Page 75 of His One True Wish

I bit my lip and nodded.

“I was a bitch,” she said, brushing a hair off her forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t handle my emotions better.”

“Did you really have a ride, or did Axl lie about that, too?”

“Yes.” She sighed and went back to her batter. “I did have a driver waiting for me. I usually do. My husband is what you call well-funded. Let me tell you, Larry isn’t well-hung, but he is filthy stinking rich. He’s richer than Axl. Can you believe it?”

“Wait, what?” I said. My legs wobbled. “What do you mean he’s richer than Axl?”

“Oh, hell,” she said, biting her lip. “He didn’t tell you that, either?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Axl’s on vacation from his life in Fort Lauderdale.”

“I know. He’s a pilot. He told me about that.”

“Oh, honey. He is a pilot, and he knows how to use his joystick, if you know what I mean. Man, I crack myself up.”

“Hilarious,” I whispered, feeling dizzy.

“My husband is in business with Axl and his business partner, Miles Decker.”

“Who is Miles Decker?”

“Axl’s best friend and billionaire business partner. Axl didn’t grow up with money the way Miles did, but he’s still loaded. He and Miles started a shipping company when they both came back from Afghanistan.”

“Axl’s a millionaire?” I whispered.

“Billionaire,” she whispered.

I was stunned. In the span of a couple of minutes, Angel had unknowingly torn apart every assumption or understanding I had of Axl Grey. I was furious at myself for lowering my guard and for not asking more questions. Axl was a cheater, and he hadn’t told me the truth about his job — or his life.

I thought it would be a hardship if Mom and I broke his lease and he lost the cabin. He’d mentioned Gran’s terms were a “good deal.” What a manipulative liar. He could probably buy out every vacant property in Smoke River and still have money in the bank.

Anger roared in my chest, making it hard to take a full breath. Axl presented himself as one kind of a man and Bear Coat revealed another. I was so tired of being betrayed. My heart raced and my hands shook as I picked up the insulated bag. “Thanks for the food,” I said.

“Don’t be mad at Axl,” Angel said, her voice singsong. “I have to tell you he did me a favor.”

“Really?” I asked, stopping in the middle of the kitchen.

“Yeah,” she said. “Clearly my marriage has problems, but Axl made me feel things.” She looked at me. “You don’t have to say it, but I can tell he made you feel things, too.”

“He didn’t,” I whispered, lying through my teeth. So I wasn’t special. Axl knew how to make love to a woman. After all, he had a lot of experience. I felt naive and angry for giving away so much of myself for so little.

“Be careful, darling,” Angel said. “I am telling you that man is an addiction.”

CHAPTER 21

AXL

Iwaited outside on the steps for what felt like an eternity. It was cold, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Billie and Angel inside. I should have stayed and run interference, but interference from what?

Angel was my ex, and Billie was just someone I knew.

I busied myself brushing off the sled. The temperature was rising, and snow continued to fall. The talk in the cafe had been about the road opening by morning. This was good news. With enough daylight, Billie and I could probably dig out enough room for her truck to get some traction. She had the chains ready.

The door to the cafe flew open. Billie stood on the front porch and walked down the steps. She held the rail with one hand. In the other, she held an insulated bag.

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