“What about your dad?” He gave her all of his attention as they navigated the many people thrilled with the pretty, nonthreatening snow.
“He’s never been in the picture.” Rena didn’t feel hurt by that anymore. It had taken her a long time to come to terms with the fact her father had never wanted her.
“His loss,” Axel said plainly. And he meant it, she could tell.
She smiled at him, aware he watched her with so much focus. Whenever he looked at her, she felt as if he saw nothing but her. She found it flattering but also a little disconcerting. What exactly did he see when he looked at her?
After a few moments of walking in silence, she wondered if she’d need to prod him, when he spoke.
“You know my mother died back in the summer. I loved her very much, and it’s been…hard.”
“I know, sweetie.” She gripped him by the hand.
He squeezed and didn’t let go. “My father and I are not close at all,” he growled. “I have an older brother I don’t know very well. Maksim works with my father in Germany. I came here, with my family, many years ago. After a while, my father and brother went back, but Mom and I stayed. She ended up going back to Stuttgart a few years ago.” He paused.
“I know she had a tough time before she passed away. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
He turned a wan smile her way. “Yes. I am too. She was an amazing woman.”
The guy still cared for and missed his mom. Rena loved that about him, that he could feel so much for someone.
“I have been traveling back and forth these months helping my aunt and cousins with the farming. They needed some extra help, and I needed to be there for them. I told my mother I would.”
“That’s nice of you. Farming?”
He gave her a genuine smile. “A few cows and pigs. Goats for milk. They are more gentleman farmers than the real thing. But it makes them happy.” He sighed. “They all loved my mother.”
He didn’t say anything more about her, and she didn’t want to push him. So she changed the subject to his brother. “So you’re not close to…Maksim?”
He frowned. “He spent much of his youth with my father, so no. We don’t know each other well. When my parents spent time apart, I was withMutter,Maksim withVater.Maksim and I, we look alike. It’s strange to see him.”
“So you’re saying he’s big, strong, and handsome like you,” she teased.
“Ja.But not so handsome. I am better.” He winked at her.
Her heart pounded at his grin.
He watched her watching him, and his smile faded. He drew her to the side of the path, out of the way of the many strollers and couples walking. “Is this date okay?”
“Okay?” She wondered if he’d let her run her fingers through his hair. The dark-blond mane looked so soft.
“You are enjoying yourself?”
“I… Oh heck. Can I touch your hair?”
He paused. “Sure.” He bent his head, and she ran her fingers through it, right about its softness.
“Can I cut your hair?”
“I had planned to get an appointment this week. With you.”
“Good. But I tell you what. You let me style your hair the way I want to, I’ll do it for free. Then you tell everyone who cut your hair. You’ll be a walking billboard for my salon.”
“Sounds good to me.”
She watched him raise his hand to cup her cheek, the movement unbearably slow. “Y-you don’t want to know how I’ll cut it?” Right now he had a shoulder-length cut, all one length, and looked smokin’. She had a different look in mind, but one no less attractive. Then again, he’d been sexy-scary with a buzzcut. With Axel’s features, hair or no hair, it didn’t matter.
“I trust you.” He ran his thumb over her cheek, and she did her best not to melt on the spot. When he gave her a slow smile, she lost all thought. “Notice I do not ask to touchyourhair. I am a smart man. I never mess with a woman who makes a living with scissors.”
