Page 45 of Dangerous Mission

“Eight kids is a little much,” Terri laughed. “I think around three would be perfect.”

“When should we start?”

“It’s not that easy.”

Axel tugged Terri’s shirt over her head. “Okay, we could practice until we figure out how we can make this work.”

“Axel, what happens if we can’t make this work? I’m not sure I can go through what I went through again.”

Fuck. He felt like an asshole for what he did years ago. One thing he learned in life was he couldn’t change the past, but he could shape his own future. Although he still didn’t know what would happen next week.

Instead of worrying about his meeting, he pressed his lips to hers. Axel wanted nothing more than to sink deep inside her.

Terri

Terri tooka sip of her iced coffee and stared out into the backyard. The week went so fast. She wished Axel and her could spend more time at his families home, but life had wormed its way back in. She’d woken to Axel’s mouth between her legs, and it was by far the best way to start the day. Then they had dirty sex in the shower. She was in an orgasm-induced coma when he dumped the news he had to head back to the base.

After his meeting, they only had a few more days away from society. The news about her and Axel had died down. Mostly because of Axel’s sister Emily coming out and announcing she was getting a divorce.

Emily called them the day after they arrived at the cabin. She asked what she could do the help, but Axel said it was his mess. Seemed his baby sister didn’t listen to her older brother, because the news ate up the gossip like no other. Emily went on to blast her soon-to-be ex-husband for his affairs over the years. His sister didn’t stop with the announcement. She went on to name the women, and his most recent one was pregnant. Emily wished the woman well and said she wouldn’t be sending any money. The media said she wasn’t fair to the woman. The prenup was also leaked to the media. If Greg, Emily’s husband, was caught cheating, he wouldn’t get a dime. The prenup had also designated her as the sole guardian of the kids. Greg would walk away with only the money he earned. Which wasn’t much because he stopped acting when he married Emily.

Axel told her he never cared for Greg. He went on to tell her his dad offered Greg many jobs over the years, but he turned them down. It wasn’t to take care of the kids. He wanted to photograph around the world. Came out he wanted to take pictures of a woman.

The story was on every channel. Her phone beeped, and she glanced down at the unknown number on her screen. She debated for a second before she swiped her finger across the screen. “Hello.”

“About time you talk to me.” Emily’s cheerful voice came through the phone. As if thinking of the woman conjured up the call.

“Didn’t have your number.”

An unladylike grunt came through the phone. “Like you would’ve called. I saw you hide from me for years. I thought we were friends.”

Damn, she was getting into the heart of things. “It wasn’t your fault. Honestly, I couldn’t look at you without thinking of the man who ran away with my heart. I worried you would talk about him, and I couldn’t bring myself to know if he married someone.”

Terri spent years wishing for a friendship like she had with Emily. Her family and Axel’s all went to a private school. Each kid came from a wealthy family, but they mostly used each other even at a young age. Emily never did. Terri turned her back on her friend because she and Axel broke up.

“I understand. I missed our talks.” She paused. “Not where you talked about my brother and shit. But talking about our lives and knowing what I told you wouldn’t get out on the news. I could really have used someone to talk to over the years.”

Terri blinked back the few tears that threatened to run down her face. “Seems the news got the story, anyway. Why didn’t you talk to your older sister or Axel?”

“Axel would’ve killed Greg. Beth would’ve told me to ignore it and deal with it. The media never bothered me like it did Axel and Beth. They can follow my ass all around. Security helps protect the kids. I think when the media broke about you guys and the video, the way my brother looked down at you, like you were the only person in the room. I want someone to look at me like that.”

Terri saved the video to her phone. She watched it a million times. Axel said terror had coursed through his body when he held her. All she could see was a man worried about a woman. “I think Aaron Ross looked at you like that inTales without Love.”

“Aaron Ross is a born actor. He probably imagined I was his wife or his husband when he held me in a love scene. All those Ross boys look at their wives with love. Hell, Arron gave up a thirty million dollar deal dad offered him a few months back. He said he’s concentrating on his family. All I get is a man asking for more money to take photos. Which I got the last laugh. I broke all his camera equipment. Yes, it was petty, but…”

“Technically, from the reports, you make all the money, so it was your camera. I know Axel said thank you for doing this, but I can’t tell you how much it helped. Not sure it will help enough. I think I fucked up your brother’s career.”

Her stomach turned, thinking about Axel’s meeting. Would he still want her if his boss said it wouldn’t work? Damn, she wasn’t sure what would happen. He kissed her senselessly each time she tried to bring up the meeting. Then he would tell her not to worry. Fuck she was worried.

“Axel has a plan. I’m glad your dad finally intervened. You should have worked your shit out from the beginning.”

“How can you be so sure he has a plan? Axel didn’t tell me anything.”

Emily huffed on the other end of the phone. “I know my brother. He’s not good at talking shit out sometimes, but no way did he head to a meeting with his commanding officer without a plan. Now I want to know when the wedding is so I can keep my schedule clear.”

She couldn’t hold back the bubble of laughter. “You are way more confident than me. I’m not even sure he will come back. Well, technically, he’s still my bodyguard along with the Secret Service agents parked down at the end of the road.”

“Oh, you’re going to marry him. We can have a fun night in Vegas. Celebrate your engagement and me being single again. Too bad all Axel’s teammates need to keep under the radar.”

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