Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(14)

“Men.” Melly rolled her eyes. “If a woman tells you where she is, she wants you to come get her.” She placed her hands on her thighs, her manicured nails a pop of pink. “And on that note, I’m going to leave you alone to go pick her up and tell her how you really feel,” she said, rising to her feet and heading over to her daughter, Chloe.

“Thanks,” he called after her.

The next thing he knew, he was striding into the restaurant and bar in town. A combination of relief that there’d been no date warred with amusement at the drunk messages he’d received.

He took one look at the woman in the chair wiping her mouth with her sleeve and knew just how drunk the usually put-together, well-mannered Tara was.

For all the times he’d seen her drink at high school parties, he’d never seen her like this. Glassy-eyed, cheeks flushed, splayed back against the chair in a heap. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

She glanced up and met his gaze, surprise opening her eyes wide. “Axel!” She hopped up from her seat and wrapped her arms around his neck, which he had to admit felt damned good. “Why are you here?” she asked.

He needed to gauge how inebriated she was and how to deal with her, so he pulled her off him but kept her hands clasped in his. “I realize drunk texting an ex is a thing, but you scared me. I thought you were on a date and something was wrong.”

He didn’t realize how worried he’d been until he’d walked in and seen her safe and sound.

She shook her head, her brown hair falling around her face. “No date! I’m at a party and everyone was talking about babies. Babies made me drink. They also made me think of you,” she babbled.

He released his hold on her hand as she fell into him. He caught her before she could slide to the ground and held her tight against him. She felt good in his arms, but given the reason, he wasn’t going to be admitting his intentions for them tonight.

“Tara,” a woman said in a singsong voice. “Who’s the hunk?”

Since she was sitting on another man’s lap, Axel knew it wasn’t a pickup line. She was obviously drunk, too.

He shifted Tara against him. “I’m Axel. An old friend of Tara’s. And you are?”

The woman stared at him through her heavy-lidded gaze. “The drummer and Tara’s ex!” Her voice rose in excitement.

“This is Amy, Tara’s stepsister,” the man said, his amusement clear. “I’m Kenneth, Amy’s fiancé.”

“Nice to meet you,” Axel said. Tara’s head was on his shoulder, her body weight leaning against him. “Anything I need to know?”

“Other than a successful bachelorette party without strippers? Not a thing.” Kenneth paused. “I was going to take them both home, but Tara seems to be settled where she is,” he said, chuckling.

Axel grinned. “I’ve got her.” Which was easier said than done, but eventually he managed to encourage Tara to lean on him as she walked to the car. The top was closed, and he leaned down to strap her in, debating about where to take her and deciding to go to his place. He knew where everything she’d need was located, and he lived closer.

Only when he carried her into the house did he realize he’d only furnished his bedroom and minimally at that, which meant she’d be sleeping in his bed tonight.





Chapter Six


Tara was too old to drink like a teenager. She woke up, her head pounding and her mouth feeling like cotton and tasting like something foul had settled in there. Her bladder was screaming at her, and she slowly pulled herself to a sitting position, waited for the waves of nausea and head throbbing to settle, before opening her dry eyes.

She looked around the unfamiliar room and panic seized her. Where was she? Who had she gone home with? Heart pounding, she glanced down to see her bare legs and a man’s T-shirt covering her important parts. No bra but panties still on. Thank God. She hoped that meant she’d passed out and nothing had happened. But where and with whom?

She couldn’t remember last night, and a careful look at the other side of the bed told her she was alone. She blew out a breath, stood, and made her way to the bathroom.

She found an array of towels stacked on the counter, a folded man’s shirt, toothbrush in a package, and realized whoever had taken care of her seemed to be looking out for her.

She closed the door and locked herself in before brushing her teeth well, then stripping down and taking a hot shower. Although there was only generic shampoo and men’s soap, she used both. Once she came out feeling fresh, she dried off, put her underwear on inside out and used the new shirt left for her. She glanced in the mirror, took in her tangled hair and the Caged Chaos logo on the shirt, and knew exactly whose house she was in.

She let out a low groan, trying her best to remember how he’d found her last night at Amy’s bachelorette party. Texts. Shit. She’d drunk texted him. Where was her phone so she could see how much damage she’d done to her self-respect?

Pulling in a deep breath, she opened the bathroom door. Steam escaped as she stepped into the bedroom to find Axel sitting on what she assumed was his side of the bed.

He was barefoot, wearing a pair of faded jeans, and the button was undone. His chest had a light coating of hair, and he had muscles indicating he worked out. His abs were a six-pack any woman would drool over, and his flat stomach made her want to lick from his belly button down. Her nipples puckered beneath the T-shirt.