“Purpose?”
“You must trust me first. To know me.” He nodded, and she felt a strange spark of more than affection fill her, a confusing mix of amusement and warmth.
“I look forward to getting to know you.”
“As do I.” He grimaced. “Now, please, get off me and give me a few minutes to calm down.”
“Oh, sorry.” She left him sitting there. “I’ll just use the bathroom.”
He waved toward the hallway. “Down there.”
She returned, all cleaned up, and saw him standing with a paper grocery bag for her. In it she saw both bouquets of flowers, wrapped, and her chocolates.
“Is the card in there too?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” A Valentine’s Day card. Her first in years. She planned on adding it to her keepsake box. “I guess it’s time for me to go home, huh?”
“I think it best.”
Tonight had colored her view of Axel for sure. Though he’d never offered to be her Mr. Right, he’d offered to be her valentine. And she could concede he was right. Waiting to make love—not fuck or have sex, she noted the difference—was smart. She’d have a clearer understanding about the man she was coming to likea lot.And now it wouldn’t feel weird when she saw him again because they would take their relationship slowly.
That was if she could remember not to jump him the next time she saw him.
“You know, that haircut I gave you is a real turn-on.”
“You think?”
“Yes. I keep wondering about that beard and mustache.”
He leaned down to rub his face against hers, and she marveled at the soft feel combined with a scratchy texture, both of which made her hungry to have him all over again.
Her voice sounded breathy when she asked, “You’re using that cream I used on you, aren’t you?”
“I learn from the expert. You like it, yes?”
“I do,” she confessed as he walked her out to his truck.
They chatted about her roses and about Del and Mike’s growing family on the way home. Axel surprised her by mentioning his mother and what an avid gardener she’d been.
“My mom likes lilies,” she told him. “But she can’t tell the difference between a dandelion and lettuce.”
He laughed. “At least her daughter can. You like the roses?”
“My favorites.”
He seemed happy to hear that. They pulled in front of her townhome all too soon.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to have a third date to see if you can do any better,” she teased.
“I don’t know. Tonight seemed pretty perfect to me.” He stroked her cheek. “You are so very, very lovely.”
“Axel.” She blushed. “Stop. You’ll give me a big head.”
“It cannot get bigger. Or is that because of your hair?”
She gaped. “You did not just make fun of my hair.”
