Page 19 of Icebreaker

"It's a date." I bit my lip, realizing what I'd just said.

Axel smiled, his gaze warm. "Yeah, it is."

After a quick nod, he turned and headed across the parking lot for his car, leaving me with a massive lump in my throat and a goofy smile on my face.

I was going to meet Axel's family. That meant he wanted me to be part of his life, the intimate side away from the hockey rink. The idea had made me a little weak in the knees, and later, I realized I barely remembered my drive home.

Saturday was too far away. I couldn't wait.

***

My heart pounded in my chest while I stood outside Axel's apartment. A small yellow and blue Swedish flag hung on the door above the name Karlsson. I'd been looking forward to our dinner all week, but now that it was time, nerves had me on edge.

I took a deep breath, raked my fingers through my hair, and knocked. A few seconds later, a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair opened the door. Small wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes as he smiled.

"You must be Quinn." His voice was resonant and deeply accented. "I'm Sven. Come on in."

Axel's father ushered me inside with a hand on my shoulder like we were old friends. As I stepped inside, the inviting warmthmade me smile. The furniture included comfortable, lived-in pieces along with sleek, modern side tables and lamps. It all reflected a practical yet stylish aesthetic.

The rich scent of savory food wafted in from the kitchen and made my stomach rumble.

"Hey, Quinn." Axel appeared, looking strikingly handsome in a dark green henley. "Happy to have you here."

"Wouldn't miss it." I clipped my words, trying not to expose my giddiness at being in Axel's apartment.

A young woman appeared beside Axel. "And this is my sister, Maja."

She was striking. Her deep brown eyes mirrored Axel's, and she had waves of black hair streaked with purple. I watched as she assessed me with a cool gaze.

"Nice to meet you." Maja reached out a hand to shake. "I've heard much about you."

"All good, I hope." I chuckled softly, trying to hide any hints of unease.

Her lips twitched, but she didn't quite smile. "Mostly that." She gave Axel a sidelong glance.

Axel cleared his throat. "Right, well, dinner's almost ready. Can I get you a drink, Quinn?"

"A beer would be great if you have one." I followed him into the kitchen.

Sven stood at the stove, stirring something that made my stomach rumble. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Come taste this. Tell me what you think."

He held out a wooden spoon full of creamy sauce. I tasted it. The flavors practically exploded on my tongue—dill, lemon, nutmeg. "Oh, wow. This is fantastic."

Sven beamed. "It's an old family recipe." He tapped the side of his nose. "The secret is adding a spoonful of sour cream."

"He's been perfecting that since I was a little kid," Axel said, handing me a beer. I told him he should open a restaurant. He'd fit right into Portland's foodie scene."

"Too much work." Sven waved a hand. "I cook for love, not money."

"And that makes all of us grateful." Maja appeared and planted a kiss on her father's cheek. "Although, the record isn't perfect. Remember when you tried to flambé the pork chops, and the fire department came?"

Axel snorted into his beer, and Sven stared at Maja, looking hurt. "One time," he protested. "You'll notice my eyebrows grew back, too."

I tried hard not to laugh, but it wasn't easy amid such affectionate chatter. Axel caught my eye, and we exchanged warm smiles. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly downed another mouthful of beer to hide my reaction.

When we finally settled around the dinner table, Sven uncovered a casserole dish with dramatic flare. "Feast your eyes on this! It's my world-famous interpretation of Jansson's frestelse. That would be Jansson's temptation for those who don't speak Swedish."

"Can we eat it without the story?" Axel asked.

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