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Now, back to Axel. I didn’t delude myself into thinking this date was anything more than an agreement. Instead, I forced a smile. “You have nothing to worry about. I have no interest in Axel. In fact, he had to bri—”
“Natalie.” I felt a large hand clamp down on my shoulder. I peered up, seeing Axel’s unreadable face. “Did they already serve dessert?”
“Not yet, but I’m so glad I got to have a little chat with your… friend here.” I clasped my hands together and sighed. “She’ssointeresting.” I watched as Jeanette kept her eyes locked on him. She was apparently oblivious to my sarcasm. She was oblivious to anything but him at the moment.
He finally seemed to notice her. “Jeanette.”
She batted her eyelashes and watched him in adoration. “You look so handsome tonight. Is that Tom Ford? Didn’t I help you pick out this suit?”
He shook his head and glanced off to the side as if he was annoyed or disinterested. Either way, he didn’t seem heartbroken, but maybe that was part of his front. “You’re in my seat,” was all he said.
She took her time standing up and leaned into him like she wanted to tell him something private. He backed up, holding his hands up beside his head and ignoring her as he looked off into the distance.
“I miss you,” she said with a pout, and I almost thought she’d stomp her dainty, heeled foot.
“Go back to your table.”
“Can we talk?”
He shook his head slowly. “I don’t do scenes,” he said curtly. “And you’re trying to make one. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
She stared at him as if he’d slapped her or something, but I guess it worked to get her away from him. “Fine. This isn’t over.” Finally, she strutted off like a petulant child while he dropped down into his seat, not giving her another glance.
The wait staff came over with my chocolate martini and plates of chocolate lava cake for everyone seated at our table. “Oh, wow. What a beautiful presentation.” I eyed the martini glass coated in a chocolate glaze and the beautiful dessert, which was a pile of chocolate cake in the form of a volcano, drizzled in dark chocolate syrup. Axel was sitting beside me, arranging his napkin on his lap. It finally registered that Nick and Kenzie hadn’t returned. Maybe they went back to their room.
I lifted my chilled drink with both hands and brought it to my lips.
“What is that?” Axel asked, peering at the drink skeptically.
“Just a dessert drink. A chocolate martini.” I took a sip and licked my lips over the rich chocolate sweetness. It tasted glorious. Anything to get the bitter taste of Jeanette’s conversation out of my mouth.
“Pace yourself, Hardcore.”
“It tastes like a liquid dessert. It’s fine.”
“It also has vodka, and you’ve already had champagne and wine.”
“So?”
“So, you aren’t used to drinking like this.”
How intuitive he was. Although, I had to begrudgingly admit that he was right.Am I that much of a homebody who never does anything fun? Yes, you are. That’s why Lizzie had tried to get me out of my shell, and then I crashed into his car, starting this whole mess.Stop thinking, I told myself. I needed this buzz to kill the self-worthlessness I was feeling.
“Did Nick and Kenzie go back to their room to make a baby?” I took another sip and stifled a giggle. Wow. Those words just came out of my mouth. As I set my glass on the table, I realized some of my drink spilled over on my hand, so I brought it to my mouth and licked it off.
When I glanced at Axel, I caught him staring at me. There was no casual smile on his lips. He ran his tongue over his teeth, keeping his eyes on my mouth. I finally dropped my hand. He cleared his throat and leaned in. I had a crazy notion he was going to kiss me, but he only grabbed my martini and took a leisurely sip, licking his upper lip. “They were tired and went back to the room.”
“Oh. That’s nice,” I breathed out, realizing I was staring at his sensuous lips. Warmth rolled over my skin and pooled between my thighs. He was gorgeous and sex personified.Get it together, Natalie. This is not even a real date. Finally, I glanced down at the lava cake that was beckoning me, and I cut into my cake, taking a big bite. “Oh, my god, this is so good,” I moaned.
“Damn,” Axel groaned under his breath and picked up his fork. He shoved a piece into his mouth, looking down at his plate.
“Jeanette seems so nice.” I grabbed my glass and took another sip.
Bringing the fork to his mouth again, he swallowed the piece of cake, giving me a look that said he knew I didn’t mean it. “No, she’s not. Did she say something hateful to you?”
“I’m not certain. She was polite, so… is it actually hateful when you preface something by saying ‘no offense’?” I was being cheeky and didn’t care.
His mouth turned down. “What did she say to you?”
