Page 145 of Sweet Hate
It’s traditionally a huge day for bakery sales, and I’m distracting myself by icing some of Axel's favorite Funfetti cupcakes.
Just thinking of Axel has my blood bubbling in excitement. Spending Valentine’s Day with him and thoughts of what we’ll do later instantly turns me on. Horny Haven is more then ready to take the wheel. I squeeze my thighs together and focus on breathing. Now isn’t the time to be thinking aboutthat.
It’s not just what we’ll do after that has me so stoked, though. He’s showing me the finished bakery today. I’ve not been able to get in there for weeks now, and I’m bursting at the seams to see it.
Patience is a virtue, but I’m not sure I possess it.Where is he?
He didn’t give me an exact time, and not knowing is driving me slightly mad. I’ve already made a million wardrobe changes, manic cleaned the Airbnb, and last minute baked a whole batch of cupcakes, I’m not entirely sure what else I should do.
My eyes snag on the firefighter romance Axel bought me. I could read a little to kill some time, at least. I started it last night and didn’t want to put it down. Hilariously, the story revolves around a local fireman and a small-town baker. Is that a coincidence? Serendipity? Or did Axel choose it deliberately?
That would mean he just sat in the bookstore reading blurbs until he found it. I wish I knew the ladies who own it wellenough to ask. Just the thought of him looking at countless firefighter romances to find one with a baker in it has me giggling.
I mean, it also has me ready to rip off my panties and jump his bones, but then what else is new?
He’s turned into a seriously swoony cinnamon roll with some hot as hell alpha vibes. Not that he knows what that means.
My phone chimes just as I swipe the book off the table and I toss it on the floor in excitement.
Axel
On my way cupcake queen. I hope you’re ready to see your new kingdom.
Nervous butterflies erupt in my tummy, which is totally ridiculous. There’s nothing to feel nervous about. It will all be new and great, and I can finally get in there and figure my shit out.
Before I can spiral too far, I hear a knock at the door and swing it open to see Axel leaning on the wall with that damn sexy smirk on his face, roses, and my pink cold cup in his hands.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, babe. Flowers or coffee?” he rocks them in his hands before holding them out to me, and I can’t help but drag him down by his Henley to plant a chaste kiss on his handsome face.
We haven’t really discussed or acknowledged the day itself, so his thoughtfulness has me melting into a pile of goo.
We’re both quiet in his truck as he drives us the short distance to the bakery, with my hand gripping his thigh. We’re just pulling into the parking lot when the riot of butterflies returns with a vengeance.
He lifts me out of his truck, which I’m loving a little too much these days. The flutter I get when he manhandles me like a doll guarantees I’ll have to burn my feminist card.
Worth it.
His eyes sparkle with mischief, although he looks a little nervous too.
Oh god, why is he nervous?
“Ready for your surprise, Sprinks?” His nerves are quickly replaced with a wide grin as he slips his big, warm hand in mine.
“Sure am, Fireman.”
He picks up on my fake bravado with a quirk of his brow but doesn’t comment on it as he leads me to the back door and pulls me through.
“OK, close your eyes.”
I do as he says, and he tugs me in front of him, looping his arms around my waist to walk us in together. His warm muscles against my back and the way he circles my waist calm my nerves and give me a different set of flutters—in London, we call thosefanny flutters.
I have to stifle the urge to giggle at that reminder.
“You can open your eyes, babe.”
When I do, we're standing in the newly renovated kitchen, and I can’t help the gasp that escapes me as I slowly spin in his arms to take it all in.
Gleaming stainless-steel countertops and sparkling white cabinets. Pink and white subway tiles run halfway up the wall above them, with shiny black glass industrial appliances. He’s even changed the floor tiles, replacing them with white stone that glitters under the overhead lights.
