Chapter 9 #2
Richard, you are such an idiot! You’ve hurt her, you callous fool!
He couldn’t believe his own lack of control.
He’d kissed her and it had been glorious, but it wasn’t something he should have done or could allow himself to do ever again.
She deserves so much better than you! The overwhelming heat generated in her presence began to cool.
Richard stood and collected the pillow and blankets, wrapping himself up on the sofa despite knowing sleep would not come easily this night.
He tossed and turned, angry with himself.
But why, for heaven’s sake? He was a man, not a saint, and she was an alluringly beautiful woman.
Whoever thought to name her Angelina had known exactly what they were about, because she was an angel indeed.
He knew he would consider himself blessed to have someone like her in his life, but in his heart, Richard knew that he was anything but blessed.
Cursed was more likely. He calmed himself with thoughts of home.
Yes. He’d return home and find a wife to love, but when he pictured this wife of his future, all he could see was Angelina.
He finally fell asleep thinking of silky black hair and soft azure eyes.
The next morning dawned with the same rainy gloom of the previous day.
The sound of the rain was comforting in its familiarity, and Richard arose from his makeshift bed, barefoot and bare chested, to head for the kitchen.
He thought he’d try his hand at making coffee.
How hard could it be? He’d seen Nick make it and Angelina was proficient too.
He’d watched them both carefully and he thought he’d be able to recreate the same result.
It would be a nice surprise for them when they awoke.
He found the coffee and the pot. He searched through the cabinet for the papers that the coffee would sit in and eventually found them, right where the coffee had been.
He followed all the steps in the order he remembered and was quite pleased with himself when coffee began pouring into the pot beneath.
The smell of it permeated the room and wafted down the hallway, as was evidenced by both Nick and Angelina opening their doors simultaneously and stumbling groggily down the hall.
“Ye made coffee?” Nick asked.
“Yes. Why do you look so surprised?” Richard questioned with a proud smile.
Nick shrugged and grabbed cups for the three of them, while Angelina made her way to the refrigerator and grabbed the cream.
Richard had already set the sugar out on the counter.
He cast his gaze in Angelina’s direction, hoping she’d been able to sleep after his shameful exhibition last night.
First chance he got, he would explain himself.
With that thought in mind, Richard felt much better.
He smiled warmly at her, and she turned her back to him.
“It’s still raining,” she observed. “The practice space is going to be flooded again.”
“Aye. ’Twill be,” Nick concurred. He took a sip of the coffee, and his facial expression was almost comical, as he made a show of swallowing the bitter brew.
“Is the coffee not good?” Richard asked, wondering where he had gone wrong.
“Nick, don’t tease him. It’s not nice,” Angelina said. “It’s fine Richard. A little strong, but for your first attempt, very good.” She continued to avoid eye contact with him.
“Thank you,” Richard answered. He couldn’t believe that while she was obviously upset with him, she still stood up for him, despite the fact that the coffee was almost undrinkable. She really was an angel.
“Why don’t you two go and sit down and I’ll see what I can whip up for breakfast. Do you have eggs, Nick?” she asked.
Nick shrugged. “Have a look in the fridge. And make another pot of coffee, if you would. While yer at it, would ye please show Richard the correct way to do it?”
Richard stared daggers at his friend and Nick chuckled. “Why do ye look at me like that? Ye ken ye need to know how to make proper coffee.” He turned his back on them both and went to sit in the large comfortable chair near the fireplace.
Richard followed Angelina into the kitchen, suffering the distinct impression she wished him to be as far away from her as possible. “Angelina, I’d like to speak with you later, if I might.”
“You can speak to me now,” she responded sharply.
“Alone. I’d explain my actions last night to you.”
“No need to explain. I got the message loud and clear.” She busied herself searching through the refrigerator and pulling out eggs and breakfast sausage.
Her silent disapproval continued as she pulled pans from the cabinets, all the while making quite the clatter as she thumped them down on the counter.
“Angelina, please …”
“Oh, right. I was supposed to teach you how to make coffee.” She proceeded to throw away his efforts, starting over again, and Richard watched carefully as she explained the process. When she was done, she cocked her head to one side. “Got it?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“Good. You can join Nick. I don’t need any help.”
“I’ll go, as long as you promise you’ll allow me to speak with you later.” He wasn’t going to budge from the kitchen until she agreed.
Angelina appeared as if she would argue with him, but instead, she relented. “Okay, okay, I’ll listen. I promise. Now go.” She made a shooing motion with her hands and somewhat relieved, Richard left her and joined Nick by the fire.
***
Breathing a sigh of relief, Angelina busied herself with preparing breakfast. Thank goodness he’d left her alone!
It had been difficult, but somehow, she’d managed to keep her eyes off his chiselled abs and strong, hard chest. She was feeling vulnerable and that was not okay.
She hadn’t been vulnerable where a man was concerned in forever, so this had to stop—now!
She was perfectly capable of detaching herself emotionally from a man.
Granted, it wasn’t usually after one single extremely hot kiss, but he obviously wasn’t interested and so she would live with that.
She was friends with Nick, but she wasn’t sure she could be friends with Richard.
They’d have to keep their interactions on a purely professional level.
What on earth does he want to talk to me about?
If he was going to tell her that after their kiss he found he wasn’t attracted to her, she’d be hurt, but she’d deal with it.
She didn’t believe that was the case though.
She had experienced a magnetic attraction to him and was sure he had as well.
So, what was his problem? Gritting her teeth in frustration, Angelina took her bad mood out on the eggs, whipping them beyond what was necessary and then adding them to the pan where she was sautéing some vegetables.
Once everything was ready, she put together a plate for each of them and set them on the breakfast bar.
“Nick, Richard, food’s ready.” She poured some fresh coffee and when she went to sit down, found that the two shirtless wonders had each taken an end seat and left the centre stool for her.
She was used to seeing Nick half dressed.
He was very comfortable in his own skin and never gave a thought to whether or not she minded.
She didn’t, of course. Nick had a great body, but Richard’s was even better.
And now here she was, having to sit next to him.
She was the meat in a half-dressed man sandwich.
Great. Just great. The last thing she wanted was to be subjected to the force field that seemed to emit from Richard every time she got close to him, drawing her in.
Just as she expected, her skin started to burn up the minute she sat down.
Her appetite immediately disappeared and instead of eating, she shovelled her food around on the plate while the two men ate every crumb on theirs.
“Are ye going to eat that?” Nick asked eyeing her untouched food.
“No. I’m not very hungry this morning.” Angelina pushed her plate towards him and he took half and sent the rest down the counter to Richard.
“Where’s yer appetite gone to, lass? Did Richard do something he shouldnae have after I went to bed last night? Is that why ye cannae eat?” Nick’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
Angelina didn’t answer immediately and she could sense Richard’s discomfort in the seat next to her. “Of course not, don’t be silly. Nothing of any importance happened. I’m just not hungry. Can’t a girl skip a meal without you jumping to ridiculous conclusions?”
Nick chuckled in apparent disbelief. “I’ve a few phone calls to make, so if ye’ll excuse me. Richard will help ye with the dishes, willnae ye?”
“Yes, I’d be happy to.” Angelina noticed Richard was giving Nick that pained expression again.
“You go sit in the living room or do whatever it is you do after breakfast. I can do this myself.” The last thing she wanted was to be in close quarters with Richard. She’d barely made it through breakfast, and she still had to find a way to get out of their little ‘talk’.
“Alright, I’ll go take a shower then.” Richard departed the kitchen, leaving Angelina to clean up the mess.
She quickly got everything done and before Richard had finished showering, she gathered her things and slipped out through the door like a thief in the night, or rather like a woman determined to avoid any further discussions.
***
“Where’s Angelina?” Richard asked, as he exited his room fresh from the shower.
“I dinnae ken where she went off to in such a hurry, but she didnae even say goodbye. We’ll see her later today at practice.” Nick stood up and walked towards Richard. “Would ye like to tell me what happened between the two of ye? The air in the room between ye was thick.”
“Nothing happened.” Richard was embarrassed by his behaviour the previous night and didn’t feel like sharing with Nick.
“Fine, but I know otherwise. I can read it all over yer face, and Angelina’s was nae any better.
And I heard ye tell her that ye needed to explain yerself.
” Nick wore that crooked grin that women found disarming, but Richard found just plain annoying.
“I ken yer attraction to her, and I see that she feels the same. Why can ye nae just enjoy yerself? Live for the here and now, and dinnae worry for tomorrow.”
“If only I could, my friend. You’ve always been able to do that, but as you know, it’s not quite as easy for me.” Richard walked to the window and gazed down into the street.
“Mayhap that is what yer here to learn.” Nick’s expression seemed to suggest he thought he had just solved the puzzle, but Richard wasn’t so certain.
“Perhaps it is, but I think there must be something more. I only hope it reveals itself to me soon. I’d like to go home.”