6. Axel #2
I look over at the rusting minivan and raise a brow at Maddie. “Seriously?”
“What?” she looks back and forth between me and the atrocity, clearly not seeing the problem. “I don’t care if you drive a beater.”
“ I care if I drive a beater.” With a gentle push on her shoulder, I turn her to face the way we’d been heading before I stopped us.
Keeping my hold on her hand, I take us down a few more spots.
Digging my free hand into my pocket, I click the fob to unlock the doors to my vehicle, causing the headlights to flash.
“Ooo,” Maddie’s eyes widen. “She’s pretty!”
She starts to hurry, our arms extending between us, before I finally let go.
Stepping up to the hood, Maddie runs her pointer finger across the matte black finish. “I don’t know much about cars, but I can see why you made that face back there. This is nice.”
“Thank you.” With effort, I manage not to puff out my chest. “Cars are kinda my thing,” I say, parroting her words about coffee earlier.
She grins up at me, “It seems so.” Then her head tilts, “It would seem so?” She says it like a question and her brow furrows, and her cheeks go pink. “That sounds wrong, but you know what I mean.”
My own mouth pulls into a smile, “I know what you mean.”
Her shoulders sag, the smallest amount, in what looks like relief. Was she nervous I’d ridicule her?
Before my thoughts can go further, Maddie pulls her phone out of her tiny purse, “Mind if I send another picture to my friend?”
“Course not.”
She takes a step backward, presumably so she can get the license plate and the whole car in the picture, and I move behind her, ready to catch her if she stumbles.
Holding her camera up, it’s in selfie mode and she smiles when she sees me standing behind her.
“Smile, Big Guy.”
Captivated by her beautiful face reflected back in the screen, I don’t catch her words in time to comply before the screen clicks.
I step closer.
Did she just take a picture of us together? That should be weird, right? I certainly shouldn’t feel proud about that.
Maddie taps the button to turn the camera around and snaps a photo of my car, and I watch over her shoulder as she texts it to her friend.
“It really is a nice car,” she says the words quietly, and I’m not sure if she’s saying it to me or to herself.
I almost launch into a spiel about the Charger, telling her why it’s my favorite of all my vehicles, but then she looks back up at me over her shoulder and asks, “So, you gonna give me a ride, or what?”
Suddenly, I don’t remember a single fact about cars.
A heartbeat later, she slaps a hand over her mouth. “Oh my god! I didn’t…” Her eyes widen even further .
I can only manage a choked sound, because I want to laugh at her expression- but the idea of giving her a ride is now seared into my brain.
“I’m so sorry!” her palm muffles her words, but I still understand them.
“No need to apologize,” I press my hand to her back and lead her around to the passenger side.
I clear my throat wanting to curse my luck.
It’s like the universe knew my type exactly, and dropped her in my lap, about 20 years too young, just to drive me mad.
And nothing against skinny women -I’m really not picky, and I’m well aware that the personality makes or breaks someone’s attractiveness - but big girls have always been my thing.
Maddie just happens to be both curvy and tiny.
Something I didn’t know I wanted until now.
Reaching down, I open the door for her.
She hesitates, “I’m a little afraid to get in.”
I pause, “I’m a good driver, Maddie. I would never put you in danger.”
With my hand still on her back, I feel her vibrate with silent humor, “I meant that I was afraid to mess it up.”
“Mess it up?”
“Like make it dirty.” She waves a hand towards the interior.
Focus, Axel. Fucking focus.
“Unless your pockets are filled with sand, I think it’ll be alright.” She lets out a little snort as she laughs, and I slide my hand up her back until my palm is against the back of her neck. “Get in the car, Maddie.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jesus Christ.
Keeping a lid on my increasing need for this woman, I guide her into the low passenger seat.
Once she’s seated, I make sure she’s clear of the frame before I shut the door.
Needing an extra minute, I slow my stride as I circle around the back of the car, silently begging my dick to chill.
Every time Maddie reveals another layer of herself, I fall deeper and deeper into my desire for her.
My body doesn’t care at all that she’s too young.
Or that she was at the bar to meet my fucking son.
My body only cares about the fact that she seems to have everything I’d look for in my perfect match.
If I were looking for such a thing.
Which I’m not.
But if I were, she’s exactly what I’d want.
She’s smart, witty, a little shy, the flawless mixture of innocent and sexy. And my inner neanderthal likes the sadness in her eyes. It’s fucked up, I’m well aware of that, but I like feeling needed. And I haven’t felt emotionally needed in a long, long time.
Stopping at my door, I tip my head back and blow my breath out towards the sky. “Get a fucking grip, man. You’re taking her home, so she gets there safely. Then you’re dropping her off at the door. Nothing more.”