had been more than obviously attracted to him. The stakes between them were just too high, and he got that.

Kate stepped close and rose onto the bal s of her feet, whispering in his ear, “Go after her, Jamie. She’s wel worth pursuing.”

She stepped back, giving him a conspiratorial smile, then fol owed in Dil on’s footsteps.

Sunny lay on her sofa, Kleenex box in hand, watching When Harry Met Sally. Perfect. A movie about friends.... Wel , at least they’d started out that way. Why didn’t she possess the strength of wil to take Jamie up on his offer of friendship?

Because, just like Harry and Sal y, she knew that she and Jamie would wind up fal ing in love.

She couldn’t real y see someone as strong-wil ed and eager as Jamie Angel wasting much time without going for what he wanted, either.

“Kiel,” she whispered, fresh tears starting, “am I being tested? Is that it? Why else would I have to hurt like this?”

No answer. Kiel came to her only at the most important of times, and apparently one lowly guardian’s tears didn’t qualify as urgent. She dabbed at her eyes and tried to focus on the movie, but was interrupted by the front doorbel . Who would be dropping by on New Year’s Day? Her mama might be out walking around downtown—and if it was her mother, she’d instantly notice Sunny’s mood and teary eyes and want to know every detail of what was troubling her daughter.

After “adopting” Sunny when she was sent to Earth—her parents had no clue about her true nature or age—her mama had always been overprotective, loving Sunny al the more because she felt so blessed to have her.

Tiptoeing to the door so that whoever was on the other side wouldn’t hear her, Sunny looked out the peephole of her apartment door.

“God, help me,” she whispered, and, wiping her eyes one more time, began unlatching the door.

Jamie waltzed right into her apartment as if his arrival on her doorstep were an everyday thing. As always, he dwarfed her, but somehow in the cramped space of her apartment, he seemed even tal er and more broad shouldered. And she’d have sworn that the man was even handsomer than the last time she’d seen him.

As they walked together into her living room, she assessed him as inconspicuously as possible.

Whereas the other day he’d been in grungy jeans and a T-shirt, today he wore a dark purple Polo button-down, one that made his green eyes more vivid than usual. He also had on neatly pressed khaki pants that emphasized his very fine physique. Oh, how she’d fibbed when she’d claimed he looked wimpy. Everything about Jamie Angel’s physique spoke of power and strength, and she’d spent several long nights imagining what it would feel like to have that body atop her own. To have him deep inside her, loving her.

And she’d spent the days repenting for such wicked desires.

When they reached her living room, he turned and faced her. His expression was like granite, ful of determination. “I’ve decided there has to be a way.”

In the background, Meg Ryan was faking her orgasm, and Jamie lifted one eyebrow. “Perhaps you should take that as a sign about you and me. About what could happen, the pleasure—”

“Stop!” She held up both hands, desperate to silence him. “Just stop right now, James Dixon.”

He reached out and caught one of her curls between his fingertips, stroking it languidly. “You caught my ful name when my sis used it, huh?”

“It apparently works when one needs to be forceful. Or get your attention.” She swatted his hand away from her hair.

He smiled his fal en-angel, sinful y gorgeous smile. “Oh, you’ve got my ful attention, baby. But you already know that.” Once again, his hand found its way to her hair, his eyes narrowing in pleasure as he stroked first one soft curl, then another.

She gaped at him. “I thought you were worried about burning in hel !”

“I thought you responded to my kiss in a very human way.” He drew one long curl to his lips, kissing the end of one tendril. “It’s just your hair, Sunshine.”

She ducked out of his reach and retrieved a hair band from around her wrist, gathering the curls into a ponytail so he wouldn’t play with them again. He looked disappointed, but slid both hands into his pockets obediently.

Wordlessly, she stalked toward the kitchen, where the pastry was baking, and Jamie began to wander around her apartment. It was the second floor of a brownstone, a completely open floor plan. Without continuing his bantering innuendo, Jamie gazed about the place, taking in her myriad plants and flowers, the primitive art on the wal s. “You have a real talent for growing things.

But then again, you’re ful of life, Sunny Renfroe. I’m not surprised.”

She opened the oven and checked on the pastry, and Jamie grinned. “And a talent for cooking,”

he added. “That smel s delicious . . . just like you do.” He said the last in a bedroom voice, low and ful of temptation.

She closed the oven, shaking her head in disbelief. He was behaving exactly as she’d imagined, pressing her with unstoppable energy and sensuality.

“Why did you come? Just to torment me some more?” she demanded, hoping he couldn’t tel how hard she’d been crying. Unfortunately, he spotted the wad of used tissues on the floor at that precise moment. Bending down, he picked them up, frowning sharply. He bal ed them in his fist, seeming almost angry.

He strode to where she stood in the kitchen, moving in extremely close. “I couldn’t stay away,”

he admitted in a husky voice. “I couldn’t even try to keep my distance. I meant what I said. . . . What if there is a way we could be together?”

Two more steps and his arms were about her waist, even though he knew the risk to both of them—especial y to her. She pushed at his chest. “Do you want me to be punished? Sent back to heaven . . . or worse?”

His eyes slid closed and he dropped both hands to his sides. “No,” he said in a hushed voice. “I just want to have you in my life.”

just want to have you in my life.”

“Jamie.” She studied the floor. “You barely know me. You’re just caught up in . . . what I am. The way that makes you feel.”

He moved right back to her, planting strong hands squarely on her shoulders. “Sunny, it’s not what you are. It’s the way you make me feel. Don’t you get it? I’ve been dead inside . . . the things I see, the creatures I kil . It’s al I know. To actual y care for a woman? To believe in the possibility of love? I buried that a long time ago.”

“But you can love.” She reached a trembling hand to his cheek. “I see your heart and it’s beautiful.”

His eyes grew bright. “My heart’s been cold for a long time. But then you came along, and you’re

. . . so good. So pure and beautiful and, God forgive me, incredibly sexy. It’s like . . . I could change. I could care. I could . . . I could love you, Sunny.”

“That would be a mistake.”

He shook his head adamantly. “Perfect love casts out fear. That’s what the Bible says.”

“I’m not afraid, Jamie. I’m here for a reason. And intimate relationships with humans don’t fal under the job description.”

“They made you human. You said so yourself the other night,” he argued. “How can they put you here, expect you to live a mostly human life and not have someone of your own?”

She turned away sharply; his words tore at her heart. Suddenly his arms came around her again, and he was kissing her nape. A sweet kiss, an almost chaste one, just a brush of his lips against her skin, a back-and-forth pressure. “Go to dinner with me tomorrow night,” he begged.

“As friends. Only friends, I swear it.”

She had to steady her breathing before she could even answer. “You’re not capable of interacting with me that way,” she final y groaned. “Look at you right now.”

He kissed her nape once more, slowly trailing his tongue across her skin. “I’m gonna find that loophole, Sunny Renfroe,” he whispered, pressing his mouth to her ear. “And when I do, I’m going to make love to you, make you feel things you’ve never been al owed to experience.” He pul ed back, looking deep into her eyes. “And I’m going to make you mine. Until then, yes, we’l only be friends . . . but you stil get the ful -court press. Starting tomorrow night.”