My Fallen Angel

Chapter 1

Do you believe in guardian angels?

No? Well, I didn't either. 

I wasn't particularly sold on any ideas of religion or cosmic explanations. Honestly, I was too busy to think about it much. My life revolved around the numbers as an overachieving accounting student. And when I wasn't doing homework and projects and planning out the rest of my life, I was in the gym, kickboxing and practicing self-defense. No time—or, actually, no patience—for friends or dating. I had other priorities. 

"Evie, I swear, you have got to get out there and go on a date. Just one. It'll be good for you to meet a nice boy and—"

"Mom. We are so not having this conversation," I sighed, running my fingers through my long hair. The last time she brought this up was when I dyed the ends of my hair blonde and she thought I was going through some sort of quarter-life single crisis. 

"Honey, I know you don't like to talk about this but I really think it would be so good for you! Just hear me out. No, don't interrupt! I'll make you a deal. If you go on just ONE date with a nice boy, I will give you fifty dollars."

I opened my mouth to object... but hesitated. Fifty bucks could help me pay for that new personal trainer I wanted for kickboxing. "Are you serious right now?" I asked her. 

"Completely serious, Evangeline. One date, fifty bucks. What do you have to lose?"

Man, how sad is it that I had to be bribed into dating? But who was I kidding, I knew a good deal when I saw one. "Done. I'll go on a date, Mom. But no promises about a follow-up!"

And that was how I ended up at a crappy 1-star restaurant with the most awkward man-child I'd ever met in my life, eating a mediocre meal and listening to him complain about the marinara. But I grimaced, tried to pretend I was enjoying my night, and rewarded myself with a french fry every time I managed not to roll my eyes. At one point, he started rambling about himself and I let my mind drift off into a lovely daydream where I was anywhere but here.

"So, uh. Is this the right time to uh, take this to my place and get a little more... comfortable?"

My attention snapped back to reality and I gaped at the nerve of this man. He was waggling his unkempt eyebrows at me in the most pathetic attempt at seduction I'd ever seen in my life. "Excuse me?" I asked in a voice that carried loudly across the restaurant. But I was too appalled to care. 

He leaned forward. "Oh come on, you knew this was gonna go that way eventually. Why not just skip the formalities?"

Ew. Ew ew ewewewewew. No. Just. No. Okay, Evangeline. How are we getting out of this one?

"I am not really comfortable with that. I think I'd like you to take me home now, actually," I said in a firm voice and rose to my feet, but he wasn't about to take that. 

He stood up and grabbed my wrist. "Don't be like that, baby."

And that's where I drew the line. In a flash, I tore my hand out of his grip and stood in a slightly defensive position, one foot forward, eyeing him down with as much determination as I could muster. "Don't. Touch. Me."

Well, this guy was obviously an idiot, because that message wasn't clear enough. He stepped toward me, anger twisting his unattractive features into an even more hideous expression. "You can't talk to me like that—"

He reached for my arm and I lept into action. I shoved his arm away from me and pushed the heel of my palm out in a direct strike at his nose. With a sickening crack, I heard and felt the cartilage give as I pulled back, shouting, "NO!" I pulled the arm back down to my right side and held my left hand out in full defensive stance now. I couldn't care less that we were getting stares and people were pulling out their phones to record him stumbling and moaning, clutching his bleeding nose. 

He pushed past the forming crowd and ran from the restaurant like a coward. I held back a laugh of triumph and relaxed my stance. 

When I turned away from the door, I jumped to see someone standing behind me, staring with intrigued curiosity at me. And holy smokes, he was the most attractive man I'd ever seen. 

I could feel my eyes widen as my gaze drank him in. He was tall, dark, and ridiculously handsome, with raven-black hair swept just above his black eyes. His skin was smooth and flawless, with a razor-sharp jawline and a set of perfect lips to complete the image. Something about him had this almost unearthly quality. Like he was too perfect for this world. He was something... other.

"That was impressive," he muttered. I couldn't think. I couldn't get my mouth to form a single word in response. So I just nodded. 

His mouth widened into a grin and I swear I could have melted on the spot. It was the sexiest smile in the history of the world. 

"I was actually about to tell him to back off, but it looks like you can take care of yourself just fine," he said, then glanced around at the dissipating crowd, seeming not to notice the group of girls eyeing him across the room. "But I'm guessing he was probably your ride home, wasn't he?"

That brought my brain up to speed a little. I laughed nervously and ran my hands through my hair, glancing everywhere but at the hot stranger talking to me. "Yeah, well, his car was a piece of crap anyways."

He laughed the most angelic laugh. It made my cheeks warm.

"Well, I don't drive a Ferarri or anything, but I could take you home if you need a ride."

My mind was torn between that part of my brain that said, Evie, don't get into the car with the attractive stranger, and the part that said, Evie, this could be the best thing to ever happen to you and your mother wouldn't even care that it's a bad decision because it might even count as a date and you need to date and who am I kidding I am so letting him take me home.

And I let him take me home. 

Little did I know that car ride would forever change my destiny.