“I don’t know what they’re smoking. She’s worked for me for five years. I’m sure I would have noticed if I wanted her.”
“Stop hiding from your parents.”
“That means you’ll have to come with me. I’m going where you go. If they start any shit we’re gonna have problems.”
My heart flutters. Axel keeps doing shit that makes me forget we’re not a real couple. I know it’s not an act. This is who he is, and I’m so in love. Turning in his arms, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into a kiss.
The familiar way his big hands grab my hips as he deepens the kiss to feed me his tongue has my juices flowing. His aroused hum doesn’t help. I’m three seconds from taking him up on that runaway offer. At the very least, he’s very close to getting some on his counter. Axels grip tightens because we’re on the same thought train, but we’re interrupted.
“Axel,” Allie says after she clears her throat.
She’s standing at the door, wringing her hands. The longing in her gaze and voice is suffocating.
“Yes?” he responds, looking at her but doesn’t let me go even when I try to pull away.
“Your parents want more wine.” She glares at me when he looks away, then shifts her gaze back to neutral when he turns his head in her direction.
“The bottle they drink has the black label and is on the bottom right of the chiller,” he informs her while giving me hungry, promising looks.
Allie grabs the bottle but freezes at the door again, I can feel her eyes on our profiles as she lingers.
“What else, Allie?” Axel asks as he caresses my cheek.
“They’re waiting for you to start dinner.”
“We’llbe there in a few minutes.”
He tips my chin and is pulling me into another kiss before she has a chance to look away. I live for his kisses, but the next interruption could be one of his parents.
“Axel, please. Let’s just get it over with. If they find us naked in the kitchen, they’ll swear it was my idea.”
His blue orbs shine with mischief. “That would be more my idea.” He squeezes my ass under my dress. “Do you think it’ll make them leave?”
I chuckle but push him away just before Hanna appears.
“Salad’s done!” I chirp.
Swiping the bowl, I leave Axel in the kitchen with his mother. Alger is grilling Allie about the wonderful world of assisting as I set the bowl in on the table. He looks like an older and less fun version of Axel with a haircut. I would have all kinds of silver fox jokes for his son if he wasn’t rubbing me the wrong way.
I’m settled across from Allie with Alger to my right at the head of the table when Axel appears with his mom following close behind. He murmurs, “Drop it,” then takes his seat next to me. We serve ourselves the pizza-baked spaghetti, rolls, and salad. I made a simple meal that could be thrown together at the last minute and feeds several people.
Axel takes a bite then smiles. “Thanks for cooking, Heaven. It’s really good.”
I glow at his compliment and realize I’ve never cooked for him before. He’s always showing up with fancy meals from his favorite restaurants, or we agree to grab something quick.
“I made your favorite, an apple crumble tart with raisins just the way you like it, Axel,” Allie boasts with Alger’s and Hanna’s approval.
Horary for Allie.
It takes considerable effort not to roll my eyes.
“Um...thanks?” Axel says then takes a sip of wine. “Okay, you two pop up unannounced— which you never do—then invite my assistant to dinner. What’s the occasion?”
“Alger and I wanted to visit, and we haven’t seen Allie in a while. We wanted to catch up.”
His mom’s answer is meant to sound breezy, but it’s forced as hell.
“I forgot to grab the crushed red pepper and parmesan cheese,” I supply as I rise.
