Page 12 of Bringing Home the Biker

“I think I could puke right now,” I groaned and leaned back in my seat.

Axel’s laugh rumbled through the truck. “It’s probably the pork rinds and Slim Jims.”

I rolled my eyes, but a small laugh escaped me despite myself. “No, it’s introducing you to my family. What if they take one look at us and instantly know this is fake?”

Axel didn’t respond right away, but I could feel his gaze flicker toward me for a second before returning to the road.

“If that happens,” I continued, “we’re getting right back into this truck and going home. Hell, I might not even talk to them again until next Christmas.”

“Star,” he said firmly, but his voice was calm.

I ignored him and kept my eyes glued to the passing trees as I spiraled deeper into the what-ifs.

“Hey,” Axel called again, but louder this time.

I tore my gaze away from the window and looked at him. “Yeah?”

He held out his hand, palm up. “Everything is going to be fine.”

I hesitated for half a second before I put my hand in his. His warm and solid grip was a tether that pulled me back from the brink of my swirling anxiety. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, and for the first time in miles, I felt myself start to breathe a little easier.

“I really hope you’re right,” I said softly.

Axel brought my hand to his lips and pressed a firm, lingering kiss to the back of it. The gesture was so natural and seamless that it made my heart skip a beat. “I’m always right, honey,” he said with that self-assured grin of his.

I let out a shaky laugh, and some of the tension in my chest eased. If he could be this confident, maybe I could fake a little of it myself.

The road curved sharply, the trees thinned, and it gave way to the familiar sight of my mom’s house at the top of the hill. The house was decked out in strings of white Christmas lights that were starting to glow in the late afternoon. My stomach lurched again, but Axel didn’t seem fazed. He pulled in front of the garage and cut the engine. He turned to me with that calm, steady gaze that I was quickly learning to lean on.

“You ready?” he asked.

“No,” I admitted, and my voice was shaky. “But I’m going in anyway.”

Axel smiled and gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go. “That’s the spirit.”

I took a deep breath and unbuckled my seatbelt. The cold air hit me as soon as I opened the door, but it wasn’t enough to shake my nerves completely. Axel came around to my side of the truck and offered me a hand to help me down.

I took it and felt the reassuring strength of his grip as my boots hit the snow-dusted driveway. He didn’t let go immediately and kept my hand in his as we walked toward the front steps.

“Remember,” he said quietly and leaned close, “you got this.”

I glanced up at him and took in the confidence in his eyes and the small, reassuring smile that tugged at his lips. “We’ve got this,” I corrected, my voice steadier than I felt as I tried to channel even a fraction of Axel’s calm confidence.

His smile widened, and before I could say anything else, he leaned in and brushed his lips softly against mine. The kiss was warm and sweet, the kind that made time stop for a moment. His arms slid around me and pulled me close, and I felt theworld shrink until it was just the two of us. His lips moved gently against mine, coaxing away the last of my nerves, and I melted into him. My hands rested lightly on his chest, and I just enjoyed being this close to him.

For a brief, blissful moment, the kiss was everything. Comforting. Grounding. Perfect.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard a voice. “Star!”

I jumped, or at least tried to, but Axel’s arms tightened around me and kept me close. My heart slammed in my chest as I turned my head toward the voice. My mom stood in the open doorway, and her face was lit with excitement.

“Mom,” I gasped, my voice higher than I wanted it to be. “We didn’t even knock.”

Mom clasped her hands together, and her smile was wide and unfazed. “I watched you pull in from the living room window. We just got in from ice skating.”

I darted a glance at Axel, and he caught my silent plea instantly. Slowly, he pulled back, and his lips curved into an easy smile. But he didn’t let go of me completely, his arm stayed around my waist as if it belonged there.

“Well, Mom,” I began awkwardly, feeling like a teenager caught sneaking in past curfew, “this is Axel.”

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