Read Online Angel Wings by Suzanne Stengl - Free Book Online Page B

real as you want me to be.” He hugged her closer, and kissed her forehead. “And we have one more thing to do tonight.”
    One more thing? What could it be?
    She didn’t care. As long as it meant a little more time with him. Except— “But what if there is no wedding?”
    “We’ll do it anyway,” he said. “Just so you’re prepared. For anything.”
     
    · · · · ·
     
    As they reached the City Realty office, Gabe let go of Jessibelle and held the door for her. When she turned around, he was gone. It was exactly eight-thirty, and she was exactly on time.
    And so was their first customer, who turned out to be Rodney.
    Rodney Reginald Remington. Heir to the used car dynasty of Hembrook Motor Sales. The man who had taken her to La Petite Maison and told her he didn’t love her. The man who had—temporarily—shattered her fragile world.
    He sat in the waiting area, working on his laptop, wearing his expensive navy pin stripe suit, his Rolex watch and his shiny brown laced up shoes. His tie was knotted perfectly at his crisp white collar and his carefully groomed blond hair fit him like a helmet.
    “Jessibelle,” he said, by way of greeting. He closed the laptop, set it on the coffee table and stood.
    “Rodney,” she answered and moved closer to him, stopping about six feet away.
    “You’re looking well.”
    “I am well. How are you?” The mundane exchange matched the mundane relationship they would have had.
    “How do you like your new job?”
    “I hate it.”
    “I’m glad to hear that. I heard—” And then he must have realized what she’d said.
    “You hate it?”
    The door opened behind them and Bea entered.
    “Hey! Jess Belle Girl. Don’t mind me. Just pretend I’m not here.”
    Bea must have forgotten her homework. “This is Bea,” Jessibelle said. “She’s one of the evening receptionists.”
    Rodney spared her a glance, didn’t bother to say hello and checked his watch.
    “And this is Rod—”
    “You don’t need to introduce us, Jessibelle. I’m not here to make friends.”
    Bea didn’t seem interested in making friends with Rodney either. She disappeared behind the Reception Desk and started opening drawers. Like her partners, Betsy and Bobbi, she tended to forget school work she’d brought to the evening shift.
    And sometimes they didn’t really forget it. They left it on purpose, so the others could use it.
    “Well, I’m sorry to hear that you hate your job, but I need to talk to you about—”
    “Hates her job? You’ve got to be kidding?” Bea said, looking at Rodney. “She loves it here. And we love her here.” Bea glowered at Jessibelle. “Quit talking funny, Jess Belle Girl.”
    Rodney gaped at Bea, who smiled a huge smile at him. Then he turned back to Jessibelle, with frustration punctuating his face.
    “You’ve got to talk to her. Convince her.”
    “Convince who?” Bea asked, pulling up a chair at the desk and sitting down.
    Rodney took a deep breath. “Could we go somewhere and—”
    “No,” Jessibelle said, without even pausing to consider. She hadn’t seen him since that night at La Petite Maison and now he was here. Not only here, but asking her for help. She actually felt impressed with his arrogance.
    He straightened. “Very well,” he said, adjusting his perfectly knotted tie. “I thought that once you left for City Realty, Hanna would get over her doubts about the wedding and—”
    “I didn’t know she had any doubts.” Because she hadn’t been thinking about Hanna. She’d only been thinking about herself.
    “You didn’t?” He looked surprised, and a touch flustered. “Well, nothing serious, just a few. Perfectly normal, really.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, once you left, Daphne Whithammer started visiting the office.”
    He paused, like he was thinking about Daphne. “Daphne’s a true friend to Hanna,” he said, implying that she, Jessibelle, was not. “Daphne got right into the spirit of the wedding, setting up