“Sorry. But that blue sweater is so tight. It really brings out your…eyes.”
“Stop.” She tried to hide a laugh.
“So, Axel,” Caroline said, “Rena told me you run an auto garage.”
“It’s a paint and auto body shop,” Rena corrected before he could. “His place fixes dents and does touch-ups. But they also do custom paint jobs. You should see some of the work they’ve done. It’s amazing. Lou works for him when he’s not at Del’s.”
“Oh, so you’re the big brawler always stealing my niece’s people,” Caroline teased. “I’ve heard about you.”
He snorted. “From that she-wolf with sticky fingers. Lou was mine before he was ever hers.”
Caroline laughed. “She-wolf. Oh, that’s Del all right.”
“Don’t call her that though,” Rena warned him. “She’ll think you like her.”
“Meh. Her shop is okay.” He gave a small grin to show them he was teasing. “I miss Liam. So much common sense in that man.”
“Plus he’s less scary than Del,” Caroline said.
Axel laughed. “Ja.”
Dave cut in. “So, Axel, what prompted you to go into auto body work?”
“My family has long been into mechanical work and cars. The business started in Germany with auto repair. My brother sells cars. And my father runs an auto parts chain.”
“Is that what brought you to the States?”
Rena watched him, and he realized he’d never shared the story with her. “I was born north of Stuttgart, in Germany. My mother’s people are from Bavaria, my father’s near Berlin. But we settled in Stuttgart for my father to work. When I was fifteen, we came to America so my father could open his stores here. Then—”
“Wait,” Dave interrupted. “Do you guys own JH Autoteile? They just did a special on that inCar and Driver Magazinelast month, and I remember the owner’s name was something Heller.” He explained, “I’m a car enthusiast.”
“Jannik Heller is my father. He owns the chain. It’s done well in the Northwest.”
“Well?” Dave blinked. “It’s the highest-rated parts chain on the West Coast, and there are rumors they’re planning on opening stores out east.”
Axel shrugged, aware Rena didn’t look happy with him. “Maybe. My father and I are estranged.”
“Oh.” Dave looked discomfited. “Sorry I brought it up.”
Rena put her hand on Axel’s leg under the table. “It’s okay. Axel doesn’t mind telling you, do you?”
“No.” He gave her a big smile. “I have more important things occupying my mind. I’ve been busy trying to win myself a valentine.” He turned to Caroline, who watched them with sharp eyes. “Your daughter is not making my wooing very easy.”
“Wooing?” Caroline turned to Dave. “See? That’s what you need to be doing.”
Dave’s smile looked a little strained, to Axel’s way of thinking. “Hey, man. You’re making me look bad.”
“At least you aren’t all bruised and banged up. And you dress nice.”
Dave sat up a little straighter in his chair. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened?” He gestured to Axel’s face.
“Rena hit me.”
Her mother and Dave gaped.
She did hit him then, on the shoulder, and told the truth. “He got into a fight at Ray’s.”
Her mother shook her head. “I amsoglad you stopped working there. Such a rough place.”
