“Storm Lords: The Viking Who Loved Me…?”
She kept her gaze on the TV. “Look, Axel. This is as good as it gets for me on a weeknight. I’m watching Lifetime, eating ice cream, and reading.”
“All at the same time?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.” She finally looked up at him and arched a brow. “Is that a problem for you?”
“Depends.” He nodded to the large tub of ice cream near the books. “What kind are you eating?”
“Vanilla creamsicle. Why?”
“My favorite.” Before she had a chance to respond, he scooped her up and sat with her in his lap in one smooth move. While he adjusted the blanket back over them, she tried to scoot away.
She gasped and shoved, unsuccessfully, at his chest. “What are you doing?”
“I am getting comfortable. What do you think?”
“With me on your lap? Seriously?”
“Ja.You’re warm. Must be the bunny pajamas.”
She smiled before she could stop herself then scowled up at him, her eyes bright. “You’re still wearing your jacket, doofus. How comfy can you be?”
He chuckled and shrugged out of the coat, tossing it behind him to the floor. “Ah, the love words. I knew they’d come.”
“Idiot.” She sighed and rested her head against his chest. “You’re pretty warm yourself. Like a giant heater.”
“Who has an amazing haircut.” He wondered if she could hear his heart racing through his shirt.
She chuckled. “Yes, you do. You look great, by the way.”
“I know.”
She laughed again.
“So why did you”—break my heart, ruin me for any other woman—“cancel our date?”
She mumbled something against his chest he couldn’t understand. He leaned back and looked down to see her eyes shiny.
“Rena?” He brushed her chin, aware of how rough his fingers felt against such soft skin. Damn, there went the rest of his body tensing up when he’d been trying so hard to be all friendly and nonthreatening, acting as if he didn’t want to rip her clothes off and fuck her right here, right now.
But he wasn’t an animal. And her tears bothered the hell out of him, so he willed his body to at least try to behave.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffed.
“Stop.” He hugged her close, ignoring her brief tension and reveling in the fact she relaxed and snuggled closer. “Ja,you just be easy,Häschen. I’ll take care of you.”
“What did you call me?”
“Little rabbit.” He smiled. “It’s actually a nice thing to say in German. Like a pet name.”
“Pet. Ha.” She grumbled something but didn’t try to leave his embrace. “I shouldn’t have canceled our date. A bet’s a bet.”
“So why did you?” He stroked her shoulders and back, offering comfort, nothing more.
She sniffed again. “Because I want to fall in love and have babies and in-laws and I’m thirty-three already. I haven’t dated in a year, and no one flirts with me anymore.”
He actually liked hearing no one flirted with her anymore, but he didn’t think she had a clue that J.T. had put out the word to keep a distance, seconded by Ray, Axel, and the mechanics at Del’s. People who all cared that the softhearted bartender deserved better than most of the clientele at Ray’s.
