Page 98 of Angel

Stepping out into the corridor, my heart thudded just as Bull rounded the far corner, fruit platter in hand.

He glared at me, suspicion rolling off his massive shoulders.

‘We women have such terrible periods,’ I purred, flashing a sweet, patronizing smile as I brushed past his bulk. ‘I always keeps running to the loo!’

The sudden expression of horrified disgust on his face was priceless.

It took all I had to keep from bursting out in loud peals of laughter as I walked away.

That evening, Angel and I sat down to a dinner of garlic-herb steak and roasted sweet potato wedges.

We ate in silence until I reached into my jacket and slid the folded paper over the table.

He opened the document with a curious, narrowed expression, his eyes scanning the legal font.

‘What’s this?’ he rasped.

‘I went to Rosedale Manor and helped myself to it in Reese’s office. It’s our first shot over the bow.’

Angel gave me an impressed nod.

‘Read it.’

He did, scanning the page.

‘So Reese’s primary lenders have conducted a comprehensive physical inspection, and fewer than five horses were found across his Nashville operations?’ Angel muttered, shaking his head. ‘Huh.’

‘It’s what I suspected,’ I said. ‘We once owned a stable of almost fifty championship stallions and mares. The question is, what happened to the rest of them?’

Angel stared at the text, his thumb rubbing his jawline.

‘Are you OK if I pass this over to the investigation team at Waring and Associates? Brian can have his guys dig into Reese’s finances.’

‘It’s the whole reason I risked my neck today,’ I murmured.

‘Thanks for the sleuth work, Rox. It’s ace.’

We locked eyes across the empty dishes.

Angel pushed his chair back, stepping around the table until he stood over me.

He reached a hand out, and I took it.

He lifted me from the chair, a warm, calloused hand encircling my waist as he gazed down into my face.

His other hand cupped my jaw, his thumb stroking my cheek.

‘My heart’s a fucking disaster zone, Rox,’ he confessed in a rough whisper. ‘It’s the reason I’m keeping my distance. I need to process my shit, and it’s not easy to walk away from my catastrophe of a life spent loving Evangeline. It wouldn’t be fair to lead you on until I get things sorted inside myself.’

An ache blossomed in my chest, threatening to choke me.

I nodded against his palm.

If you love him, let him go, I thought.

Angel narrowed his eyes, tracking the movement of my lips.

I felt a hot flush creep up my neck, realizing I’d just made the statement out loud.