Beyond Ordinary. Mary Sullivan

      Timm jumped up from his desk to pace. Angel hadn’t changed. He’d watched the impetuous fool try to burn a bike—scratched and dented, maybe, but nearly new. He remembered the party girl she used to be. Clearly she’d gotten the Anderson kid started on drinking. Timm was a fool to like her, to defend her, to lie to Cash through omission.

      So, she was burning the bike…because? Probably because it had killed her friend.

      Angel was wrong, though. The bike hadn’t killed her friend. She had.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      ANGEL, MATT, JENNY and the children sat amid the detritus of cannibalized chocolate animals. They’d fought the good fight, but hungry mouths had prevailed.

      Jenny stood to take the kids to the washroom to clean up, leaving Angel and Matt alone.

      “Matt, I need to talk to you.”

      At her serious tone, he nodded. “Let’s step outside.”

      They wandered to the corral, where Masterpiece joined them at the fence. Angel scratched the horse’s jaw, while Matt took a caramel from his shirt pocket, unwrapped it then offered it to Master.

      “What’s the problem, sis?”

      “I need to ask your advice. About Phil. And I hate to ask because I know you probably don’t like Missy.”

      “I never had anything against Missy. Your mom doesn’t have a bad bone in her body. She just lacks good judgment.” He leaned back against the white fence and crossed his arms. “Besides, that relationship gave me you. You’re my only blood relative on this earth, except for my children.”

      The sun glinted from hair a dozen different shades of brown and blond. He studied her and she felt his affection like a gentle stroke.

      “Shoot, Angel. What’s bothering you?”

      “Mama’s going to marry Phil at the end of next week. It’s why I came back.”

      Master nudged her shoulder and she scratched his forehead. He closed his eyes and pushed against her palm. “I have to stop it, Matt. Phil doesn’t love Mama.”

      “I don’t get a great feeling from the guy, but if Missy wants to marry him, that’s her decision. How do you think you can stop her?”

      “I don’t know.” Frustration ate a hole in her gut. “Any ideas?”

      “Have you told Missy about your concerns?”

      “She knows how much I dislike Phil. You know me. I’m mouthy and come out swinging. I haven’t had a chance to tell her about the way he stops by my bedroom in the middle of the night and rattles my doorknob, but I don’t want to hurt her.”

      Matt straightened away from the fence. “He does what?” His voice had gone flat with a dangerous depth.

      “He doesn’t come into my room. He just pretends that he will.”

      “Come on. I’ll drive into town and have a talk with him.” When he said talk, Angel had no doubt that Matt had no intention of simply talking.

      On impulse, she threw her arms around him. “I love you, Matt. You’re the best big brother.”

      His arms snapped around her. “I love you, too, girl. I’m not going to let Phil get away with that shit.”

      Angel pulled back. “It’s okay. Don’t get into a fight over it. I just need to convince Mama to not marry him.”

      Matt shook his head. “I don’t know what to say other than to be honest and tell her what’s happening.”

      “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll try it again—she didn’t take it well earlier when I said how I felt. Mama’s being pretty stubborn right now.”

      As Matt walked Angel to her car, he said, “You call anytime day or night if Phil threatens you. Got it?”

      “I can handle Phil.” She climbed into the car.

      “Uh-uh. I think there’s a hell of a lot more to that guy than meets the eye. Don’t trust him, Angel. Don’t turn your back.”

      “You really think he’d hurt me?”

      Matt leaned on the open window. “Don’t know, but my gut tells me he can’t be trusted. Be careful.”

      Angel kissed his cheek and nodded. “Say goodbye to Jenny and the kids for me, okay, big bro?”

      “Will do.”

      Angel drove away, feeling worse. His assessment of Phil was much the same as hers, but Matt’s interpretation went a step further. So, if Phil could be a danger to her, could he also be one to Mama?

      AT A QUARTER TO SIX that evening, Angel headed to work at Chester’s Roadhouse.

      Since returning from Matt’s, Angel hadn’t had the chance to talk to Mama, because Phil was hanging around. She wanted to confront Mama alone, so she and Phil wouldn’t have a chance to form a united front against Angel.

      Cash Kavenagh pulled up in his cop car and grinned at her through his open window. “Hey, Angel.” He pulled off his aviators and his hazel-eyed glance skimmed her body. “You’re looking as good as ever.”

      She grinned right back. She liked Cash. She remembered one heavy petting session she’d had with him before she left for college.

      His smile told her that he was remembering that particular evening, too. Cash was handsome and a couple of years older than she and he’d sure known his way around a kiss and a woman’s body, but Angel was glad they hadn’t taken it all the way. She’d already started to want more for herself, to shake off Ordinary’s expectations of her.

      She wandered closer to his cruiser. “Hey, Cash. How’s it going?”

      “Timm told me that bike out on the highway is yours. Said you ran out of gas. Listen, sorry to be the one to break it to you, but someone tried to set it on fire.”

      She widened her eyes and tried to look surprised.

      Apparently it worked. She had no idea why Timm had covered for her, but she appreciated it.

      “Maybe it was one of the bikers who hang out here these days. They drive in from Harris County.”

      Angel nodded, but didn’t say anything.

      “Alvin will pick it up free of charge if he can use the bike for parts.”

      “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

      “Want me to go ask him now?”

      “That would be great, Cash. If you don’t mind.”

      Cash jerked his thumb in the direction of the bar. “You’re not heading in there, are you?”

      “Chester gave me a job as a bartender. Evenings until closing.”