Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Angel stepped back and studied the tree in front of him. It still leaned a little to the left, no matter how many times he adjusted it in the stand.
“I think you should give up. So, it’s not completely straight, who cares?” Teresa’s arms slid around his waist, and he covered her hands with his.
“You’re right, and it’s not like Angelica will mind. She’ll be too mesmerized by the flashing lights to care about the tree being straight.”
“Not to mention the fact she’s not even one, so isn’t going to notice which way it’s leaning.”
A couple of years ago, Christmas had been something he gave the barest of attention to.
He’d been a bachelor, with a tree that had seen better days, because he’d gotten it at the last minute from the Christmas tree lot.
Decorations had been at a minimum. And the day after Christmas, he’d tossed the tree, erasing all evidence that the season existed.
Now he was married to his soulmate, and they had a beautiful daughter, and he couldn’t wait to decorate the tree and enjoy the season this year, knowing every one that followed would be bigger and better.
“You’re right.” He turned so that he was now facing his wife; her face lifted, and he answered her silent call. Quiet moments between them now were precious, and they made the most of them while Angelica was sleeping or was happy and contented playing in her walker or ball pit.
He broke the kiss and pulled her tight, burying his face in her neck. He loved being able to hold her close.
After almost losing Teresa, every moment with her was one he savored.
The fact that they were able to work together was even better.
Even with Angelica, Teresa still helped at Alliez.
Her background in investigative journalism came in handy when they needed information.
She still had contacts that came through when they needed it.
Even with Cass’s computer skills, sometimes the best information still came from word of mouth.
Life was pretty good, and he was excited to see what else the future held for them. Definitely more kids. He loved seeing Teresa round with his baby, and even though Angelica had come early, and things had been scary for them both, he knew Teresa wanted more kids too.
“When are we going to decorate?” Teresa asked, pulling away.
“You know it’s best to leave it a day to settle before we do that.”
“I know, but at least we can put this on. It won’t hurt the tree.” She pulled out an ornament from behind her back, and he laughed when he saw it.
“It’s not our first Christmas together though?” He took the decoration from her and admired the pale blue ball which had a couple kissing and the words, “Our First Christmas” beneath it. He’d found it when they’d been shopping for decorations for their first Christmas together.
“Doesn’t matter, it’s coming out every year.”
“Whatever you want.” He kissed her on the nose. “Shall we put it on together?”
Once they’d chosen the best branch and location, they hooked the decoration onto the tree. “There. Looks perfect.”
Angel laughed. “Does it scratch the need to decorate the tree now itch you have?”
“It does.”
They moved to the couch, and Angel sighed with contentment as Teresa curled into his side. “Things seem okay between you and the others, now,” Teresa said.
She hadn’t been working the day he, Irish, and Growler had stared down Fox, Jag, Deal, and Hound. “Yeah. Things have settled down over the last week or so.”
“And you think women are suspicious, but you guys reacting to what the others were doing was a little over the top.”
Angel thought about what Teresa was saying. Had they overreacted? Possibly, but the way Fox and his team had been acting anytime he got close had turned his Be Aware radar up ten notches. “Maybe. But I know they were planning something.”
“Maybe it’s a surprise for someone. They’ve got friends outside of you guys. Perhaps one of their Navy buddies is retiring and they wanted to throw a happy retirement party for him.”
Angel scoffed. “We don’t do that sort of shit.”
Teresa pulled away, her eyes narrowing. “Are you suggesting that only women organize parties?”
He held up his arms in surrender. “Not at all, it’s just when I retired, my old team didn’t throw a party for me. Nor have I been invited to any since that time.”
Teresa settled back beside him, and he tucked her close. “Maybe Fox and the others are more considerate that you. Or things have changed since you left.”
“If they’re organizing a party, then they wouldn’t have shoved the papers they were working on or stopped talking whenever I got close. Nope, they weren’t planning a retirement party. But they were planning something; they’re just doing it elsewhere.”
“I’m sure it will all come out soon, and you can all look back and laugh at how silly you guys reacted to it.”
“Maybe. But we’re still watching them, and they know it.”
“These are the same guys you trust to work with Julian and represent Alliez – correct?”
What was Teresa getting at? “Of course they are.”
“Do you think, in any way possible, that what they’re doing is going to be a detriment to the firm and the arrangement you have with the FBI?”
Angel was beginning to feel like he was on the witness stand and Teresa was the lawyer cross examining him, looking to pull apart his testimony to get her client off. “I’ve no idea, because I don’t know what they’re doing, but I don’t think whatever it is, they’d willingly hurt all of us.”
“Right, then so why don’t you let it go and let it play out.
These guys are good guys. They’ve done everything right since they joined, from what you told me before I started, and what I’ve seen since.
” She moved so that she was straddling him, and his body immediately reacted to his wife’s closeness.
He was never going to get enough of her.
She called to his soul like a siren called sailors to their deaths.
Only, Teresa wouldn’t kill him, she’d sustain his life.
“Honey, let them have their little secret.”
Before he could answer, her lips meshed against his, and he forgot all about Fox and his team and their clandestine meetings and focused all his attention on the woman in his arms.
His wife.
His love.
His everything.