When Angels Cry by Maria Rachel Hooley Page B

doing this.  Who are we kidding?  I’m little more than a stranger.”   Bastian clenched his jaw.  He threw his napkin on the table and shook his head , leaning back in his chair .  He stared at the white linoleum pattern on the floor, counting the squares to take his mind off the conversation.
    Kaylee shoved the chair back and strode over to him.  “No, you’re not a stranger.  I didn’t sleep with a stranger.  I slept with you, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.   I touched your body.”  Kaylee ran her hands across his chest, stopping where his heart was been.  “But I also touched you here, and that’s what you’re afraid of.  You see , if it were only physical, you could wash it away.  Hell, by tomorrow morning I’d be history, Bastian.  But I touched you in a way you can’t forget, just like you touched me.”
    She placed her fingertips under his chin and lifted it so she could stare into his dark eyes.  “Now tell me what you see.”
    “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.  You make me want to be more than I am, Kaylee.”  He stared into her eyes and moved closer .  Their lips met, and h e slid his arms around her waist , savoring the welcome scent of her perfume.  Bastian held her tightly , the image of the gun seared into the backs of his eyelids.  His father had told him once he’d never amount to anything, and Bastian had believed it, but right now, holding Kaylee to him, he wondered if they had both been wrong.  How could Kaylee love such a failure?  What if there were more to him than either he or his father had seen ?
    He drew her to him more tightly, determined that if the image of her face wasn’t strong enough to make him forget the past, he would hold her so closely his body couldn’t deny Kaylee was just as real as his need to self-destruct.  He wanted to shake the hell out of her for making him want to try again when he knew he was just going to screw up.  Whatever the screw-up gene was, he had it in spades.
    “Bastian?” Kaylee whispered .  “You all right?”
    “I’m fine.  Maybe we should finish our dinner.”  He kissed her shoulder before finally r eleasing her. His cracking voice sounded odd even in his own ears, and he knew if his behavior defined “ fine, ” fine  wasn’t much short of a nervous breakdown.  He took her hand and led her back to her chair.  Once she’d sat, he pushed the chair closer to the table.
    “You seem distant.”  Kaylee stared at him.  “And upset.  Sure you’re all right?”  She drummed her fingers slowly on the table, one by one, watching, waiting.
    “Don’t worry.  You should eat.  The chicken won’t taste very good if it gets cold.”  Forcing a smile, Bastian knew he was anything but fine.   He focused on his own plate and started eating again, ignoring the way she stared at him.
    Reluctantly, Kaylee averted her gaze and picked up her fork.  She tried the vegetables, savoring the flavors, but only half so.  It was hard to truly enjoy them when she knew she’d just opened a Pandora’s Box with Bastian.  Still, she was glad she’d opened it, no matter the consequences. 
    “The vegetables are wonderful .  Maybe you should do this more often.  I could get you an apron with your name embroidered on the bib,” she said finally and tried the chicken.   A few uncomfortable moments passed silently as they ate.   Kaylee fidgeted in her seat, finished her vegetables, and finally spoke.
    An unexpected smile flashed across Bastian’s face.  “Does that mean you’re planning on keeping me?”
    Kaylee looked at her plate.  “Well, I don’t know.  I’ve got the hots for this new art teacher. ”  
    “I didn’t say I’d take the job.”
    “You didn’t say you wouldn’t, either.  At least think about it?”
    “What choice do I have?  If don’t agree, you’ll remind me about it often , right?”
    “Mmm-hmm.   It’s all part of my wicked plan. ”  Kaylee picked up her