She turned and held out her hands. “Come on, Axel. Come meet the old Mr. Sexy.”
Mike McCauley groaned. “It’s a curse I’m happy to hand over to you.”
His family laughed. Little Colin hugged his aunt. Then he turned to Axel and gaped.
“Oh my gosh, Aunt Rena. Your boyfriend is even bigger than J.T.!”
J.T. gave him a sour smile. “He’s not that big.”
“He’s my own hero,” Rena told her nephew. “He can even pick you up with one arm.”
“Do it. Do it!”
Axel sighed and put on a display to please Rena. Colin gazed at him with adoration…and a conniving grin.
He leaned closer to the boy. “So this puts you in the winning,ja?” He’d met the boy two weeks ago when one of the kid’s uncles had dropped by to check out the shop. And they’d had an interesting conversation about the betting board.
“Yep. Thanks, Axel,” Colin whispered. “But don’t tell, okay?”
“Nein.It’s a secret.”
The boy rejoined his parents, and Mike shot Axel a suspicious look before Del tugged him with her toward the salon.
“Hero worship, that’s what that is,” Rena teased him as they joined the others for cupcakes and punch.
He wasn’t used to being anyone’s hero, and he didn’t know if he felt comfortable with her thinking of him in that way.
As if she read his mind, she said, “Get used to it. Your family just got a whole lot larger.”
He smiled. “All I need is you.” He glanced over at the front desk. “I told you trolls bring good luck.”
* * *
Liam and Sophie’s ceremony brought tears to Rena’s eyes. The entire day had been magical. From all her friends and family gathered to celebrate her new salon to a love match for her uncle she’d beendyingto witness.
The happy couple walked away from the simple service arm in arm and disappeared into a stretch limo.
Rena walked with Axel out to his truck, and they drove back to his house, unable to take their eyes off each other, though Axel did do his best to get them home safely.
Home. Tohishome, though he’d given her a few subtle hints about moving in.
She had a feeling her townhouse was soon going to be ready for a new occupant.
Once inside, she stopped him. “Today has been absolutely perfect. So this is your chance. What else do you have to tell me? Anything I should know?”
“Ah, you see…” He swallowed.
Her heart raced. She usually had a tough time looking away from him in jeans and a T-shirt, but in a suit and tie, he stole her breath away. At this point, he could tell her he was an undercover DEA agent or an assassin working for aliens and she’d be okay with it.
“Just tell me. It’s the perfect time.” She fiddled with the back of her dress and saw his eyes widen. He licked his lips.
“I could have bought your salon, but I didn’t.”
She froze. “What?” How did he have that kind of money? Had she thought she’d be okay with anything?
“I told my brother I didn’t want any of my mother’s inheritance. The store I fixed using my savings.”
“Axel. You shouldn’t have.” She hadn’t considered how much it had cost to fix the salon. Stupidly, she’d just been so happy to have it back.
