“Well,” Leslie huffs, “that guy was a royal prick.”
“Right?!” I rub my hands down the front of my jeans. “I still feel shaky.”
Leslie’s been working with me for years, meaning she knows how well I handle confrontation. Which is not well at all.
“Why don’t you go take a little break?” she suggests. “I can handle things out here for a bit.” Her eyes move past me, towards the door, and widen. “Holy moly! I can handlehimfor sure.”
“Leslie!” I try to scold her, but I’m laughing as I turn to look at whoever has caught her attention.
A blur of blue is approaching the front door, but the figure is blocked by a pair of senior ladies about to exit.
Just as the women reach the door, it’s pulled open for them.
The person holding the door is standing just out of view, but I can see the hand hooked around the edge of the door. A hand covered in familiar flame tattoos.
“See? Told ya,” Leslie nudges my shoulder with hers.
The ladies clear the doorway, and Axel steps through.
And sweet Jesus, he looks so damn handsome I almost fall to my knees.
His giant frame is covered in a set of navy-blue coveralls. Or I should say he’s mostly covered. His sleeves are rolled up to the elbow and the zipper that should run up the center of his chest is unzipped all the way down to his waist, exposing the tight black shirt he’s wearing underneath.
Letting the door swing shut behind him, Axel reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair – getting it out of his face. And that’s when I notice the sunglasses.
Lord help me, I want Axel to fuck me while wearing this exact outfit.
Leslie clears her throat, probably hoping to snap me out of my daze before thiscustomersees me staring at him with my tongue lolling out.
Then Axel pulls his sunglasses off, revealing piercing blue eyes that are locked on mine.
“Oh, wow,” Leslie says- and it’s what I’m thinking.
“Sorry,” I smile, “this one’s mine.”
“Of course he is,” she sighs.
Axel strides towards us and for the first time ever I wish for the athleticism to hop over the counter.
His footsteps stop when he’s directly across from me. “Hey.”
His simple greeting, lined with a hint of uncertainty, turns my smile into a grin. “Hey, Big Guy. What brings you to my little corner of the world this morning?”
There’s a tiny shift in his stance as he sheds any last trace of doubt. “I think morning ended a couple minutes ago, Baby Doll.” I glance at the clock, seeing that he’s right. Then he lifts a white paper bag that I hadn’t noticed was grasped in his hands. “Thought you might be hungry.”
My jaw literally drops.
No one has brought me lunch since… ever. No one has ever brought me lunch.
This handsome, sweet-as-hell man is gonna be the end of me.
“Well, go on now,” Leslie pipes up, “Don’t keep the man waiting.”
Axel looks away from me for the first time, holding his big hand out to Leslie, “Axel. Nice to meet you.”
She shakes his hand but turns her head to face me. “If you don’t go join this beefcake for lunch, I’ll gladly take your place.”
I roll my eyes and step back from the counter. “Axel, will you grab a table? I’ll be there in a sec.”