Page 17 of Something to Believe In
His head shook slowly. Then his lips touched hers softly. "Not true."
He kissed her again.
"Okay," she whispered.
He pulled away and stared into her eyes again. Something thumped against the front door, and she jumped.
He took a deep breath. "Stay here."
He strode to the front window and looked out. A car sped down the street, and he watched it. She saw his back expand as he took in a deep breath. Slowly, he walked to the front door and opened it. Glancing down, he bent to pick up a package that had fallen against the door.
Turning, he set the package on the coffee table. He closed the door and then came to sit next to her. They stared at the package for a long time.
Finally, Axel said, "I don't hear ticking."
"Oh my God, Axel." She swatted his shoulder. "That's not funny."
Shrugging, he reached forward and pulled the envelope off the top of the package. He opened it slowly and pulled the card from inside. It was a one-sided white card with Thinking of You printed on it in black text. Nothing was handwritten on the card.
He set the card on the coffee table and reached for the package. It was the size of a shoe box, wrapped in brown craft paper.
Pulling on the paper, Maddyn stopped him. "Wait!"
She pulled her phone from her back pocket and snapped a picture of the card and the box. Setting her phone next to her on the sofa, she said, "Okay."
Axel grinned at her caution, then gently pulled the wrapping from the box. It was indeed a shoe box. The picture of the shoes on the outside was clearly women's shoes. White sandals, to be precise. Using one finger, he lifted the lid to reveal the contents.
A rose with the stem cut short lay inside on white tissue paper. Axel's brows shot up as he stared at the flower. His phone rang as he stared. He didn't move. Maddyn touched his arm, "Axel?"
"Oh." He picked his phone up from the side table and answered. "Peters."
She watched his face as he listened. "Why don't you come right now? There's something else I'd like to show you."
Chapter Thirteen
He turned to Maddyn. "Mitch DeMario is on his way over to get a lay of the place and determine where he'll put cameras."
"I should go then."
His heart thumped painfully. "I don't want you to go."
Her throat moved, and he knew she was swallowing. "If he's working with Tony, and he sees me here, he might say something."
"Mads."
"Axel, we have to be sure, you said it yourself, before we tell anyone."
His heart twisted again. He was forty-eight fucking years old. He could be with anyone he wanted. "Mads..."
She lifted on her toes and kissed his lips lightly. "Call me later, after Mitch leaves."
Before he could respond, she hurried through the kitchen and out the garage door. He caught up to her, but not before she got into her car. Her sad eyes stared into his, and a soft smile creased her lips. She waved and started her car. He tapped the garage door opener, his heart heavy and his stomach tight. Maybe they should just come clean with the band consequences be damned. This wasn't a way to live. Sneaking around. Hiding. Worried someone would see them. He was too old for this, and he'd waited a long fucking time for Maddyn to finally be free so he could let her know how he felt about her. It wasn't just sex, though he'd had plenty of daydreams of her in his bed, doing many naughty, delicious things to each other. He loved looking at her. Her voice, my God, her voice was soulful and angelic at the same time. Deep and throaty and sultry. He loved it when she laughed. When she was performing and the music was in her soul, she was magnetic.
She moved and danced and sang, and it was flawless. She had talent oozing from her pores. When the garage door closed after her, his chest felt heavy. He stepped into the living room and brought her glass to the kitchen. Setting it into the dishwasher, he opened the refrigerator to look at the contents for supper. He had planned to order something and have it delivered so he and Mads could eat, but now, he didn't feel like eating.
He had food in the refrigerator, but none of it looked appealing right now. With a huff, he closed the door. Stepping into the living room, he stared at the box as if it had grown a head. The sound of a car racing down the street caught his attention, and he rushed to the window to look out. The car sped past, the same one as before, and his anger rose to the surface.
"Stupid sonofabitch. There are kids playing all over this street." He yelled out to no one. "Someone could get hurt." The sound of a car door slamming pushed him to the brink. He rushed to the front door and pulled it open quickly. A man walked toward him up the sidewalk, his brows high on his forehead.
