Heavenly Angel (7 page)

“I’d love to. I was wondering if we could do that. I wanted to spend time with you, too. Not just go our separate ways for most of the evening.”

“We won’t be at the clubs that late. It’s Saturday night, so we can do whatever you want to, beautiful.”

Chapter Seven

Late December

Teresa sat cross-legged on the area rug in the little living room of her apartment, wrapping presents for Christmas, which was just two days away. Her hours were long and very busy ones, but even more so this Christmas season while she was covering for Margie’s bed rest and maternity leave, which had segued right into the busy Christmas season. With the extra income, she had been able to build up her savings account. It had also made Christmas not quite so stressful for her in the gift-buying department. She wrapped a new straw cowboy hat she’d splurged on for Angel, enlisting Grace and Rosemary’s help to find out what size he wore and what style he preferred.

She smiled tenderly, her hands stilling on the box after laying it on the large sheet of wrapping paper. She’d taken the hat out to look at it the evening she’d brought it home. Michael had wandered into the room and asked, “Is that Daddy’s hat?” She’d made some comment about it being for someone else to throw him off the trail, knowing he’d tell Angel the moment he saw him, guileless toddler that he was. But his innocent little words kept ringing in her ears.

That was the first time Michael had referred to Angel as “Daddy,” but Teresa was honestly surprised he hadn’t said it before now. Angel had helped her out several times, caring for Michael when she’d been asked if she could stay late to help during busy evening hours and once when her daycare provider had gotten sick. Michael would tell her all about riding the “horsies” when she picked him up. Angel told her Michael was turning in to a good little rider.

Angel had been busy around the ranch, working with other horse owners who brought their mares for breeding. He was never too busy, however, when she needed his help. Grace told her on the occasions when she saw Michael with him that Michael was usually riding on Angel’s shoulders or getting piggybacked, even when other horse owners were around. Thinking of the loving care he showed her son made her heart bloom with tenderness for this man.

Angel had asked her the week before what her plans were for Christmas morning. After ascertaining that she hadn’t made plans, beyond watching Michael open his Christmas presents, he’d asked her if she would spend Christmas morning with him. She’d been surprised, but she’d happily agreed. She had assumed Angel would probably want to spend it with his brother who would arrive sometime soon or possibly go home to spend the day with his parents and siblings. Honestly, she couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be Christmas morning than with the two most important men in her life.

Teresa tidied up and got herself ready for bed. Angel had asked if he could have Michael during the day on Christmas Eve. He had the whole day planned for the two of them while she went to work on the wildest shopping day of the year. Their plans included having supper ready for her when she got off work the following evening. She fell asleep looking forward to seeing Angel in the morning.

Teresa woke early and got ready while she listened to holiday music on her stereo. Michael chattered excitedly while they ate breakfast about getting to go with Angel for the day.

At one point, he got a little serious, and then he asked, “Mama? Is Angel my daddy?”

She was standing at the sink, rinsing her cereal bowl. She paused then shook her head. “No, honey. Angel is Mommy and Michael’s good friend.” No, Angel wasn’t Michael’s father, but he was the kind of father she would have wished for. She attributed it to the sentimentality of the season and missing her parents when tears filled her eyes and a large lump formed in her throat. Her heart pounded a little at the thought that this was the question on his mind, right before Angel picked him up and spent the whole day with him. She hoped he didn’t put Angel on the spot, asking him more questions along that same line.

“Mama cryin’?” Michael asked softly, sympathetically. She smiled, noticing that he had developed Angel’s habit of sometimes dropping the “g” at the end of words.

“No, I’m fine. Mama just loves you so much.” She got up from the table and kissed the top of his head and allowed him to pat her cheek before nibbling his neck and making him giggle. A few minutes later, he came screeching from his bedroom when he heard Angel’s big dually pickup truck outside.

Angel took one look at her face when she opened the door and smiled when she immediately went into his arms for a hug and Michael tugged on his leg and babbled.

“What’s the matter, beautiful?” he whispered in her ear. She could hear the concern in his voice. The lump reformed in her throat, and she shook her head. Teresa gathered Michael’s backpack and cowboy hat, and Angel lifted Michael up onto his arm to carry him out to the truck. Michael loved being outside when Angel’s diesel truck was running.

“Berbbbbbbbbb!”

Teresa held Michael while Angel installed his car seat, and then he buckled the little boy in. After handing him his hat, Angel closed the truck door and turned to her. She’d had a minute or two to compose herself and will the lump trying to reform in her throat into submission. “Are you all right?” He brushed away a wisp of hair the chilly wind blew in her face.

“I’m fine, Angel. Just feeling sentimental, you know? Michael is so excited about spending the day with you. Thank you for taking care of him for me.”

“We men are going to have a good time.” Then focusing the attention back on her, he murmured, “You looked sad when you answered the door. What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

It was difficult to speak through the thick huskiness that formed in her throat as she battled tears. “Nothing is wrong, Angel. I feel…very blessed,” she said as her lips trembled, “like my cup is running over. It got to me, I guess.”

“All right,” he replied, smiling down at her with a look of understanding in his eyes. “Don’t bother packing a lunch because me and the little man are going to bring your lunch up to the store. I know you only get a few minutes because of the rush, so we’ll stop by with it then you can eat whenever time allows.”

“You are the most thoughtful man I’ve ever known, Angel.”

Angel smiled flirtatiously. “Wait until you meet Joaquin.”

“Is he coming today?” They still hadn’t heard for sure when he was planning to arrive.

“When I talked to him this morning, he said he was tied up. When he calls later today, I’ll have a better idea of what time he’ll arrive. He tends to be more spontaneous. I should know something by the time you get off of work. Now, you don’t work too hard today.” He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her.

They both laughed when they heard a loud squeal from inside the cab of the diesel. He released her and opened the driver door.

“What’s all the ruckus in here for, boy?”

“Mama kissin’ Daddy!”

Teresa’s hands flew to her mouth in utter mortification. Angel roared with laughter then gathered her into his arms, flaming cheeks and all, and kissed her again for good measure.

“Angel, I swear I didn’t teach him that or encourage him to say it!”

He laughed softly, the sound resonating in her ears like a reassuring caress. “I know. He’s been calling me Daddy for at least a month when we’re together at the ranch.”

“He asked if you were his daddy this morning. I think he sees other daddies picking up their kids from daycare and wondered where you fit into our lives.”

Angel nodded in understanding, filling her heart with relief. “Out of the blue one day last month, while I had him on one of the mares, he called me Daddy. I saw no reason to correct him or confuse him further, so I let him. Don’t worry, sweetheart. It doesn’t bother me.” He tilted her head up for one final kiss. “I know you need to get to work. I’ll see you around eleven with lunch, all right?”

“All right. Thank you, Angel. It will give me something to look forward to in my hectic day.” She backed away when he closed the door and buckled up then backed out of the parking spot and drove away.

* * * *

“Mama sad?” Angel asked as he tuned the radio to a country station then glanced back at Michael in the middle of the backseat.

“Yeah. Mommy
looooves
Angel. Kissing is
yucky
!”

“Naw, not when you love someone like I love your mommy. Ready to run errands?”

“Running errins? Gonna go get Mama’s ring?”

“Yeah, but you’re gonna keep the secret, right?”

“I not telling! Angel gonna be my Daddy!” he screeched at the top of his lungs and clapped his hands. Angel smiled at him in the rearview mirror and fought the lump that was growing in his throat. That’s what the expression on her pretty face was about. Michael must have dropped a hint, and it was on her mind when she answered the door. He smiled, knowing the time had finally arrived.

* * * *

“Pretty Mama, you planning on untying me sometime today?” Joaquin drawled, feeling way too comfortable tied to the woman’s bed. She returned to the bedroom totally nude, brushing out her long, wavy blonde hair. His naked hips flexed lustfully as he watched her full, pink-tipped breasts sway slightly with her movements.

“Mmm. Maybe I want to keep you under my thumb as long as I can, cowboy,” she murmured sexily as she admired her handiwork with the ropes.

Joaquin growled hungrily and stretched his shoulders. “Well, if you’re gonna keep me here like this, you might as well put me to good use.” He gazed at her through half-shuttered eyelids. His lazy smile was an invitation for her to mount up on the cock that was rock hard and begging for attention from between his thighs.

She giggled as she slowly climbed onto the bed and prowled over him like a jungle cat. “Cowboy, I sure do like this big, thick cock.” Lifting his heavy shaft from his abdomen, she stroked him, her little hand unable to wrap around his entire girth. “Someday you’re going to make a woman real happy with this beautiful monster of yours.” She licked her lips and smiled. He groaned as her lips descended over his cock in a slow up-and-down sucking motion, engulfing him in her moist, hot mouth. He pulled against the soft ropes that were tied securely around his wrists and ankles and thrust upward into her mouth, groaning.

He’d met her in El Paso the day before. They’d gone out that night and had a good time then came back to her hotel room and had an even better time. They both had to head out that morning. He was expected at his brother’s place later that day, and her family was expecting her back in time for Christmas in Colorado, which meant she was going to need to leave soon. Even then she’d have to haul ass and hope for good weather.

She’d told him she didn’t normally hook up with strangers but wanted to enjoy herself a little while she was away from home, and she felt attracted to him. Joaquin had assured her the attraction was mutual, and she’d said she was clean and always used condoms.

Joaquin had been perfectly willing to saddle up for an adventure, and they’d shared a few exciting memories last night. He figured they had time for one more before she hit the road in her fire-engine red dually pickup and horse trailer. His truck and trailer waited outside parked next to hers.

She straddled his hips and held his cock, sheathed in an extra large condom, and slid down onto him. He laid there and enjoyed the view as he thrust into her slick pussy. Her eyes glittered with pleasure as she rode his cock in sinuous strokes to an orgasm that left her panting with ecstasy. She kept up the rhythm for him and pumped him to a growling orgasm.

Afterward, she reached over and untied the knots, one handed. She allowed him to kiss her before he got up to lose the condom and take a shower. He appreciated that she didn’t try to make small talk, nor did she become clingy or sentimental. She jumped in the shower after he was finished and then got ready while he checked on their horses.

When she was ready and the hotel room was cleared out she said, “Well, cowboy. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime. You’re always welcome in my bed if we cross paths again.” She leaned in to kiss him but made no move to hold him or hug him. It was just too intimate now.

“You drive safe, darlin’, all right?”

“You bet. You, too.”

He appreciated the clean break. No promises or requests to call. She called him cowboy, he called her darlin’, they never exchanged phone numbers, and he had no idea where in Colorado her ranch was.

Joaquin climbed into his truck and headed southeast to Divine. His tumbleweed lifestyle was uppermost in his mind on the lonesome drive. His pretty face and easygoing, flirtatious manner got him all the free pussy he wanted on the circuit, but he had grown weary of living out of a horse trailer and a duffel bag, even if the lifestyle did have its perks. He hadn’t seen Angel in a couple of years and looked forward to stopping for a while, see if any roots took hold in Divine.

* * * *

“Purty, purty,” Michael whispered in awe when Angel opened the small, leather-covered box and showed him the pretty platinum and diamond engagement ring and wedding band he planned to propose to Teresa with the following morning. Michael sat comfortably in the crook of his left arm and reached out a chubby little hand to touch the rings. “Mama loves you. You be my Dad. Everybody’s happy!” he crowed enthusiastically. Clay and the other female showroom employee grinned at the little boy’s happiness.

“Proposing tomorrow?” Clay asked him in a deep Texas drawl.

“Yep. Lord willing, she’ll say yes.” Angel handed him his debit card. He’d been saving for that ring for a while and hoped she would like it.