“Your head’s already big enough.”

“Why, thank you. I was hoping you’d think so,” he replied with a cheeky grin.

“Shut up!” Angel laughed.

“I’ll let you shut me up, later.” He smiled and pressed her hand further into his leg. Angel’s fingers closed around the muscle beneath the dark denim, provocatively. “Yes, later.”

When they pulled up outside Becca’s apartment building, Alex came around and opened Angel’s door, extending a hand to help her out.

Always the perfect gentleman, yet so hot behind closed doors, Angel mused. Her eyes took him in, casually dressed in dark jeans, Adidas, and a white T-shirt; he looked younger and more carefree than she usually saw him. His fingers closed around hers as they walked into the building.

“What?”

“Nothing. This will be fun.”

He pulled off his sunglasses and bent to place a soft kiss on the tanned skin of her shoulder, left bare by the strapless coral sundress she was wearing. “I like this dress. Did you wear it to torture me?”

“Always.”

He burst out laughing as Becca’s door opened and Jillian toddled out ahead of her mother.

“Anga!” she squealed, and Angel scooped her up instantly, planting a big kiss on her cherub cheek.

“Jillybean! How’s my girl? Hi, Becca.”

“Hey. Hello, Alex.” Becca stepped aside to allow them all to enter.

Chubby arms wrapped around Angel’s neck, and Jillian’s lower lip popped out in a pout and she frowned. She pointed at Alex.

“Who’s dat?”

Angel smiled down into her face. “Jillian, this is Alexander. He’s my friend, and he wanted to come with us to the zoo today. All right?”

She looked at Alex skeptically. “Are you nice?”

“Jillian!” Becca was horrified. “Sorry, Alex.”

“No problem.” Alex extended a hand toward the little girl, who took it hesitantly but pulled away quickly. “It’s nice to meet you, Jillian. That’s a very pretty bow you have in your hair.”

Her little hand reached up to touch the bright pink ribbon as she nodded. “Yes. Do you yike ice ceam? We aways have ice ceam.”

Alex laughed. “Yes! I love it! Chocolate is my favorite.”

“Me, too!” Jillian’s blonde curls bobbed as she nodded enthusiastically.

“Great! Maybe we’ll get a bunch of it, okay?”

“Yay!” Jillian was now beaming at Alex, and Angel felt sure that it wouldn’t be long before he’d have her in his arms. “Anga yikes ohnge.”

“Orange ice cream?”

“Surboot.”

“Oh! Orange sherbet. That’s yummy, too.”

“No. I yike choc-yut best.”

“Okay. You and I will have chocolate. Deal?”

“Yep.”

Becca rolled her eyes at Angel, both of them smiling.

“Another one bites the dust,” Becca said under her breath with a small laugh.

“He’s nice, Anga!”

“Oh, he’s nice, all right.” Angel flashed a bright smile, and Alex winked at her, his dimples deepening in a pleased grin.

* * *

Alex’s time with Angel and Jillian had been magical and eye opening, showing another side of her that was unexpected. His gaze fell on Angel and he’d studied her reactions with the toddler throughout the day as they meandered through the zoo’s various exhibits. He adored how she held Jillian, pointing out beautiful things, explaining and teaching about the animals and not just showing. Alex found his heart pounding on several occasions where he had to take a moment and regroup. She was so gentle and understanding, it was no wonder that the little girl worshiped her. Angel became more and more amazing the more time they spent together. The more he learned about her as the days passed, the more enthralled he became. It was exhilarating and, at the same time, daunting.

They’d come back to Angel’s apartment at the end of the day and Angel made dinner of chicken fingers, French fries and applesauce. She apologized profusely to Alex for the unsophisticated fare, but he laughed it off.

“Thank you, Angel. This is delicious, isn’t it?” he asked as Jillian, now fully ensconced on his lap, lifted one of her pieces of chicken to share with him. He took a bite with relish, the two of them happily munching away as Angel watched in amazement.

“You’re wonderful with her.” It occurred to her they’d never talked about kids. Maybe he was a father. “Do you have children?” She wondered if he had some hidden past that he didn’t discuss.

“No.” Alex smiled at her. He picked up his glass and took a swallow of ice water.

“That’s pretty incredible. It comes so natural to you; you must have experience. Nieces or nephews?”

His expression was wry. “Allison has only been married a few months, and Cole, well, I’m praying he doesn’t get some floozy knocked up. That’s all we’d need. I’ve encouraged him to get clipped, but he refuses.”

Angel knew he was teasing and she laughed, reaching out to stroke Jillian’s silky head. The two days had been heaven, but it was Sunday night and reality loomed.

“Are you out of the country this week?”

“I’m supposed to go to Athens. Why?” His curiosity was piqued, and his heart quickened that she’d ask.

“Oh, no reason.”

“Something’s come up here that needs my attention, so I’m thinking of putting off the trip. Unless… Angel, do you want to come with me?” His voice was soft and seductive, and she started in surprise. Alex had finished but Jillian was still eating, licking the ketchup off the end of a fry, only to dip it in again. “It’s only a book audit of one of our properties, so I should have a lot of free time. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the city than with you. There’s so much history, and the Mediterranean is beautiful and really breathtaking at night.”

“I have a lot of work to do. It sounds amazing, though.” Her heart pounded in her chest. A whole weekend together, talks of trips, getting gooey over seeing him with Jillian; it was all overwhelming and unexpected. It completely contradicted her mental image, and he was scaring the shit out of her.

“Like I said, I can put it off. I’d love to take you with me.” And get you away from that bastard and his goons, he thought.

“I’d love to go.”

“Would you?” His eyes searched hers until Jillian lifted a ketchup-coated piece of meat and shoved it toward his face, completely missing his mouth and landing on his stubble-covered cheek. “Ugh,” he said but laughter filled his green eyes.

Jillian was not put off and continued to make another jab at it, this time landing in Alex’s mouth though, with his assistance. His face grimaced at the combination of the condiment and meat, but he chewed good-naturedly anyway. “Yum. Thank you, sweetheart.”

Angel passed him a napkin and lifted Jillian off of his lap. “Come on, pumpkin! Time to get ready for bed.”

“Let’s make duh tent!”

“What? It’s late, sweetie. We’ll do it another time.”

“Tent, Anga!” Jillian touched Angel’s cheek with her little hand and her blue eyes looked up imploringly. “Wit Zanda!”

“Oh, honey…” Angel began.

Alex interrupted her as he stood to start removing the plates to the sink across the kitchen. “Is it a game?”

“When Jilly stays over, and Becca isn’t here, we usually make a tent in the living room and sleep in there. At least, until she falls asleep.” Her expression was full of apology. Sorry, she mouthed with a cringe.

Alex turned back toward the two girls and smiled, rubbing his hands together. “Sounds fun. Let’s do it!”

“Yippee!” Jillian shrieked and wiggled in Angel’s arms until she was set on her feet.

“Oh, no, miss. You’re a mess.” She was covered in remnants of the day. Cherry snow cone and chocolate ice cream stained the front of her flowered top and dripped down to the top of her yellow shorts and dirt had collected on the surface of it. Her face was filthy, despite Angel’s repeated attempts to clean her up. “Into the bath with you first.” Angel pointed down the hall and blonde curls bounced as she ran toward the bathroom.

“Kay,” she said, disappearing around the corner.

“Alex, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. What should I do?”

“There are blankets and pillows in my closet, and I usually just push the two chairs closer to the couch and then drape the blankets between them. I’ll get them for you, if you want to start?” At his nod, Angel continued. “She falls asleep fast, don’t worry.”

By the time Alex had constructed a makeshift tent and went around lighting a couple of the candles Angel had around her living room, his phone rang.

“Yeah?”

“Alex, one of Swanson’s goons rented an empty apartment in Angel’s building but doesn’t move in until Wednesday. I just found out from Bancroft.”

“Oh, fuck!” Alex’s mind raced. How in the hell would he get her out of here? “Uh, did you get the specs that I requested on the building?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, are there any other vacant apartments?”

“Just one, but it’s not on her floor.”

“Come and see me at my office in the morning. If you get there before me, ask Mrs. Dane to give you what you need and then rent that apartment. And, Cole; good job.”

“Too bad you can’t tell Dad. Man, this chick must be something.”

“Yes, she is.” As he hung up the phone, Jillian came running out of Angel’s room, all pink and freshly scrubbed.

Angel followed behind her, taking in the low lights and the soft glow of candlelight that shimmered all around the room. She cocked her head and sent Alex a questioning glance, but he only smiled in return. She’d changed from her dress into some grey sweatshorts and a white T-shirt, looking like she had just emerged from a bath as well. Her hair was piled in a knot atop her head, held in place by what looked like a white piece of fabric. She had on her Prada glasses, which were a dark green metal in a rectangular shape. Angel seemed younger without make-up, but still luminous. Alex stared until Jillian tugged at the leg of his jeans and he bent to lift her up. The little one smelled of baby powder and freshness. Alex inhaled deeply, enjoying her baby scent as she hugged his neck, her wet hair brushing against his chin.