Tin Angel Read Online Free Page B

something to look at, but he was exactly the type of man Tom would approve of. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Could Jack be the one? Could he be her true love? Nah, he seemed completely unaware of how he made her pulse race. And when he looked at her, for some reason his eyes reflected nothing but scorn. Why? When she was an old woman, he’d never looked at her that way.
    As she drifted off to sleep, her dreams endowed him with an entirely different emotion. His desire for her was obvious by the way his lips pressed hot and hard against hers, and his strong muscular arms held her firmly against his broad chest.
    Through the fogginess of her dream, she heard a bell ring. Was that the telephone? She forced her eyes open and grabbed for the receiver. “Hello.” Her voice was husky from sleep.
    “Ally? I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Jack sounded almost friendly. Quite a change from earlier, when suspicion had laced his words.
    “Have another question for me?”
    He chuckled smoothly. “Yes. Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
    Alice sat up and switched the phone to her other ear. Had she heard him correctly? Perhaps she was still asleep.
    “I’ll take your silence for yes. Be ready by eight.”
    The phone went dead. It took Alice a few seconds to hang up the receiver. When she finally did, she flopped back in bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile. Maybe her golden opportunity would shine after all.
    * * *
    Jack stared at the phone long after he ended his call to Ally. It wasn’t like him to intentionally deceive someone, and he didn’t feel good about doing it now. He knew Ally assumed he’d asked her to dinner because he was attracted to her, which wasn’t untrue, but that wasn’t his reason for wanting to spend time with her. He knew her type only too well. He’d been surrounded by them his entire life. Memories of his mother’s country club friends sprang to mind—women who were obsessed with their looks and a fear of growing old. All were gorgeous and used to men vying for their attention, catering to their every need. Not that he wouldn’t mind catering just a little to Ally.
    He had to admit he’d wondered what it would feel like to kiss those delicious lips, but he wasn’t fool enough to actually carry it out. He’d been trounced on enough in his last relationship. He’d never let that happen again. Though Bethany might have convinced herself that she loved him, women like that never truly loved. They didn’t even know the meaning of the word. Thankfully, he wasn’t so naïve to think Ally was any different.
    Propping the pillows up behind him, he lay back on the bed. In the corner, where the wall met the ceiling, an intricate spider web glistened. In its center, a fly struggled to break free. If Jack wasn’t careful, he could find himself in the same situation—the victim of a cunning adversary. His forehead furrowed. He didn’t want to hurt Ally, but he was going to have to make her think he was interested in her in order to find out what happened to Alice.
    It took him a while to fall asleep, and when he did, he tossed and turned all night, tormented by weird dreams of Alice needing his help.
    The next day at school, he had trouble concentrating on his students’ lessons. His mind kept drifting to Ally. There was a lot more to her story than she’d told him. He was sure of it, and that made him even more determined to get the truth out of her at dinner.
    * * *
    Alice ran her hand over the black lace outfit lying across her bed. If it hadn’t been for that sweet little sales clerk, she never would’ve bought it. Thank goodness she had, because here she was getting ready for a date with Jack. Jack Billings—her friend, and an extremely attractive man. A tremor of fear soured her excitement. She had to be careful tonight. What if he recognized her? How could she possibly explain that she was really Alice? Would he believe her if she told him an angel had granted her wish to be