Page 57 of Sweet Hate
“Fuck off, Wolff. I do not pick up a chick every time.”
“With your rule of only going there once, I’m amazed there are any left to find.”
I’m ashamed to admit he’s not wrong. There have been a few too many women who said they were good with no-strings, one night fun, and then tried to pull me into more. I’d taken to hitting the next town over with Beckett more often than not before it stopped being fun.
Ignoring his remark, I catch sight of Jett’s inky blue waves walking in from the back. Hell yeah, I was hoping to see the spunky bar owner tonight.
“Hey Jett.” I shout to get her attention, and she rounds the bar with a grin.
“Hello boys. My staff taking care of you?”
“Of course. I was hoping we could have a word. I need a potential favor.”
She quirks a thin brow at me before motioning over hershoulder for me to follow her into her office. Here’s hoping I’m not about to blow it all to hell.
“What’s up, Axeman?” she asks sitting in her leather chair and nodding for me to sit opposite her.
“So, I’m sure you heard about the fire in Grams’s bakery, right?” I mean, in this town it would be impossible not to, but I ask anyway. She nods for me to continue, curiosity filling her expression.
“Haven, her granddaughter, is back in town. She’s supposed to be making cakes for the Merryweather wedding, so Lucas and I are trying to fix up the bakery. Problem is, the job is bigger than anticipated, and I’m worried it might not get done in time. I’ve not said shit to her yet because I wanted to figure out a solution first, so I was wondering…if we run into problems, could she use this kitchen to bake the cakes?”
I meet Jett’s assessing stare with my own, waiting to see what she’ll say. This is the most realistic backup plan I can come up with, and I’m not above begging.
“Obviously I’d owe you one. Whatever you need sorting around here, just call me and I’ll handle it.”
“You don’t need to do that, Axel. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, and I remember Haven. The kitchen doesn’t open till four-thirty. She can come in and use it whenever she needs to—not just for the wedding cakes, she’ll probably want to bake in the meantime. Let me grab you the spare key for the back door.”
The tension I’ve been carrying all day ebbs from me and my body sags in relief. Hopefully Haven will see it as a good thing, at least for now, especially since she can use it whenever she wants.
Jett walks back in tossing the key to me.
“Thank you so much, Jett. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She laughs as she leads us out, grabbing my arm. “You’ddrink a lot less,” she fires off with a wink before leaving me to head back behind the bar.
Heading back to the guys, my heart stutters to a stop before taking off at a wild gallop at the sight of my girl sitting at the bar. Her pink waves are loosely framing her laughing face, and that sinful dress I just jerked off to now exposes even more of her sexy thighs as she sits cross-legged in her chunky lace-up boots.
Fuck me, she looks hotter than she did in that photo. And the idea of making her come on my hand sends a sharp bolt of lust through me.
Verona, get your shit under control.
I redirect my thoughts to the conversation I had with Cap a few days ago, relieved it has the desired effect and calms the growing erection enough for me to head over there. I want to tell her about Jett’s offer, but now I’m anxious about whether she’ll see it as a good thing or if I’m about to ruin her night with added stress.
Haven's big aqua eyes widen slightly as she catches sight of me approaching, the rest of the group letting out a ridiculous cheer. Greeting Kim and Mia with a hug, I look back up at Haven, who’s worrying her lip nervously as we make eye contact.
“Haven, can I have a word?” I tilt my head toward the same hallway I just came from, and she jumps off the bar stool and walks ahead of me. Now I just have to ignore the way the sight of her round ass makes my mouth water.
She leans against the wall, one leg perched up behind her, looking up at me curiously.
“Sprinks, I don’t want you to stress,” instantly tension creeps into her face. Shit, I’m cocking this up already. “I spoke to Jett tonight. I don’t know if you remember her, but she owns this place. I asked her if you’d be able to use the industrial kitchen here if for any reason the bakery isn’t done in time for the wedding.”
I hold out the key, and when her fingers brush against mine as she takes hold of it a spark of electricity courses through me.
“Obviously, I’m going to do everything in my power to get it done, but just in case, I wanted you to have a back up plan. She was totally fine with it and offered up the kitchen for you to use any mornings you want. This place doesn’t open till five, so if you need to practice or something…”
My words trail off at the expression on her face, her eyes glittering with…fuck, are those tears? Shit. I’ve blown it, haven’t I?
All of a sudden, she throws her arms around me, my arms curling automatically around her, crushing her against me, where she belongs.
