Touched by Angels (Angels Everywhere #3)(32)

“Not yet,” he said, stopping her. He backed her into the shadows until her shoulders butted against the side of the brick structure. Instinctively she clenched the lapels of his overcoat. Even when she realized he intended to kiss her, she couldn’t find the words to object. Being inherently honest, Hannah realized this was exactly what she’d wanted for a long time.

Slowly, as though he expected her to protest, Joshua lowered his mouth to hers. She assumed his kiss would be hard and demanding, a penance required for having misled him. A penalty to be paid.

But she was wrong.

He pressed his lips gently over hers in the lightest, the tenderest, of contacts. So sweet. So smooth. The pressure increased, so gradual at first that she didn’t notice. His lips worked over hers, sliding, then deepening, encouraging her to open to him.

With him as her tutor, Hannah eased open her mouth and moaned. This was nothing like the quick pecks and almost apologetic exchanges she’d experienced with Carl. Nothing like anything she’d experienced with anyone. Her nails dug into his coat, and she responded with a lifetime of pent-up longings.

It seemed to require a great deal of effort for Joshua to break off the kiss. Even then he seemed to ease himself away from her with a series of short but equally potent kisses.

He held her against him, and she stayed, the ragged edge of his breathing echoing in her ear. Her own breathing was just as unstable. Wrapped in the warm cocoon of his arms, Hannah never wanted to leave.

“Please . . . my family is waiting. They don’t know where I am.” It was pointless to continue. Pointless to torture themselves.

His arms tightened before he released her. “Meet me,” he whispered against her cheek. “Monday evening at eight at the skating rink at Rockefeller Center.”

“I can’t. You know I can’t.”

“Be there, Hannah,” he pleaded. “I need time to think. We both do. You don’t love Carl.”

“Joshua . . .”

“You don’t love him,” he returned with conviction, “otherwise you’d never have allowed me to kiss you like that.” With that he turned away.

Hannah wanted to run after him and explain that she wouldn’t show. She had no intention of continuing this charade. That was why she’d told him about Carl. It was too late for them. Much too late.

“Joshua,” she called.

He ignored her, and because she was forced into it, she raced after him. She was out of breath by the time she reached him.

“I won’t be there,” she cried. “I won’t.”

He turned, and for the first time since she’d told him about her commitment to Carl, he smiled, saying without words that he believed otherwise.

“You’ll be wasting your time,” she argued heatedly.

Joshua said nothing, then wrapped his arm around her waist and dragged her to him. His kiss was short but thorough. When he finished, he exhaled slowly. “You’ll be there,” he said with supreme confidence. “You won’t be able to stay away.”

“Will Hannah meet Joshua?” Shirley asked Goodness. The two had parked themselves atop a light fixture in the Morgansterns’ deli. Hannah’s father was locking the doors while her mother was upstairs preparing the evening meal.

“What do you think?” Goodness was downright gleeful.

“What do I think?” Shirley repeated. “I think you’re headed for serious trouble with Gabriel, that’s what I think.”

Goodness couldn’t have disagreed more. “Gabriel knew exactly what was going to happen,” she insisted. “He might think Carl Rabinsky is the cat’s meow, but you and I both know he isn’t the right man for Hannah.”

Shirley’s look was skeptical. “Why isn’t he?”

“It’s clear to me that Carl’s as confused about all this as Hannah. The poor boy’s parents had more to do with the engagement than he did. They pushed him into it.”

“How do you know that?”

“I don’t,” Goodness confessed reluctantly, “but I’d wager a good deal that was the case.”

“What you’re wagering,” Shirley seemed to feel obliged to tell her, “is our futures. You’ve done this before, you know. My heaven,” she continued, wringing her hands. “I can’t get involved in your prayer request, not when I’ve got troubles of my own.”

“Oh?”

“It’s Brynn and Roberto. This is simply not the time for her to walk around with her head in the clouds. She needs her wits about her. I’m afraid something serious is about to happen, and I can’t be constantly fretting about what you’re getting into.”

“Me?” If she didn’t know better, Goodness would be insulted.

“Yes, you. I beg of you, Goodness, kindly leave matters be with Carl and Hannah.”

Goodness considered it seriously, but not for long. She didn’t mean to be a rabble-rouser, but there were some matters that one couldn’t ignore. Unfortunately this was one of those times.

“I can’t.”

Shirley groaned, and her head slumped forward. “Why did I know you were going to say that?”

“I’m sorry, really I am. But I asked myself exactly why Gabriel would assign this particular prayer request to me.”