She fiddled with her jacket and purse as she hovered by her front door.
Her phone rang, and she checked it, wondering if Axel called. Another random number she ignored. She’d gotten a few hang-ups at work today as well and one call from a familiar voice asking if her heater was running. She’d recognized Colin and answered that it was.
“Then you’d better go catch it!” he’d yelled before giggling hysterically and hanging up.
Which made her laugh as well and reminded her to keep an eye on the scamp. He’d called her twice, once with that silly joke, the other to wish her well onher date. Hell, did everyone in Seattle know and care what Rena did in her spare time?
A big black truck pulled up in her driveway, and she left the house.
She was just locking up when a large shadow blocked her light. She turned to see Axel frowning down at her. Just the sight of him had her pulse pounding. Man, she’d made a huge mistake giving him that haircut because she kept envisioning him with an ax and a loincloth then wearing nothing at all as he marauded all over her.
“I was coming to get you.”
“Like a gentleman?” She raised a brow.
“Well, kind of.” He smiled. “Like a man excited to see a pretty woman.”
She swallowed a sigh and reminded herself that tonight was a test. A special night, whether he knew it or not. She’d wait him out, sure he’d show his true colors. Then she’d either dump him or date him again.
She let him take her hand, and he surprised her by kissing the back of it. Wow. Tingles ran from her hand throughout her body. From a hand kiss.
“You look stunning.” He clearly approved.
She’d pinned her hair back but left the curls at her temples dangling. The sweater she wore framed her figure nicely, and the skirt warmed her yet also allowed for movement. But her bootsmadethe outfit, giving her a kickass feel while also allowing her to feel feminine and sexy.
Axel had yet to look away from her. She lost herself in his dark-blue eyes, hoping the night would go well. She didn’t want to feel the disappointment that inevitably came when a potential good guy turned bad.
“I would like to take you to dinner,” he said, his voice impossibly deep.
“Y-yes. That would be nice.”
He escorted her to his truck, but instead of helping her step up into it, he lifted her by the waist with an easy strength and placed her gently on the seat. She felt his large hands around her waist even after he’d let go.
The inside of the truck was warm and smelled like his cologne. God, he was getting to her without even trying. A good thing she was sitting because her knees felt weak. Especially when he stood by her side and leaned in, at eye level.
“I have to,” he whispered, his gaze lowered to her mouth.
“Okay,” she whispered back, breathless.Okay? Okay to what?
Then he kissed her, a press of his lips that didn’t linger long enough.
It was only as he pulled away that she opened eyes she hadn’t remembered closing. She had a sudden urge to smack that gratified look off his face. Either that or pull him closer to finish what he’d started.
“You taste good,Häschen.” He stroked her cheek, and it did her a world of good to imagine his fingers trembled.
They drove with only the radio breaking the silence between them. Axel had an R&B station on, and John Legend put her in a more mellow mood. An unfortunate choice, in hindsight, because the silky tone of Legend’s voice wrapped around her and made her want another taste of the big, silent man sitting next to her.
She watched the lights of the city pass by, a few couples walking arm in arm, packs of singles heading somewhere they’d find a party. Axel cut over from Rainier to Beacon Avenue and continued north.
“Where are we going exactly?”
“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
She liked surprises. “Okay, but it had better be good.”
“Ja,I’m hoping so,” he murmured.
They continued past the North Beacon Hill nightlife and off onto a quiet street. The area looked a little rundown, older homes being renovated, a place where middle-class hardworking people took care of their property and land as best they could. She’d never been in the area before and looked around with curiosity.
