Aeron

By TK Lawyer

Stuck in a loveless marriage, Kim wants out.

After more than ten years of dedication to her best friend, Tom has given up. Now Kim wants her freedom. Yet, Kim also craves a loving future with someone who feels the same—one day. Can true love exist after a decade of heartbreak?

Aeron hasn’t found his fated mate.

As a co-guardian and the leader and founder of the prestigious, voluntary group of angels called The Guardian League, he has little extra time to ponder his lack of luck. Still, over the past several centuries, he has imagined his perfect match—his elusive minx with a unique, balanced blend of fiery spirit plus a dash of nice topped with extra naughty.

Sadly, she exists only in fantasy. Until one day he walks into a line of customers after spotting her seated at a table beside her husband.

Aeron is disappointed. Yet Kim is unhappy, and Aeron can’t walk away.

Will Kim find the courage to end a painful, ongoing relationship for a possible future of happiness? Or will fear of losing her best friend close the door permanently for her?

PUBLISHER NOTE: Paranormal Romance. Angels and Demons. Rubenesque. 63,600 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Nov 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215644997

TK Lawyer

Passionate * Playful * ParanormalMulti-award winning, International Bestselling author, Tamara K. Lawyer, who writes under the pseudonym TK Lawyer was born in Colon, Panama. She moved to the United States with her family to pursue her post- secondary education aspirations and found her love of writing sometime in 2013. Her first book, Nightfall was published shortly afterward, in October 2014.She writes steamy and heartwarming paranormal, urban fantasy, new adult and contemporary romance. Her books often toe the line, straying from traditional ideas and opening readers’ minds and hearts to unlimited possibilities. She loves exploring new ideas and new ways of thinking.When she isn’t reading or writing, she is likely spending time with her husband/best friend or catering to their lovable American Foxhound misfit who steals all the attention in their house.

Book preview

AERON: BOOK FOUR

The Guardian League

TK LAWYER

Stuck in a loveless marriage, Kim wants out.

After more than ten years of dedication to her best friend, Tom has given up. Now Kim wants her freedom. Yet, Kim also craves a loving future with someone who feels the same—one day. Can true love exist after a decade of heartbreak?

Aeron hasn’t found his fated mate.

As a co-guardian and the leader and founder of the prestigious, voluntary group of angels called The Guardian League, he has little extra time to ponder his lack of luck. Still, over the past several centuries, he has imagined his perfect match—his elusive minx with a unique, balanced blend of fiery spirit plus a dash of nice topped with extra naughty.

Sadly, she exists only in fantasy. Until one day he walks into a line of customers after spotting her seated at a table beside her husband.

Aeron is disappointed. Yet Kim is unhappy, and Aeron can’t walk away.

Will Kim find the courage to end a painful, ongoing relationship for a possible future of happiness? Or will fear of losing her best friend close the door permanently for her?

PUBLISHER NOTE: Paranormal Romance. Angels and Demons. Rubenesque. 63,600 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

AERON:

BOOK FOUR

The Guardian League

TK LAWYER

A black and white logo of a person holding a star

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LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

AERON: BOOK FOUR

The Guardian League

Copyright © NOVEMBER 2023 TK LAWYER

ISBN: 979-8-215644-99-7

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

The silver Chevrolet blew through the interstate at ninety miles per hour. Kim glanced at the speedometer seconds before she relented and applied the brakes, gingerly bringing her speed down to eighty. She laughed as she passed a sign, announcing seventy was the maximum for the highway she traveled. She was done pleasing others. Life had been cruel, and she was letting life have it. She lowered her window and sighed, feeling the wind blowing through her hair, arching into it as it whipped through her very soul. For the first time in several months, Kim felt alive.

I’m giving all of you a challenge, she cackled into the air, shouting at anyone listening. Tired and worn out with her endless responsibilities and the inexhaustible hours of dealing with Tom, her husband, while keeping a fake smile on her face when she wanted to frown or, better yet, throw a temper tantrum, was getting harder to do as the days passed. She deserved happiness. She deserved love; however, she had Tom, the reason for her disappointment with her life. For once she wanted to be real, genuine, and not happy because life was not peaches and cream for her anymore. Thank goodness she had her car and the wonderful wind at her back that cleansed and wiped away her fury the faster she drove. Dejected and let down, there was nothing compared to speeding down the highway with only a few cars on the road to make her feel much better. Now if she could only avoid the cops.

She considered the sneakiness of the local police officers and then re-considered her former statements made in anger.

Okay, angels, if you’re around I’m sorry. Please cover my car with your wings and shield it from the police. She didn’t know if beings like angels existed, but she figured covering all her bases was in order with her risky endeavor.

Vengeance and cruelty had no place in her life, but there were days when she was tired of being sweet, and she lashed out, blowing up at others, instead. Venting always made her feel better… until the guilt settled in, that is. This morning in particular, she cursed at her spirit guide, the one ethereal being mentioned in metaphysical books of her recent past that was supposed to guide her life plan, but now she regretted every word.

In her defense, her path veered off somewhere because this was not the life she wanted!

After shouting at her guide, she figured everyone else was fair game, including her worthless husband. Remorse hit her hard while images of Tom flashed through her mind. She didn’t dislike him, and her anger toward him was due to her frustration. Snapshots of the romance and passion she sought but never found, followed. She swiped at the tears blinding her eyes.

If only Tom were more… no, not Tom. Tears streamed down her cheeks, skidding in their solid course over her cheeks to get to her neck.

Wasn’t a relationship supposed to be fun, enjoyable, and romantic? She longed for passion and excitement with a man she considered her partner. Granted, the excited, almost irrational feelings experienced when meeting a stranger diminished with time. Feelings changed, often dissipating after a while. However, Kim felt slighted. She never experienced the rush of emotions and the giddy light-headedness many of her friends experienced when they dated, and now, her marriage was merely a friendship and a partnership of convenience. Only once did she recall—at their very first meeting—a rush of excitement leaping with Tom’s interest. He had crooked his finger toward her to summon her to him, and she had been intensely interested, her heart all aflutter. Yet beyond that single occurrence, that feeling never returned.

Her speed slowed as she pondered Tom’s positive traits. He was a nice man. That was it. There was no passion, no excitement, and nothing to look forward to with Tom. He was sturdy, steadfast, and always there, like a practical bookcase. She wanted more. Kim wanted an independent, assertive man she could get lost in, one who’d do anything for her and loved her with an undying fervor for the rest of her life. A man she’d respect and admire. She craved a man who sent shivers down her spine by a mere look or touch. If she could find someone like that…! Her thoughts trailed off. Her heart opened with the vivid dream bursting through her mind. The love buried deep inside her starving to break through, overwhelmed her senses. If she found this uncommon male, the one to light the fire deep within her soul, she’d share her intense affection and every aspect of her being willingly with him. However, he didn’t exist. Her hopeful, beautiful fantasy evaporated before her eyes, revealing the dreaded reality of routine and monotony.

Her speed slowed to a near crawl. Cars drove around her, voicing their opinions on her driving ability as she daydreamed of her perfect hero. She escaped to the right lane amidst several loud, progressive toots of car horns.

She sighed with regret.

She was in a dark mood today. However, what was she supposed to do? Being open to all possibilities and welcoming advice, counseling, and comfort, she pondered visiting the kind-hearted intuitive Beverly, her friend she saw on occasion to ask if there was anyone else out there for her, but that was a common question everybody asked. Would her reading be correct? Kim didn’t know what to think about psychics in general, though she read enough metaphysical books to know there was something else out there that was unknown and hard to explain. Regardless, Kim made sure every time she visited Beverly that she wore no jewelry and gave nothing up during their session that could be used in her reading. Beverly told her things about her future just by holding Kim’s watch, which Kim found fascinating, although when some of the predictions started coming true, Kim couldn’t deny that Beverly had some kind of ability.

However, Kim had different questions now. She wanted to know about Tom and love. Would her dream of a loving, engaging relationship with a beloved partner come true for her as it did for her parents? Would Kim achieve the ideal that many strove to gain, but never found? Living in a listless, endless marriage deadened her inside. For Kim, a passionate woman who craved excitement, adventure, and progress, the relationship with Tom could very well be the death of her.

She inserted a CD into the player and turned up the volume as she exited off the highway, trying to liven up her mood as she prepared to enter the black-hole dungeon of their shared townhome.

Hi, she said twenty minutes later, swinging her work bag off her shoulder and onto one of the chairs seated at the dining room table. Tom pecked a kiss on her lips and then walked back into the kitchen where he was preparing supper, she assumed. She wandered into the bedroom. How was she supposed to go on pretending that things were okay? Dismayed with the continued state of their relationship and needing a friend to chat with, she took out her cell phone and texted Luis, a male co-worker whose quips on life could always make her laugh. From the first moment she met Luis, she knew they’d be friends. Never comfortable around men, strangely, she was with him. She was able to chat about almost everything with him and learned much about men’s thinking and the unique male perspective from her friend. Luis was open and honest about anything discussed, and taboo subjects were never off the table.

Luis was one of several of her married male co-workers. It seemed the saying was true: The good ones were always taken.

Tom was the essence of practicality and disregard. Anytime Kim wore something pretty or even slightly alluring; she’d receive compliments from everyone but Tom. Praise streamed in from her co-workers, her mom, her dad, and strangers off the street and in the public hallways of the State building where she worked; possibly the mailman commented on how good she looked but not Tom, who didn’t seem to notice. The fact that he never realized she existed unless she was completely naked bothered her.

If Tom allowed a compliment to pass through his lips, it remained shallow and emotionless. The words, at best, were mumbled quickly or in a whisper as if he was embarrassed at them slipping through his mouth. There were no lingering looks her way and no attempts to undress her with his eyes. He would simply utter the comment, then proceed with whatever he was doing as his glance averted toward the next project on his agenda, or he might walk away to proceed with a few chores before they headed out of the house to do more practical stuff like shopping for food. This unwelcome behavior of Tom’s wasn’t new, so she couldn’t blame it on time or the need to re-ignite a spark that was once there before. Tom had always been this way and Kim, fearing she’d never find better, settled for a marriage with a good friend who she loved dearly but not in a romantic way.

After the paperwork for their committed partnership was finalized, the years dragged on, imprisoning her in an endless cycle of drudgery and monotony that wore her down. Sadly, it was after she became married that she realized she’d made a mistake. What she thought might work at the beginning failed in the end. She couldn’t see living another twenty or even ten more years in her current situation. She didn’t want to hurt Tom, for he was a good man, but Kim was unhappy. In the end, she wanted what was best for him, but to guarantee their freedom and future joy, she had to let him go.

How was your day? Tom entered the bedroom and sat on the bed. Several minutes later, he walked into the closet and threw his arms around his wife, lifting up her naked breasts and juggling them in his hands with a gleeful smile. Kim unclasped his arms from her body and lightly shoved Tom away from her. She had no interest in sexual relations with Tom anymore. Sex with Tom was always robotic.

Tom, stop it.

Okay. He shrugged and returned to sit on the bed. He watched her in silence, she assumed because he didn’t know what else to do.

I had a hard day today, and I’m not in the mood for your continued staring. Could you please just leave? Those were biting words, Kim, she chastised herself, but she couldn’t help her temper. There were times she couldn’t stand having Tom around.

Okay, sorry. Tom walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

She blew out an exasperated sigh. Tom always pretended. It didn’t matter what he was doing, whether he was hugging her or fondling her, he did everything emotionless. Loving words and romance were off the table when it came to Tom. His choppy movements across her body, his predictably hollow and routine pattern of making love, coupled with his bad breath—Tom paid little attention to dental hygiene, which always grossed Kim out—all made her want to scream, but instead, she pushed him away, preferring freedom to confrontation. Tom was boring with a capital B in the romance department. He wasn’t creative and, more importantly, he didn’t fulfill her emotional needs. His solution to her many chats about her ongoing frustrations was to ignore the situation entirely, waiting for a new day to dawn to continue the same routine once again. She uttered a silent scream in her mind and strode into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Tom loved her. She loved Tom. However, Tom didn’t fulfill her emotional cravings. He was a good friend. According to a book she read recently on perceptions of love, she realized that kind acts of service were not at the top of her list when it came to what made her feel loved, it was actually at the bottom. Quality time and loving words were at the top of her list, and neither of these she received from Tom. Despite it all, she loved Tom, and she considered him a good friend if not her best friend.

She found him sitting on the couch watching a football game, and she took a seat next to him. Almost simultaneously, they turned to each other and apologized. Kim grabbed onto Tom’s hand and held it in hers.

You want to talk about your day? Tom offered.

Not really. Hope you didn’t want to watch the game. She smiled mischievously as Tom indicated no and then she flipped through the DVR-recorded episodes until she found a show they both liked.

The remainder of the evening was pleasant and non-confrontational, but Kim’s growing disinterest in Tom was disturbing, and she didn’t know what to do. She considered divorce but found their finances were tied together in such a way that concluded they simply needed each other’s income to survive. She owed quite a lot, and most of the bills were in her name because her income was higher than Tom’s. There was no way either of them could live apart, much less divorce. Still, a future of more unhappiness seemed daunting to her. She wasn’t that strong, and she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t continue living a lie, but how could she reclaim her freedom when their finances were a mess?

She battled with the idea of divorce because of its costliness as well. She couldn’t believe how much attorneys were charging for a divorce, contested or uncontested. Plus, she genuinely liked Tom, and she feared divorce would change their relationship. Cerebral Tom might continue plugging along like nothing happened but for emotional Kim, it would be next to impossible to continue their friendship without weeping all the time at the way things ended.

No heart. All brain.

"That was cruel, Kim," she muttered under her breath, but it described him. He was a wonderful caretaker and an even better errand boy. Tom would do anything you asked him to do, but that was it—you had to ask him and in detailed, sequential steps. She wanted much more: romantic words, passionate kisses, warm and loving embraces. She longed to feel alive again. She wanted to say she loved Tom and feel it deep down in the hidden, unused depths of her soul.

Kim urged Tom to pursue marriage counseling, but he didn’t see the point in it. When she discussed it further, he put an end to their conversation and said he wouldn’t do it. It was his final say and her last hope.

In the meantime, Kim craved someone to feed her fire and to be immersed in the passionate flames with the one meant for her. She missed fun and adventure. Where oh where was this man, the better half of her heart and her twin flame? If she found him, she’d throw herself into his arms and immerse herself within him so that the two became forever one.

Tom deserved happiness and to find the one meant for him. His list of admirable traits included: hard-working, reliable, practical, steadfast, honest to a fault, kind, a gentleman in every sense of the word, chivalrous, and always willing to follow through with what needed to be done, but only if you painstakingly told him what to do. Kim paid all the bills and for the most part, organized both their lives. Kim organized all the weekend outings and experiences, chores such as grocery shopping, and all of Tom’s friends were originally Kim’s.

Kim lay beneath the sheets, trying to picture the handsome man on her favorite TV show she just watched. She closed her eyes and pleaded to heaven for a solution, to help her feel happier about her relationship with Tom. A lone tear streaked down one cheek onto her pillow. She softly cried into it with Tom lying next to her, but he didn’t notice her tears.

He never did.

Please, she begged God in a silent prayer. If I am to stay with Tom, please help me to be satisfied with him. I want to be happy again, please. She prayed for what seemed like the second time after an eternity, but it was fruitless, no one was listening. She glanced over at Tom, unaware of her desperate plight. Tom snorted in the middle of his soft snores, probably dreaming about attending a ball game. She huffed, grabbed her pillow, and stalked out the door, heading to the couch in the middle of the living room, unable to spend another second next to Tom. She sighed as snippets of the last ten years of her life with her husband flashed across her mind, and she closed her eyes, praying for a reprieve with sleep.

The next morning, she walked into their library and grabbed a reference book. She sat on the edge of the ottoman and looked into the kitchen at Tom with a long sigh. Was this it? Was this all she got? Was this all she had to look forward to? Wasn’t there anyone else for her, or was Tom it? She repeated this last question several times in her mind, seeking some sort of sign to direct her. Seconds later, she gave up with a shrug of her shoulders, doing a double-take when she thought she heard something.

He’s good for now.

Who said that? Did she hear it, or did she officially go nuts… because normal people didn’t hear things?

Feeling a bit silly but wanting to know nonetheless, she closed her eyes, concentrated, and asked, Until when? There was no response.

Several weeks passed before Kim decided she had enough of the tedious routine. It was time to do something different and fun; it was time for a vacation. One of the few things Kim and Tom had in common was their love of travel. She half dreaded going with Tom, but he was better than no company, plus he was very good with directions—a trait not gifted to her. Tom was like a human GPS. He could drive anywhere and not get lost. Kim, on the other hand, only had to turn a corner to become confused. If it were up to her to drive, they’d never make it to their destination. She could read a road map, yes, but maps didn’t immediately tell you if there were one-way streets like a GPS would.

She stopped writing their itinerary and sighed heavily. Tom can’t be it for me, right? There has to be someone else. Her breaths escalated as panic struck. The walls closed in on her at a frightening pace. Her heart picked up several extra beats. No. There has to be a different future for me!

She shook her head to clear the dark cloud oppressing her and blew out a breath of air. Retrieving her pad of paper and opening up several travel books, she continued mapping out the plan for their five vacation days.

Three weeks later, at five-thirty in the morning, they packed their car and headed to their new destination.

New Orleans, Louisiana.

CHAPTER TWO

Aeron observed the twenty-one-year-old college student set up her event in Jackson Square. No, he wasn’t a stalker, although on second thought, maybe he was. Stalkers eristic tendencies came with the job description for a guardian angel as watching and protecting his charge was his first and foremost duty.

Kayla was clever, unique, and creative. She was also warm, kind-hearted and caring but then, he was likely biased. Kayla’s traits were ones he’d welcome in a companion. That is if he could ever catch one.

Finding a female was never the problem but acquiring the right one. Well, there was the rub.

The list of traits Aeron searched for in a mate was not unreachable; they included several common, unremarkable attributes. However, that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted more. He sought a woman with a fiery spirit and intense passion; someone lively, opinionated, strong, exuberant, and fun. He wanted someone with a sense of adventure and spontaneity. His perfect female wouldn’t be entirely good but not entirely bad either. A mixture tipping slightly more toward positive than negative. His grin widened, picturing the challenging, spitfire of a woman he craved and longed for. Wherever she was, she hid herself well. If he found her, he’d never let her go.

It had been centuries since he considered the idea of a serious relationship with anyone, angel or human being. But as the days flew by, he found himself once again giving into serious contemplation, craving the companionship and feel of a woman next to him during the quiet hours he spent alone. After spending too many nights with only himself for companionship, he decided he was ready to search for his intended, once again. The one he often pictured in his mind and the one his soul craved—she had to exist. There was a mate for each angel. If she was out there, she had to hide because Aeron’s plans for her weren’t all angelic.

Aeron was eager to learn about his one and invite her into his private world. If she accepted him, he’d give her anything she craved, including himself, repeatedly, until their nights were filled with carnal pleasure, and she was fully satiated with his love. He’d do anything for her. A foreign tightening to his pants made him adjust his stance. Had it been that long? He recalled the warm feel of a woman in his arms and sighed. What he needed was a special someone to love, share his life with, and bring joy fully and completely. Whoever his intended mate was, she was in for a treat. He was more than ready for her to enter his life and make it complete but for now, his focus lay elsewhere.

Aeron flew behind a nearby pillar, intent on continuing his work. Unnoticed by prying eyes, he quickly changed into a solid white T-shirt, black pants, and comfortable shoes. Seconds later, he stepped away from the pillar and into Jackson Square amidst the bustling crowd of tourists and residents. He glanced across at several vendors selling their wares in the open market. Searching further, he found his charge perched atop a sturdy stool, posed, with an open picture frame surrounding her lovely face. She stood still while a tall bucket in front of her beckoned donations from passersby.

Aeron glanced up at the sun shining high in the sky and figured it was closing in around noon. His charge was safe, his stomach was empty, and he itched to explore the busy streets before dark. A five-dollar bill materialized in the palm of his hand. He dropped it into the pail with a wink to his charge before he veered off in the opposite direction.

Trotting across the street, amidst jazz music from a local band playing in the background, he mouthed a quick prayer that the line was short today. A weakness of Aeron’s was good food and the well-known Café Du Monde sold the best tasting beignets and chicory coffee he’d ever known, but the line into the café grew as the hours ticked by in the day. At the busiest times, the line was known to wind out of the café’, around the corner and down the street. Still, people waited patiently, regardless of how long the line snaked back. Aeron glanced over at the crowd outside the café and found today proved no different. The line was extremely long. As he crossed the sidewalk and made his way past several individuals to get to the end of it, a voice caught his attention. It was accompanied by laughter and the most radiant smile he’d ever seen. He turned to view the starlet and bam, ran right into several ladies waiting their turn. A considerable amount of hollers and yelps ensued. Bodies swerved left, right, and down but he caught them all with amazing speed, righting them and taking off before anyone questioned how no one was injured. It was an impossible feat for a human being. Thank goodness he wasn’t one. The last thing he wanted was to injure people due to a momentary lapse of attention.

Aeron came for beignets and coffee, but what he found was sweeter and even rarer. He whipped his arms around him, surrounding himself in the invisibility barrier, and peered around the café wall at the object which caught his attention previously. He found the beauty looking down at her food, cutting into a beignet before bringing the delicious morsel to her lips and opened them. Aeron swore he saw the golden gates of heaven cleared and free as she plunged in the fork holding the savory item and then licked her delightful lips to indicate her enjoyment. Thunderous gods. He tamped down the tightening to his pants and swallowed back the dryness lodged in his throat, wishing her decadent lips were on him instead of the sugary substance. This female was impeccable. She was ravishing, incomparable, a radiant diamond among the crowd of people. Who was she?

Her aura scorched him just like the sun’s rays burn through skin.

The pleasing female chatted up a man next to her. Aeron lowered his head, closed his eyes, and mingled his essence with hers just long enough to gain knowledge of her true self—the one she’d never admit to. His essence then boomeranged back into him. He was ecstatic with what he found. He searched for centuries for his match; a female he could proudly call his, with an independent, generous, loving beauty and a spitfire, rebellious nature. It seemed his search was over, for here she was, stunning, vibrant, and unquestioningly alive. What luck! Now all he had to do was introduce himself and find out who the man was beside her.

He formulated a plan as he watched them. Whoever this male was, she enjoyed his companionship. They were close; however, the male couldn’t have looked more uneasy or out of place. But the striking beauty next to him, Aeron noticed, had olive skin and looked Asian. There was something about her eyes; she looked part Asian, not full, but it was enough of a curious combination to cause her to stand out in a crowd.

She had dark-colored straight hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her mahogany-colored plastic sunglasses sat perched on top of her head, and she was smiling and laughing. There was a magnificent, vibrant energy exuding from her, and her aura was a blaze of colors. Aeron’s heart skipped a beat as he continued watching the female meant for him. She was gorgeous inside and out, and there was no mistaking her. His soul recognized her almost immediately. But the question remained. Who was the fellow sitting next to her and what did he want with her?

She was speaking animatedly now, her hands gesturing wildly to the man seated next to her at the table. Aeron unsheathed the invisibility barrier with a mere thought and crept around the line, heading toward the back of the café in search of an empty chair. There was one at a table that came with a lone female. Aeron groaned, contemplating whether it was worth his time to ask the female for the seat or conjure one up out of thin air and use that instead. Which would be easier? His experience with females was always unpredictable.

He drummed his fingers across his chin. Dragging around a wrought iron chair noisily around the café to where the woman of his interest sat would make too much commotion. He’d take his chances with the lone female. Unfortunately, Aeron’s friendliness came across as flirtations, but he’d brave it, for it was the fiery, dark-haired Asian woman who caught his eye, and he planned to make introductions somehow.

He veered toward the back of the café and swerved off to their left to where the lone customer with the long reddish hair sat.

Good afternoon. Is this seat taken?

The redhead lowered her newspaper, crushing part of it under several fingers with a huff. Her face softened when she found Aeron. She stretched up in her seat, straightening her back, and smiled wide with a glint of mischief in her eye.

Why, no. I’m here alone. Please take a seat. The metal chair skidded across the pavers as she pushed it out for him with a nudge of her foot from under the table.

Thank you. Aeron smoothed down his suit before he sat. He whipped his head toward the object of his attraction and found her. The Asian beauty sat near a dividing wall, but it was low enough where he could watch her profile and try to discern if she was a local or a tourist. As an angel, he was able to increase his hearing and dilute the conversations around him if he concentrated. The ability became an advantage during circumstances such as these, where there were many people in a condensed setting all chatting at once, surrounding him and now, a communicative female beside him tossed in for good measure.

Chairs are hard to come by here. The redhead giggled. Her glance never wavered and something in her eyes danced with excitement.

Aeron silently groaned. Unfortunately, angels possessed a certain allure. One of the angels called it sex appeal, explaining that it magnetically attracted human beings to them. Angels radiated their inner beauty. It was natural, and they couldn’t help it. Their love for humanity was a glow that attracted humans like moths to a flame. Most considered Aeron to be anywhere from handsome to gorgeous and he had received several propositions recently, but the truth was he wasn’t interested in the short-term or temporary with anyone. If he were involved in a relationship, it would have to be long-term and permanent.

The redhead chatted away, and Aeron became dismayed. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he smiled and nodded where appropriate during lulls in her musings. He attempted to increase his hearing level to focus on the conversation of the Asian beauty, but the redhead kept jabbering. Annoyed, he asked if he could read a part of her paper, stating he had not had a chance to keep up with the local news. Her eyes narrowed, and she snorted. She handed the paper to him, said he could keep it, and then walked away.

Thank God. He blew out a breath of air he unwittingly held in, grinned at his statement, and looked up into the heavens, acknowledging his creator.

The Asian beauty placed an item of food into her mouth and licked the sugar off her lips once again. Aeron groaned. How could she continue torturing him like this? His gaze shot to her mouth, transfixed with the darting in and out of her tongue. Great gods, give me strength. She licked once more, her tongue caressing the side of her mouth before she ceased her incessant tormenting of Aeron. He closed his eyes and willed his heartbeat to return to a steadier beat. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman and the thought of her underneath him, wanton and weakened with lust sent shivers through him.

He shifted focus and concentrated on increasing the hearing level of their conversation, rearing his head back in surprise when he found her admonishing the man at the table. He fine-tuned the levels of his hearing and tuned into her once again.

You never listen to me, she said in a low tone of voice. He sensed the frustration that accompanied her words. You know that I organize everything for us, and you never trust me, questioning me about everything. Aeron sensed the shortening of her breath and her blood pressure rising. She was clearly upset. Who was this man to her?

The male looked at her but didn’t respond. The female continued.

Listen, I’m not going to argue with you, Tom. There are too many people around. I’m trying to enjoy our vacation. She sighed in exasperation seconds before she grabbed her beverage and sipped it. The man, whose name was Tom, continued staring at her in silence. Then he lowered his gaze to the table. The female gritted her teeth. Don’t you have anything to say? Sometimes you make me so mad. She uttered a small sound of frustration, but Tom didn’t respond.

How odd. Tom’s lack of response was either from fear or apathy. Aeron gleaned from their one-sided conversation they were tourists and he learned one of their names, now if he could find out her name and their relationship status, he would be set.

Tom’s voice disrupted his thoughts.

I’m sorry.

You’re always sorry.

Aeron sensed her flippant response was due to frustration and not out of spite or an intention to hurt Tom. He also sensed the beginning of remorse weaving its way into her heart. She felt guilty over her striking words, but she was one who didn’t hold back her emotions, and Aeron liked that in a female. The last thing he wanted was a mousy female or one who kept her feelings bottled up inside. He wanted a genuine, honest woman who had no qualms about telling it like it is or how she perceived it. Some men might prefer a perfect female, but if Aeron sought perfection, he’d mate with an angel. Besides, he always loved a challenge.

The intriguing female returned to her beverage, placing her luscious lips over the thin straw. Lascivious thoughts threatened Aeron’s sanity, and he looked away but not before he saw a shiny object on the wrong hand.

His gaze boomeranged back to her to find a set of rings on the ring finger of her left hand. Darn. She’s taken. Aeron finally found the woman of his dreams, and she’s