Axe’s Fall(63)

“Normally, it is, but the go-ahead came from higher up. I think the club is keeping hard drugs out of the county, so the officials rewarded them with the permit. I’m not a hundred percent sure, but someone did them a big favor.”

“So, I’m thanking the wrong person?”

“No, I made sure you got them fast. Anyway, I’m giving you some friendly advice. Stay away from Axe. He’s a jerk who isn’t worth spitting on.”

“I disagree. I think he’s a great guy. It’s probably time you left high school behind.”

“He charms the ladies then, when they fall for him, he treats them awful. I can see he’s charmed you.”

“We’re friends and colleagues.”

“If you’re smart, you’ll keep it that way.”

If I were smart, I’d be having dinner with Axe instead of you.

For the rest of the meal, Palmer told her what a great catch he was, and Baylee feigned interest.

After Palmer signed the credit card receipt, Baylee pushed back her chair, gearing up to leave.

“I thought I’d show you a bit of the landscape,” he said.

“In the dark? I’ll take a raincheck.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “I have a few more hours of work ahead of me, and I’m exhausted.” She pretended to yawn.

“That’s too bad.” He grabbed her hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it. “You’re a beautiful woman, and I’d like to get to know you better.”

She slid her hand out of his and smiled. “Let me make some headway with the strip mall, then we can have some time.” That oughta keep him satisfied for a bit. Of course, she had no intention of starting anything with him. Axe was the one she wanted. It was her bad luck that she had to go and fall for a bad boy who didn’t know what the word commitment meant. The man in leather was definitely going to break her heart, she just knew it.

They arrived back at the hotel, and when Palmer leaned over to kiss her, she jerked back, his lips grazing her cheek. Shit. Puck is watching. Rolling out of the car, she said, “Thanks, I had a nice time.”

“Let me walk you up to your room.”

Fat chance.

“I’m good. Thanks again, Palmer.”

“I’ll call you,” he said at her retreating figure.

She acted like she hadn’t heard him. Passing through the thick glass doors, she entered the hotel.

Back in her room, she spied through the peephole until she saw Blade take Puck’s place. Her heart sank, knowing Blade’s presence meant Axe wasn’t coming. She bit her lower lip. Axe must’ve really been mad at her and, in her opinion, for a silly reason. Men were such babies at times. Maybe she should have postponed Palmer for the next night. He still would’ve given her the permits, but she hadn’t wanted to take the chance. She needed to one-up Logan; she let ambition make the decision. A lesson learned. She’d hurt Axe’s feelings, and he was too proud to ever admit it. What was a business decision for her was a betrayal for Axe. She should’ve been more sensitive.

Of course, none of this would’ve happened if she’d stuck with her plan of a casual, summer fling. She’d let one night of random sex turn into casual sex then into an emotionally charged relationship. And then she went and fell for him.

If he doesn’t call tomorrow, I’ll text him. The mature thing to do would be to call him and tell him goodnight, but she was afraid if she did, he’d be with another woman. Her mind couldn’t go there. She wouldn’t let it.

After changing into her nightshirt, she turned off the light then cried herself to sleep.

* * *

The moment Puck entered the great room, Axe motioned him over.

“Anything?” Axe asked.

“Nah. Same as always. Oh, I saw your uncle Max at the restaurant she had lunch at.”

Uncle Max? Wasn’t he at the hotel last week? His uncle rarely came to town, yet within the past week he’d been at two of the same locations as Baylee. Something was off. What, if any, connection did his uncle have with Baylee? What the fuck has Uncle Max gotten himself into? Axe didn’t know, but he was sure as hell going to find out.

“What happened with the motherfucker she had dinner with?”

“Nothing. They had dinner.”

Axe hated transforming into a pussy in front of any brother, let alone a prospect. He despised that the spell Baylee cast over him made him ask pathetic, stupid questions, but he couldn’t fucking help himself. “Did anything happen between them? You know what I mean.”

“Not that I could see. He kept coming close to her, but she always pulled back. And he tried to kiss her when he dropped her off, but she pushed him away. Your woman was good.” Puck smiled.