Page 31 of Velvet and Valor
“And you need to keep the engine running,” he says. “If you see anything that looks the slightest bit off, I want you to drive like Hell to the Platinum Security office.”
“I can’t drive a stick shift,” I reply.
Axel scowls.
“Well, shit. All right, but you’re still going to keep the engine running. I’d rather have you tear the hell out of my gearbox than be killed.”
“I’m so glad to know I rate higher than your gearbox.”
Axel’s expression softens.
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you screw up your first day on the job,” I reply. “I intend to live to see another day.”
“I couldn't care less about the job,” Axel says. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I wait for the inevitable quip or cocksure comment. It never comes. Sincerity is such a strange look on Axel I’m utterly discombobulated by it.
I don’t know what to say, so I just nod and get in the car. He rumbles the powerful engine to life and pulls out onto the road.
We leave the beach house behind. I wish I could have left my mind as well, because my thoughts won’t leave me alone.Everything’s been happening so fast, I’ve barely had a chance to breathe, let alone think.
Axel remains quiet on the drive to my place. I believe he’s giving me space in which to think and decompress. Or maybe he’s just thinking about what one-liner he’s going to try out on me next.
No, that’s not fair. I look over at him, his strong jaw set hard, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Axel has acted immature at times, but he did save my life. And now he’s taking a big risk for my sake again, making this extra trip.
My emotions are all over the place right up until we pull into my neighborhood. I start crying before we even see my house through the windshield.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Axel asks with a look of concern etched onto his face.
“I don’t know,” I manage to choke out between sobs. “I guess I just want to go home. I want this all to be over so I can go home and live my life.”
“I’m sorry,” Axel says. “I’m so sorry, June. Hey, it’s not all bad. Maybe you could make this experience into a movie? I have a guy in mind for the starring role. He has zero acting experience, but he’s a sexy beast and works dirt cheap.”
It’s stupid. So stupid, and it shouldn’t be funny…but a laugh springs out of me without hesitation. For a moment I’m caught in a maelstrom of sobbing and laughter, until the chuckles win out.
“I’m sorry for being a wimp,” I say, searching my purse for a Kleenex or something to clean my face with.
“Here,” Axel says, handing me a handkerchief.
“Thanks.” I wipe my face and sigh. “It must really irk you to hear me complain.”
“What?” His brow furrows up. “Why would you say that?”
“You’re a former soldier, you probably dealt with horrid things happening on the battlefield, and I can’t take a glorified sleepover in a perfectly good beach house.”
Axel takes a long, deep breath. His expression changes, and I see a depth in his gaze that I’ve only detected once before during the limo chase.
“If there’s one thing I learned from war, it’s that everyone has their own battles to face. You can’t judge how something’s going to affect someone else,” he says. “Or, you know, a tree isn’t going to seem smart if you tell a fish to climb…um. I mean, if you tell a tree to climb a fish--”
“A fish will seem stupid if you tell it to climb a tree,” I say, half laughing but still with tears rolling down my cheeks. “God, what am I going to do with you?”
He chuckles, but then his smile fades.
“I can think of a few things…” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Oh my god, don’t make this a thing–”
