Angel's Shield by Erin M. Leaf Read Free Book Online

exotic Asian thing you’ve got going on.”
She paused, then said, “Holy shit.”
    Charmeine laughed. “I don’t think his shit is holy, Lisa. And the
Asian thing is getting old. I had enough crap about it all day from the
tourists. It sucks living in such a small town sometimes.”
    “No, you idiot. Look.” Lisa poked her in the arm. Hard.
    Wincing, Charmeine rubbed her arm as she looked at the door.
Haniel stood just inside, in all his blond glory. The afternoon sun backlit his
hair, making him look even more ethereally gorgeous than usual. Damn, he’s
hot.
    “Is that him?” Lisa hissed.
    Charmeine gave her a look that said shut up. “Hey,” she
called aloud. She smiled and waved, catching his eye. “He’s early,” she
muttered to her friend.
    “Oh my God, look at that tall drink of blonde gorgeousness.” Lisa
breathed. “Whoa.”
    He headed over, moving through the tables with a grace that was
obviously not lost on Lisa. “Hey, you ready?”
    Charmeine nodded. “Five minutes. You’re a little early.” She
smiled, forcibly yanking her eyes away from his hips. So what if his jeans were
tight enough to give her palpitations? That didn’t mean she should stare at his
groin. “Oh, this is my friend, Lisa,” she said, moving away from the woman’s
pointy, painful finger.
    “Nice to meet you,” Haniel said softly.
    Lisa blinked. “Yeah. Um, I mean, nice to meet you too.”
    Charmeine didn’t blame her for stuttering. The man was beautiful. She still stuttered around him sometimes.
    “Is it okay if I wait in the car? We’re parked just outside.” He jabbed
a thumb at the door as he glanced around the crowded restaurant. “I don’t want
to get in your way.”
    More like he isn’t in the mood to have the entire place staring at
him, Charmeine
thought darkly, frowning at the customers who were watching them avidly. “Yeah,
sure,” she said aloud. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She watched him weave
his way through the tables, unable to keep herself from staring at his
backside. It was just so damn perfect.
    “So, like I said before, holy crap! ” Lisa hissed. “Did you
see the tattoo on his arm?”
    Charmeine frowned. “Yeah, so?”
    “Oh, come on. Is he an angel?” Lisa voice wasn’t particularly
quiet.
    Charmeine shushed her, not wanting the diners to overhear. “I don’t
think so. The marks are only on one arm.” She thought about the faint scars on
his other arm. “I don’t know.”
    “If he is, well, whoa times a million.”
    “I don’t think angels and humans mix, Lisa,” Charmeine said,
repeating what she’d told herself a thousand times this week.
    “At least now I know why you let him stay. Is the other one as
handsome as that?” Lisa fanned herself melodramatically. “How do you function
with two of those in your house?”
    “I’m leaving now, Lisa.” Charmeine grabbed her purse from under
the register.
    “Hurry home. I can’t say that I blame you.” Her friend grinned.
    “Oh my God, shut up,” Charmeine pleaded. “He and his friend will
be moving on soon enough.”
    “Are you sure about that?” Lisa asked. “Because you didn’t see the
way he looked at you, my friend.”
    Charmeine shook her head. “Now you’re the crazy one.”
    “I know what I saw.”
    “Leaving.” Charmeine waved to Marvin and walked out the doors,
trying to calm her nerves. Could Lisa be right? And if so, exactly how was Haniel looking at her?

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Haniel waited by the car, unsettled by the crowd in the diner.
That happened a lot. He looked human and acted human, but somehow, most of the people
he encountered knew he wasn’t really one of them. He wasn’t sure why or how,
especially now that he was missing half of his legacy marks, but it always
happened like that. Jeremiel often refused to go into places where a lot of
people gathered unless it was winter and he could wear something over his arms.
    “I’m here,” Charmeine said behind him.
    He spun