The Kissing Game, page 10
With excitement or nerves, she didn’t yet know. Memories of that kiss they’d shared resurfaced, as did the notion her time of the month had ended. She technically had no reason to discourage some heavy petting should the date go well.
She flushed, wishing she could stop thinking about sex for two seconds, but Axel’s image had been ingrained in her brain, and the big, sexy man turned her on. Plus, that rose, that note. Handsome was one thing, but handsome and romantic? She felt like a swoony maiden in a romance novel. She wondered if her favorite author would consider writing a Viking romance in the future.
She fiddled with her jacket and purse as she hovered by her front door.
Her phone rang, and she checked it, wondering if Axel called. Another random number she ignored. She’d gotten a few hang-ups at work today as well and one call from a familiar voice asking if her heater was running. She’d recognized Colin and answered that it was.
“Then you’d better go catch it!” he’d yelled before giggling hysterically and hanging up.
Which made her laugh as well and reminded her to keep an eye on the scamp. He’d called her twice, once with that silly joke, the other to wish her well on her date. Hell, did everyone in Seattle know and care what Rena did in her spare time?
A big black truck pulled up in her driveway, and she left the house.
She was just locking up when a large shadow blocked her light. She turned to see Axel frowning down at her. Just the sight of him had her pulse pounding. Man, she’d made a huge mistake giving him that haircut because she kept envisioning him with an ax and a loincloth then wearing nothing at all as he marauded all over her.
“I was coming to get you.”
“Like a gentleman?” She raised a brow.
“Well, kind of.” He smiled. “Like a man excited to see a pretty woman.”
She swallowed a sigh and reminded herself that tonight was a test. A special night, whether he knew it or not. She’d wait him out, sure he’d show his true colors. Then she’d either dump him or date him again.
She let him take her hand, and he surprised her by kissing the back of it. Wow. Tingles ran from her hand throughout her body. From a hand kiss.
“You look stunning.” He clearly approved.
She’d pinned her hair back but left the curls at her temples dangling. The sweater she wore framed her figure nicely, and the skirt warmed her yet also allowed for movement. But her boots made the outfit, giving her a kickass feel while also allowing her to feel feminine and sexy.
Axel had yet to look away from her. She lost herself in his dark-blue eyes, hoping the night would go well. She didn’t want to feel the disappointment that inevitably came when a potential good guy turned bad.
“I would like to take you to dinner,” he said, his voice impossibly deep.
“Y-yes. That would be nice.”
He escorted her to his truck, but instead of helping her step up into it, he lifted her by the waist with an easy strength and placed her gently on the seat. She felt his large hands around her waist even after he’d let go.
The inside of the truck was warm and smelled like his cologne. God, he was getting to her without even trying. A good thing she was sitting because her knees felt weak. Especially when he stood by her side and leaned in, at eye level.
“I have to,” he whispered, his gaze lowered to her mouth.
“Okay,” she whispered back, breathless. Okay? Okay to what?
Then he kissed her, a press of his lips that didn’t linger long enough.
It was only as he pulled away that she opened eyes she hadn’t remembered closing. She had a sudden urge to smack that gratified look off his face. Either that or pull him closer to finish what he’d started.
“You taste good, Häschen.” He stroked her cheek, and it did her a world of good to imagine his fingers trembled.
They drove with only the radio breaking the silence between them. Axel had an R&B station on, and John Legend put her in a more mellow mood. An unfortunate choice, in hindsight, because the silky tone of Legend’s voice wrapped around her and made her want another taste of the big, silent man sitting next to her.
She watched the lights of the city pass by, a few couples walking arm in arm, packs of singles heading somewhere they’d find a party. Axel cut over from Rainier to Beacon Avenue and continued north.
“Where are we going exactly?”
“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
She liked surprises. “Okay, but it had better be good.”
“Ja, I’m hoping so,” he murmured.
They continued past the North Beacon Hill nightlife and off onto a quiet street. The area looked a little rundown, older homes being renovated, a place where middle-class hardworking people took care of their property and land as best they could. She’d never been in the area before and looked around with curiosity.
When Axel pulled into the driveway of a cute corner house on a hill and parked, she had a burning desire to know where, exactly, he’d brought them.
“So, this is where we’ll be having our date?” Though it was dark, she could make out a trimmed lawn, some boxwoods along the front of the brick two-story house, and a double-car garage. The house needed fresh paint and some rail work, but it looked nice enough.
He turned to her with a shy smile. “Welcome, Rena, to my home.”
Eight
Axel prayed he hadn’t made a huge mistake in inviting Rena to his house for dinner. But he’d done it all up. The house was always clean; he didn’t believe in making messes. He’d ordered her favorite food and laid out some Valentine’s swag that, according to Del’s list, would make Rena very happy.
Axel didn’t consider himself a romantic kind of guy—at all—but he liked flowers, and he knew Rena had loved his rose. Having a buddy whose girlfriend worked as a florist had helped as well. Lou’s girlfriend had made him some beautiful bouquets and given him a discount.
He walked around the truck to help Rena exit. He loved holding her. She didn’t weigh a thing, and he admitted he felt strong and manly lifting her with ease. He set her down and took her hand in his.
That she let him made him want to sigh and stare into her eyes all night. Not cool, he knew. But something about Rena hit him right in the heart. He just wished he knew how to handle the feeling.
She squeezed his hand and smiled up at him, and he smiled back as he led her up the steps of the landing to his front door. After letting them in, he stepped back and toed off his boots. She followed suit, unfortunately stepping out of those sexy black boots.
“You can keep them on if you like,” he offered.
“No. I want to help keep your floor clean. I do that at my house too.”
He hadn’t known that. Next time he’d make sure to take his shoes off.
If he could get a next time.
He took her coat from her, inhaling the warm, sultry perfume she wore, and grew immediately hard. With a suppressed groan, he hung up their jackets and tried to will away his excitement. When he turned around, he saw her studying his home.
They walked past a small formal room he rarely used and turned toward the living area. The dark leather furniture and wooden tables had crisp lines. They served his needs yet also had a minimalist, modern style he appreciated. The large screen television got plenty of use, mounted to the wall over a gas fireplace, done in jet-black tile. When he’d bought the place, he’d known a more modern open floor plan wouldn’t work unless he knocked through a lot of walls. But with time and money not his to command, he’d done his best by putting in hardwood floors and giving the interior a fresh coat of paint. Light-gray walls provided a neutral enough palette against his darker furniture and mahogany hardwood.
The living area and dining room were one, and he’d done up the rectangular dining table with white plates and two bouquets of red roses decked with baby’s breath and fresh greenery, both in his mother’s favorite crystal vases. On the coffee table in the living room, he’d left a wrapped box of chocolates and a card—putting everything on the line within a pink envelope.
“Axel, this is beautiful. I love the flowers.” Rena looked impressed.
He gave her a relieved smile. “Gut. They are for you.” He paused. “But not the vases, I am afraid.” A stupid detail he’d overlooked. “They were my mother’s.”
She put a hand on his forearm, and he felt how tense he’d become. “They’re beautiful. I bet your mom would love knowing you used her crystal to hold such pretty flowers.”
“Ja.” He cleared his throat. “She would like knowing I got you roses. They match the color of your sweater.” Match the color of your sweater? Oh man, I am dying here.
She blinked at the comparison and gave him a shy smile. “They do.”
He blew out a breath, pleased she hadn’t called him on being an idiot. “Would you like to see the house?”
“That’s only fair since you already saw mine.” She gave him a look. “You looked around, didn’t you?”
“I did not… Okay, I did,” he confessed.
She laughed. “I totally would have if I’d been you. So show me around.”
He took her through the doorway into the kitchen, which he’d upgraded. Darker gray cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, a white marble countertop, and a black-based kitchen island kept everything simple and uncluttered with plenty of space for storage.
They continued the tour down the hall to the two guest bedrooms and guest bath before hitting the master.
“Do you want to see my room?”
She bit her lip.
“What?”
“Are you trying to get me into your bedroom, Axel?”
He felt himself blush, even harder when she laughed. “Would it work?”
“I don’t know. Depends on what’s for dinner,” she teased, and he realized he hadn’t messed up. Yet.
Careful, so careful, he made himself go slowly with her, teasing but not too much. Always keeping aware of his size to not make sudden movements or scare her into thinking he might take advantage.
Axel usually spent a lot of time being less than he was in an effort not to scare his dates. But with Rena, he worked doubly hard because he wanted more than anything for her to like him.
She didn’t say much about his king-size bed or plain black furniture. His walk-in closet wasn’t anything special, though he considered the master bath the crowning glory of the home. The large walk-in shower fit him, with an overhead rain showerhead which hadn’t been cheap to install. And the large tub could comfortably fit him as well.
Being six foot six had its share of advantages, but when it came to furniture and plain old living, he had a tough time getting anything to fit him correctly.
They returned to the dining area, and he sat her at the table at a spot right next to his at the end.
He returned moments later with her favorite drink, a Virgil’s root beer, and a plate of lemon butter angel hair pasta over spinach and pine nuts. Then he brought himself a beer and a plate of the same. She’d poured her drink into the glass by her plate, so he did as well, forgoing a bottle in favor of a pilsner glass.
“Is the food from Vicente?” she asked.
“Ja.”
“It’s my favorite,” she confessed, her voice soft. “Thank you for doing this. It’s lovely.”
For you, Rena. Anything. He waited for her to take a bite before he ate, ignoring the nerves that threatened to turn him inside out. Tonight had to be perfect. “I’ll be right back.” He hurried to put on some music, a contemporary jazz station he preferred. “Do you enjoy this music? I can change it to something else if you want.”
“You know, I like it.” She smiled. Then she held up her glass. “To a fabulous dinner, and to my handsome host.”
He hated that she kept making his cheeks burn. “And to my beautiful dinner date. May she find the night better than an evening of Lifetime, ice cream, and books.”
Rena chuckled. “Smartass.”
“Takes one to know one.”
They clinked glasses and locked gazes. And something passed between them. At least, he felt it, a sizzle of attraction and something much deeper.
Then she took a sip, and he could see nothing more than those lips hugging glass.
And once again, he wanted her more than breath itself.
* * *
Rena sipped, unable to look away as Axel devoured her with his eyes. God, how the hell did a woman resist a man who not only got her flowers and knew her favorite foods but looked at her as if she really was his world?
It was too soon to feel so close to him, wasn’t it? But she could certainly appreciate his efforts.
“So whose idea was a dinner date at home?” she asked. “My money’s on J.T. He’s good like that.”
Axel smiled but didn’t answer, stuffing his mouth full of noodles. Everything about him seemed restrained. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he seemed to be extremely careful with her. Not that he ever set out to harm her or be rough, but Axel was hesitant before saying or doing anything tonight.
She didn’t know if she liked such care. She wanted to know Axel Heller the man. The real body and soul behind the giant. So how to put him at ease?
“Axel, tell me about your home.” There. That seemed simple enough. Nonthreatening and something he could talk about that had nothing to do with sex or would give her sexy thoughts. Like the ones she’d been having since he’d picked her up wearing dark jeans and a button-up shirt that did nothing but promise a peek at his strong neck and glorious pecs. Or the thoughts she’d had upon spying his big, broad bed, imagining lying on top of him while he gripped her by the hips and—
“…seven years ago,” he was saying, and she prayed she hadn’t looked as if she’d been zoning out. “Right after the shop, I wanted something to call mine. I had been renting, but the opportunity to buy this house, a foreclosure, came up. I did a lot of work on it, and it still needs more.” He described what he’d done to fix it up, and she realized she hadn’t seen the basement yet.
Watching him talk about his project, seeing him so animated, made her forget all about her discomfort with her attraction. She wanted to hear more. “So what about your shop? What prompted you to open an auto body and paint store?”
His expression darkened as he chewed more of his dinner, making her wonder what had brought on the shift in mood. But it passed, and he said, “It’s kind of a family business. My father has a chain of auto parts stores in Germany and a few here on the West Coast. My brother owns several car dealerships. I wanted to do something with cars as well, but I’ve always loved color.”
She glanced around. “Really?”
He blushed, as he’d been doing tonight. She loved making the big man a little uncomfortable. It put her on even footing; she’d been off her game since she’d met him.
“I like my house neutral because I do much relaxing here. When I think, in my office downstairs or at work, there is more color.”
“Do you draw?” she asked, not having considered there might be an artistic side to Axel.
“Not like J.T. or Lou.” He shrugged. “I’m not bad. But I am better at knowing what works than creating it from scratch. And there is an art to bodywork, to fixing what is broken.”
“I agree.” She drank the rest of her root beer, not having expected him to fetch her another right away. “Um, thanks. Were you ever a waiter?”
“I am good with personal service.” He winked.
Her face felt super hot, and he must have noticed because he chuckled.
“I’m like you in that way,” she said, not sure why he looked so happy about the fact.
“We have much in common.”
“Well, I don’t know about much, but—”
“Ja. We both like Italian food. We love your haircuts. We like to read.”
“About that—”
“And we love art. You are artistic with your hair salon, me with my shop.”
“Oh, well, yes, then I guess we do have a lot in common.” She pushed aside her plate, too full to eat the rest. “What kind of movies or TV do you like? Do you even like movies?”
“I have found I like dramas. Your movie the other night. It was gut.”
She frowned. “What movie? Wait. Do you mean you watched Lifetime?”
He shrugged. “It was entertaining. Why are you laughing at me?”
She tried not to but found the thought of big, strong Axel enjoying a channel usually watched by women amusing. “Um, well, it’s usually a channel women watch.”
“That makes sense. I didn’t actually understand all the kissing at the end of the kidnapping, but it wasn’t so bad.”
She laughed. “You’re a funny guy. It’s surprising because you look all tough, but you’re a softie at heart, aren’t you?”
The look he shot her made her girl parts stand up and take notice.
“Not always so soft,” he muttered.
Her mind went straight to the gutter.
“I was hard on Rylan, one of my new guys. He’s not a bad man, but he’s been screwing up a lot lately.”
Of course he meant “not always so soft” in reference to work, not his dick, Rena!
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
“What about you? How are the ladies who work for you?”
“They’re good. I’m sure we’ll have issues at some point. But I really like our dynamic. And they’re all good at different things, from color to nails to updos, so we have specialties that overlap.”
He nodded. “You are busy at work, yes?”
“Yeah. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. I love working for myself though. I miss the guys at Ray’s, but not working those hours.”
“The guys?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes, ignoring a tingle of warmth at his jealousy.
