“You’re not, are you?”
“Of course not. I work my butt off.”
“Then why do you care what others think? You know who you are, so fuck the rest of them.”
“It’s not that easy. What your boss thinks about you affects promotions, raises, and a whole bunch of other things. It’s important to keep up good appearances.”
“Fuck that. I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks about me. I know who I am. Fuck the world.”
“That’s charming.” She scanned his face—he was so incredibly handsome. “Don’t fool yourself about appearances. Everyone cares, to some extent. Take your biker world, for example. You have to show rival clubs you’re rough and tough, so you exude a certain appearance. You do it without thinking. You just did it earlier to Logan. You’re not immune to it, and neither is ‘your world,’ ”
Axe gave her a hard look. “I gathered you were feisty and witty the night we fucked, but I didn’t know you were a smartass.”
“The truth hurts, huh?” She smiled. “I really have to go.” She slid her arm away from his touch and pushed her chair back. “It was interesting… All of it.”
Axe rose to his feet, his tight jeans and t-shirt not leaving much to the imagination. Baylee noticed several women checking him out. For a split second, she felt very possessive of him and, without thinking, she leaned in to him and brushed her lips lightly against his. When she pulled back, hunger brimmed in his dark-chocolate eyes.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he rasped.
“I told you, I’m going out to dinner.”
“I’ll wait for you until you return.” As he whispered in her ear, his hot breath tickled her neck. “Your texting stunt made it impossible for me to sleep last night, sweetheart.”
Baylee swallowed hard and pulled away. She had to get away from him before her body gave her away. Axe ignited a fire in her like no other man ever had; if she wasn’t careful, he’d burn her alive.
“I’m sorry about the texting. I don’t know why I did it. It shouldn’t have happened,” she said as she walked through the restaurant.
“I’m not complaining. You were lonely, and you reached out for me. I like that.”
“Anyway, I can’t meet up with you.” She stopped in front of the hostess’s podium, fern trees in large, brushed-nickel planters decorating the area. The glass entry doors were coated with a brown film, cutting down on the afternoon glare.
Baylee turned to Axe and said in a low voice, “I don’t mean this in a cruel way, but I’m not interested—in any guy. I’m committed to my career, and being involved in any way is not in my plans. The one-night stand was my way of blowing off some steam. It was nothing more. I’m sorry.”
Before Baylee could take a step forward, Axe dragged her behind the tall fern trees and crushed her against his steel chest. With his hand tangled in her hair, he pulled her head back and covered her mouth with his. A small gasp escaped from her lips, and his tongue dove in. The kiss was deep, hard, and hot. Her body melted into his as she circled her arms around him, running her hands up and down his back. A powerful leg pried open her legs and he slipped it in-between, rubbing her pulsing mound with his knee. When she moaned, he broke away. Baylee looked at him, her eyebrows raised.
Burying his face in the space between her ear and neck, he nibbled her soft skin, whispering, “Yeah, keep telling yourself you don’t want me.” He patted her ass lightly, turned away, and waved. “Later, babe.”
Coming out from behind the ferns, Baylee watched Axe swagger to his Harley as her heart pounded against her chest. How could she act like such a hussy, and in a nice restaurant of all places? Every time she came into contact with Axe, it ended with their lips pressed together.
Taking out her compact mirror, she was horrified to see her swollen lips, flushed face, and the messy hair strands on her cheeks. Shaking her head, she ambled to the ladies room to fix herself up before returning to the office.
* * *
All through dinner, she pretended to listen to the conversation and laugh at Stan’s jokes, but her mind was on a tall, built, rugged sex god. At various times throughout the evening, she’d wished she’d taken Axe up on his offer.
Stan told another engineer joke. Right about now, Axe would be eating me out.
“That’s a good one, isn’t it, Baylee?” Logan asked, his ass-kissing at its all-time high.
She forced a laugh. “Sorry to break up all the gaiety, but I’m pretty tired. I’m going to call it a night.”
“It is getting late. I was enjoying myself so much, I lost track of the time,” Stan said.