Midnight Angel Read Free Page A

side of the room, holding court,
gesturing proudly to her famous son. He’d flown his mother to L.A.
a few times a year and he’d come home to visit and left just as
quietly. Having him here to show off was a first, and she reveled
in the attention. Meanwhile, he was looking around for Holly, who
was nowhere to be found.
    Dylan had all but dared her to show up
tonight. In his arrogance, he’d thought that just because he’d once
been able to anticipate her actions, he could still do the same.
But as the minutes passed, he was forced to admit he’d
miscalculated. Badly enough for him to admit defeat.
    Before he could come up with an excuse that
his mother and everyone else would accept so that he could leave
gracefully, a guy he recognized from high school walked over and
joined him.
    “Dylan, I heard you were in town. It’s good
to see you.” The other man held out his hand.
    Dylan grinned. “John Whittaker? Damn, it’s
been a long time.” He pumped his old friend’s hand.
    “Last time I saw you, we were cleaning
toilet paper off the football field to keep Coach from calling the
cops and reporting the school had been vandalized.”
    Dylan laughed. “I remember.” It had been
their high-school graduation farewell prank. Dylan had left for
L.A. a few days later.
    “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve
thought of that night over the years. Every time I see your ugly
mug on the cover of a magazine, in fact.” John shoved his hand into
the back pocket of his chinos.
    He still favored the preppy look while Dylan
had always liked jeans and T-shirts best. Unlike many of the guys
Dylan had greeted tonight who sported bald spots or comb-overs,
John still had a full head of sandy-brown hair.
    “Tonight must feel like a high-school
reunion for you,” John said, understanding in a way that surprised
Dylan.
    He grimaced. “Worse. I think you’re one of
the first people who’s happy to see me for the right reasons.”
Friendship, not awe
, he thought.
    “As soon as they all realize you’re still
the same, the fame thing’ll pass.”
    Dylan shrugged. “I hope you’re right. So
what’ve you been up to?”
    “I work at an investment firm in downtown
Boston,” John said, propping one shoulder against the wall.
    “That suits you. Married?”
    “Not yet, but I’m trying to get the woman
I’ve been seeing to settle down.”
    “Anyone I know?” Dylan asked.
    John studied Dylan in pointed silence.
“Actually—” John’s cell phone rang, cutting him off. He glanced at
the incoming number. “Hang on, and we’ll pick this up in a few
minutes,” he said to Dylan. He answered the call, walking off to
talk in private, leaving Dylan to watch the door some more and hope
Holly would show up after all.
    * * *
    After heading home for a nap, a shower and
some serious primping, Holly met up with Nicole on the steps
outside Whipporwill’s. The chill in the air and impending snow
signaled Christmas was coming soon. Holly loved the holiday season.
She was suddenly glad she’d come tonight, and the festivities
weren’t the only reason. Neither was the challenge Dylan had issued
earlier. Dylan himself was the man motivating her actions.
    “I still think you should have surprised
John instead of calling him and telling him you’d decided to come
tonight,” Nicole said, interrupting Holly’s thoughts. “Spontaneity
is good for relationships, and from what you’ve told me, John could
use some good old-fashioned surprises in his life.”
    Holly couldn’t deny that comment. “I just
thought he deserved to know I’d changed my mind.” She’d show up at
the party, spend time with both the past and present men in her
life and hopefully leave Whipporwill’s with a clear mind, ready to
move on.
    “I bet you were afraid he’d think you came
just to see Dylan,” Nicole said knowingly.
    With a groan, Holly pulled open the door and
entered the festive party. Red and silver velvet bows adorned the
walls, and tinsel