For some strange reason, Oliver liked Phillip and Jeffrey and the two dozen or so others who worked within the mansion. As a matter of fact, he liked all of the staff in the angels’ employ, which was another thing that baffled him. From the moment of his arrival here, even during those days when he was forced to stay, they’d all been gracious and kind. He’d yet to find a reason to send a scathing remark their way.
Perhaps he was evolving.
“The evening meal shall be served momentarily, sire. May I get you anything while you wait?”
“I’m good. Thanks,” he called out as he strolled through the open doors to the dining room, expecting the place to be empty.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw her sitting in the far corner. The most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on was making herself comfortable at a table near the shuttered window, her attention on an electronic tablet in front of her. Oliver didn’t recognize her, but that wasn’t surprising. These days, more and more of the angels and Fae were traipsing in and out of the house. Now that Penelope had helped them to devise a schedule to allow some to come home while others went out, there was always a new face here at Angel Central.
But none of them held a candle to this particular face.
God, she was lovely. The silky shine of her midnight hair, the smoothness of her fair complexion, long, dark lashes that shielded what he could only assume were beautiful eyes…
As though she heard his thoughts, the woman’s head lifted, eyes landing on him.
Holy mother of God, those eyes were so much more than beautiful … a pure crystal green that shimmered and glowed. And those soft pink lips…
Oliver stood there, completely lost in her beauty while she studied him, a quiet inspection from head to toe before a small smile pulled at her succulent mouth.
“Good evening,” she said kindly, her voice as lovely as her face.
“Hi … uh … good … hi.” Yep, that was him, unable to string together a sentence.
Like the others he’d encountered here—aside from the staff—she didn’t conform to social niceties. She didn’t avert her eyes, merely stared as though she expected a third eyeball to sprout on his forehead, or maybe another nose.
“Would you care to join me?” she offered.
“Yes.” Though the word came out, his feet didn’t move.
She motioned to the chair beside her. “Perhaps you’d like to have a seat.”
A seat. Yes, he would like to have one. Now.
Why wouldn’t his feet move?
The sound of laughter rumbling behind him got his legs with the program. He moved toward her, intent on utilizing that chair beside her before someone else did the honor.
As he neared, an odd feeling overcame him, one he wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced before. In that brief moment in time, Oliver got the strangest sensation he was in an alternate reality, one where only the two of them existed. Gone was the hatred and anger he’d been filled with for years, in its place, a sense of … well, he’d go so far as to say it was peace, but it was so foreign, he wasn’t sure he could accurately name it.
Somehow, he managed to pull out the chair, to drop his ass into the seat, all while never looking away from her.
The woman held out her hand, and Oliver lost all sense of decorum, staring at it unexpectedly, as though he had no idea what to do with it. Or maybe he was scared to touch her. Fearful that if he did, he would never want to let go.
“My name is Bijou,” she said kindly. “My father is Kaj.”
“Kaj?” Oliver tried to place the name, couldn’t. “Bijou.”
She smiled and he nearly fell out of his chair. “You must be Penelope’s brother. Oliver, is it?”
He nodded, dumbfounded.
Before she could lower her hand, Oliver’s shot out, clasping hers as though it were a lifeline that would pull him out of the treacherous water and right to the shore.
Delicate fingers curled around his, shaking gently but firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes,” he rasped, unable to look away.
Someone cleared their throat from across the room, startling Oliver out of his stupor. When he looked up, he noticed a big male staring back at them. His icy green eyes were similar to Bijou’s. He had the same onyx hair, the same fair coloring…
