Angel Falls (Angel Falls Series, #1) by Babette Jongh (inspiring books for teens txt) 📗

news, I didn’t plan to be Miss Mary Sunshine for anyone. I didn’t check caller ID before I snatched up the receiver and snarled a curt, “Hello.”

“Lass, I’m sorry. I was wrong to get my knickers in a twist. Forgive me?”

My anger dissolved. I was mad about what? I couldn’t quite remember. “Oh, Ian, I’m sorry, too.”

“I’ve decided not to stay in Birmingham. Do you want some company?”

My butterflies started fluttering. “Yes, please.”

“I’m on my way, but it’ll still take me a couple of hours.”

“Be careful driving.” I thought about that treacherous stretch of highway between him and me. “Take your time. I’ll wait.”

“Okay, love.” His voice was a warm caress. “See you soon.”

After an eternity, headlights projected a kaleidoscope of colors onto the living room wall, and I looked out to see Ian’s car at the curb.

I ran to the bathroom, had a quick pee, washed hands, glossed lips, brushed hair, and made it to the door before he did. I tossed the hairbrush on the couch and opened the door before he could knock.

“Mmmm...” It was all either of us said, too occupied with kissing for conversation. It was cold outside, and his leather jacket chilled my fingers, but underneath the jacket, his body was warm. Ian turned the deadbolt and dropped his overnight bag with a thunk. He walked forward with me in his arms, until the backs of my knees touched the arm of the couch. We tumbled back, his hard, muscular body on top of mine.

Hallelujah, my body sang. Everything was right with my world now that he was here.

“Ow.” He looked down, found the hairbrush and sent it clattering across the floor. “Thought I’d put my knee down on a hedgehog.”

“How was the awards banquet?” I asked. “I’m so sorry I missed it.”

He put a finger over my lips, shushing the apology. “Boring as hell.” He scooched us around until I was on top of him. With his hands caressing the silky fabric covering my backside, he started to kiss me but pulled away before our lips touched. “Hey, where’s your car? It’s not out front.”

“I left a voice message.” I kissed him, since he hadn’t quite managed to kiss me. “Didn’t you get it?”

He shook his head. “Bad connection, too garbled to understand.”

Thank God. “I had a little car trouble on my way to Birmingham.... I was going to try to catch up with you.”

“You were.” He trailed a finger along my cheek. “How sweet.”

“I made it as far as River Road before Margot—my car—decided to give up the ghost. Smoke was pouring from the hood. I thought for a minute she’d catch on fire.”

Ian snorted. “Probably be a good thing if she did. So what did you do? Did your father come and get you?”

“Nah. It was dark already, and he doesn’t like to drive at night.”

“Ben, then?” Ian asked, the caution in his voice cooling a little of the passion between us. His hands on my backside went still—a bad sign.

I hurried to correct his mistaken assumption. “I got a ride from a kid who was down by the river partying.”

Ian stood, dumping me onto the couch. “You what?”

Uh-oh. I realized too late that I’d only made things worse. “You heard me, Ian Buchanan.” I hoped to ward off the impending argument by going on the offensive. “And here I am, safe and sound. No harm done.”

He jumped in with both feet, about how I was too trusting, irresponsible, taking unnecessary risks, all sorts of stuff. If I’d ever read the newspaper, I’d know that strangers couldn’t be trusted, and even in small towns, teenage kids abducted women and yada yada. I stopped listening after that, but he yelled a bit more before he wound down enough for me to get a word in edgewise.

By this time, I knew he was right and I was wrong, but of course I still got back in his face, about how I was a grown woman who’d been getting along just fine all this time without him telling me what to do. Lizzie whined and pawed at my leg, sending worried looks between us. I got up and flounced out of the room with my slinky nightgown billowing out behind me. I turned off the bedroom light and climbed into bed to wait with my arms crossed over my chest.

Lizzie hopped up onto the bed and put her head down on her paws, looking out into the hallway. I heard Ian walking, his steps slow and measured on the wood floor outside my range of vision. I couldn’t tell where he was, exactly.

Was he leaving?

No. He was coming down the hall. I let out the breath I’d been holding. I heard the bathroom door close, the sound of water running... And then the silhouette of his strong body blocked the bedroom doorway, his muscular shoulders and arms silvered in stark relief from the hall light.

I folded back the covers. “Come to bed.”

He stopped beside the bed, and when he spoke, his voice came deep and serious. “Promise me you’ll never to do anything like that again. Even in small towns, terrible things happen. Even in Angel Falls, there are bad people who do bad things. That was dangerous, and you know it.”

“I’ll try not to.” I had the feeling my light tone wasn’t doing any good. “Okay?”

Ian growled at my stubbornness, but got into bed anyway. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll take a look at your car.”

“Okay.” I turned toward him.

“Your toes are like ice.”

I stuck my feet between his legs. “Warm them up, then.” I slid my hands around his ribs. “And my hands, too, while you’re at it.”

“Bossy lass,” he complained, his voice gruff. “Come closer.”

And I did.

In the morning, we swung past the fast-food drive-through for breakfast muffins and bitter coffee. I don’t know why, but a canned energy drink didn’t appeal to Ian, and it was the only thing left in the refrigerator. We were standing in front of my car before