Progressive Properties is aggressively taking over where small neighborhoods once flourished. Now Angelique's Shelter, St. Gabriel's, is under attack. Who shows up at her door to deliver the news? John McDougal, now a prominent property attorney, an...
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Angelique looked saddened by Gabriel's leaving, and that only put John in more of a foul mood. How was he to stop this guy from taking advantage of her when he's the only enemy she sees in this whole scenario? Certainly, she wouldn't listen to him even if he tried to tell her the truth about Gabriel's intentions.
And where did these feelings come from? He came here intending to get her to settle for the deal, even if he had to badger her into it. Now all he could think of is how was he going to save Angel from herself, from Gabriel, and now even himself.
What the hell was it about this woman? She was like a magical fairy who casts spells over every man she meets. They all love her, but unfortunately, none of them know exactly how to love her.
Angelique just looked at John. She found it unnerving that he had said nothing since Gabriel had left. He just sat there staring at her like she was some kind of science experiment. Feeling the compulsion to flee, Angelique thought of the only escape she could.
"Would you like more coffee?"
John struggled to come to grips with the onslaught of emotions coursing through him. Unable to find his voice, he just nodded.
Angelique got up from the couch where she had been sitting. Putting down her own empty coffee cup, she went to get them both a refill.
John grabbed her arm when she walked past. Once again, he had that sensation of his skin feeling on fire. Did she feel it too? He wondered. Knowing that he should release her and yet afraid of what might happen if he did, he held on.
"Angel?" he said, his voice sounded somewhat strangled.
Looking down at her arm and then back at John, Angelique tried hard to fight the wave of emotions that she felt emanating from him. She tried to remain cool, hoping the iciness in her voice would somehow block the emotions that threatened her heart.
"What do you want, John?"
Oh, how he wished he could answer that question truthfully. If only it were that easy. Instead, he picked the only safe topic he could think of "Where did you find that guy?" Pointing to the front door Gabriel had just left through. Angelique's smile immediately returned. John felt the stab of pain straight through his heart.
"Well," she said with a half-laugh, "you could say he just appeared out of nowhere when I needed him most."
Standing up from the armchair, not relinquishing his grip. John stared down at her hard as if demanding an answer to some question she didn't know he asked. Daring her to lie to him. Angelique's pulse raced at the closeness of him. John could feel it flutter under his fingertips as he held onto her wrist. His turbulent green eyes stared directly into her cool blue ones.
"I don't like him," John stated with finality.
Angelique stared at John defiantly. "What's a matter, John? Nervous you might actually lose?"
