Page 1 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Axel

Savvy Williams rubs me the wrong way, and I know exactly why. The moment my sister, Maria, introduced me and said, “Navy SEAL,” Savvy’s smile vanished. Since then, she looks at me like I’m trash she forgot to take out.

Because she’s Maria’s best friend, I’m trying to keep the peace. I direct all of my questions to Maria.

“Is there an HOA fee?” I ask Maria.

“Yes,” Savvy says, glaring at me.

“They all have one,” Maria says.

Savvy turns toward the window facing the lake. “This place has two bedrooms. One’s larger. Might be a better fit for your brother.” Savvy glances in my direction. “And his ego.”

I blink. “My ego? Really?” I step forward. “I haven’t said two words to you.”

She spins to face me. “Exactly. You don’t even talk to me. Am I that beneath you? ”

I close the distance between us. “Oh, honey,” I say with a slow smile, “you’ll never be beneath me.”

Her breath catches. Yeah, I know I should back off but damn if this spark between us isn’t addictive.

Maria wedges herself between us. “Okay, enough.” She glares at me. “Savvy, we’ve seen all we need to. We’ll talk it over.”

Savvy doesn’t take her eyes off me. “Fine. But this place won’t be on the market long. Forty-eight hours. Tops.”

“Understood,” Maria says, tugging me toward the car.

We’re almost there when she spins around. “What the hell was that?”

“She was rude as hell,” I say as I watch Savvy lock the cabin door and then head to her car like she’s in a hurry.

“Oh no,” Maria says. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Think about what?” I ask. I know exactly what she meant.

She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “That look. I’ve seen it before. Whatever it is between you and Savvy, shut it down. She’s my friend. I need her. You are not sleeping with her.”

I laugh. “That’s the last thing on my mind.”

That’s a lie, and we both know it. She’s fire, attitude, and sexy as hell. Every argument feels like foreplay.

Maria stares at me as if she can read my mind. “Hunter, don’t screw this up.”

“Relax,” I say. “We’ll be done cabin shopping soon, and we won’t have to see each other again.”

“Speaking of being done,” Maria points at the cabin, “I think this is the one. It checks all the boxes. Even the dock is new, which I know you love.”

I look at the cabin. It’s on the lake, has two bedrooms, a modern kitchen, and she’s right about the dock. I can already imagine myself kayaking on the lake.

“All right, let’s do it.”

Maria’s face lights up. “Really?”

“Really. Tell her we’ll go with the full asking price. Let’s make the offer today.”

Maria jumps up and down. “Yes! Yes! Let me tell her now!” She runs toward Savvy, who is already in her car.

Savvy seemed in a hurry, yet she hasn’t left yet. I get into the car and watch them talk.

Maria returns beaming. “She’ll send over the paperwork to sign later today. Thank you!”

She hugs me across the console and spends the ride back talking about wall colors, curtain patterns, and how we’ll divide the weekends.

I tune out halfway through. My brain drifts to Savvy.

She drives me nuts. Why does she dislike me so much?

Memories of when we first met flood in. I was at the beach with Maria and some of her friends. My eyes caught on Savvy immediately. She was standing in knee-deep water in the ocean, staring out at the waves. She looked so serene. So beautiful. I wondered who she was.

Then my sister called out, “Savvy!”

The woman turns and smiles when she sees Maria.

She walks toward us, and I take the opportunity to check her out fully.

She’s wearing a bright-blue bikini and has an amazing body.

Long, dark hair falls past her shoulders.

As she approaches, she takes off her sunglasses.

I’m mesmerized. Her brown eyes are warm and welcoming.

“Savvy, this is my brother, Hunter. Hunter, this is my friend, Savvy. She’s a real estate agent and is willing to help us find that cabin we talked about.”

I hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you,” I say.

She smiles and takes my hand. And I swear to God, the moment we touch, I feel a charge. I’ve heard of this happening before but never experienced anything like it.

“Maria mentioned she has a brother, but she hasn’t told me anything about you,” Savvy says. “What do you do for work?”

Maria laughs. “He’s quite private. That’s why I haven’t said more. He works in security.”

Savvy arches a brow. “Security? Like for concerts?”

“No,” I say, but before I can explain, Maria jumps in.

“No, nothing like that. My brother was a Navy SEAL, and now he works for a company where he goes on missions and does all sorts of dangerous stuff.”

I chuckle. “I wouldn’t put it like that.” Even though it’s true, it’s not something I want to advertise.

Savvy’s smile drops. “Oh, you were in the military?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Savvy gives me a quick nod. “Well, nice to meet you.” Then she turns and walks away.

Maybe I’m imagining it, but she certainly cooled toward me. “She doesn’t like military guys?” I ask.

My sister’s brow shoots up. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter because you are not going to hit on her. Got it? She’s my friend, and I want her to stay that way. She’s off limits. ”

I hold up my hands. “Got it.”

Some shirtless guy calls my sister, and she runs over.

Savvy heads back to the ocean, and I follow.

“Hey,” I say as I come up behind her.

She turns. “Hey.”

“Have you lived in the city long?”

“I have.” She stares at me. “Look, I don’t want to be rude, but I saw the way you were looking at me earlier, and it’s not going to happen. I don’t date military guys.”

I take a step back. “Wow, you certainly don’t have a confidence problem. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t ever try to date any of my sister’s friends. But I’m curious, why don’t you date military guys?”

She stares out at the ocean. “Because I’ve found they are usually hotheaded and womanizers.” Then she turns to me. “Can you tell me I’m wrong?”

I’m insulted, but that doesn’t stop the laugh that comes out. And once it starts, I can’t stop.

Her hands go to her hips. “You think that’s funny?”

I hold up my hand as I try to compose myself. “Yeah, I do. I mean, sure, some of the guys can be like that, but to hold all military men to that stereotype is a bit much; don’t you think?”

“No, I don’t. I’ve known enough of your type.”

“My type ?”

She turns back to me and is biting her lip. “I’m sorry if this comes across as rude. Maria has said nothing but great things about you. I’m sure you’re a wonderful big brother.”

“Hey, this isn’t about me. I don’t understand how you can rule out an entire group of men. ”

“Experience.”

She walks away, leaving me confused and a little angry. I spin and watch as she goes up to the group playing volleyball. A guy nods and she joins them on the court.

Sure, there are guys like the type she mentioned. But none of my friends are like that. I head in the opposite direction and take a seat on the blanket next to my sister.

“Struck out, eh?” she says as I glance over at her. “Told you not to hit on my friends.”

“Want me to drop you off at home?” Maria asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

“What?”

“Do you want me to drop you off at home?”

“The office. Thanks.”

Maria drops me off at the offices of Reed Hawthorne Security, where I work. I’d taken the day off, but Reed sent a text asking me to “stop by when you can.” That typically means one thing: an assignment is waiting for me.

The office is unusually quiet as I head in. No sarcastic commentary from Piper at the front desk. No Lightning running from someone after a prank gone wrong.

I knock on Reed’s door.

“Come in.”

Moose, the newest hire, is already inside. He nods at me. I nod back.

“Grab a seat,” Reed says.

I sit down .

“Sorry to call you in,” Reed says, “but something came up. You need to leave early tomorrow morning.”

I nod. Not my first rodeo.

“You’ll be working with FBI Agent Blaese. Moose has worked with him before.”

Moose leans back and crosses his arms. “Yeah. He’s tough, smart, and good in a crisis.”

“Where are we headed?” I ask. I’d sure love to get an assignment in the Caribbean like a couple of the other guys had once.

“Wyoming,” Reed says with a grin.

I frown. “What’s in Wyoming?”

“Ranches, rodeos, cowboys,” Moose says, clearly thrilled. “If I don’t end up living in Montana someday, I’ll end up in Wyoming.”

Of course he would. Moose is from Montana and speaks highly of it when he gets the chance.

While I’m not opposed to wide-open spaces, I grew up in New Jersey, and I like living close to anything I might need.

Reed tosses me a folder. “You’ll get more details tomorrow. Meet Agent Blaese at six tomorrow morning. I’ll text you the address. Get some rest tonight. You’re going to need it.”

“Okay. Will do.”

Moose and I exit together. He’s going on about Wyoming while I check my phone. Just as Maria said, the offer paperwork is there. I electronically sign it and send it back .

Then I text my sister. Offer signed. I’m heading out of town tomorrow morning. Keep me posted.

Hopefully, the cabin closes without a hitch.

Hopefully, I don’t have to see Savvy again.

So why does that feel more like a loss than a relief?