After she’d hung up, Angel smiled at her warmly. “Wow. Such emotion, all that cause you forgot?”

Sarah stiffened. She should’ve never called Sydney in front of Angel.

“No.” She wanted to kick herself. “Sydney’s mom made a big birthday breakfast this morning and it just brought back memories of when she did it for me a few years ago… that’s all.”

“Come here,” he held out his hand, smiling, “I promise I’ll try to control myself.”

She lay down facing him, propping herself on her elbow and smiled. He rolled off one of his elbows to face her, and took a deep breath.

“Sarah, I hope this doesn’t sound too crazy, but I like you a lot.” He stopped to kiss her fingers. “It’s insane, I just met you but I feel like I could spend every minute with you… if you’d let me.”

Sarah stared, gulping hard. Her heart was swelling by the milliseconds. Was she dreaming? She didn’t want to blink, she was afraid he’d disappear. He didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he went on, staring right at her.

“Last night, you said you didn’t have a boyfriend. I know it’s way too soon for that. You don’t know anything about me. I know I have no right to ask you this, but,” he paused. “You said you’re only gonna be here a short while… so, would it be too much to ask that until then we have an agreement?”

“Agreement?” Sarah had a feeling what he was getting at, but she was done making an ass of herself. She wanted absolute clarity.

He cleared his throat and it was obvious he was uncomfortable. “I mean, would you be okay if we agreed to be exclusive, while you’re here?”

Sarah couldn’t believe it. She stared ahead but not at him, shaking her head subconsciously, trying to take it all in. When she focused back on him his expression had changed. “Is that a no?”

She shook her head even harder. “No.”

Angel sat up quickly. “Are you seeing someone?” His voice was almost a whisper.

Before she could say or do anything stupid again, she sat up to face him and she spoke right in his face “I like you too. I can’t even begin to tell you how much. Last night was the first night I’ve gone out since I’ve been here. It’s been a long time since I laughed that hard.”

Her expression turned more serious. Her next statement was a risk, but one she felt was necessary. “I don’t have a problem with not seeing anyone else Angel, but I know all about you, and your brothers, and your friends. I don’t know if you’ll be able keep up with your end of the bargain. I just don’t want to get hurt.”

She saw Angel’s eyes narrow and his lips press shut. He leaned forward and spoke with a bit of affliction. “You may think you know me but you have no idea. So, I’ll let the assumption slide this time. But if I say I’ll be exclusive, I mean it.”

As much as Sarah wanted to believe him, she was terrified. There’d been so many broken promises in her life, so many let downs. She couldn’t bear another one. He must’ve seen the look on her face.

“Sarah I don’t lie.” He was firm. “You can ask anyone that knows me, if it’s one thing you can count on, it’s my word.”

The stab to her gut was deafening. How could she sit here and be such a hypocrite, when she herself wasn’t exactly being forthcoming? She smiled faintly then decided right then and there she would allow herself to be happy, very happy for the first time in too long. And then she was grinning from ear to ear. “Okay.”

He stared at her blankly. Then, as if it suddenly hit him, his grin matched hers. He put his hand behind her neck, pulling her gently closer to him. He groaned as his lips met hers and then pulled her down again with him.

CHAPTER 6

Angel picked Sarah up early again on Sunday, and they had breakfast at a greasy spoon. They sat on the same side of the booth. Angel had given up trying to hold back. The kissed her and caressed her every chance he got.

Even when their food came he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Between bites he nibbled on her ear and pecked her endlessly. Sarah seemed to object whispering “People are watching.” It seemed to Angel, with all the giggling she was doing, she was enjoying it more than she was admitting.

After breakfast Angel asked if there was anywhere in particular she wanted to go, hoping she’d say somewhere he could enjoy her in private. But much to his chagrin, she said she’d never been to, Old Town San Diego, and knew it was less than half an hour’s drive.

Angel frowned. “You don’t wanna go there.”

She pouted, making Angel smile. “Valerie said it’s a must see.”

He rolled his eyes putting the last piece of sausage in his mouth. “She would, she’s a girl, and it’s nothing but shopping.”

“No, I heard there’s a lot of history to see there too,” she said quickly. “And, she said the Mexican food there is great.”

Angel smiled and kissed her nose. “Alright, whatever you want, but if it’s Mexican you want, I know somewhere better.”

They spent the rest of the day in Old Town. They took a trolley that dropped them off at the most interesting points. But the rest of the time they walked and talked and laughed. Her laugh was infectious, and he found himself smiling and laughing with her all day. It was amazing to Angel how comfortable he felt with her, and so soon.

When they got to the main shopping area Angel was on a mission. He was looking for something to get Sarah. He wanted something special she could remember their first date by.