Page 13 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Axel

I can’t help but wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into as I stare across the room at Savvy, who is curled up on the couch in a blanket, sleeping.

While I was assigned to protect her, I have to wonder if perhaps Durango should be here instead of me.

On the way to Lightning’s cabin, we stopped to get food at a grocery store.

She literally argued with me about every item I picked up.

She wanted frozen meals, and I bought ingredients with the intent of cooking.

Yeah, I get it. Cooking chili might seem insane when we’re hiding out, but we need normal.

The cabin has a fantastic kitchen, and there is no way Bob will find us here. And frankly, I’m hungry and ready for my homemade chili. It’s tasty and lasts for days.

But what really bothers me is that I enjoyed the arguing. I like that Savvy has strong opinions and knows what she likes. And it doesn’t hurt that when she puts her hands on her hips and tries to glare at me, it comes across as the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

Okay, I need to stop thinking like that. I step back into the kitchen and turn my attention back to the pot on the stove where the chili is simmering. The place smells great, and my stomach is growling. Soon, we will eat, and she will see it was worth it.

“Hey,” Savvy says as she stretches and then yawns.

“In the kitchen,” I say.

She comes into view, her brow furrowed. “That smells incredible.”

I don’t even hide my grin. “Ready to try some?”

She nods.

I prepare two bowls and set them on the kitchen table. I bring over the rolls I bought to have with it.

“Thank you,” she says. “You know, I wasn’t envisioning such a nice cabin when I was insisting on the quick-frozen meals.”

“Do you ever cook for yourself? Or do you live off prepared food?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I’ve made spaghetti before, but I really don’t know how to cook. But you seem to.”

“Yeah, my mom taught Maria and me how to cook. It was important to her that we both were self-sufficient.”

“Does your mom live in New York?”

I pick up my spoon and stir the chili to cool it down. “No, she passed away several years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

I guess Maria never told her about that or about the fact that I lived with her for a couple of years while she got her life back on track.

Maria didn’t have anyone else. Our father died in a car accident ten years ago.

It had been hard on Mom. And on us. Maybe that’s why Mom didn’t tell us about her cancer until the very end.

I still get angry that I didn’t realize it sooner.

She lost weight, and when I asked, she said it was due to stress from work and that she would be fine.

But she wasn’t fine. And I believe her death was why Maria started using drugs.

By the time I was able to come home again on leave, Maria was out of control.

I didn’t have a choice about leaving the service. Maria needed me.

Savvy places her hand on mine. “Hey, I’m sorry I brought it up.”

I glance up. “It’s okay. I just got lost in the past there for a moment.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. We should eat.”

Hell, maybe she already knows my history. She is best friends with my sister. I have no idea how much Maria may have shared. But it doesn’t mean I have to.

We eat in silence, and then Savvy washes our bowls while I find a container and get the rest of the chili into the refrigerator.

It’s still early, and we really don’t have anything to do. Fortunately, Lightning keeps phone chargers here, so we have a way to communicate if needed.

“I found a deck of cards. Do you want to play a game?”

I glance up to find Savvy holding cards. “Sure.”

We play several hands of rummy with the soft hum of the heater and the smell of chili lingering in the air. It almost feels normal. Finally, I ask what’s been on my mind since dinner.

“Did Maria tell you about our parents?”

Savvy places a card in the discard pile. “No, she didn’t.”

“Did she tell you about me?”

She laughs. “Not much. Just what you heard her say. You were in the military, and now you work security. I don’t know why you went into the military, what your interests are, why you do the work you do now instead of something safer.”

I lean back and set my cards down. “I’ll answer if you answer my questions, too.”

She sets her cards down. “All right. It’s a deal.”

“I joined the military because it was something I always wanted to do. That’s why I work in security now.

I get to work with other former military men who are like my brothers.

And we have more flexibility on our assignments than we ever had in our missions.

As for my interests, I like hanging out with friends, reading, and ax throwing. ”

Her eyes widen. “Interesting. What do you like to read?”

I shrug. “Military thrillers and sometimes sci-fi. Now tell me about your family.”

She stares at me, smiling.

“What?” I ask.

“I’m trying to picture you sitting back in a chair, reading.”

“Trying to picture me, huh?”

Her cheeks flush. “Reading. Only reading.”

She glances down at the table, and her hair covers part of her face .

“I have a younger brother. He lives in Connecticut, not too far from my parents. My parents are both retired and spend most of their free time taking cruises, so I don’t see them very much.”

She grabs the pen and paper where we were keeping score and begins to draw small doodles. I wonder if this is a nervous habit.

“Did you see your parents much when you were growing up?”

She shakes her head. “No, they both worked long hours. I spent most of my time with my brother. He’s only one year younger. We’re close.”

“That must have been hard with your parents gone a lot.”

She shrugs. “We turned out fine.”

“Growing up in Connecticut explains something,” I say.

She arches a brow. “Explains what?”

I suppress my smile as I sense she’s getting defensive. I shouldn’t like poking at her like this but dammit, I do. “It explains why, when you submitted the tip to the FBI, you said the warehouse was in New York City.”

She frowns. “Because it is.”

“It’s on Staten Island.”

She rolls her eyes.

My phone buzzes. “It’s a text from Stevens. She said they lost eyes on Bob. But he was last seen in Brooklyn.”

“That’s good, right? He’s not coming here,” Savvy says.

“Yeah, it’s good. Hope he stays there,” I say as I put my phone down.

She grabs the deck of cards. “Let’s finish our game. ”

“Okay, after one more question.”

She sighs. “What is it?”

“Why do you dislike military guys?”

Several emotions cross her face, but she finally smiles. “I don’t dislike military guys.”

“Bullshit. The moment you found out I was one, your attitude toward me changed.”

She sighs and leans back in her chair. “You’re right. I’m sorry about that.”

She bites her lip, and I can tell she’s debating what to say next.

“I dated a guy in high school for two years. He graduated a year ahead of me. The plan was that once I graduated, we would marry, and I would move to the base where he was stationed.”

“I’m guessing that plan didn’t happen.”

“No.” She stands up and goes to the cupboard to grab a glass. She fills it with water and then returns to the table. “After he returned from basic training, he was different. And then I saw the texts. It turns out he met someone else and didn’t know how to tell me. He’d known her for a week.”

“I’m sorry.”

She leans forward. “I asked him how he could throw away our two years together for one week. He told me that when he was in uniform, girls threw themselves at him. And he realized he wasn’t ready to settle down.

Not when there are so many women out there.

I told him he wasn’t being himself. He told me all the military guys are like this.

That is how he was now. Then he left. I never spoke to him again. ”

I wait for her to add more, but she doesn’t. “Wait, you dislike all military guys because of what one ex did?”

She crosses her arms. “I wouldn’t say dislike. I’m nice enough to you. I just wouldn’t date another military guy after that experience.”

A smile spreads across my lips. “I never asked you to date me.”

Her cheeks flush again. Something I realize I like. A lot.

“I wasn’t talking about you specifically.”

“But you were. You said you were nice enough to me, just wouldn’t date me.”

She stands up. “That’s not what I said. You’re twisting my words.”

I stand up, too. Not sure why, but I do enjoy it when she challenges me. “That’s pretty much what you said.”

“No, it isn’t!”

I take a few steps toward the kitchen, and while my back is to her, I say, “So, you would date me then.” I turn back to see her staring at me with her mouth open.

“Are you hitting on me?”

“No, not at all. Simply having a conversation.” I get myself a cup of water.

She storms up to me and stands a little too close. “Do you like mind games? Is that what this is? Because I don’t appreciate it. I opened up to you.”

She did. And what did I do? Well, frankly, it’s a sad attempt at flirting that’s gone really wrong. I need to be honest .

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t hitting on you, but I was flirting. Something I’m apparently not very skilled at.”

Her nose wrinkles, and then she lets out a laugh so strong she nearly tips over a chair holding on. “That was flirting? Oh, Hunter. No.” She doubles over; she’s laughing so hard.

“Wow, you know how to stroke a man’s ego.”

That makes her laugh even harder.

Okay, this is ridiculous. “I’m going to go read.”

“Wait,” she says. “I’m sorry I laughed at you. I’m a bundle of nerves right now, and I’m either going to laugh or cry.”

“I get that. And I was trying to lighten the mood, but I was wrong. I’ll try to be more professional from now on.”

Her brow furrows, and I swear she seems disappointed. Or that’s my wishful thinking. I really need to get out of my own head.

“Okay, sounds good,” she says.

See, it sounds good. No disappointment.

“I think I’ll read, too. In the living room.”

She leaves, and I’m stuck with my own thoughts, trying to figure out why I seem to act like an idiot around her. It needs to stop.