All For An Angel

All for an Angel

Copyright © 2009 by Jasmine Black

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Jasmine Black

Published by Jasmine Black at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition 1.0, October 2009

Visit Jasmine Black at
her
blog

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Chapter 1

What the hell? This can’t be happening.

“
Ma’am, I need to see your license and
registration.” The officer pointed his flashlight at her
breasts.

“
You’ve got to be joking.” Amy
Bradshaw laughed.

“
This is no laughing matter. Speeding
is a crime, and I’m going to have to write you a ticket.” The
officer opened his book, but left the light turned on the same
spot.

She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable about
his gaze on her breasts. “A ticket? For three miles over the speed
limit?” She had been working double shifts three days a week, for
the last month, saving to move from that roach infested hole the
landlord called an apartment. With the speeding ticket last week,
her car needing tires and now this impending ticket, all her hard
earned money would be gone. “Gabe, does this have anything to do
with the fact you asked me out not ten minutes ago, and I turned
you down?” She rolled her eyes and hoped it was too dark for him to
see.

“
Again,” he muttered.

“
What?” What was he talking about and
did he have to pull her over on Main Street? Even at night, the
whole town would recognize her car.

“
You turned me down again. License and
registration.”

If her luck didn’t change, she’d never be
able to move out of that hell hole. She gripped the steering wheel,
willing herself to maintain her poise. “Please don’t do this. My
insurance will go through the roof, and it’s hard enough to put
food on the table for Angel and me.”

The six foot, solid steel man flinched at
the mention of the three foot, pudgy-cheeked girl. Oh, why did I
bring up Angel? She should have just given him the documents he
wanted and kept her mouth shut. But then her cash would be gone,
and she’d have nothing as a deposit for that apartment on the nicer
side of Seawell. The small Indiana town had grown fast over the
last few years, making good affordable apartments a rare
commodity.

Gabe wandered around her car, checked the
lights, and then came back. “I’m going to have to ask you to step
out of the car.” His voice stayed calm and in control even though
she could see the pain on his face.

She wanted to argue her case more, but
instead she shoved open the car door and stepped out. Her baby
waited with the sitter and needed to be tucked in bed. She didn’t
have time or the strength to go through this again. Going on a date
with Gabriel Hawkins, a.k.a. Hawk, was out of the question. It hurt
having to say no to him over and over, but she didn’t have a
choice. Too much was at stake to risk it.

The night breeze blew across her exposed
skin and cooled her. She’d only been in her car a few minutes but
without air-conditioning it was stifling.

He flashed the light inside her beat-up old
Pinto and cleared his throat when the beam landed on the stained
car seat. She despised what her past mistake had done to him.

As he riffled around, she couldn’t help but
stare at his muscular arms and tight butt in his uniform. Nor could
she stop the thought of running her fingers through the short brown
curls growing at the nape of his neck. The curls were sexy when he
let his hair grow out.

“
If you need some cash to get you
through—”

“
No, no. I did okay with tips tonight,
and I couldn’t ask you for money. Lou’s the one who’s behind on
child support.” Behind? Hell, that man had never paid one dime.
Plus, she didn’t have a court order to make him pay. She’d been
stupid and naïve to leave his name off the birth certificate. But
she’d been in denial, praying to God Gabe was the father, even
though it was impossible.

He stopped looking through her car, slid his
flashlight into a loop on his pants and took her by the arms. “He
doesn’t pay? Wait till I find that no good…I can’t believe we have
the same blood in our veins.”

“
Gabe, don’t start a fight with your
brother. Promise me?” She looked into his eyes shadowed by the brim
of his hat, but she knew the color by heart. Sky blue when he
laughed and a deeper ocean blue when he was angry. She guessed they
were the darker shade right now.

“
He should help you. It’s not right
that you have to work double shifts at the diner while he’s off
having fun as if he has no responsibilities. Or at least none he’d
acknowledge. Let me take you to dinner Friday and for once have
someone wait on you. I’ll even forget the citation.” He dropped her
arms and closed the ticket book he hadn’t written in.

Instantly, she missed the feel of his hands
on her bare skin. “I can’t. Friday is my best shift and then
there’s Angel…” She hated discussing her parenting issues with
Gabe, the man who had loved her since junior high. The brother she
should have been with instead of the loser who knocked her up at
eighteen and split town.

“
Saturday, and Mom will watch her. She
just said she never gets to see Angel.”

“
So you're bribing me and making me
feel guilty to go out with you?”

“
Ouch, do you have to put it like
that? My ego is already bruised.” He held his hand over his heart
as if she’d stomped it. His ego would be fine. And if he’d just
stop looking at her, he’d see how many women in town wanted to date
him.

“
How do I tell a four-year-old,
Mommy’s going on a date with Uncle Gabe?”

“
I’ll pick the two of you up about
five. Tell her she’s going to go see Grandma, and we’re going out
for a bit. She won’t care after she gets to Mom’s. It’s a win-win
situation. Angel gets spoiled, Mom sees her only grandchild and you
get dinner served to you.”

“
And what do you get?” She tried to
smooth down her windblown hair the best she could with her
fingers.

“
I get the date I’ve waited so long
for with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Why did he have to be so sweet? She was a
mess, food caked on her waitress outfit. Her hair pulled back in a
ponytail with stray strands flying loose. Not to mention everything
that had happened between them and he still wanted to be a part of
her life?

What the hell? One little date couldn’t
hurt, right? Didn’t she deserve a night out, to be pampered? She
worked so hard, and she was a good mother. Money didn’t make anyone
a better parent, it just made it easier.

“
Well?” He grinned and shrugged his
shoulders.

How could she refuse him anymore? She wanted
to be with him. And it was only one date. Just a few short hours,
no one would find out. His sexy grin and cute shrug squashed any
resolve she had left.

“
Okay—”

“
Yes!” He smacked his hands together
then cupped her face and planted a quick kiss on her
lips.

“
Slow down. It’s just dinner. No funny
stuff.” Her lips tingled and hungered for another taste of
his.

He raised his fingers in a scout’s honor
salute. “Just dinner. No funny stuff. I get it.” A wicked smile
formed from the corners of his lips.

Funny, she didn’t remember him being a boy
scout, but she’d take her chances anyway.

Chapter 2

Amy shifted Angel to her left arm and
fumbled with the key in the lock. Her baby was growing so fast and
getting too heavy for her to wag around. Pushing the door open, she
noticed the soft glow coming from the table lamp.

Great! She cringed and felt the vomit rising
in her throat.

Struggling to keep her balance, she closed
the door with her foot and dropped her purse. Without a word, she
passed him and took Angel to the bedroom. She laid her down on the
bed and tucked the sheet to her chin. Taking a deep breath, she
slipped off her shoes and headed for the living room. Of all
nights, he would have to show up and remind her why she’d told Gabe
no for so long.

She closed the bedroom door and hoped Angel
wouldn’t wake up. “What are you doing here, Lou?”

“
Do you always have to ask me that
question?” He paused, but she wasn’t in the talking mood. “I’m here
to see my kid. Where’ve you been?”

“
Working, Lou, always working. And you
know Angel’s asleep. If you’d like to see her in the daylight
hours, call me so we can arrange something. Right now, I’m tired
and would like to go to bed.”

“
Don’t be rude. I’m here, so come sit
down and make the arrangement.” He patted the couch cushion next to
him.

She didn’t like the way his voice dropped
low when he’d said arrangement, but maybe he was willing to spend
time with Angel for once. Sitting down, the smell of beer overtook
her. “You’re drunk.”

He laughed. “And horny, too.” He ran his
hand up her thigh.

“
Stop it.” She tried to shove his hand
away, but he grabbed hers. Disgust washed over her and she
regretted believing him.

He pushed her down and pinned her under his
large frame. “I need you, Amy. I’m lonely and you feel so good.” He
kissed her neck. “Your pussy’s hot.”

She wiggled beneath him, trying to escape,
but it only increased his desire as she felt his dick grow against
her leg. “Knock it off. I don’t want this.” Her stomach
churned.

“
Just give it to me.” Lodging his knee
between her legs, he pushed them open and settled between
them.

Her heart sped up as he worked on her shirt.
She slapped against his shoulders, but he captured her hands with
one of his and forced them above her head. “Lou, no!” Using the
only moveable part of her, she rammed her head against his.

“
Damn it, Amy, that hurt.” He sat up
some, but kept her pinned.

Shaking, she forced herself to slow her
breathing.

Grasping her by the back of her head, he
covered her mouth with his and forced his tongue inside. Clamping
her teeth around it, she bit.

He jumped back. “Fucking bitch!” Standing,
he grabbed his mouth. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“
I don’t want to do this.” She
straightened her blouse.

“
He came by the diner tonight, didn’t
he?”

She hung her head and avoided eye contact.
“No.”

“
Don’t lie to me. You always fight me
when you’ve seen him. Maybe I should just take you rough.” He paced
and stared down at her. His blue eyes raged with anger. He looked
so much like Gabe, but yet so different-smug and arrogant. Not at
all sweet, gentle or kind.

“
Why do you keep coming here? You
don’t love me or Angel. And if you’re lonely, you could find
someone who wanted to go out with you. You’re rich and good
looking.” She didn’t want to admit he was hot, but she couldn’t
think otherwise. He was after all Gabe’s twin brother.

He got close enough to her face that his
nose touched hers. “I don’t want anyone but Jenna! And since Gabe
took her away from me, I took you away from him. You’re mine and
don’t forget it. The moment you do, I’ll push for custody of Angel
and I’ll fuck Gabe over so bad he’ll never forgive you.” He kissed
her lips. “I played a little poker with Judge Mathis, Chief Daniels
and District Attorney Hay tonight. They sent you their best.”

Vomit rose to the base of her throat as he
caressed her check and neck.

“
Now be a good girl and give me that
pussy.”

Tears formed behind her lids. What choice
did she have? She lived in a drug infested neighborhood and scraped
out a living by waiting tables. Lou owned a graphic design business
and had accumulated a large clientele, enough to buy the best
lawyer and stuff her heart into a shredder. Hell, the Judge was
already in his back pocket, he didn’t even need an attorney.

She slowly unbuttoned her shirt with
trembling hands.

“
That’s it.” He licked his lips, and
she wanted to spit in his face. “Let me see your big
titties.”