Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
I have three choices right now…
1. Tell Axel the truth.
2. Lie my ass off.
3. Tell him the truth, but without the entire story so he doesn’t run for the damn hills like in that episode of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ where Robert Barone discovered the lady he liked was obsessed with frogs and had eaten a fly just like his brother, Raymond, had warned him about.
Axel swiped the napkin across his mouth, tossed it on his plate, and stood up. He leaned over the table, wrists crossed, head cocked, and darkness in his eyes.
“I’m only asking you one more time, English. Who keeps calling you? If you have a man and lied to me about it, tell me. If you are back with your ex, tell me. If you have somethin’ going on that you don’t want to tell me, tell me anyway.”
I don’t like how he’s speaking to me right now. That’s not the point though. He’s picked up on something, and that’s not his fault. He’s just perceptive, unlike most men. Shit.
“Axel…”
“No.” He stood straight and waved his hand about. “I don’t want to hear a lie. I can call my daddy for that. I don’t want to hear no sugar coatin’, either. I don’t want to hear no excuses. So, before you do any of that beating around the bush, just know you’ve been warned. My food ain’t got to come from your hands, but the truth damn better come from your mouth.”
This fucker right here… Doesn’t he understand this is hard enough already?! Well, of course he doesn’t. He doesn’t even know what’s going on. I didn’t want to do this tonight. I wanted to invite this man over for dinner and ride him like his first name is ‘Disney’ and his last name is ‘World.’ Everything is going to shit!
“I’m not doing this with you, English. I know that manipulative brain of yours is workin’ overtime right now. You’re looking calm, trying to make it seem like I’m acting silly or overreacting. All the while, your brain is just uh workin’… trying to come up with a story.” She gulped. Damn, he’s good. “That’ll work on most folks. But not me. No games. Not tonight. Not ever.”
“…I’m not playing games with you, Axel. That’s not it at all. The phone calls. I’ll tell you. It’s just somebody from the past and they won’t go away is all. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a big deal. A very big deal. You’re a strong woman. You can handle yourself, but even with all of that, I saw how you looked when the phone went off and when you came back to the table. Something is wrong and whatever it is, it has somethin’ to do with who’s callin’ you. And before you even go there, I do have the right to know.” He pointed at himself. “This is about respect, and I’m not comin’ second fiddle to any fuckin’ body.”
“I’m not dating anyone else right now.” She lowered her head.
“I’m supposed to be at work right now, but instead, I sent someone else ’cause I wanted to be here with you, knowin’ damn well I might not even get a ‘happy ending’ tonight to make it worth my while. Every time I send someone else in my place, that’s my reputation on the line. I’m a stickler when it comes to my business. My product. I believe in my heart of hearts that can’t nobody do what I can do, as good as I can do it, and that goes for every damn thing I put my mind, heart, soul, and definitely my body to.”
Did he really have to say it like that? It’s strange to be terrified, mortified, and turned on all at once. And yet, here the hell I am. Feeling it.
“I’m here anyway because this is where the hell I want to be. Now, the least you could do is be ten toes down with me, be a woman about it, and tell me who in the hell has been blowin’ up your phone and making you look like a vampire. Color just drained from your face.”
Their eyes hooked and she sighed, closing her eyes.
If this is meant to be, you can tell him the truth. If it isn’t, he will think you’re crazy, and vanish. Either way, it has to be done.
She bit her lower lip, crossed her legs, and lifted her glass of wine to her lips. After a few seconds, she waved her hand at his chair, motioning him to sit down. He hesitated for a moment, as if he was not certain he wanted to comply, then, he yanked the chair from the table and slammed his body into it. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, and she watched in disbelief, intrigue, and confusion. Moments later, he positioned it across the back of his chair. She was now faced with one of the most magnificent, muscular yet lean bodies she’d ever laid eyes on. Veins covered his arms and upper chest. That chest was covered in exquisitely drawn tattoos of Greek and Roman mythical beings, mortals and deities. Raising a hand to his gold chain, he rolled the jewelry to and fro between thumb and forefinger. His green eyes hooded and his jaw tightened.