Following Her (Unexpected Heroes #2.5)(10)

“The only way for you to see my moves is to continue the date,” he said with a wink.

“Then I guess we’re at an impasse, because I think the date is over.”

“You asked me some questions, don’t I get to reciprocate?”

“You didn’t tell me a whole lot.” That was a lie, though. He’d shared something deeply personal about himself.

“I told you I’m an open book. But I also told you it’s my turn to ask some questions.” He leaned back, total confidence once more in place. She knew he was stalling the “date,” but for some reason she didn’t care. “Want to order something to eat before I get started?”

She was hungry, but she feared if they took the time to move to a table, the mood would be broken, and they were actually meshing well right now.

“Maybe in a little while,” she told him. “How did my cousin get you up here to be a babysitter? Did you owe him or something? Because this is the most boring job in the world.”

There was a slight flare in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly she must’ve imagined it, and in its place was his normally carefree expression.

“You really do know how to turn the subject away from you.” She could see that he wasn’t easy to lead astray. Before she could respond to that, he continued. “Let’s just say I owe Bryson more than I can ever repay.” Now that was a story she wanted to hear about. Before she could question him further, he was sitting up straight and staring at her. “My turn. What has you so scared of dating? And why did your friends have to force you to go out on this date?”

“How in the world do you know that?” she gasped, then wanted to bite her tongue. What if he’d been guessing and she’d just given it away?

“Let’s just say I have ways of knowing things.”

“You’ll be disappointed then, because I have ways of keeping things from people.”

She hadn’t always been so closed off, but she was a little more careful since falling for Felix and his pack of lies. Not all men were liars, but she didn’t trust blindly anymore. And she had no doubt that there were more secrets than truths when it came to Axel. She’d do best to steer completely clear of him.

“I guess it’s my turn to say we’re at an impasse,” he told her.

Ella could see herself spilling her guts to this man, and that scared her more than Felix or the punks he sent after her. She knew suddenly that she had to get away from him, had to regroup. She shouldn’t be sitting here with him, laughing, sharing personal information.


The more she humanized Axel, the more she made it possible to fall under his spell. That was something she simply didn’t want to happen.

“The evening hasn’t been a complete waste of my time. I had a great drink,” Ella said before she carefully slid from the stool, landing too close to Axel, who placed a hand on her back before pulling her close to him.

“I’ll take you home then.”

She was speechless for a moment as she processed his words. Then her spine straightened and she pulled back from him. “I drove here, and I’m perfectly capable of driving myself back,” she told him, automatically on the defensive again.

“Then I’ll follow you. I always ensure my date gets home safely.”

“This wasn’t a real date, Axel.” She almost added that there hadn’t been a kiss, but that’d be a foolish thing to say, because he might feel he needed to rectify the situation.

“It was a real date in my book,” he whispered as his fingers caressed the bare skin on her back. A shudder passed through her. “And it was a hell of a one at that.”

Her heartbeat sped up as she looked into his eyes. She could be in trouble, serious trouble. This man was good. “I guess we just found one of your signature moves,” she whispered.

“Mmm, I guess so,” he quietly replied, his fingers still stroking her.

“Excuse me, someone sent this for you.” A man placed a glass with a note next to it in front of Ella and then disappeared before she could say a word.

“That’s a bit rude, wouldn’t you say? It’s obvious you’re here with someone,” Axel said as he looked at the drink.

“Oh, come on, Axel. It’s just a drink,” she said, laughing at his sudden possessiveness.

“With a note?” What surprised her was that she was almost enjoying his sudden jealousy.

“I’m not going to read it,” she said, picking up the paper and crinkling it.

“I don’t think so,” he said as he quickly snatched it from her hand and unfolded it.

When he froze, his eyes darting around the room, Ella felt her first tingle of nerves. “What does it say?” When he said nothing, she tapped his hand. “Axel, I’m serious, what does it say?” she repeated.

Instead of answering, he slammed the note down and moved toward the front doors, a look in his eyes sending a shiver of fear through her. “Stay here. And don’t touch that drink!”

She didn’t know what to do, so she found herself doing exactly as he’d demanded, and stood there wondering what in the world was going on.

In less then three minutes, Axel was back by her side, his body tense, his eyes wild. And damned if she wasn’t turned on by it.

“What’s going on?”