Angel Falling (23 page)

“You’ve made him so happy, Stud,” Aspen whispered in my ear. “You know that means I’m going to be extra nice to you tonight,” she promised with a flick of her tongue at the tender cartilage of my ear.

“Alright, alright you crazy kids. Gusto and I have made a feast!” Ma called from the doorway. The entire group shuffled out.

The display of food was staggering. There was homemade chili beans, corn on the cob, Ma’s famous fried chicken, ribs, roasted veggies, and a ton of other fixins. We chowed down, barely a peep between us until the first round of drinks and food were taken care of. Then the smack talkin’ started flying again about Cowboys kicking the Jets asses. Really the game was so close it could have ended in a tie, but that didn’t stop me from shoving our win in their Jets’ pansy-ass faces.

Aspen followed along, her bare feet with perfect pink toes in my lap. I rubbed her feet as we drank and enjoyed our time with friends. This time next week I’d be home telling my Angel exactly how I felt about her, as well as my plans for moving to the city. My only hope was that I wasn’t wrong and she felt the same way.

Chapter 14

The week flew by. Dealing with a high-profile, detoxing model, along with the Bright Magazine building addition, had its challenges. I was ready for a long weekend in the country. At least I thought I was. Oliver had laid out a ton of clothes he’d secured for the trip. I’d never seen so much plaid, paisley or denim in my life. This was definitely going to be an interesting weekend at least style-wise. I fingered the opalescent button on one of the shirts.

“Ollie, are you sure about this stuff? This is not our normal wear,” I called out to him. He was pulling stuff out of my closet at an alarming rate.

“Of course I’m sure, Princess. How are you going to look like a cowgirl without it?”

“I’m not trying to look like a cowgirl. Hank likes me the way I am.” At least I was pretty sure he did.

The past two weeks with Hank had been right out of a fairytale. He was attentive emotionally and physically. We shared a living space as if we’d always lived together. It was relatively easy. Even Butch and his sloppy morning wakeup kisses were becoming the norm, something I now attributed to the comfort of being home.

Thinking about Hank and being at home with him was very dangerous territory—eventually he would go back to Texas. Pushing the thoughts from my mind, I filled my suitcase full of a few of the items Ollie had purchased and a few more things that were more my taste.

Oliver cringed as I placed dress slacks into the suitcase. “Seriously, Pen? When are you going to wear those?”

“I have no idea, but I want to be prepared just in case. I didn’t get to where I am today by second-guessing myself. Now please, grab a silk blouse and a blazer to go with the trousers.”

“Fine,” he huffed.

Together we knocked out my packing in record time, which was a good thing since we’d waited until the last minute to get started.

Hank rushed into the bedroom, his mother hot on his heels. “You ready, Angel?” He smiled when he saw my suitcase zipped up tight and ready to be hauled off. He pulled me against him and laid a wet kiss on my lips. “I can’t wait to get you home.” His accompanying smile was beautiful, but added to the pit that was building in my stomach. Home for Hank was his ranch, not the penthouse.

I sucked in a deep breath, locking my fears away. “Me, too.” It was only a small lie but Hank’s eyes searched mine. The man could read me too well. “Really, let’s go.“

Hank’s gaze held mine for a moment then he grabbed my luggage with his good arm and we were off. Julia about had a heart attack when she realized we were taking a private jet. She hopped from foot to foot with excitement as the plane sat on the tarmac.

“Oh, Punky, isn’t this great!” Her hands were clasped together in front of her chest. Excitement buzzed in the air around her as she stared at my jet. AIR Bright Enterprises firmly emblazoned on the tail of the plane.

Hank and I both smiled. The stewards secured all of our bags from the limo and we loaded the plane.

“Welcome aboard Ms. Reynolds. It’s lovely to see you again.” The captain kissed my cheek. Hank’s arm came around my waist and he tugged me to his side.
Caveman.

“Hank, this is Captain Kirk.”

Hank’s eyes widened and he started laughing and slapped at his knee. “Captain Kirk? For real?”

“What’s the matter with you? Yes, this is our Captain.”

The Captain just stood there, a knowing smile on his thin lips. He had graying hair but was all together nice enough to look at. Had to be in his early forties. Hank slowly calmed down enough to shake the man’s hand.

“I’m sorry, Partner, but I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I don’t get it? What’s so funny?” I looked between the two men. Captain Kirk just shook his head. Hank tried to control his sniggering.

“Oh Darlin’, don’t tell me you’ve never seen Star Trek?”

“Uh, no. Is this a movie or something?”

“It’s a very popular TV show then later there were movies. Anyhoo, it’s good to meet ya Captain. Sorry about that.”

“It’s quite alright, Hank. It happens a lot.” Mr. Kirk was being gracious and kind. I on the other hand was still a little peeved at Hank’s lack of consideration.

Several hours and a catnap later, we landed in Texas. We all hustled into the limo for the two hour drive to Hank’s ranch. As the limo sped down the freeway the view turned from concrete and cinderblock to serene rolling green landscapes. The road changed from pristine asphalt to chunky unattended roads with potholes, right down to pure dirt and gravel. Hank refused to leave Butch with Gustav. Was convinced he’d be too lonely so we brought him with.

Butch happily enjoyed biting at the wind, head stuck completely out the window, jowls flapping. Eventually the limo turned off the dirt road and made its way through a tree lined smaller path. At the end was a circular gravel driveway with a large, two story house. It was painted white with horizontal wooden slats across its face. Dark blue shutters hugged each window’s side. There was an enticing wraparound porch that faced a wide expanse of luscious green land.

Butch practically jumped out the window in his haste to leave the car. Once we opened the door he shot off like an arrow, his target a gaggle of geese in the distance. Hank laughed as we exited. The air around us smelled fresh with a hint of spring flowers. I heard a babbling brook or creek not far in the distance. It was incredible and I stared in wonder at the large ranch home.

“Hank … this is, wow. It’s stunning.”

He pulled his hands around my waist from behind and snuggled his chin into the crook of my neck. “Welcome to your home away from home, Angel. Come. I want to show you around.”

He led me up the wooden stairs that creaked upon receiving our weight. Everyone followed us up the steps and into the home. The inside was dark and Hank’s Mother rushed over to open the curtains letting in the light.

“I asked that boy to come over and open them windows to let some air run through. Must’ve forgot.” Julia shook her head and pulled open the windows letting the summer breeze snake through the room.

It was a large living room with old furniture and throw blankets everywhere. One wall was packed floor to ceiling with bookcases. I was surprised to see so many books gracing the shelves. I knew Hank liked to read by the amount of paperbacks he had stacked on dresser in the spare room back home. This though was half a room filled with different colored spines of books that looked to be well-loved. Julia followed where I was looking. “My Hank here loves to read. Used to want to be a writer. He wrote the best detective novels as a youngster.”

Hank shrugged and rolled his eyes. I placed a finger along the shelves and scanned some of the titles. A huge section was devoted to Grisham and Koontz novels but two shelves were filled with books on architecture and design. Hank hooked my elbow with his large hand. “Hey, you can check out my collection later. I want to get your bags settled and show you something.”

We were led up the stairs. The first room was a guest bathroom decorated in garish flowers. They covered every available surface with wallpaper to match. Oliver and I looked at one another horrified. “Ma designed it. She thought it needed a woman’s touch.” I nodded but didn’t offer an opinion. Oliver kept his thoughts to himself as well. Dean didn’t seem fazed by it at all. The man was gay with an eye for hair and makeup but he definitely was not an effeminate male.

“This is one of the guest rooms you fellas could stay in … unless you want two?” Hank hedged.

Oliver looked at Hank like he’d grown horns. “You know we live together, right Cowboy?”

Dean shoved Oliver in the shoulder. “Hank, thank you. One room will be just fine.” They entered the room.

I could hear Dean scolding Oliver playfully. “Southern charm. Manners, Oleander. I can’t take you anywhere,” was the last thing I heard Dean say when they shut the door to get settled in.

Hank and I both grinned at one another. “And this right here is our room.” It was the way he said
our
room that made me melt into his side. He opened the double doors to a large room. The space was bright with dark chocolate plantation shutters. The room was denim blue with white baseboards and crown molding.

In the middle of the room sat a wooden mahogany four-poster bed. A polar opposite to my sleigh bed in the Penthouse back in New York. Each spindle of the bed had an ornate carving. The grooves set deep into the wood when I ran my fingers against them.

“Beautiful bed,” I gasped.

“My Grandfather made it. One of the last things he made before he passed several years back.” Hank’s tone was tinged with sadness but he smiled as I inspected the etchings more closely.

“It’s lovely, Hank.”

“I can’t wait to get you into it,” he smirked and I grinned.

Off to the side of the room was a bathroom. An old fashioned claw foot tub sat next to an ultra-modern walk-in shower. The shower didn’t have any doors. It only had three tiled walls decorated with tiny little mosaic tiles in varying shades of crème and gold and a rain style shower-head dropped from the ceiling. I liked seeing something so antique as the tub proudly displayed along something so opulent and modern. It reminded me of Hank and me. He was old-fashioned and I was contemporary. And in this circumstance, it fit so well. Could that be possible in life and love too? The answer was still lost on me.

“You ready to go downstairs? I want to show you something,” he reminded me.

“Sure.” Though I looked over at the bed with longing, wishing we were going to have a romp then a nap after a long travel day.

He caught onto what I was staring at. “Oh, Darlin’, I’m going to take you good and hard in that there bed tonight.” His lips descended on mine, his tongue entering my mouth swiftly. I groaned and rolled my tongue against his. We had been right next to one another all day but I still felt as though I missed him, clutching his broad chest to mine. Large hands cupped and massaged my bum, pressing his erection into my groin.

“Hank …” I warned with a stiff press of my own hips.

He grunted like an animal. “Alright, alright. Let’s go downstairs. I heard the truck roll up.” I looked at him, mouth pinched in concentration. “Means my brother and his family is here,” he said with excitement.

Hank clasped my hand and pulled me down the other side of the stairs. You could get to the upstairs through the living room or coming down the backside which opened to the kitchen. The kitchen was a good size, again, not as large as mine but charming. It was a bright yellow with white distressed cabinets and twisted spurs for handles on each cupboard. Very shabby chic. He pulled open a set of French doors that opened onto a huge raised patio.
Oh. My. God.

I stood there with my mouth hanging wide open. I’d never seen anything like it.

***

She stood there mouth agape gasping like a fish. I pulled my arms around her from behind and hugged her back against my chest. “So, what do you think?”

“When can I move in?” she gasped and I laughed.

“Oh, Angel. I told you, this is your home away from home.”

“What does that mean to you, Hank?” she whispered as she took in the view of the entire ranch. I held her close and thought about it while looking out into the distance. The view is what sold the ranch for me. Green land spread out as far as the eye could see, dotted with trees and flowers galore. Rolling hills and a creek filled the landscape with texture. My red barn stood way off to one side not polluting or obstructing the view but adding to its beauty. A big “J” was painted in white at the peak of it.

“Well, that means I want you with me wherever I am. Right now, home is here. When we’re in New York, home is the Penthouse.” It seemed such a simple idea but not knowing how she perceived us, it did dampen things a little. “Angel, don’t you know?”

She turned to face me. Her blue eyes bouncing off the blue of the sky making them seem endless. “Know what, Hank?”

“You’re it for me. I lo--” was cut off by my body being propelled forward. I knocked heads with Aspen briefly before I caught hold of the force that was pushing me into her. Two identical heads looked up at me all brown hair and big green eyes. Aspen and I both rubbed the spots on our foreheads where we collided. “You okay, Darlin’”

She laughed. “Yeah, Stud. I’m fine. Who are these little rascals,” she patted both boys’ heads at the same time.

“Uncle Hank, Uncle Hank! They both screamed in unison.” Their bright smiles a sight for sore eyes.

I hefted them both up onto the crook of each arm. My wounded shoulder protested a little but not too much. They weren’t that heavy. “This here is Hunter, and this little guy is Holt,” I gestured to each boy.

“Wow, you two are surely identical. It’s nice to meet you. Your Uncle Hank has told me all about you!” their eyes widened and without a second thought, they both jumped down to the ground and clasped Aspen’s legs in a hug. She gasped in surprise and then cuddled them against her small body. She looked damn fine with a couple of Jensen boys wrapped around her. Sent my imagination into a tailspin wondering what she’d look like with a couple of our own children clamoring for her attention.