Chapter Seven
Axel
After I drive Tara home, I return to my house, more aware of the empty living, dining, and family rooms. As I walk toward my bedroom, Tara’s words echo in my head.
You’re not settled in your life. You’re still a man on tour with no home base, no sense of home, and I want that in a partner. I need that. I need someone responsible.
I’m forced to admit the truth stings, and I can’t sort through my thoughts on my own.
I need to talk to someone who knows me well, and nobody understands me better than Cassidy.
I shower, eat breakfast, and call my sister.
Despite it being a Sunday, she’s at Sasha and Xander’s, going over work, and I head there for a visit.
Sasha lets me in and greets me with a welcoming hug. The famous actress never ceases to amaze me with how much she looks like the girl next door when not in full makeup. She is exceptionally pretty in her California blonde way, and I know how much Xander loves her.
She leads me into the kitchen, where the women have been working, my buddy Bella included.
I kiss my sister on the cheek and give the dog a pat on the head. “Miss me, girl?”
“We just saw you last night,” Cassidy says, laughing. “But if your best friend didn’t miss you, don’t worry. I did.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. Make fun of me. I’m used to it.”
Sasha grins at our byplay. “Listen, I can give you two some privacy,” she offers, rising from her seat.
I think about it and shake my head. Both Cassidy and Sasha know what it takes to build a stable relationship. I might as well get advice from them both. “I appreciate it. Especially since it’s your house, but stay, please. I could use your opinion, too.”
“Okay then, sit and let’s talk,” Sasha says with a smile.
Cassidy rests her arms on the table and meets my gaze. “Talk to me.”
It’s so unlike me to discuss my personal life with a woman, mostly because I never had one before. Unless you counted the groupies, which I don’t.
“Let me make it easier for you. It’s about Tara, right?” Sasha asks.
I release the breath I’ve been holding and nod.
“She doesn’t think I can give her what she needs.
She wants stability and someone she can count on.
When she looks at me, all she sees is a guy who rents a house he’s barely in, lives with no furniture, and goes on tour in between writing albums. And I didn’t see it before, but when she laid it out like that …
she had a point.” I reach down and scratch Bella’s head, and she steps closer, placing her chin on my thigh.
Cassidy and Sasha glance at each other, but my sister speaks first. “What do you want?”
“Tara. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes except give up my career.” Bella nuzzles her nose into my side, and I slide my hand over her fur.
“You should get a dog,” Sasha says. And before I can reply, she holds up a hand. “Hear me out. You adore Bella. I mean, you’re certainly not here all the time to pet Xander.” She snickers at her joke. “But seriously, what shows permanence and commitment as much as getting a dog?”
I raise my eyebrows. I can’t deny how much I’d love my own pet and have even thought about it. I also know all the reasons it isn’t a good idea. “I travel, and I’m not around when I tour.”
“I’m around, and I’m happy to take care of your dog,” my sister says.
“And I have to take care of Bella anyway. If I have to be on a movie set, I have a kennel I trust for short visits,” Sasha adds.
I shake my head. “You two are crazy.”
“But smart. You want to show Tara you can offer stability, a dog is a start,” Cassidy says.
“And Tara is a vet. What other way to her heart than a dog?” Sasha shrugs. “Seems like common sense to me.”
“Are you two always this good at tag teaming?”
“They’re masters.” Xander strides into the kitchen. His glasses are on, indicating he’s been writing, and he heads to the fridge, pulling out a can of soda. “Anyone want some?”
“No, thanks,” I say.
The women shake their heads.
“So what’s going on in here?” He walks over to the table, pulls out a chair beside Sasha, and sits, straddling it. “What are you two up to?”
“Convincing Axel to get a dog,” Sasha says.
“So he’ll stop coming by all the time?” Xander grins as he speaks.
“No, so he can impress Tara,” Cassidy says, making me feel like the asshole under the microscope.
And when Xander bursts out laughing, I glare at them all. But at least I have a plan forming, not just for my next date with Tara but beyond.
* * *
Tara
I have a jam-packed day of appointments that ends with an emergency for a patient that got into chocolate, which is toxic to dogs.
The poor pup needed to be given medicine that would cause him to vomit, hooked up to an IV, pumped full of fluids, and treated with activated charcoal to prevent the chocolate from entering his bloodstream.
Lucky the dog needs to stay overnight, and Harry and I have a technician who will check in on the inpatients during the night.
Though I didn’t finish up late, I’m exhausted and don’t remember I have a date with Axel until almost six.
Not that I forgot about him completely. He’s been on my mind since he rescued me this past Saturday night.
An evening I don’t want to repeat. I’m too old to wake up hungover.
But not too old to find myself underneath Axel.
As I take my cosmetic case into the bathroom and touch up my makeup, my thoughts drift to Axel and the way he felt deep inside me.
I recall him pushing into me, his erection pulsing, my body responding, and desire ripples through me, and my panties grew damp.
I shift my legs but can’t alleviate the need those memories inspire.
And when I allow them to wash over me, the emotions flow as well. Axel pulled up the feelings I locked down after he left for Los Angeles and my father died. From the way he holds me and looks into my eyes, everything he does tells me I’m special to him. How can I not feel again?
I place the mascara wand down on the counter and look in the mirror, seeing the girl who fell in love with Axel and not the woman who swore never to let anyone in who could hurt her again. And that is dangerous to my heart.
Especially since I saw the evidence of his transitory nature.
Who lives for so long without a sofa? A television?
Pictures on the walls? Though I didn’t mention it, I took a look around his room, and there was just one photo on his dresser.
Him with his grandmother and sister. No other personal items with sentimental value to be found.
Back when we were in high school, his grandmother kept his music awards and any accolades hanging in his room.
After she died, he hadn’t taken them down.
His way of keeping her memory alive. But it seems like, over the years, personal items no longer meant anything to him.
Furniture doesn’t mean anything to him, almost as if he has one foot out the door already.
It doesn’t make sense. Nothing about the house he rents or the life he lives jibes with the man who is trying to convince me to give us another chance.
Maybe that’s why I’m going out with him again. Not to mention, I can’t deny the pull he has over me, how much I enjoy his company, and the sexual chemistry I’ve never felt with anyone else. But I can’t let him hurt me again.
Pushing the confusing thoughts out of my head, I pick up the wand and put two coats of mascara on my lashes, swipe some blush on my cheeks, and add my favorite shimmery gloss to my lips.
I caught a ride with my mom this morning so Axel can pick me up for our date from work. A last glance in the mirror and I’m ready.
I walk into the outer office to find my mom putting on a light sweater as she prepares to leave. “Finished for the day?” I ask.
My mom turns to face me. “Glenn and I have dinner plans,” she says. “You look pretty. I take it you have plans of your own?”
“Thank you, and yes, I do.”
“With Axel?” my mother asks, the hope in her voice evident.
I nod. “But don’t go getting your hopes up, okay?” The last thing I need is my mother being disappointed when things don’t work out after Axel goes back on tour.
“Amy told me he drove you home after the party.” My mother’s way of digging for information.
I can’t help but smile. “He did, and I appreciated him rescuing me from myself.”
My mother eyes me, doing her obvious best to figure out what I’m thinking. “I’m just glad you’re going out,” she says at last.
I let out a long breath, glad we aren’t going to be having a deep talk about feelings and my dating life. Or worse, discussing my sex life.
“Thanks, Mom.” I glance out the window and see Axel pull into the parking lot.
Wanting to avoid my mother’s interrogation, I walk over and kiss my mom on the cheek. “Say hi to Glenn for me. I see Axel’s car. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Before my mother can reply, I wave and rush for the door.
I step outside at the same time Axel climbs out of his convertible. “No need to get out. I’m here and ready.”
“I can still open your door for you.” He grins, looking sexy as ever in his jeans, a navy tee, and sunglasses tucked into the round collar of his shirt.
He stops me before I can pass him and head to the passenger side, placing his hands on my waist. “Hello, Tara.” He dips his head and kisses my lips.
A little happy sigh escapes. Dammit. “Hi, yourself,” I say as he lifts his mouth from mine.
With his hand on my back, he walks me around the back end of the car, opens the door, and helps me in, shutting the door.
He climbs into the driver’s seat and turns on the engine.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He places an arm on my seat, turning my way. “Depends on you. Are you hungry?”
My grumbling stomach answers for me. “Starving. I barely had time for lunch.”
“How’s pizza?”
“That sounds perfect.”
He nods, and a few minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of my favorite pizza place. We order quickly, and since the place isn’t packed, the food comes out fast.