And as the guys left to go and grab lunch, Axel opted to stay behind, get a few more things wired up, and eat his lunch on the job.He hated to do that, because he liked to separate his lunch and work, but when a job fell behind, he was not willing to stop until he brought it back on track.
At the sound of a car approaching, he had no choice but to make his way outside, while taking a bite of his sandwich.
He recognized the man the moment he arrived.It was Marshall Sinclair, Joey’s father.
Axel hadn’t spent a lot of time near fathers, as he’d never been in any kind of relationship.
“Can I help you, Mr.Sinclair?”Axel asked, stepping off the main porch and closing the distance between himself and Marshall.
“You know that word is going around town you’ve spent the night at my daughter’s?”Marshall asked.
“I’m aware of the gossip, sir.”Again, this was a good stance to take.Being respectful.That was all he could be.
“And?”Marshall folded his arms and leaned against the hood of his car.
“And it’s true.I stayed the night, and Joey and I are together.”
Marshall chuckled.“Sorry, but I have to say this, son, you have never dated anyone.”
“I know that, and Joey is different.”
The man before him raised a brow, and he had to wonder why men went through this.Fathers-in-law were scary as fuck.Marshall was protective of his little girl.Axel understood it.He was the first guy since George to show an interest.
“Different?”Marshall asked.
“I’m not going to hurt her, sir.”
“And yet, you never stick around to pick up the pieces.My daughter doesn’t just have herself to consider.She has Adeline.”
Axel nodded.
“I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, and I don’t want Joey getting hurt.She has been through enough, and I am sure you are aware of what she went through prior to Adeline’s arrival?”
“I know,” Axel said.
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“The fact Joey got hurt does bother me.I’m not going to pretend I know what I’m doing.The truth is, sir, I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing.I tried to stay away from her, but I like being around her.She’s an amazing woman, and she makes me smile and laugh.Even now, I want to go see her and make sure she’s having a good day.I get that news travels fast, and my reputation is not the best.I have no intention of hurting her.”
“I thought you had a set of rules.”Okay, the floor could open him up and swallow him whole.Axel wouldn’t mind.
“They were dumb, and with all due respect, I broke every one of them the first time with Joey,” he said.
Marshall looked at him.“If you’re serious about this, and you have no plans to hurt my little girl, then my wife wanted me to extend an invitation to you for Sunday.Be warned, Joey is going to freak out, so it would be up to you if you told her or not.”He smiled at him.
Axel didn’t like this.Should he keep a secret from Joey?
“What did you do, sir?”Axel asked.
He was going to need advice, because he hadn’t dated anyone ever.Not even in high school.It had always been about the chase, which is what he had seen his own father do.He’d not seen his dad with his mom, as he had died in childbirth.From what his Uncle Rick had told him, his dad had been a completely different person, and now he wished he had been able to see him.
“I did whatever my potential future father-in-law said.After all, he owned a couple of shotguns and knives, and was more than happy to take any son of a bitch hunting.Accidents happen like that all the time, you know.”
That threat was well and truly real.
He held his hand up and even offered a smile.
He finished his sandwich, and there was still some time left on his lunch break, so he climbed onto his bike and took off, heading toward his Uncle Rick, who was at the bar.
