Free Night Angel (Angel Haven) by Annette Miller Page A

shed.”
    Her grip on his hand tightened. “He makes me feel—I don’t know, it’s indescribable.” She frowned, searching for the right words. “It’s like I’m hot and cold and then nervous, then not and then, kablooey , I explode.”
    The guardian actually laughed, his voice sounding like rocks falling down a cliff. “I know exactly what you mean. You’ve just described the feelings of true love.”
    “That wasn’t a very good description. But he makes me feel so...” she paused, “emotional.” She stared at his hand, trying to make sense of everything she said and felt. Not going to happen, she thought. “I don’t like losing control of my emotions.”
    “It’s okay to give in to a little lost control occasionally. Would it make you feel better to know you do the same to him?” He still sounded amused.
    “Really?” Karen thought about that for a minute. It was comforting to know he felt the same things she did. “Then you and I were right when we talked last and Randall and I are supposed to be together.”
    “I would say that’s a reasonable assumption,” he agreed, giving her hand a squeeze.
    “I feel like we’re being watched, though, and not just by human eyes. This is getting way out of control.” She thought about the bird on the shed. It really had felt like it was watching her. “Tomorrow, Bradford’s going to the city on business. I’m hoping I can talk to Randall again without his goons busting in.”
    He squeezed her hand. “Troyington’s eyes are everywhere. Randall is rarely left alone. I’ve already told you what will happen if Troyington finds out.”
    “I know. But I can’t turn my back on you guys when you’re trying to save children.” She sighed. “I don’t remember fairy tales being this complicated.”
    “You don’t know the ones I know.”
    Karen looked at the hand holding hers. “Does Randall know you’re putting the moves on me?”
    He laughed again. “Yes. We have no secrets. He says I don’t have a chance. I knew this.” His voice turned serious. “You’ve already lost your heart. No man but your soul mate has a chance to win you.”
    Karen laid her forehead on his hand, thankful for the rocky coolness of his skin. “I’m glad you know what’s going on. Today when he smiled at me, I was tempted to throw him down right there. I could feel how much he wanted to kiss me, and I know I wanted to kiss him.” She raised her head. “But I remembered what you said about love’s first kiss. I don’t want to jump the gun or anything, but something needs to happen soon before I go crazy.”
    He tightened his grip on her hand. “Be strong a little longer. I may have a lead on where the children are. They’re being moved to somewhere on the estate. If he’s bringing them closer, he and his scientist, Dr. Strathmore, have had a breakthrough.”
    Karen sat up straighter. “I’ll walk around the estate tomorrow and see if I can find anything.”
    “Please be careful.”
    She grinned. “Always. Besides, these guys around here couldn’t catch me even if they tried.” She stood, pulling her hand from him. “I’d better get some rest.” She paused at the door to her room. She looked at the tree where he hid himself. “When do I get to see the rest of you?”
    “When the time is right and not before.”
    She sighed and shook her head. “I forgot that annoying quality of fairy tales. You get a lot of cryptic answers. Good night, Guardian.”
    “Good night, Karen.”
    She stopped before going in and watched as a huge silhouette sprung from the top of the tree, the wings stretching out to blend with the darkness.

Chapter Seven
    Karen wandered the grounds after an early breakfast, the sun barely topping the trees around the estate. Bradford had left before she got downstairs, and Edna was nowhere to be found. He’d been insistent she stay on the trails in the woods. She smiled. The more interesting things were usually found off the beaten path.
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