Page 101 of His One True Wish

Axl and I climbed into the truck with Cam and drove to the airport. The plan was to check in with Mason at the bakery first and then figure out next steps. We had lots to discuss. He was supposed to leave Smoke River, but for now, all I cared about was knowing that he was here next to me. Cam sat in the back seat, looking utterly pleased with herself.

“You know she likes you better than me,” Axl said, nodding at Cam.

“Oh, is that so?” I turned and scratched Cam under her chin. “Who’s my dog? Who’s my good dog?”

Axl grinned and reached over to squeeze my thigh. Every time that man touched me was like a bolt of electricity grounding me to this world.

I didn’t know what was coming next for us, but I knew that I belonged by his side. Cam’s, too.

Axl parked by the airport terminal. The parking lot was practically empty. Everyone who had been stuck in Smoke River had found their way home. We slammed the truck doors shut and left the window cracked for Cam as we walked into the Bakery Café.

Axl paused at the door. “You ready for this?”

“Ready for what?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, the third degree from Mason and everyone else in town? You know Angel is probably in there.”

I laughed. “News flash. I think Mason knows about us. Angel, too.”

“Yeah, probably.” Axl shrugged.

We opened the door and stepped inside.

Alfie was behind the counter taking orders. There was a short line of locals waiting for their turn and eye-balling the fresh baked goods on display.

“Billie!” A familiar voice cut through the café. “Billie, honey?”

I turned to see my mom walking toward me, her arms wide. Abby was with her. This made no sense. “Mom?” I looked at Axl and then back at my mother. “What are you doing here?” I blurted. “Why aren’t you in Denver?”

Axl reached out and held my hand, squeezing it. I looked up at him and gave him a grateful smile and a squeeze in return.

“I was so worried about you,” Mom gasped. “Abby and I landed a few minutes ago, and when Mason couldn’t find you, I got so worried.” Her voice caught. She reached out and hugged me, pulling me loose from Axl’s hand.

“Mom, I’m fine,” I whispered. She took a step back, her eyes moving between Axl and me.

“I’m Moira Prescott,” Mom said, her eyes fixing on him. She extended her hand. “Billie’s mother.”

“I’m Axl Grey, ma’am,” Axl said, giving her a firm handshake. Mom grinned. Holding his hand, she looked from Axl to me and back again.

“And it’s very nice to meet you, very nice,” she said. Mom glanced back at Abby. “Abby, this is Axl. And you’re right, Billie. He is handsome.”

“Mom,” I gasped.

Abby reached for Axl’s hand. “I’m Abby, Billie’s best friend from high school. Well, we were ex-best friends, but we’re better now — ”

“What are you two doing here?” I said.

Alfie and Ethan were busy behind the counter, and I saw a shock of Angel’s bright red hair moving back and forth. Mason hadn’t shown his face yet, but I heard his voice barking orders from the kitchen.

“After you left, OACA bank called about a deposit to Gran’s account,” Mom said.

“Oh, yeah,” Axl muttered. I glanced over to see him run his fingers through his hair.

“I don’t get it,” I said. “Gran had that account for a while. Why did they call today?”

“Well, someone made a very, very big deposit,” Mom said, eyes wide. She gave Axl a knowing look. “I called Mason to tell him we were going to drive up, and he knows how I hate driving in the snow, so … ”

Mason came out of the kitchen, Angel following one step behind him. “Mason, you need to re-think your branding,” Angel said. “Are you a bakery? Or are you a café? Which is it? Bakery or café?”

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