Midnight Angel Read Free

before
I left L.A.” He shoved his hands into his back pockets and grinned
at her like an adorable little boy who’d forgotten his lunch money
and was begging for a loan.
    The effect was potent, more than any other
good-looking man had had on her ever. Guiltily, thoughts of John,
her on-again, off-again boyfriend, arose. She and John had started
dating when she’d returned home to take over her sick father’s
practice a little over a year ago. But while John was ready to
settle down and had begun pressuring her for more of a commitment,
she wasn’t ready, and lately she’d been wondering if she ever would
be.
    She’d been putting him off with flimsy
excuses, but
I need more time
and
Let’s get to know
each other better
didn’t hold much weight when they’d known
one another since grade school. John provided comfort and ease but
not this overwhelming sexual desire she felt just looking at Dylan
again.
    “Hello?” Dylan waved a hand in front of her
face. “I asked if you’d give me a flu shot.” He studied her with
concern.
    She shook her head to clear her thoughts and
focus on keeping Dylan in the past where he belonged. Forcing a
smile, she said, “Sure. I can manage one more shot.”
    She gave him a quick exam, not wanting to
spend too much time examining his broad, tanned, muscular chest or
any other part of his body that created that longing feeling
swirling inside her. After a quick escape to gather her equipment,
she walked back into the exam room.
    “So are you going to Whipporwill’s tonight?”
he asked about the town’s annual Christmas party. He pushed up his
sweater sleeve in preparation for his shot.
    She shook her head. “I haven’t had any
down-time lately. I thought I’d head home and relax.” In fact,
she’d already called John and cancelled, claiming exhaustion. Her
bed beckoned.
    Once she’d slept, she would wake up
refreshed and full of holiday spirit, ready to shop for the gifts
she normally purchased way ahead of time. But since her father
died, she’d been so busy keeping his practice alive that she’d had
no time for anything that resembled fun.
    “That’s too bad. I was hoping I could steal
a dance.”
    She shot him a disbelieving glance. A dance?
Was that something like their hug? Did he really find being around
her that easy, making conversation that simple, as if they’d never
meant anything to each other beyond friends? Was the attraction
that swirled inside her even now nonexistent for him when he looked
at her? She clenched her jaw in pain and frustration.
    “I thought we could hang out and catch up.
You know, like old times. Come on, Holly. Please?”
    She closed her eyes and counted to ten,
seeing her relaxing night evaporate. If she didn’t show up at the
party, Dylan would think she was avoiding him, or worse, running
from her feelings.
    “Fine,” she said with forced cheer. “I’d
love to hang out with an old
friend
.” As long as he didn’t
call her his Midnight Angel again.
    And since he found it so easy to be her
friend
, she decided there was a nice, fleshier place than
his arm for her to insert the needle for his shot. One where he
wouldn’t forget her quite so easily this time.
    “Oh, Dylan? I need you to do me a favor
first.”
    He grinned, obviously pleased she’d agreed.
“What’s that?”
    “Drop your pants.”
    He groaned, and she laughed, her first free
and easy laugh since he’d walked into her office unannounced.

Chapter Two
    Whipporwill’s was the fanciest restaurant in
Acton and often doubled as a catering hall for weddings and other
assorted affairs. By L.A. standards, it fell short of chic, and by
Boston standards it was a family-style restaurant at best. Still,
it was the best Acton had to offer, and tradition dictated the
whole town show up for an annual bash the week before
Christmas.
    Dylan leaned against a scarred, wood-paneled
wall, smiling and greeting friends, both old and new. His mother,
Kate, stood on the opposite