The Trouble with Angels (Angels Everywhere #2)(53)

No sooner had he finished than Michael Bolton’s low, sultry voice crooned over the stereo. From the corner of her eye, Maureen saw the two twelve-year-olds sticking their heads out from the kitchen door, studying Maureen and Thom. They appeared to be waiting for something to happen.

"We want you to talk and hold hands and whatever it is people do when they fall in love,” Paula instructed. She help up a wooden spoon caked in red sauce. "Dinner will be ready in about…” She turned around, apparently needing Karen to supply the answer. "Twenty-two minutes,” she informed them.

Maureen grew decidedly uncomfortable. She sipped her wine, and it seemed to go straight to her head.

"Don’t look so worried,” Thom said, leaning back and relaxing. "The girls just wanted to have some fun, and when I told them they could cook dinner, they concocted the idea of creating a romantic interlude for the two of us.”

"Psst, Dad,” Paula said from the kitchen doorway. "You’re supposed to ask Maureen to dance now.”

"I keep forgetting my cue,” he whispered. Standing, he offered her his hand. "Shall we?”

"I…I’m not very good at this sort of thing.”

"I’m not, either,” he assured her.

Maureen decided she couldn’t very well disappoint the girls, since they were looking on eagerly. She placed her hand in Thom’s and stood. It amazed her how easily she slipped into his arms. It was as if she’d been doing it for half her life. As if this were exactly where she belonged. As if this were where she intended to stay for a very long time.

Thom pressed his cheek to hers. "This isn’t so bad now, is it?”

"No,” she admitted. She dared not close her eyes. Dared not allow herself to feel comfortable in a man’s arms again. Rarely had she felt more awkward. She moved as if she had two left feet, as though dancing required far more talent than she possessed.

"Relax,” Thom advised.

"I’m trying,” she muttered. Her life was too good to tamper with now, she reminded herself. She’d need a team of psychologists to explain why she would willing allow herself to be drawn into a second relationship. She refused to relinquish her freedom, refused to hand her heart to someone else who had the power to destroy her.

Thom’s hold on her tightened perceptively. "Block out your ex-husband from your mind,” he whispered close to her ear. "When I’m holding you, I’d prefer it if you thought about me.”

Maureen felt a panic attack approaching. "This isn’t going to work.”

"Yes, it is,” he said gently but insistently. "Close your eyes.”

"I can’t.”

"Why not?”

"If I do—” She bit off the rest of what she was going to say when Thom’s lips found her neck. Shivers of awareness scooted down her arms.

She could feel his smile against her cool skin. "That’s better,” he murmured seductively, "much better.”

Almost against her will, Maureen’s eyes drifted closed. Her head nestled closer to his, and any pretense of dancing became exactly that.

"He’s going to kiss her now.” Maureen recognized her daughter’s voice.

"No, he isn’t,” Thom said in a stage whisper. "Not when he’s got an audience.”

The sound that followed sounded suspiciously like the closing of a door. Maureen waited a moment, but Thom seemed content to do nothing more than hold her.

"Are you going to kiss me?” she asked.

"Do you want me to?”

"I don’t know.” She knew exactly what she wanted, but she wasn’t willing to ask for it.

She felt his shoulders move with a silent laugh. "I’m going to kiss you, and when I do, you’re going to remember it for a good long while. When I do, you won’t ever confuse me with another man again, understand?”

Maureen nodded.

"Now tell me true, Maureen Woods, do you or do you not want me to kiss you?”

She broke away just enough to look him in the eyes. Her gaze fell on the table with the polished silver and the two place settings. At some point when she hadn’t noticed, the girls had come in and lit the candles. No man had ever wooed her this way. No man had ever taken such time and care to court her. Not even Brian.

"Do you?” Thom pressed, growing impatient.

Maureen’s gaze was drawn back to him. She smiled shyly and nodded. She wanted his kiss. Wanted it desperately. "Please, oh, please.”

"Dad’s going to be all right,” Joe told his sister confidently. "I feel a whole lot better about everything since we talked to him.” He smiled at Annie, who sat on the other side of the living room, reading a magazine. He was making one final phone call to his sister before leaving town. Now that matters were straight with his father, there wasn’t any need to stick around California any longer. Annie, understandably, was eager to see her family.

"You’re sure about Dad?” Bethany pressed.

"Relatively sure.”

"Eric seems to think we might be glossing over the facts here. Even when he tries to convince us otherwise, Dad doesn’t seem like his old self.”

"Will any of us ever be the same after losing Mom?” Joe asked. He didn’t mean to sound impatient, but he’d talked to Annie and they’d decided that morning to head out early. He didn’t want to change their plans again.