Page 71 of His One True Wish

“No, what did you realize?”

“I had lowered the bar so much, I wasn’t used to a man makingany effort at all. He made an actual plan, and I swear to God, I about dropped my pants right then and there.” She sighed as Alfie continued his rounds serving people in the cafe. “Nothing is hotter than a fully functional man.”

I laughed and thought about Axl. The man cleaned the kitchen, made his bed, cooked, and looked out for me. No wonder I’d ended up in bed with him. “I’ve missed you, Zoe,” I said.

“Missed you, too, sweetie,” she said, pulling the bowl toward her.

“Babe, you want cheese?” Alfie was back with a bowl of shredded cheddar.

I got up from my seat. “Alfie, I’ll grab myself a bowl. Why don’t you sit down and eat.”

“Awesome,” he said, scooting in across from Zoe. “Will you finish serving the chili? I have only a couple more to pass out.”

“Of course,” I said, taking bowls of chili off the counter. I worked my way around the room, passing out two bowls, and then going back into the kitchen for more. In one booth, I assumed it was a group of pilots. A woman and three dudes sat with logbooks and cups of coffee in front of them. I figured they were waiting for a break in the weather.

I came back out of the kitchen with a tray in my hands. Axl stepped in front of me, a scowl on his face.

“You ready?” he said, nodding toward the door.

“Um.” I looked at the table in the corner, “I was going to help out and deliver some more chili. Did you eat?”

“I’m good. I’m worried about Cam,” he said. “I think we should get out of here.”

“Oh, okay,” I said, looking for a place to put the tray down. “Why don’t I just pass these out.”

“Right,” he said, taking sidesteps toward the door.

“Why are you moving like that?” I said, squinting at him.

“Moving like what?” He shrugged.

I looked over his shoulder. In the corner booth, a group of people stood up. Axl had his back to them and was working his way toward the exit as if he didn’t want to be seen.

“Are you hiding from someone?” I said, whispering.

He exhaled as if laughing. “No,pfft, hiding,” he said.

A bell rang, and the door opened. I heard a woman’s voice cut through the crowd. “Holy shit. I knew it. I knew I’d find you,” she called.

Axl stiffened, his eyes wide. “Please, let’s just get the fuck out of here — ”

“My missing pilot, Axl Grey!”

Bear Coat stood behind the bakery counter.

Axl’s ex was back.

CHAPTER 20

BILLIE

Bear Coat did a happy dance, reminding me of Zoe’s joyful jumping when she saw me. “Look at you, my missing pilot Axl-leave-me-at-the-rest-stop-Grey.”

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” Axl mumbled. “And that’s not what happened, and you know it.”

Bear Coat didn’t take the bait. She also didn’t have her coat on, but there was no mistaking her long red hair. Also, I noticed a floor-length fur coat hanging on a hook by the front door. Bear Coat stepped out from behind the counter, smiling. She wore a flour-spotted black apron just like Ethan and Alfie’s.

What the hell was going on? Did she work here?

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