Sleigh Bells - Fern Michaels Page 0,27

second floor. Her startled gaze took in two things instantaneously. Her daughter looked like she was frozen in time as she stared at Josh Eagle and a tall woman who was kissing him. She blinked, and then pinched her arm as she walked up to her daughter to place a motherly hand on Angie’s shoulder. She could see tears in the corners of her eyes. This is not good, this is not good, this is not good. A mind’s eye picture in real time will never go away.

“I’m sure it’s not what it looks like, Angie. She’s probably someone he used to know. You young people tend to kiss hello, good-bye, and everything in between. She probably just stopped in to see what’s going on. Everyone in town wants to see what’s going on. Come along, dear,” Eva babbled.

Eva thought it was magical how her daughter could talk without her lips moving. “Really, Mom! How do you think she got in here when all the doors are locked? She called Josh ‘darling’ and was reminding him that they had a date for the Harvest Ball on Saturday. She pinched his cheek and was so cutesy cute she made my hair stand on end. Josh…Josh just smiled. He smiled, Mom. You’re right, let’s get out of here.”

Josh took that moment to look in their direction. He looked so guilty even Eva had a hard time defending his actions.

Together, mother and daughter marched off, Josh calling their names. “Walk slower, Angie. I cannot run. And if you run, he’ll know you’re upset.”

“Damn it, Mom, I am upset. I’m here busting my butt, working round the clock for that jerk so he can prove to his father that he knows what he’s doing. We have a date on Saturday. Won’t it be interesting to see how he wiggles out of it. I was starting to trust that jerk! Did you hear me, Mom?”

“Sweetie, I think the whole store can hear you.”

“Guess what, Mom, I don’t care! I’m going home. Don’t worry, I’ll be back at some point. If that Halloween stuff I ordered arrives, just unpack it. I’ll see you later.”

“Angie, I don’t think going home…”

“Don’t say it, Mom. Don’t call me, either. I’m going to try and catch a few hours of sleep. I was here all night.”

Eva, her heart heavy, watched her daughter as she made her way down the dim hallway that led to the Eagle’s, loading dock. She looked behind her to see if Josh was anywhere in sight. He wasn’t.

Angus had only to look at Eva’s face to know something was wrong. “Do you want to tell me about it, or are you going to wear a hole in this new carpet?”

“Your son! He’s a cad! He’s out there on the floor kissing some long-legged woman who looks like she’s been varnished, then shellacked. It seems he has a faulty memory. He has…I guess I should say, had, a date with Angie for Saturday evening, and that shellacked person stopped by to confirm her date with your son for the Harvest Ball on Saturday. I’m going home. You can have your son take you home. I don’t know if I’ll be back or not.”

“Eva…wait!”

“Don’t talk to me right now, Angus. Talk to that son of yours.”

Angus heaved himself out of the rocker. He wondered how in a few short moments things could go from wonderful to terrible. He looked up to see the terrible end of things approaching at breakneck speed, a look of pure panic on his face. For some unexplained reason, the panicked expression on his son’s face pleased Angus.

“Where’s Angie, Dad? Did you see her? Is Eva here?”

“Is something wrong, son?” Angus asked.

“Hell yes, something is wrong. Angie caught—saw Vickie Summers kissing me. At least I think that’s what she saw. Don’t even ask me how Vickie got into the store. That woman can do anything she sets her mind to. I don’t know how long Angie…What I mean is I don’t know what she heard…She wanted…She thinks…I’m not doing it…She won’t take no…Where the hell is Angie? I know her mother said something to you. You two are joined at the hip these days. What’d she say, Dad?”

A devil perched itself on Angus’s shoulder. “You don’t want to know, son. It will only upset you. You can’t dangle two women on a string, Joshua. I think I told you that when you were sixteen, and girls were throwing themselves at you. You should have