Angela didn’t want to. She regretted telling him about Kayla and longed to go home, to pretend that what they’d said and done here in Virginia City had never happened. Tomorrow night was Christmas Eve, but she’d drive straight through. She couldn’t wait.
“Matt—”
He peered over her head at the luggage. “It’s too late to run,” he said.
Someone across the hall peered out, wearing a disgruntled expression, and Angela quickly waved Matt inside.
“I’m not running. I’m—”
“Heading home.” He glowered at the bags. “Two states away, which probably sounds like a pretty safe distance.”
“I thought maybe we should…you know, take the next few weeks to consider the situation. You can call me in Denver when—”
“I’ve considered it,” he interrupted.
The determination in his voice sent terror shooting through Angela. He had something to say already? She’d only left his place a couple of hours ago. “What have you decided?” she whispered.
He reached over to run his thumb along Kayla’s name, which was embroidered on the backpack she’d brought for her beloved books. “I want her. She’s mine. I’ll take care of her from here on out.”
Tears sprang to Angela’s eyes. “Matt, wait. Please, I…” The lump in her throat choked off her words. She wasn’t sure what to say, anyway. She knew Kayla wanted her father more than anything and that Matt would be good to her. She also knew he could offer her a loving extended family, the roots she craved and greater protection from the influence of her mother. The distance alone would be a plus, because Stephanie couldn’t stop by every time she was down and out and wanted money for drugs.
Angela should let Kayla go, shouldn’t she? But the thought of driving home without her, of packing up all her belongings and shipping them off, broke Angela’s heart. She’d hoped to convince Matt that they could share Kayla, despite the thousand miles that separated them, but the words wouldn’t come. It wasn’t a realistic idea, anyway. One of them would have to play a very minor role in Kayla’s life. And she knew which one that should be.
She breathed deeply, trying to absorb the pain, and felt his hand at her elbow.
“You okay?” he murmured.
Fresh tears fell as she looked up at him. “No,” she said. Then his arms went around her, as his quilt had a few minutes earlier, and his mouth touched hers in a kiss that spoke of warmth and comfort—but quickly changed to driving passion and escalating need.
MATT WOKE UP IN Angela’s bed. He could smell the clean scent of her hair, feel the softness of her bare skin as she continued to sleep with her body curled into his side, and knew that he’d gained more than a daughter last night. He wanted Angela, too. He wasn’t sure how they were going to work out the logistics—where they’d live and who would change jobs—but he was hoping she’d marry him so they could become a family.
He smiled wryly at the thought of that. A family? A week ago, he hadn’t even had a girlfriend.
He adjusted the quilt they’d used to cover themselves, the quilt he’d given Angela for Christmas, and his smile widened. Just when he’d begun to think it would never happen…
“You’re awake?” Angela murmured.
He’d been cautious with his movements so he wouldn’t disturb her, but now he slid his hand up over the curve of her hip to her breast, as he’d wanted to do ever since he’d opened his eyes.
“Aren’t you tired?” she asked, covering a yawn. “We were up all night.”
“I feel good. What about you?”
She gave him a sexy smile. “Fishing for compliments?”
He chuckled. “You kidding? Your screams were enough. I’m surprised our neighbors didn’t complain to the management.”
“I didn’t scream that loud!” She tried to sit up in mock outrage, but he pressed her back, too busy enjoying what his fingers had found.
“Okay, but you groaned a lot,” he said. “I loved it. And the way you looked at me right before you—”
She tried to brush his hand away. “Do we have to go over the details?”
“Why are you embarrassed?” He laughed as he moved her beneath him. “I told you I loved it. And the marks on my back will heal.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t leave any marks on your back!”
“Yet,” he said. “There’s always this morning.” He kissed the indentation beneath her ear. “And the morning after.” He kissed the pulse at her neck. “And the morning after that.” He let his mouth drift lower, enjoying the fact that he could so easily make her quiver.
“No, I’m going home today…remember?” She gave a little gasp on that last word because he’d hit his real target.
“It’s the holidays,” he said, blowing cool air on the breast he’d just suckled.
She was getting lost in his lovemaking. He could tell. But she fought it. “So?”
“So you’re spending Christmas with me.”
“Trying to get another gift out of me?” she teased.
Leaving her breast, he kissed a trail down to her navel. “No, something better.”
“What’s that?” she asked, but he knew she was having a difficult time concentrating. He was making sure of it.
“A promise.”
“What…kind…of promise?”
He didn’t answer. He was too busy.
“Matt!” Her hands clenched in his hair.
He wasn’t sure if she’d said his name by way of question or encouragement. But she seemed pretty interested in holding him right where he was, so he guessed she’d been encouraging him—and waited until just the right moment to answer. When her eyes closed, and her muscles tensed, she said his name again, only this time with power and more than a little urgency, and when the moment passed, he told her what he really wanted.
“Marry me.”
ANGELA SAT IN THE living room of Matt’s parents’ home, enjoying Christmas morning. Outside, sunlight glistened on the snow and the world around them appeared crisp and bright, silent and peaceful. Inside, Christmas music played softly in the background as Sherry handed out mugs of hot chocolate and Kayla helped Matt’s two younger cousins sort the Christmas presents, which they planned to open in a few minutes. Angela had brought some gifts for Kayla, so Kayla had a small pile of her own, but Matt had something far better waiting for her. Today was the day she’d get exactly what she wanted for Christmas: She’d learn the identity of her father.