Angelic Duplicity: Angelic Series, #2

By Nicole French

Alarm bells should really be screaming in Angel's ears, as signs of Brad's manipulative and controlling behaviour begin to surface. Five months have passed. Five months of lust and passion disguised as love, and yet Angel and Brad have not even been seen out in public together. Each time she tries to get to the bottom of his secrecy, he distracts her with an expert seduction.

She's scheduled a visit to Texas to see her folks for Thanksgiving. But the night before she leaves, she discovers a file that Brad has inadvertently left on his desk. To her horror, her whole life is inside, and she realizes that she has been vetted and selected well before their 'chance' meeting.

Shock and anger fuel her sparky Texan temper, but it's no match for Brad Singer's charm and smooth seductions. Accepting his plausible explanation, Angel sets off back to Texas. Only when she is reunited with Wade, does Brad's hypnotic spell become powerless, as deep set doubts mixed with unrequited love rise to the surface. She becomes closer to Wade than she's ever been before and now faces a tough decision. Should she return to her life in LA, where she's fought hard to achieve success in her career? Or follow her heart and return to Texas? Little does she know, Brad's controlling behaviour may not even allow her the choice.

18+ due to strong language and explicit sex scenes

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole French
• Release date: Sep 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502291806

Book preview

Chapter One

I can feel my ears begin to pop as the airplane makes its decent into Dallas Fort Worth, and a feeling of comfort washes over me as I think of seeing my folks for Thanksgiving. I love LA but it’s taken a lot of adjusting and my lifestyle is a far cry from life on my parent’s ranch. The events of the past three months—especially the last twenty four hours—have been playing around my mind and finding their natural order. I’m missing Brad already although my feelings towards him are confused and jumbled. He’s complex and a little bit damaged, and while that’s always been part of his charm it’s also making me feel unstable and wary as I’m starting to see a darker side. Then my mind flicks to the sex—the intense orgasms, the lust and the competitiveness between us in the bedroom which keeps us both hooked. I tighten as past scenes of heady pleasure play through my mind. It’s been a roller coaster relationship filled with sexual highs and compatibility that’s developed to full blown passion mixed with my Texan temper that’s sparked on occasions.

I glance down at the Pandora bracelet with its custom made charms depicting our relationship that he gave me last night and it fills me with hope and optimism before cruelly reminding me of the revelations that had hit me so hard. Finding a file containing the contents of my life; fully illustrated. Discovering that Jody, my flat mate and best friend, was part of a love triangle that ultimately resulted in Brad’s relationship failing. I gaze out of the small square window with rounded corners and see the buildings of Dallas becoming clearer as we get closer. ‘This break will do me good’ I think to myself. ‘Get some clarity and perspective.’ The plane soon bumps down onto the runway and passengers are eagerly getting themselves organized as the pilot makes his statutory announcements. Taking a deep breath I roll my head to ease the tension in my neck before continuing to stare out at the airport as the plane taxi’s its way to its designated spot for arrivals. Yes, it’s definitely good to be on home soil again.

I draw in a big breath of Texan air as I make my way off the plane. It smells different to LA although I can’t put it into words how. It’s just different, familiar and homely. The carousel soon delivers my case and I load it onto a cart and begin making my way through the arrivals gate. Brad has arranged for a driver to take me to my folk’s ranch. I’ll miss seeing the excited faces waiting for me but at least no one has had to do a hundred mile round trip to pick me up this time. The place is packed with people all commuting to be with loved ones over Thanksgiving and I hustle my way through the security checks and search for my driver. My eyes scan the crowds not really knowing who I’m looking for. Then I spot a smartly dressed man wearing a gray suit and chauffeurs hat standing calmly and holding a sign with ‘Ms Nichols’ written on it—‘that’s my man.’

I make my way over to him and it’s as if he instinctively realizes that I’m his passenger. He lowers the sign and approaches me with a smile. He’s a slim, handsome man in his late twenties with fine features and dark skin.

Ms Nichols? he asks politely.

Yes, that’s me I reply returning his smile. He stretches out his hand to greet me with a handshake.

I’m Dexter, your driver. Let me take your bags Ms. Nichols—did you have a pleasant flight?

Yes thanks, and no delays either which is great

He leads me out of the airport towards a black limousine and opens the rear passenger door for me to get in while he loads my case into the trunk before getting into the driver’s seat.

Everything okay Ms Nichols? Please help yourself to drinks from the refrigerator he says as he looks at me through the rear view mirror.

Yes, everything’s fine here Dexter I reply as I open the small refrigerator door and open a bottle of orange juice. With that he smoothly leaves the airport and begins the journey to Santana—my parent’s ranch. We make pleasant chit chat as he drives and I can tell that he’s an expert Chauffeur as I don’t spill a drop of my drink, even when he pulls up for red lights. I’ve got to hand it to Brad—he knows how to impress and look after a woman. I’m regretting not taking him up on his offer of travelling in his company’s private jet but my stubbornness and independence wouldn’t allow it. I switch my cell phone back on to see if there are any messages.

‘Missing you already Angel x’ sent 5.47pm

I better reply so he knows I’ve arrived safely—I know he’ll be like a cat on a hot tin roof till I do.

‘Arrived safely and in the car with Dexter now. Missing you too x’

I hit send then sit back and enjoy the ride; watching the scenery becoming more and more familiar the closer we get to home. Soon we turn through the gates of the ranch and down the long, dusty drive to the house. I look over to the right and see Tonto in the field. He raises his head and looks over at the car before running towards us—it’s like he somehow knows it’s me and he’s running over to greet me. ‘Oh I’ve missed you boy’ I say in my head as he runs parallel to the car with only the fence between us till he eventually runs out of field and has to stop. I turn to look at him and see him rear up, as if frustrated that he can’t go any further. In my heart I want the car to stop so I can get out and run over to him, but refrain and reassure myself that I’ll be riding him tomorrow; just like old times.

Dexter pulls the car to a stop as we arrive at the front of the ranch. The lights are on and the large front door opens wide as my folks hear us arrive. Dexter quickly strides around the car and opens my door, offering me his hand to help me out and I run from the car, up the steps to the veranda flinging my arms around my mom, dad and Peter in turn—holding each one tightly. Peter picks up my case and we all bustle inside, talking over each other and engaging in repeated hugs. The comforting aroma of mom’s cooking fills the house and it hits me just how much I’ve missed being here. Two years ago, when I set off for LA, I couldn’t wait to leave but now I’m finding that I feel more at home here than I ever did before—how ironic.

Where’s Rachel and my gorgeous little nephew?  No sooner had I asked when Rachel appears with Peter Jnr toddling his way over to me. I crouch down with open arms and he rushes into them. Scooping him up I smother him with kisses and spin him around. Wow, you’ve grown so much. You’re growing into a fine handsome young man just like your daddy. He smiles and giggles. Holding him stirs up maternal feelings and it’s not long before my mind flicks on to Brad again and wondering if there’ll be children in our future together. I pass him back to Rachel giving her a massive hug as I do. I love Rachel. We were childhood friends and I was the one who got her and Peter together. I’m looking forward to stealing her away for a while later this evening when Peter Jnr’s in bed and telling her all about Brad. She can give me some advice about breaking the news to my folks and some well needed emotional support.

Tonto’s missed you. He has been restless for the past three days; can’t do anything with him. I swear that horse knew you were coming back my dad announces.

He was running alongside the car when I arrived daddy. I can’t wait to ride him tomorrow. I reply.

Dinner won’t be ready for a while Angel—why don’t you go and see him? I know you’re dying to mom says in her usual kind way.

I squeal with delight and rush upstairs to my old room to get changed out of my city attire and into the comfort of my blue jeans which is more appropriate for visiting Tonto’s stable. Peter follows bringing my case with him.

Good to have you home sis

Good to be home I reply with a beaming smile.

I quickly open my case and begin to rifle through till I find my jeans and hurriedly get changed. I heard my phone jingle a couple of minutes ago and I read off the message as I’m pulling on my jeans.

‘Dexter tells me you’ve arrived safely. Have you unpacked yet? x’  Sent 6.53pm

‘What a strange question’ I think to myself ‘why would he ask if I’ve unpacked?’ I know him well enough to know that when Brad say’s something random or peculiar then it’s a sure sign he’s up to something. I decide to have a quick look through my case to see if there’s something he wants me to find. There’s nothing obvious until I go into one of the compartments and find a small plain white box. ‘Ha ha ha I knew he was up to something’ I think triumphantly and I open it eagerly to see what’s inside—I haven’t got a clue what it could be but I’m thinking another charm for my bracelet maybe? Whatever it is it’s wrapped in clean white tissue and there’s a hand written note from Brad with it.

‘Think of me making love to you at 10pm every evening and we can come together—signed, Your Hot Lover x’

I open the tissue and there’s a small vibrator on a loop that I can slip onto my finger. I tighten inside as my body reacts instinctively to memories of the mind blowing orgasms I’ve experienced over the last few months and I’m starting to feel wet and aroused. He can still affect me even though we’re miles apart, like an addiction. I pick up my cell and text him back.

"Just unpacked. Thank you for the gift! I’ll be thinking of you at 10 x’ sent 7.06pm

I quickly place the vibrator back into its box and hide it back into my case. ‘Good job I didn’t open that in front of Peter’ and I chuckle to myself as a vision of the embarrassment on his face pops into my mind. I finish getting changed and rush downstairs and out of the door towards the stables. I can hear Tonto as I approach and he rears and circles his stable in excitement as I enter the barn. No one would dare enter into an enclosed area with him when he’s like this apart from me. We’re kindred spirits. He’s headstrong and wild like I was up until a couple of years ago; before LA forced me to conform into becoming an adult. Even my father couldn’t tame Tonto and would have

Reviews for Angelic Duplicity

[Anne Baker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wasn't expecting the twist and turns in brad, angel and wade's affairs and now her friend Katie. Wow