Page 16 of Hard as Stone
“All right, Poppy.” The way he says my name sends an unwelcome shiver down my spine. “Just be careful. This town has a way of chewing up and spitting out folks who don’t know what they’re getting into.”
“Is that a threat?” I narrow my eyes at him.
“A warning.” He steps closer, his voice dropping low. “This town isn’t what it seems. And neither are the people running it.”
I force myself to stand my ground, even as my heart races at his proximity. “Thanks for the cryptic advice, Road Captain. But I think I can handle myself.”
His eyes flick down to my mouth for a split second before meeting mine again. “I don’t doubt that. Just... watch your back, Poppy. And if you need help, you know where to find me.”
“I don’t, actually. You’re the one who keeps finding me,” I say, trying to act like his closeness does nothing to me.
Axel’s lips quirk up in a half-smile. “Devil’s. Most nights after eight. Or I’m at the clubhouse. If you need anything.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And what could I possibly need from you?”
“A rematch.” His grin takes me from wary to wet in an instant.
“A rematch?” I scoff, but my pulse quickens at his suggestion. “I think we both know how that would end.”
“Do we?” Axel leans in closer, his voice low and gravelly. “Because I seem to remember things going a bit differently last time.”
I roll my eyes, but can’t quite suppress my smile. “Only because you cheated.”
“Then prove me wrong.” Axel shifts back. “Unless you’re scared of the big, bad biker.”
I scoff. “Please. I’m not scared of you or your pool skills.”
“OK then,” he says, leaning in again, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his body. “Tonight. eight o’clock. Devil’s. If you win, I’ll buy you dinner.”
I open my mouth to refuse—getting involved with a man who both terrifies and turns me on is probably the worst choice I could possibly make. But then my phone buzzes. And when I pull it out of my pocket, it lights up with a text from Felix.
Felix
What’s for dinner?
I stare at my phone, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. It’s not even noon, and they’re already asking about dinner. As if I don’t have enough on my plate with these permit issues and trying to keep our project on track.
I can already picture how the evening will go. I’ll spend all day wrestling with paperwork and city officials, then drag myself home bone-tired only to be greeted by a chorus of, “What’s for dinner?” and, “Where are my clean socks?” and, “The shower’s dripping again, can you fix it?”
It’ll be hours of catering to their needs, cooking and cleaning while they lounge around complaining about their hard day. And god forbid I suggest they help out—you’d think I was asking them to perform brain surgery. By the time I finally get a moment to myself, I’ll be too exhausted to do anything but fall into bed, only to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow.
“You know what?” I start, sliding my phone back into my pocket as I look back up at Axel. “I’ll take that bet. And when I win, I want a big, juicy steak. The kind that melts in your mouth and costs more than my hourly wage.”
A slow grin spreads across his face. “In that case, I might just have to let you win so I can watch you savor a big, juicy piece of meat.”
“Oh, you wish.” His words make heat pool low in my belly. “But I don’t need any favors from you. I’ll win fair and square. And I’ll make you wear a blindfold while I’m eating—I’m not entertaining your meat kink.”
I turn on my heel, ready to make a dramatic exit, but Axel’s voice stops me.
“Hey, Poppy?”
I glance back over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, Road Captain?”
Axel’s eyes crinkle at the corners as he smirks. “Wear something nice. When I win, I want to take you someplace that doesn’t serve beer in plastic cups.”
“Isn’t that what happens whenIwin?”
“Not if you’re wearing a dress.”
