Page 30 of Axel
“Mom…”
“What?”
“Please don’t get your hopes up,” she warned.
“Why not?”
“Axel is not exactly interested in a relationship. This could just be purely physical.” She let the flap of the curtain settled in place as the couple made their way towards the patio. “And we should go do something else.”
“Why?”
“Because Axel is coming upstairs to say good night. It would not do for him to think we are spying on him or that you engineered the meeting between them tonight.”
“You are right.” Caitlin smiled sheepishly as they both moved towards the love seat near the fireplace, just in time because the person under discussion came striding in a minute later.
*****
He crowded behind her as she stepped inside the cottage. He had ridden with her and during the short ride, conversation had been nonexistent, making her wonder if he had changed his mind.
But now he was here, in her space and she was wondering if this was such a good idea after all. She had told him she did not want a relationship, and she didn’t. But something was happening between them that she was having a difficult time understanding.
“Would you like a drink?” She filled the silence as soon as she stepped away from the door and wandered into the living room where she had left the fire going.
Before he could respond, her phone rang.
“Go ahead.” He waved a hand towards her tote and went to stand in front of the fire.
Staring into the mesmerizing flames, he wondered if it was a man calling.
“Dad, hi.”
Closing his eyes, he felt relief surging through his body.
“Yes, I am sorry. I was supposed to call.” She listened for a second. “It’s a very lovely place and I am okay. How are you? What’s that noise? Are you playing bingo?” She listened again.
“I miss you too. Go back to your game and I promise to call you tomorrow. Love you too.”
“That was my dad.” She told him unnecessarily. He still had his back turned to her and she could not help but stare at the way the sweater molded his shoulders and back.
“You two are close.”
“Yes. For years it was rocky, but then he explained everything.” She cleared her throat.
He finally turned to look at her, his piercing eyes wandering over her face. “You offered me a drink?”
“What? Oh! Yes…” Laughing softly, she turned to leave. “I am afraid I have only wine.”
“What kind?”
“Red wine, I think. Let me…” She gestured towards the doorway, and he nodded.
*****
Standing in front of the fridge, Ellie took several deep and calming breaths to get her rampaging desire under control. She had expected him to jump on her as soon as they entered the cottage, after what had happened between them in his mother’s garden. His aloofness was throwing her off and making her nervous.
Passing her hands over her face, she took another breath and went to get two glasses. If he wanted to leave, then she wasn’tgoing to do anything to stop him and would take it as a sign that it was a mistake.
His tall broad frame suddenly materialized inside the doorway. Before she could move or say anything, he was pressing up against her from behind. Her fingers gripped the counter.