Page 61 of Angel

I’m aware of what this is. Jason is a man; he wants me. I want him. However, the inner voice that judges every move I make screeches, he’s more than that. It’s him. The care, the attention, the interest. The man – God, the man – with his muscles and devilish charm. You want Jason Prince for more than kicks, and you’re just lying to yourself as well as him.

I slap that inner bitch into place and turn away from him. He doesn’t need to know about my obsession with Angel. It’s doubtful we will meet again, anyway.

A buzzer sounds, and Jason grins.

“Surprise!”

We head back to the elevator.

“So, let’s check out the surprise.”

He winks as he drops to the floor and picks up the takeout boxes, handing one to me and angling his head toward the kitchen.

“More wine, princess?”

“I wouldn’t say no.”

This is easy; he makes it easy, and as we walk beside one another, I must admit this is nicer than I thought it would be.

I’m a loner. I always have been, but some company is nice. It appears that a man’s company is way better for a variety of reasons, and I’m good with my decision. I only hope I don’t live to regret that.

“So, the moment of truth.”

I lift the lid of the box, and as I peer inside, my eyes sparkle.

“Sushi. At least it didn’t get cold.”

“True.”

He grabs some plates and some silverware.

“Help yourself. Anything you don’t like, leave it. The local cats will eat well tonight.”

“I appreciate that you don’t waste it.”

I serve us both, filling our plates with LA’s finest sushi from one of the best restaurants in town that also happens to be a few doors up. Lucky me.

He fills my glass and grabs some water for himself, and I comment, “No wine?”

“I like to keep a clear head.”

“At night?”

“Especially at night.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “I don’t want to wake up hanging.”

I kind of admire that. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of his book because I could sure use something to dull the agony of living alone. Perhaps now is a good time to try, well, tomorrow anyway.

Jason sits beside me, and we eat in near silence. It’s not awkward though. Rather cozy, actually, and I don’t raise the subject of why I’m here. Tonight is ours, and yet I’m conscious of why I came.

I want to kill a man or find somebody who can.

“Tell me about your family.”

He interrupts my thought process, and I smile as I think of my adoptive parents.