Axe tucked a few tendrils of hair behind her ears. “You finished?” he asked softly.
She dipped her head.
His dark eyebrows slanted in a frown. “First off, babe, my mom wasn’t a good mom like yours. She was shitty, at best. Secondly, I need a fuckin’ scorecard to keep track of the men she’s had in and out of her life since my dad split. And third, I’ll feel pissed as shit going to her stupid-ass wedding, and her pretending we’re so close and shit like that when it’ll all be lies. I mean, who the fuck even has a wedding the sixth time? What a pathetic, delusional joke.”
Baylee drew Axe against her and ran her fingers down his back. “I get that. If you don’t want to go, then don’t. It’s hard for me to relate because there have been more times than I can count when I wished I had my mom around for special moments. But I adored my mom, and she was the best. You shouldn’t do what makes you uncomfortable.”
Axe drew his lips in thoughtfully, then let out a long breath. “I kind of need to talk with my uncle Max. He hasn’t returned my phone calls, and he’s never around when I go to his office. I know he doesn’t expect me to be at the wedding since I’ve only gone to the first one.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I want you to go with me.”
Baylee’s face turned white and her insides quivered. How could she go to the wedding and come face-to-face with the man who’d been following her, making her petrified? “Me? I don’t feel comfortable going to your mom’s wedding. I don’t even know her.”
“You’re going for me, not her. If you’re with me, it’ll make it tolerable. You’re a part of my life. I want you to go.” A big grin spread across his face. “We can find somewhere to fuck and pretend it’s random.” Light twinkled in the depths of his brown eyes.
She punched him lightly as her cheeks heated. “You’re so bad. It’d be like an anniversary, right?” she joked.
He winked at her. “Fuck yeah. So, what do you say?”
She bit her bottom lip. Part of her recoiled at the thought of seeing his uncle, but she would be with Axe and all the other people. Maybe she’d learn why he’d been following her. Another part of her swelled with happiness that Axe wanted to take her to a family function. He wanted to tell his family that she was his, that they were together. The thought of being his made her toes curl.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
He squeezed her so hard, she could barely breathe. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he whispered huskily.
Her insides tightened and a gush of pure joy washed over her. Damn, he’s adorable. I’m so crazy about him. She had to be honest—he’d had her body from the first time they fucked. As hard as she tried to keep it only about pleasure and a summer fling, he’d begun to infiltrate her heart, and they’d officially professed their love for one another. With him in her life, nothing could harm her. Axe would take care of everything, and it would all be good.
The room phone rang on the nightstand, and she reached over then picked it up.
Logan’s cheery voice greeted her, telling her that Gary wanted them to meet over at the site. “We can go together,” he added.
“Since Axe has to report the progress to the club, he should be there, as well.”
Logan groaned. “I don’t think it’s necessary. I’ll take pictures of the progress, and you can drop them off at the clubhouse. You seem fond of the club.” His tone was cold. “Anyway, I don’t like him, and I know the feeling is mutual. I’m not comfortable around him.”
“I think Gary would agree that Axe needs to be there.”
A long pause ensued. Over the phone, she heard Logan clear his throat.
“Then I’ll meet you there.”
Click.
Baylee looked at her phone, shook her head, and muttered, “Men.”
“Who were you talkin’ to?” Axe asked as he sat up.
“Logan. We’re meeting at the site.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Yep, and you’re coming, too.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. The club’s been waiting a long time for this. They’ll be stoked when I update them at our next church.”
“Good. I’ll be done in about fifteen minutes, then it’s all yours. We’ll take my car.” When he opened his mouth, she said sweetly, “No arguments.”
Then she closed the bathroom door, holding her hand over her mouth to quell the laughter bursting from her lips. Axe’s look of disbelief was priceless.
She was downright giddy, and it wasn’t all at his expense. She was blissfully happy, fully alive. Axe did something to her no man had ever been able to do—he erased the shadows across her heart.