She leaned her head against his and nodded. “Of course I will. For as long as you need me.”
And then he snorted and sniffled a laugh-cry. “Crazy question?”
“Hit me.”
“Do you think I can see your wings?”
And then they both laughed.
Chapter 19
“Have I told you how proud I am of you, guardian-in-training?” Dex asked when he pulled up in Marty’s driveway to drop her off after a very long night.
Angels weren’t supposed to get tired, and while she wasn’t physically wrought, George was emotionally spent. Her heart was bruised by her confession, but uplifted by the fact that Justin was going to find the help he and his mother needed.
He’d talked to the police, and after speaking with both George and Dex, they’d agreed the best place for Justin’s mother was in the hospital, where George promised she’d make sure an intervention therapist met with her and gave her the ultimatum of rehab or jail.
Dex had taken Justin back to his place for the night, and with any luck, they’d be able to arrange something so he could stay with him until his mother made some progress.
Turning in the passenger seat of his old Chevy Nova, she nodded. “You did,” she offered softly.
Running a thumb over her cheek, Dex smiled, his face soft in the glow of the dashboard lights. “You were amazing. You said exactly what Justin needed to hear. You let yourself share your experience to help someone in need. That’s huge, George, and you know it is.”
Tears stung her eyes. She’d shared her ugliest secret with an almost complete stranger, but it had been for a good cause and she couldn’t regret that.
“If I keep this up, I won’t need a guardian angel anymore, huh?”
Dex grinned. “You’ll be an expert in no time.”
Yet, the thought left her feeling empty. A day without Dex felt wrong. Lonely. The feelings she was developing were getting sticky, and she didn’t know how to deal with them. On top of expending her innermost secrets, it was overwhelming.
“I’m glad Justin’s going to get some help. I’m glad his mother’s going to get help. I hope she sees it through, Dex. She has to see it through.”
Leaning toward her, he nodded. “I hope she does, too. But if she doesn’t, I’m going to see what I can do with CPS. Maybe I won’t just foster special-needs animals, huh?”
Cocking her head, she gazed at him and his perfect features. “You’re a good man, Dexter Bridger. A very good man.”
He smiled briefly, but his eyes held that faraway look she’d seen before. “Are you ready to have that talk I mentioned?”
She’d forgotten all about that, but she was all talked out tonight. “Would you mind if we waited until tomorrow? I’m fried. I think I need a minute or two to myself.”
He only hesitated for a moment before he said, “Sure.”
Something had been bugging her since the events with Justin’s mother, and maybe she was asking this question because of her. “Can I ask you something before I go?”
“Of course.”
“My…mother.” She swallowed hard, tears filling her eyes. “I guess dealing with Justin’s mom made me wonder… Can I…can I see my mother? I mean, I’m an angel, so maybe she is, too?” She couldn’t bear it if she wasn’t.
Dex grabbed her hand and cupped her cheek. “There are some places even angels can’t go upstairs, but I promise you, she’s happy and safe, George. I have it on good authority.”
She inhaled a deep breath, feeling almost shaky from relief. “I’m so glad,” she whispered.
He swept a tear away from her face with his thumb. “See you tomorrow?”
She grinned at him, feeling a ton lighter. “Wouldn’t miss it. Thanks for your help tonight.”
“I didn’t do anything, pretty lady. This was all you.” And then he leaned forward and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers with such tenderness, it made George close her eyes and sigh.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him, the taste of his mouth on hers so much more than she’d been able to contemplate even in her wildest dreams.
He tasted minty and fresh, his tongue soft and silky as it stroked hers, and there was nothing more she wanted to do than fall into this place where there was nothing but his lips on hers, his arms around her, and her undeniable attraction to this man.
Dex broke the kiss first on a shaky breath. “Let’s table this until we talk, okay?” he said as he pulled back, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to, believe me…”
Neither did she. “But we have other fish to fry.”
“Like someone who wants your wings, among other Effie things?” he teased.
She chuckled. “She’s keeping me up at night, Dex.”
“But someone trying to steal your wings isn’t?”
“Did you see what I did to that guy back there? I walloped him. I got this.”
“Promise you won’t ‘got this’ alone. Okay? Go nowhere alone.”
George nodded solemnly. “Promise.”
He ran a finger under her chin. “I’d better get back to Justin now. Night, George,” he said.
“G’night,” she whispered, her heart hammering in her chest as she slid out of the car.
When she looked up, she saw Nina waiting for her on the front porch. She waved to Dex as George approached, sloughing her way through the snow.
“Hey, look. It’s the featherweight champ of the world,” Nina teased, winking at her. “That was some fucking punch in that asshole’s nose. I’m impressed, Wings.”
“Do you think angels are supposed to hit people? Is that even a little angelic, Lady Vampire?”
She leaned against the doorframe and snickered. “You’ve still got your training wheels on. You’re allowed to fucking fall off your bike. Plus, don’t forget, you are half fucking human. Most humans would have done what you did.”
She gave Nina a playful punch on the arm, dropping down on the porch swing with a tired sigh.
