A kiss pulled her out of a dreamless sleep. “Time to get up.” A slap on the butt made her frown, but his deep chuckle earned a smile out of her. “I let you sleep in. Time for strawberry French toast and coffee.”
Her favorites. She blinked her eyes open and saw that fine ass leaving the room. When she sat up, she realized her favorite silk scarf covered her head. She’d been so out of it last night before coming to bed. She remembered him helping her dress and asking about what she wanted to do with her hair.
She hurried to the bathroom and found he’d done a halfway decent job of wrapping her curls.
Then she noticed what she was wearing. The same bunny pajamas he’d seen the first time he’d come to her house. As well as the same scarf.
She fixed her head wrap and joined him in the kitchen, trying not to feel self-conscious that he’d seen her with her face off—sans makeup and her hair not done. So when she came into the kitchen, she paused, feeling shy.
He had two plates in his hands on his way to the dining area and placed them next to each other, with fancy glasses and crystal candleholders, complete with long red tapers he’d lit.
“You’re here.Gut.” He looked up, saw her, and got the goofiest smile. One full of what she’d swear would look like love on any other man. On Axel, she wondered.
“Thanks for last night” came out softer than she’d intended. She coughed. “I was in no condition to help myself.”
He drew her into a hug, and she sighed, sniffing him and loving his scent. Was it his cologne? His soap? Maybe his laundry detergent? Whatever it was, it gave her comfort.
He leaned down to kiss her, and his lips lingered. “You feel better?”
“Yes, thanks.”
He took her by the hand and led her to a seat at the table. After pulling out a chair for her, he waited for her to sit.
She felt nervous and feminine and cared for. And weird for being nervous around a man she knew intimately.
“Eat,Häschen.You need your energy.” He frowned. “But I’m glad you slept. You needed it.”
“What time is it?” she asked as she sipped her coffee. Axel, she noticed, wore a pair of jeans and a heather-gray T-shirt, showing off a hint of those amazing tattoos on his right arm. His hair looked styled, his eyes smiling.Soooo handsome. And all mine.
Isn’t he?
“It’s after one.”
“Oh my gosh. I have so much to do.” She started to stand, but he stopped her.
“Don’t be mad at me, okay? I called Del and explained to her what J.T. already had. She called your employees, though I imagine Lou already told Stella. The ladies will come here later to talk to you about your options. And I’ve already discussed with some friends about things you can do once you have talked to your landlord about insurance and everything.”
She just stared at him.
He fidgeted. “I am not trying to take over. I just—”
She left her chair and flew into his arms. “Thank you.”
“Oh, Rena. Don’t you know I would do anything to make all this go away? You deserve to be happy,Liebling. Ich liebe dich.” The German words again.
She pulled back and took his face in her hands. “But I am happy when I’m with you.”
His eyes seemed full of emotion, and their stare seemed to connect them on a deeper level.
“Rena.” He sighed. “I have to tell you. I—”
Someone rang the doorbell.
They glanced at the door.
“Are the girls supposed to be here?”
He shook his head. “Not until three.”
