Free Independence: #2 Angel by Karen Nichols Page A

her neck, her hand rose automatically, only to be gripped in his and lowered to her side as they walked. Until he stopped before the mirror and released her fingers.
    “Colin…I can’t accept this…” but her fingers rose to touch the delicate looking angel that dangled from the center and she saw them shaking. Presents. She’d never received a gift from a man before.
    Lunches in college and the occasional flower. She’d never stayed with anyone for more than friendship. When they began wanting more, she became very, very busy. Viewing the displeasure and frustration in their faces when she worked to avoid their advances hurt more than they could possibly imagine.
    “My initials are on the back of the angel,” he said quietly, very aware of the people coming and going in the large, busy kitchen. He could see them trying not to stare and smiled to himself.
    “Why?” The word whispered out and only the two of them heard it.
    “I don’t know,” Colin wanted honesty and had to share the same with her. “I just know it feels right. We’re more than what we are in the bedroom, Angel. And I want to explore that, too.”
    Dark eyes met his in the mirror and then shifted to the dangling angel. She nodded.
    “You’ll wear this all the time, except in the shower,” he winked at her in the mirror. “This and my cuffs at the club will let others know you are not available, Angel.”
    “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
    “I don’t want you in jeans tonight, Angelica. I want you in a skirt and corset,” he watched her in the mirror, brows knit slightly. “You don’t have either of those?”
    “I have a few dresses, but…I haven’t worn them in a long time.” She held perfectly still when his hands moved to her wrists and raised them above her head before sliding slowly down her body, stopping at her hips.
    “What time do you close?”
    “Three,” she slowly lowered her arms when he once more took her wrists, turned her to face him and brought them to his chest. “I’ll be here before three with the clothing you’ll wear tonight. Would you rather I meet you at your apartment?”
    “I think that would be better,” Angel looked around. Her staff was accustomed to her taking the weekends off, so functioning while he was there didn’t have an effect on her customers. Only her. “I’m pretty sure my staff is in shock at the moment as it is,” she said with a sigh.
    “They seem to be handling it well,” Colin teased, the little smile vanishing the next instant when one of the girls that he swore looked like she was all of sixteen, came running in from the front of the shop.
    Theresa barely looked at him, her gaze on Angel.
    “Your brother’s here…” she swallowed and looked over her shoulder. “Daria just saw him coming in from the parking lot while she was cleaning up the patio.”
    “Thank you, Theresa. I’ll be right there,” Angel started moving forward, her hand suddenly going to her throat. “Oh, god, this…”
    “Angelica, that collar does not leave your throat,” Colin knew his tone, his voice would break through the momentary panic and he wasn’t denied. He met her eyes without faltering. “Is that clear?”
    “Yes, sir,” she whispered, though her eyes wandered to the arch that led to the customer area.
    “You take care of your customers,” he shook his head when her mouth opened. “Let me help.”
    “Colin, please…”
    “Your customers, Angel. They are your concern. And how about getting me a really hot coffee and one of your large fruit pastries? I’m starving,” he let his palm slide to her waist, gently guiding her out of the kitchen to the larger area swarming with customers laden down with Christmas purchases. He liked the bright smiles on the faces of the four girls she had working for her even though he saw their gaze skitter to the large man just coming through the door. He spoke to her without taking his eyes off his adversary. “What’s his name,