Finding Angel by Ann Nicole Page A

began agitatedly. “Am I going to be subjected
to a non-stop commentary about your Angel for the remainder of this evening? I
came here to enjoy a quiet dinner.”
    “Pardon me. Of course not. It's just that Angel
and I, we clicked. I never met anyone like her before. Seeing
you here of all places brought it all back. Made me realize how much I
miss her.”
    “That's all very interesting, Mr Hamilton,
but...”
    “Call me Joshua, Angel.”
    “I'm not your Angel!” Maria fought to control her rising anger.
She scoffed, “And it seems that she isn't your Angel either. Left
you, didn't she?”
    A deep sadness crossed Joshua's face.
    “Yes,” he said, “yes, she did. We spent the night together and when I
woke up she was gone. I've spent the last six months trying to find her.”
    Maria was annoyed with herself for feeling sympathy for this man who probably
just wanted another roll in the hay with Angel. Get real, she told herself. He
could have anyone he wants.
    She added cruelly, “Maybe Angel doesn't want to be found.”
    She saw him flinch, and she felt no joy at his obvious pain.
    “I have to find her. I just have to.”
    “Why is finding her so important, Joshua?”
    “I have to know why she left. Was it something I did? Did I scare her
off? It's been driving me crazy!”
     
    The cruel imp in her could not resist needling him. “Maybe she got what
she wanted. You're an attractive man. Maybe all she wanted was sex.”
    Storm clouds started to gather in his chocolate eyes. He visibly reined
in his anger and Maria was fascinated by his supreme self-control.
    “Angel's not like that. She cares for me.”
    The imp would not be tamed. “How do you know that for sure? How long did
you know her?”
    He sighed and answered softly, “It was our first date.”
    Maria laughed caustically. “You work fast, Mr Hamilton. Your Angel must be an easy lay.”
    This time he did not conceal his outrage at her impudence. “Don't you
dare speak about her like that! What do you know of
her?” He seemed to have to reach deep to gather his self-control. “Angel's
sweet and innocent. She was a virgin that night. That's why I have to find
her.”
    “You're afraid she's pregnant?”
    “Not really, we used protection. I'm more worried that she's beating up
on herself. She’s a good Christian woman and I know she feels guilty about
having sex with a man she’s not married to. What’s even worse is she probably
thinks that she was just a conquest to me. Another notch on
my bedpost.”
    “Can't say I blame her. You look like you've got a few of those.”
    His regard held supreme annoyance. “I'm no saint and I never pretended
to be. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I asked God to forgive me for my
sins, and with His help I try to be better every day.”
    “You don’t strike me as a praying man.”
    “Perhaps I wasn’t before, but trust me, I am now. Angel is everything I
ever wanted and prayed for in a woman. I couldn't believe my luck when I met
her. It was like God made her just for me. And I know she felt the same way.
We’re meant for each other.”
    “I think you're deluding yourself.”
    He stared at her and made no effort to mask his feelings. Maria felt the
force of those emotions like a kick to the gut. She could not doubt his
sincerity. What was it about his Angel that could bring such a strong man to
his knees? She wondered if she possessed Angel's power to bewitch.
    His next words brought her back to the present. “I know Angel loves me.
She left me because she felt she betrayed her faith. She thought that she was
making a fool of herself. I screwed up. I should have told her how I felt but I
didn't want to scare her. Instead, my silence made her run away. I have to find
her. I have to tell her.”
    Maria felt everything in her stand still. “Tell her what, Joshua?” she
asked softly.
    Joshua looked into her eyes and spoke with deep conviction. “I want to
tell her that I love her. So much. We