Page 85 of Wild Card
But I was determined not to let this be some seedy fling.
“I’ll see you for dinner,” I said in my most authoritative deputy voice.
He blinked. “You will?”
“Yeah, darlin’. I’m going to cook for you. Consider it our first date.”
His lips parted in shock, but he didn’t tell me not to use a pet name. Progress, right?
“That’s not what this is,” he argued.
“It is now.” I nodded toward the door. “Gotta go do my job. I’ll call you later.”
He looked so damn terrified that I bent down and kissed him again. “Don’t worry, Ax. It’s just food. A beer. More fucking. You can handle it.”
He shoved me away. “Don’t baby me.”
I laughed. “Then don’t pout.”
He flipped me the bird, and I blew him a kiss. I was grinning as I stepped out the door.
If only this moment, this fizzing in my veins and warmth in my chest, could last forever.
CHAPTER 22
Axel
All day,I ran behind schedule. Between my hangover, sleeping late, and melting down with Dalton, half the day was gone.
Not that I could complain about how Dalton handled me. That man knew what he was doing. But a dinner date? That wasn’t really my style.
Around five o’clock, I got saddled with a tow job. Gray was finishing up a bike repair, and Bailey was out with friends. So even though I was behind on paperwork, I fell on the sword. Though to be fair, I fucking detested paperwork.
When I got back to the empty shop at 5:30, I sent a quick text to Holden.
Axel:
Just brought in a job for you. Won’t be at dinner tonight.
Holden:
Why not?
Axel:
Busy.
Holden:
Busy with what?
For fuck’s sake, my brother was nosy.
Axel:
Nothing illegal.
Holden:
