Chapter 7
Luca
On my way home from the library, I tried to wrap my mind around why Axel Hughes wanted to see me. We weren’t friends, and there was no six degrees of separation. Just when I thought I’d let it go, John called to warn me not to come home, afraid for my life. It made little sense until it did.
“Hang on. Was this the guy?” Quickly searching the internet for a photo of Axel, I sent it to him.
“Huh,” he said, the anxiety absent from his tone. “Yeah. That’s him. Who is he?”
I chuckled incredulously. “My protector.”
“Ooooh. That guy.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I don’t know how he found out where I live.”
“He’s hot, Luca. If a man like that wanted to see me, I’d be on my way. Maybe you should talk to him.”
“Maybe. It might be the only way I can get rid of him.”
By Monday afternoon, I’d forgotten all about Axel until I left the office for the day.
There he was, leaning against my car, dressed casually with a backward baseball cap.
Jesus. Looking around, I checked for idling cars or anyone around in case I needed to make a run for it.
I was overreacting because when it came down to it, I wasn’t actually afraid of Axel. Probably more curious than anything.
He was scrolling on his phone as I walked toward my car. I stopped a few feet away. “Are you lost?” I pointed east. “Brooklyn is that way.”
His smile reached his eyes. Why did that make me happy? “There’s that wit I’m used to.”
When he looked at me like that, eyes all soft and playful, it was impossible to be angry with him. “Why are you here, Mr. Hughes? Stalking is a crime.”
“Axel. Mr. Hughes is…” He shook his head. “Never mind.” He shifted his weight and stood to his full height. Dressed in form-fitting athletic wear, his physique was difficult to ignore. It was obvious he took care of himself. And I’d never seen a dressed-down professional hockey player before.
“Okay, Axel. Why are you here?”
“I had a meeting with my attorney, so I thought I’d drop by to invite you to dinner.”
My eyes bulged. “Dressed like that?” I had a hard time believing he went in that attire. But whatever.
Glancing down at himself, he ran a hand over his abs. “It’s not an issue. He works for me. Not the other way around.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I tilted my head. “Why would you want to have dinner with me?”
“Are you always so suspicious?”
“Maybe. Especially when things don’t add up.”
“What’s not adding up? We’re friends now, and friends have dinner together, Luca.” I grinned at how he said my name like he was making a point. “And I need your help.”
My mouth fell open as I stared at him. “Really? With what?”
“I’ll tell you over dinner.” He turned to go to the passenger side of my car. “Where’s a good place to eat? I’m hungry. And by the looks of you, you need to eat.”
I shook my head. “Why are you doing this? Are you bored or something? And you scared the shit out of my roommate, by the way.”
He grimaced, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Sorry about that.” He patted the top of the car. “We should go. I’ll explain over dinner.”
Walking to the driver’s side, I searched for the cocky athlete I’d read about.
Instead, I found the man I met in the alley peering at me.
Unlocking the doors, I put my bag in the back.
Before he got in, Axel caught my eye over the car.
“By the way, I want to apologize for the way I came across. Decker set me straight. I was…worried. And I don’t always handle things appropriately. ”
“I appreciate that,” I replied. “For the record, I had my phone turned off.”
He frowned. “Why would you do that? Aren’t you afraid someone might need to get in touch with you?”
“No.” How did you tell someone you didn’t really have friends?
“I feel like there’s a story there.”
Shrugging one shoulder, I didn’t confirm or deny. Rolling down the windows, I looked over at him. “You might want to do that unless you want to suffocate.”
Axel followed my gaze. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car with manual windows.”
“Rich people problems,” I quipped.
His brow furrowed as he looked from me back to the window crank. “I suppose.”
“I don’t mind them at all. Less to fix when they stop working.”
With a warm cross breeze flowing through the car, he looked over at me. “You didn’t deserve what happened the other night, and I want to make up for it. I would appreciate it if you’d help me alleviate my guilt and allow me to help.”
Was he thick? “Help with what, exactly? There’s nothing you can do. I’m not going back there. Maybe you missed it the other night when I told you Richard was looking for a reason to let me go. It was just a matter of time, and he chose to do it in front of you.”
His body twisted as he leaned toward me. Our eyes met, and my pulse kicked up. Was he going to kiss me? Instead, he held out a white envelope. “As much as I enjoy debating with you, it’s getting old.”
I frowned, staring down at the envelope. “What is it?”
“Your tip, had you gotten to finish your shift. It’s the least I can do.”
I hated moral dilemmas. Whatever was in that envelope would help take the pressure off finding a new job. But I’d never relied on anyone else for help. I worked for what I earned. It was my code.
“Please? It’s not much.”
I scrubbed my hands over my face. The man was begging me to take it with big puppy dog eyes. Sighing, I rolled my eyes at him. “I need you to understand that I don’t take money from anyone for any reason that I don’t earn. And I didn’t earn what’s in that envelope.”
“I admire that, I really do. But from where I’m sitting, it’s kind of stupid. Just take it for god sake.” My brows shot up, making him laugh. “And let’s go. I’m getting hangry.”
“You’re not the boss of me,” I chirped with pure teenage snark. Jerking it out of his grasp, I tore it open to find a stack of cash inside. My head snapped up as I peered at him. “No one leaves this kind of tip, Axel.”
He frowned. “No? Hmm.” He feigned thinking about it. “If it makes you feel any better, we left the same tip with your coworkers.”
I raised a brow. “Really? You did that for them?”
“Of course. And it was only fair that I deliver to you your share.”
I looked away, afraid I might cry. It would be enough to cover the shortfall in my rent for the month. “I don’t think I can take your money. I didn’t earn this.” He would never understand why.
“Do you refuse Christmas and birthday gifts, as well?”
“No.” I didn’t want to admit that I didn’t really know what those things were. Those were for people with a family and friends. I held up the envelope. “Money like this comes with expectations, and I refuse to owe anyone.”
“Then you can work for it. I’ll tell you over dinner if we ever get there.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Do you have an answer for everything?”
“I do, actually.”
I held my breath, hoping the car started. Axel looked amused by the basic interior, running a finger over the crack in the dashboard from sitting in the sun. “Are you afraid to ride in it?”
“Not at all.”
I smirked. “Then buckle up, buttercup. It’s the law.” My stomach growled at the thought of eating something other than my usual fare. “About dinner,” I said, looking out the front window. “It’s out of my budget.”
“You’re not paying. I invited you, remember?”
“But that doesn’t mean you have to pay.”
He groaned and rolled his head on the back of the seat. “You are so stubborn.”
Laughing at his antics, I thought about how many times I tried to convince my clients that there was no shame in accepting help.
And that’s what I was doing. “Okay. I’ll go.
” Axel rolled his head toward me and grinned like he’d won some prize.
My belly fluttered when he looked at me like that.
Like I was someone worth knowing. “Okay. Where to?”
He shrugged. “Your choice. Live it up.”
I snorted. “Not my style, hockey god.”
Axel smirked as he turned to peer out the front windshield of my old as fuck Camry. “Don’t I know it.”