Tin Angel (4 page)

“My dad’s ill. He wanted to see her. To make amends. They’re both up there in years.”

“Go on,” he demanded.

She took a deep breath, then folded her hands in her lap. “Alice is visiting my dad, and I’m here. That’s it. What else is there?”

Jack gritted his teeth. What else is there? A lot, he thought angrily. His gaze scanned the room. Alice’s favorite fuzzy slippers peeked out from the bottom of an old chair. Something wasn’t right. Not right at all. He didn’t believe a word this girl said, but he forced a smile. “I still don’t understand why you’re here.”

The way she nibbled her lower lip gave him the distinct impression she was either nervous or making up her story as she went along. “A guy… I needed some time away from him, and Aunt Alice said I could stay at her place.”

A guilty heat traveled up his neck. Perhaps he’d misjudged her. Her story made some sense. He understood the need to get away from someone who was driving you crazy. He’d been through those days. “Let’s say I believe you. Alice doesn’t drive—”

“My dad had his driver drop me off and take Aunt Alice back to upstate New York,” she said quickly. “Now if your grilling is over, please leave.” She stood and walked to the door.

Jack followed her into the foyer. She was smooth, he’d give her that much. And her story did make sense. And there was a strong resemblance to Alice. He could see it in her bone structure and her almond-shaped eyes. They were the same color too, only brighter. But something still bothered him.

Ally swung the door open.

“Thank you. I appreciate your honesty.” He studied her face for a moment, trying to read her, but the only thing he saw was her desire for him to leave. Stepping off the porch, he headed around back to his apartment. She couldn’t get rid of him that easily. He’d keep an eye on her, that’s for sure.

* * *

Alice’s stomach was in a knot as she closed the door. Somehow she’d managed to pull off the story of the brother from upstate New York. A huge feat, especially for someone who’d never been able to lie
—
and to think she’d lied to Jack, of all people
—
but what else was she to do? He’d never believe the truth. A wave of anxiety swept through her. Relax, she told herself.
You did no harm. Jack’s appeased, and you’ve nothing to fear.

She slumped back to the parlor and stared at the top of the Christmas tree, where the tin angel used to sit. “What now? Jack must think I’m some kind of nut.” With a sigh, she turned out the lights and padded toward the bedroom, her shoulders hunched and her mood grim. A mountain of clothes covered the bed. She held up the black blouse and matching skirt and shook her head sadly. “I might be young and beautiful, but I’m still alone, and the loneliness has never been so great.” It didn’t seem fair to look like a college co-ed on the outside and feel like a reclusive old woman on the inside.

With little joy, she put away her new clothes, then slipped into the soft blue nightshirt she’d purchased at Lorelle. After turning down the bed, she slid between the flannel sheets and closed her eyes. Jack’s image filtered behind her eyelids. He wore his straight, jet-black hair fingered back from his classically handsome face. With his striking blue eyes—the color of the sky on a perfect spring day—and sensuous lips, he was a man few women could resist. And she was no exception. Hormones she hadn’t had in decades now raged.

Not only was Jack something to look at, but he was exactly the type of man Tom would approve of. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Could Jack be the one? Could he be her true love? Nah, he seemed completely unaware of how he made her pulse race. And when he looked at her, for some reason his eyes reflected nothing but scorn. Why? When she was an old woman, he’d never looked at her that way.

As she drifted off to sleep, her dreams endowed him with an entirely different emotion. His desire for her was obvious by the way his lips pressed hot and hard against hers, and his strong muscular arms held her firmly against his broad chest.

Through the fogginess of her dream, she heard a bell ring. Was that the telephone? She forced her eyes open and grabbed for the receiver. “Hello.” Her voice was husky from sleep.

“Ally? I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Jack sounded almost friendly. Quite a change from earlier, when suspicion had laced his words.

“Have another question for me?”

He chuckled smoothly. “Yes. Have dinner with me tomorrow.”

Alice sat up and switched the phone to her other ear. Had she heard him correctly? Perhaps she was still asleep.

“I’ll take your silence for yes. Be ready by eight.”

The phone went dead. It took Alice a few seconds to hang up the receiver. When she finally did, she flopped back in bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile. Maybe her golden opportunity would shine after all.

* * *

Jack stared at the phone long after he ended his call to Ally. It wasn’t like him to intentionally deceive someone, and he didn’t feel good about doing it now. He knew Ally assumed he’d asked her to dinner because he was attracted to her, which wasn’t untrue, but that wasn’t his reason for wanting to spend time with her. He knew her type only too well. He’d been surrounded by them his entire life. Memories of his mother’s country club friends sprang to mind—women who were obsessed with their looks and a fear of growing old. All were gorgeous and used to men vying for their attention, catering to their every need. Not that he wouldn’t mind catering just a little to Ally.

He had to admit he’d wondered what it would feel like to kiss those delicious lips, but he wasn’t fool enough to actually carry it out. He’d been trounced on enough in his last relationship. He’d never let that happen again. Though Bethany might have convinced herself that she loved him, women like that never truly loved. They didn’t even know the meaning of the word. Thankfully, he wasn’t so naïve to think Ally was any different.

Propping the pillows up behind him, he lay back on the bed. In the corner, where the wall met the ceiling, an intricate spider web glistened. In its center, a fly struggled to break free. If Jack wasn’t careful, he could find himself in the same situation—the victim of a cunning adversary. His forehead furrowed. He didn’t want to hurt Ally, but he was going to have to make her think he was interested in her in order to find out what happened to Alice.

It took him a while to fall asleep, and when he did, he tossed and turned all night, tormented by weird dreams of Alice needing his help.

The next day at school, he had trouble concentrating on his students’ lessons. His mind kept drifting to Ally. There was a lot more to her story than she’d told him. He was sure of it, and that made him even more determined to get the truth out of her at dinner.

* * *

Alice ran her hand over the black lace outfit lying across her bed. If it hadn’t been for that sweet little sales clerk, she never would’ve bought it. Thank goodness she had, because here she was getting ready for a date with Jack. Jack Billings—her friend, and an extremely attractive man. A tremor of fear soured her excitement. She had to be careful tonight. What if he recognized her? How could she possibly explain that she was really Alice? Would he believe her if she told him an angel had granted her wish to be young again? Of course not. He’d think she was insane.

Many times throughout the day, she’d come close to canceling their date. Even now, she was tempted to tell him she couldn’t make it, but she’d waited so long to look into a man’s eyes and see desire…to hear her name whispered like a caress… No, she wasn’t about to risk losing that chance, even if it meant she had to be on guard. She might have little time to live life, but she intended to do just that. Maybe…just maybe…she’d fall in love. And this date would be good practice. Lord knew she needed the practice in case Mr. Right did appear.

She glanced in her dresser mirror. Surprisingly, she’d done a good job with her hair and makeup. She’d even managed a straight line with her eyeliner. She dressed quickly, sprayed some eau de parfum, then gave her hair a fluff. At eight o’clock on the dot, she heard a knock at her door. Jack never failed to be punctual. It was one of the many things she liked about him. She grabbed the little black bag the girl at Lorelle had insisted she buy to go with her outfit and rushed to the front door.

Alice tried not to gasp when she saw Jack, but was there ever a more beautiful man? His jet hair skimmed the collar of his camel-colored overcoat. Beneath it she caught a glimpse of a charcoal suit. She breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been afraid she might be over dressed; after all there weren’t many fine restaurants in Silvercreek, and, for all she knew, he could have been planning to take her to Mac’s Diner.

He seemed pleased with the way she looked as well. His gaze traveled slowly over her, stopping briefly at the curve of her hip, then again at the top of her scooped-neck blouse. Her skin grew warm, as if he’d touched her. His eyes locked with hers, and what she saw caused her heart to thunder. There it was. The look she’d been waiting for. Desire. And he made no attempt to disguise it.

“You look gorgeous,” he murmured.

She smiled shyly. “So do you.”

Grabbing a black velvet coat—another purchase from her shopping spree—from the hall closet, she let Jack help her into it. He took hold of her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, and led her outside to his car. She sank into the soft leather seat. Her knees quivered. She hadn’t been on date in…well, she hated to even think about how long. Calm down
,
she told herself.
You’re out with Jack, not some stranger.
But that only made her legs shake more.

She watched as over six feet of hard-bodied man slid behind the driver’s seat. A shadow of stubble, which she found very sexy, covered his chin and upper lip. She had a strong urge to run her fingertip across his face, but common sense took over, and she turned her attention to the road. Jack wound his Acura around the streets of Silvercreek as if he’d lived there his entire life.

“Where are we going?” she asked, unable to suppress her curiosity.

He flashed her a smile as bright as one in any toothpaste ad. “It’ll be more fun if it’s a surprise.”

Alice wanted to say,
I don’t care where we eat. I’m happy just to be with you.
Instead, she stared silently through the window into the dark. The moon’s silvery light danced over snow-covered trees, making her feel like they were driving through an enchanted forest. “Thank you,” she whispered, hoping the tin angel could hear her. If she had only this one night with Jack, it would be enough. A tear threatened to spill onto her cheek, but she blinked it back.

They drove in silence, leaving Silvercreek behind, and headed toward Hartford. She was glad Jack wasn’t one for idle conversation. She didn’t want anything to break the spell she was under. When she stole a glance at his handsome profile, her skin prickled into gooseflesh. She was on a date…a date with Jack. She needed the reminder it was real and not a dream. Up ahead, the lights of the city gleamed brightly. A few minutes later, Jack pulled into a parking lot. Overhead, a huge neon sign with Mario’s Restaurante spelled in purple and pink fluorescent letters lit up the sky. Alice waited for Jack to come around and open her door. He offered his arm, and she stepped gracefully onto the pavement.

“Ah, old-fashioned values?” He smiled down at her. “I like that.”

If only he knew
just
how old-fashioned, she thought.

With his hand on the small of her back, they crossed the parking lot. Upon entering the restaurant, a tingle of excitement coursed through her. She never imagined she’d dine in a restaurant with Jack. Large, exotic-looking plants lined the entrance. Dimly lit, with dark wood paneling, the atmosphere inside was rustic and homey. Not at all what she’d expected.

They were given an intimate table in the back. After listening to the maître de recite the specials, she opened her menu. Her brow wrinkled at the many choices offered. How would she ever decide? Dinner at home was zapping something frozen—usually macaroni and cheese—in the microwave.

When she looked up, Jack was studying her. “Shall I order for you?”

She sighed, appreciative of his insight. “Yes, please. That would be wonderful.”