Chapter Three
“It’s a little earlyfor a beer, don’t you think?”Uncle Rick asked.
Axel was not in the mood for games.“I’m not here to have a drink.I’m here to pick up my bike.”
He saw the shock on his uncle’s face.“So, I take it things went well last night with Joey?”
Axel swung his keys between his fingers and debated talking to his uncle.He had broken all three rules for Joey Sinclair.They had gone to his place.He had fucked her three times, and he’d kissed her.It had been amazing, the best feeling in the world.
Only, this morning he had woken up, and if it wasn’t for his memory, he would have assumed it was nothing more than a dream.Joey was nowhere to be found.No purse, no clothing, no car.She had snuck out on him, and it pissed him off.
Had she used him?She didn’t seem like the kind of woman to do that.
“Does Joey do this often?”he asked.
“Do what?”
“Pick guys up in bars?”Axel asked.
Uncle Rick bent over and laughed, then kept laughing.It wasn’t funny what he had asked, and he was starting to lose his patience.
“Oh, I am sorry.It’s just ...do you not hear yourself?Joey never picks up guys in bars.Joey never picks up a guy at all.The only guy she has ever been with was that fucker George Moseley, and I never liked him.”Uncle Rick’s face looked disgusted.
“I know what that bastard did.”
Uncle Rick shook his head.“Yeah, well, even before he was beating her up, he was picking women up in this very fucking bar.Piece of shit.I would always try to warn him that he had a good woman at home, but he would tell me to mind my own fucking business.There were so many times I wanted to take my shotgun to that piece of shit.Joey’s a good woman.”
Axel wasn’t going to argue with him there, but she did run off this morning without a word.
“I know you’re doubting me but think about Joey.She’s a single mom.The last time she got close to a man, married him, he hurt her.He nearly hurt their kid.She’s not going to be very trusting, and last night was the first time in forever that I saw that woman look ...happy.”
“You don’t have to tell me this stuff.”
“Look, you broke your rules last night, Axel.I saw you, but I want you to think about this.Your dad made those rules after your momma passed.”Uncle Rick shrugged.“There was a time your dad had no rules.”
And with that, Uncle Rick made his way into the bar.
He flicked his keys around his finger and had every intention of going back to do his job.It was a Saturday, and most weekends, he got a lot of work done on the ranch, only once he was on his bike, he didn’t go to the fucking ranch.
He parked outside of the coffee shop.It was still early, so they weren’t open yet.
Climbing off his bike, he went to the door and rang the bell.He did so repeatedly, so Joey would know she couldn’t ignore him.His persistence paid off, as she came toward the door, and there was a frown on her face, but she didn’t keep him waiting.She opened the door, and he immediately stepped through and closed the door, flicking the lock into place.
