Page 14 of Icebreaker

I offered him a bite. "Do you approve?"

He savored it. "Ah, yes. A bit elevated, but I can taste the love."

I smiled. "I understand why it was your farmor's specialty. It's a sort of sophisticated comfort food."

"She used to say that good food was love made visible. Every dish was her way of showing care, nourishing the body and the soul."

A lump formed in my throat when I heard the tenderness in his voice. "Such an incredible woman."

"She was." Axel's eyes glistened. "I wish…I wish you could have met her. She would have loved a guy like you."

I bit my lip. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, if she heard about your parents, she would open her arms wide. She had a thing for people who were a little lost or a little broken. She would have taken one look at you and decided to feed you up to make you feel loved and safe."

I'd never thought of myself that way, but Axel might have had a point. "I think I would have liked that."

He gripped my fingers tightly. "You deserve it, feeling loved and safe. Everyone needs a place to call home."

The rest of the meal passed quickly in a blend of stories and laughter, brief stolen glances, and lingering touches. We sampled each other's food and eventually talked about hockey. The conversation flowed easily.

When the check arrived, Axel insisted that I let him pay. "My treat. To new beginnings and old memories."

I raised my glass for a toast, thinking my heart might burst. "To new beginnings and finding home in all its forms."

After we left the restaurant, we stood on the curb, the chilly autumn night swirling around us. Our breaths formed wispy clouds in the air.

As Axel turned to face me, the glow of the streetlights softened his facial features. He looked a little younger and more vulnerable, the hard edges less apparent. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, hunching his shoulders against the cold.

When he spoke, his voice was lower and softer than usual. "Tonight was…" He paused. "It was good. No, it was better than that, actually."

I nodded, and a shiver raced through my body. It wasn't about the cold. My skin had tingled with the memory of Axel's touch, his fingers woven tightly with mine. "Yeah, I agree. It was great. I learned a lot—about Swedish food and you."

Axel looked into my eyes. "And I about you. You're full of surprises, Quinn O'Reilly.

I grinned, silently loving how my name sounded on his lips. "Only trying to keep up with you, Axel Karlsson."

He chuckled. "I guess this means we'll have to do this again." His words sounded like both a statement and an invitation. "Maybe we can uncover even more surprises."

While he spoke, my heart had nearly stopped. Had he been saying what I'd thought he was saying? Had he felt a connection between us that went beyond mere friendship or team bonding?

I took a deep breath and summoned my bold temperament. "I'd like that. We have much more to explore, not just about Portland's food scene."

Axel raised an eyebrow, but the light was too low to read his specific expression. I tensed, worried that I'd gone too far and read too much into his words.

Then, he nodded, and the tiniest smile curved the corners of his mouth. "Indeed."

An electric surge rolled up my spine. He'd confirmed that the connection I felt wasn't one-sided. It struck him, too, a pull toward something deeper and real.

My voice trembled slightly as I asked for confirmation. "So, that's a plan?"

Axel's smile widened, and his eyes sparkled. "It's a plan, rookie. Let's make it happen."

He started to turn away, but without thinking, I reached out to catch his arm. He paused as I stepped closer, narrowing the distance between us. "Thank you for tonight and for…everything."

Driven by an intense impulse, I pulled him into a hug. He stiffened at first, but then he wrapped his arms around me, warm and solid against my back.

I breathed deeply, letting the scent of Axel fill my senses. His heartbeat thumped steadily against my chest.

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