Axe’s Fall(61)

“I can’t make it. Sorry. I explained all this to you. If you want to be unreasonable, then that’s your choice. If you don’t want to come by later and be with me, that’s your choice, as well. As far as I’m concerned, this discussion is over.”

Axe laughed dryly. “Suit yourself. Have a good time with asshole.”

The phone went dead. Did he just hang up on me? This is ridiculous! Baylee stared at the blank screen. She wanted to call or text him back, but her anger got in the way. How dare he hang up on her! She was having dinner with a pompous ass in order to get the stupid permits so the project for his club could begin, and he was giving her a hard time. What an arrogant, pig-headed asshole. She refused to call him back. He was in the wrong, and he owed her an apology. Men! She should’ve stayed on her celibate-until-made-partner plan. This whole whatever-you-call-it thing she had with Axe was getting too complicated. Why did she let him get to her so much? Why the fuck had she fallen for such a prick?

Baylee gulped her wine then turned to Puck. “Thanks for telling Axe about the flowers. I thought your job was to protect me. How did you figure me receiving flowers into that equation?”

Puck lifted his eyebrows and shrugged.

Shaking her head, Baylee stomped out of the bar, Puck at her heels. Without even a glance at him, they rode the elevator in silence, then she went in her room and slammed the door. Heat flushed through her body as she pounded her fist on the mattress several times. The fact that Axe didn’t understand pissed her off. He acted like she wanted to go out with Palmer instead of understanding she had to for business reasons. Axe was out on club business that evening, and he expected her to understand why he couldn’t be with her, and she did. So why couldn’t he extend the same courtesy to her? How could he even think she was interested in Palmer? She couldn’t believe Axe couldn’t tell she was crazy for him.

Men! They’re a pain in the ass.

A soft knock on the door shifted her attention. Looking through the peephole, she saw Puck standing outside with his arms crossed over his enormous chest.

“What is it, Puck?” she said after opening the door.

“Blade, another prospect, is coming to relieve me since Axe won’t be here tonight.”

“Oh… okay. I guess you do have to sleep.” She smiled.

Puck just stared at her.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“He’ll be here in about twenty minutes. I’ll let you know when he comes.” Puck turned around.

“Thanks,” she said to his broad back, closing the door.

As promised, twenty minutes later, another soft knock rapped on the door.

When she opened it, a tall, tattooed and pierced man with blond hair stood before her.

She looked around for Puck.

“Puck left. I’m here for the night. He’ll be back in the morning.”

“Okay. You’re Blade, right?”

“Yep.”

“Can I get you anything, like a drink or a sandwich?”

“I’m good. Brought stuff with me.” He patted the backpack he had slung over his left shoulder.

“If you need anything, please let me know. Don’t worry about waking me up, either.”

Blade lifted his chin then turned around and moved the padded office chair closer to the door.

“Goodnight,” Baylee said.

Ignoring her, Blade plopped down on the chair and took out his phone. She shut the door, exhausted. After changing into her pajamas, she pulled down the covers and slipped between the sheets. With her sentry standing guard, she drifted off into a deep sleep.





Chapter Eighteen





Puck was back at his post the following morning. Baylee was dying to ask him how Axe was, but she knew he wouldn’t tell her anything. He was definitely a man of few words. Half-expecting Axe to call her, she pretended it didn’t bother her, but her clenching stomach told her otherwise. Each time her phone rang, a light-hearted feeling would seize her only to be replaced by heaviness when the calls weren’t from him.

No calls. No texts. Nothing.

When the lunch hour drew near, Baylee couldn’t stand staying in her office, wondering if she’d hear from Axe. She had to have some fresh air. She’d heard the sandwich shop around the corner was simple and very good, so she walked over, enjoying the sun’s rays.

In the restaurant, she scooted into a single booth, and noticed Puck stood in the small vestibule. He practically took up the whole space, and it made her laugh. She wished he’d sit with her and have a sandwich, but she knew he never would. His job was to protect her, not keep her company.

Coming into the eatery was Axe’s uncle, his eyes fixed on hers. Puck was gone, and panic set in. When she needed Puck the most, he’d abandoned his duty. The uncle waited for an available table; the shop was so tiny it only fit twenty people at a time. She scanned the room then breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Puck stuffed into a booth, watching her.