done contracts with other businesses, haven’t you?”
Roy had the feeling she was thinking out loud. “Yes—”
“You were ready to make a commitment to them, weren’t you?”
“Yes—”
“But you aren’t willing to make a commitment to me.”
Ah, he was beginning to understand. “I can break a contract for a price. Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Are you suggesting payment?”
He should have wised up by now, but she’d had him fooled. Still, he didn’t care. He was a man accustomed to paying for what he wanted. At the moment that was Julie, and he wanted her badly.
“Fine,” he said. “We can draw up a financial agreement.”
She pulled her hands free of his. “That wasn’t what I meant. I don’t think you realize how insulting that is, Roy.”
“Insulting? I thought it was what you wanted. Okay,” he said, doing his best to figure her out. “Just tell me what it would take—other than marrying you—to get you to move in with me.” He couldn’t make it any plainer than that. Aimee had moved in without a moment’s hesitation. He couldn’t understand why Julie needed all this discussion.
“I don’t know … I want to think this through.” As if in a daze, she stood and walked slowly back to the kitchen.
Roy followed her. This night wasn’t going the way he’d anticipated. He’d never been much good with relationships, and his experience with Aimee hadn’t helped.
“What about love?” she asked, suddenly turning around.
Roy had come to detest the word. He didn’t know what it was anymore. “Julie, you’re searching for an excuse, and I’m not going to give it to you. You’re looking for ways to talk yourself out of something we both want. This would be an agreement between two mature people who are strongly attracted to each other. Nothing more and nothing less.”
“What about your mother?”
“What about her? She’d be thrilled. She’s been saying for a long time that I work too hard, and she’s right. Knowing her, she’ll kiss you on both cheeks and thank you.”
Julie didn’t seem to believe him.
“If it’s any consolation, you should know I’ve only had one other woman live with me.” Aimee. And whatever happened with Julie, it couldn’t possibly end as badly as that relationship.
Taking two bowls and two wineglasses from the cupboard, Julie set them on the counter. “I want to think this through,” she said again. She gave him a weak smile. “Like you said, this offer is good for more than twenty-four hours.”
“Take all the time you need.” But he wanted her in his home and in his bed. The sooner the better.
Twenty
“I don’t know about anyone else,” Goodness said, still in a huff, pacing inside Roy’s office. “But I’m outraged.” She fluttered her wings so her friends would know she wasn’t kidding.
Papers slid off Roy’s desk and he looked up, clearly puzzled by the sudden draft.
“Roy’s a man,” Mercy chided her, far too willing to overlook his weaknesses. “What do you expect?”
“And I’m an angel,” Goodness said right back. “What do you expect?”
“These are human matters,” Shirley insisted, lurking behind Roy’s chair. “We can’t interfere.”
“Julie knows better. Mark my words—she’ll refuse to do it.”
Mercy sighed and sat on the corner of Roy’s fancy desk, protecting his files from further disruption. “I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you. She’s tempted.”
“Then we’ll untempt her.”
Shirley shook her head. “That’s not our department. They send in the Warrior Angels to deal with temptations.”
True, but Goodness had intense feelings when it came to the humans involved in her prayer requests. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy had worked hard to bring these two together. She no longer felt any uncertainty about their choice; Julie was the woman Anne had prayed for. After all their efforts, the least Roy could do was marry her! Time was running out. They had to think of something quickly if he was going to propose by Christmas Eve. After that, they were off the case. Oh, dear, this could turn into a real disaster and of course Gabriel would blame the three of them.
“We’ve got to make Julie see sense,” Goodness said urgently. If Mercy was right, then Julie might indeed give in to temptation. The prayer request was ambiguous; Anne hadn’t stated that Roy needed to marry this woman, although it was implied.
“He hasn’t heard from her in two days.” Mercy flipped the pages of Roy’s desktop calendar.
“Don’t do that,” Goodness cried, slapping Mercy’s hand. “He might see you.”
Mercy tilted her head and stared at Roy Fletcher. “He’s deep in thought.”
“He’s wondering how long it’ll take to hear from Julie,” Shirley suggested. “He’s growing impatient.”
Goodness had noticed that, but she also knew he’d made no effort to get in touch with Julie. She suspected this was a ploy on his part—his way of telling Julie that if she chose to reject his offer, she wouldn’t be hearing from him again. That was just plain wrong! Goodness intended to do everything within her power to make sure Roy’s head was filled with thoughts of Julie every minute of every day. The man would be sorry he’d messed with the angels’ plans to answer his mother’s prayer.
“You know how cold he can be,” Shirley commented, studying Roy intently. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
“That’s all an act,” Goodness told them. “He loves his mother and Julie, only he’s too stubborn to admit it.”
“I say we get in there and do something,” Mercy proclaimed.
“Like what?” Goodness was almost afraid to ask.
“What we always do.” Mercy folded her hands prayerfully and fluttered her long, curly eyelashes.
“Heaven help us,” Goodness muttered.
“No, you’ve got it all wrong,” Mercy said. “We’re the ones helping Heaven. Gabriel needs us. Otherwise, we’d be long gone by now. I for one feel that drastic times call for drastic measures.”
“Drastic measures,” Goodness repeated. “What—”
“Stand back everyone.” Mercy threw open her wings.
“What’s
