Мишель Роуэн - Angel with Attitude

“We’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Find out what?”

“How well the key works. I plan to use it tomorrow to go back to Heaven. And you’re welcome to come with me.”

Tomorrow. Val didn’t think she’d ever heard a more beautiful word. Wait, she could think of one. Today. Today was an even better word.

“Why don’t we, I mean you, try it now?” she asked. “Why wait?”

“I am very tired. And it’s late. Before I re-enter Heaven I would like to be well rested. I’m quite sure there will be many questions asked when we return unnannounced.”

“But—”

“Valerie,” he cut her off. “It’s my gift. We’ll use it tomorrow. Patience is a virtue, you know.”

She sighed. “Okay. But early tomorrow.”

“I’ll be waiting.” He smiled at her and she couldn’t help but return the expression.

Tomorrow. She was going back to Heaven tomorrow.

She could hardly wait.

Barlow had given her half of his anniverary cake, which she ate almost all of while watching

TV in her room. It was delicious.

She made a list in her ever-present Heavenly Memories Notebook of things she wanted to do before she went back. There was really only one thing on the list: Say good-bye to Reggie.

She’d miss him. He was a good guy. Hopefully he’d be able to work things out with his girlfriend.

After taking a quick shower, she got into her warm flannel pjs—another thing she liked about being human, as they were quite cozy and comfortable. Then she slipped under the covers of her bed, propped the pillows up behind her head, and used the remote control to click off the television.

Just then there was a knock at the door.

Val sighed. Then she salt bolt upright in bed, thinking that it must be Barlow wanting to use the key that night.

She swung her legs out of bed, hurried over to unhook the chain lock, and twisted the handle to open the door.

“Mr. Barlow—” she began with a big smile on her face.

Nathaniel leaned against the door frame, cigarette in hand. He gave her a sly smile.

“Hey Val,” he said. “Did you miss me?”

Val slammed the door in his face.

She was so not ready to deal with the demon tonight. Or ever again, for that matter. This time tomorrow, she’d be long gone and wouldn’t have to face Nathaniel ever again. She decided to ignore him. After a while he’d realize she wasn’t going to open the door again and he’d go away.

She turned around.

Nathaniel was sitting on her bed.

“Mind if I come in?” he said and held out a paper bag. “I brought you some chicken soup for that nasty cold of yours.”

She backed up against the door. “Go away.”

He sighed and put the bag down on the floor. “Here I go and give you some time to yourself.

Some time to think about the things I said to you last night, for you to realize that there really is no other choice than to agree to come with me, and this is the greeting I get? Very impolite, little angel. I’m shocked.”

She scowled at him. “Okay, how about this? Go away. Please.”

He looked around at the room. “So this is the little corner of the earthly realm you’ve carved out for yourself, is it?” He picked up a pink bra she’d tossed on the bed before her shower.

“Very nice.”

She moved close enough to snatch the bra away from him. “Get out of here. You can’t tempt me. I don’t care what you say. I’m serious.”

He stretched his long, lean frame out on the bed and put his hands behind his head. “Oh, you’re serious. Then that changes everything.”

She ignored the smirk he gave her.

“Can I ask you a question?” Val moved back and leaned against the closed door, trying to make herself look as relaxed as possible while having a drop-dead gorgeous demon with ulterior motives spread across her bed.

He cocked his head to the side. “Ask anything you desire.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“I’ve practically begged you to leave. It should be obvious that I’m not going to fall at your feet and beg you to take me to Hell. Why can’t you go tempt somebody else instead?

Somebody who’ll appreciate your efforts more than I will.”

He regarded her for a moment, and propped himself up on one arm against her pillow.

“Because I care about what happens to you. I don’t want to see you here in the earthly realm.

You despise it. I can tell. Say the word and I can make it all better. You will be treated like a queen where I take you, you will serve no one but yourself.”

“No.”

The grin fell slowly from his face. “No?”

“That’s right.” Val swallowed hard and tried to keep her face expressionless. “And don’t bother trying any of your demon mojo on me. It won’t work. Alexa says you’re next to impossible to resist, but I’m resisting just fine, thanks so much.”

A shadow crossed his expression. “You’ve been talking to Alexa, have you? Why am I not surprised?”

“What do you care? I’d think anyone would want the rumor that they’re hard to resist spread about themselves. It’s sort of like the rumor about men with big feet.” Val refused to look down at Nathaniel’s shoes. “She said you’re hard to resist when you try to be. What’s that supposed to mean? Does it take a lot of effort?”

He ignored the question. “Is she still fixated on Bartholomew Barlow?”

Val crossed her arms. “Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t. Now, let’s recap, shall we? I want you to leave. Right now. And don’t come back. Ever.”

He lay back on the bed and laughed, but it didn’t sound happy. It sounded scary. “And what makes you think that anything I do is up to me?”

She frowned. “What?”

He sat up suddenly and met her eyes directly with a fierceness that made her take a step back.

“Why are you being so difficult? It’s never been like this in the past. Why now, when it’s so important that you come with me?”

“So important? What are you talking about?”

There was a long moment when he said nothing, just stared at her so intently and silently that

Val could hear her heart drumming wildly in her chest. Then finally, “This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, my little angel.”

“Yes it does. And don’t call me that.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Why not?”

“I’m not an angel anymore.” Well, not until tomorrow, she thought absently.

His mouth twisted into an unpleasant grin. “Oh, I’m well aware of that. You’re a bad, bad girl. That’s why you got sent down here. And that’s why you’re getting a visit from your friendly neighborhood demon. And I don’t give up that easily, angel. Not when it counts.”

She frowned. “Something wrong?”

“Pardon me?”

“You don’t seem to be in a very good mood. In fact, I’m not feeling tempted in the slightest tonight. Is your concentration off? Did somebody pee in your brimstone this morning?”

His eyes narrowed, but after another long moment of silence between them he started to laugh again. This time it didn’t sound scary at all. It sounded very good and made her stomach tingle warmly.

“We’re a lot alike, you and I,” he said. “I think I have an idea of what you’re going through right now. What you’re feeling. That’s why I can help you.”

“Is that right? How so?”

“I used to be human. A long, long time ago. Then I was given a chance to be something . . .”

He paused and seemed to search for the right word. “. . .Better. And it is much, much better.

And what Alexa said about every woman unable to resist me? It’s all true. I was chosen for this job for very specific reasons. I’m very good at it.”