Don knew the answer to that question and shared it with Axl when he said, “We’re clear.”

Axl quickly finished it.

“That was uncomfortable for the both of us. I just hope, when you have time to think on it, you’re pleased your girl has a guy who’s looking out for her.”

Don nodded stiltedly, turned away and sucked down a massive slug of beer.

Axl shifted again into the couch and threw back some of his own, just not that much.

It took a few beats, and the man didn’t look at him when he did it.

But he did it.

“I love her, you know.”

That was currently the fuck of it.

“I know.”

“I want the best for her.”

“I can imagine.”

Don tossed back more beer.

Axl sensed movement in the doorway to the kitchen so he looked that way and saw Hattie joining them again.

He could tell by the expression on her face that she read the room.

He shot her a smile.

It didn’t work, her worry remained.

“Pasta’s in, Dad,” she said. “Colander in the sink. Everything’s measured for you to make the cheese part. Oven timer is for the pigs. Microwave timer is for the pasta. By the time you’ve got the pasta together, the hot dogs should be done.”

“Thanks, honey,” Don muttered. “Now give your old man a buss, and you two go on with your night.”

She did that, bending to kiss his cheek.

Their good-bye was awkward, Don getting up to walk them to the door, make a show all was well, Hattie anxious because she knew it wasn’t.

Unfortunately, at the door she had to make it worse.

“I can’t come tomorrow night again, Dad. Axl and I have, uh … plans that we can’t—”

“That’s okay, darlin’. I’ll order some Chinese,” Don assured. “Don’t you worry about me. Just, uh, well … real glad you got other places to spend your nights.”

Right.

Like she was coming to him because she was lonely and wanted company.

Hattie didn’t call him on that.

She nodded, studying her dad closely, before she got up on her toes to kiss his cheek again, saying under her breath, “You check your sugars today?”

“I’m good, honey,” Don replied.

She studied him closely again, apparently saw what she needed to see, and moved to the door.

Don didn’t offer Axl his hand this time.

But Axl did.

Her father had no choice but to take it, and Axl held firm as he said, “Good to meet you, Don. Thanks for the beer.”

“My pleasure.” It was not. “Have a good night.”

“Will do,” he replied.

They were then out, and they didn’t talk on the way to the Jeep.

But he was sure to hold her hand again.

He’d barely switched on the ignition when she said, “Right, from the arctic air I’m guessing it didn’t go too great.”

“It went. And it’s done. And we’re all moving on.”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Was he okay?”

“Don’t think it’s a surprise that he wasn’t happy the guy he just met was telling him what to do in his own house. But considering what we were talking about, he gets me, and he didn’t push back.”

She had nothing to say to that.

“You think you’ll catch it next time,” he surmised.

“I don’t know. Like I said earlier, I’ve never had anyone stand up to him for me before, except Mom, which just started a fight.”

“I’m not gonna start fighting with your dad, beautiful,” he assured her.

“Yeah, it’s a different thing, and I just … well, honey, I just have a lot to think about.”

They both did.

Because he did what he had to do.

But there was something more there.

Axl just didn’t know what to do with it.

One thing he did know was that, right then, he wasn’t going to be able to do anything about it.

Though, there was something he could do something about.

“Ever had Coca-Cola cake?” he asked.

Her reflective air shifted to excited air.

“Are we going to a bakery?”

He grinned at her. “Yeah, the bakery that’s my kitchen.”

Both words were pure shock when she asked back, “You bake?”

“Sure,” he said, then repeated, “Have you ever had Coca-Cola cake?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s too bad and we’ll make that next time. This time, we’re making it with Dr Pepper.”

There was a smile in her voice when she said, “Sunday night baking at Axl’s.”

“Yep.”

“Perfect,” she said softly.

Yep.

And they were back on track.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

That Path Is Always Open to You

AXL

Mid-morning the next day, Axl was in the office, Hawk was in the office, and Elvira had just walked out.

With the coast clear from Elvira sticking her nose in it (he loved the woman, and she was wise, but this was another deal and it was the kind of deal she’d sniff out in a flash and stick her nose in), Axl left his workstation and took the steps up to Hawk’s space.

He knocked on the doorframe even if Hawk was already looking at him.

The man was standing because he rarely ever sat. Axl didn’t know what he was doing, but whatever it was, it was on his phone because he had his cell in his hand and that hand was up.

“Yo, Axe,” Hawk greeted.

“You got a minute?”

In answer, Hawk tipped his head to the chair opposite his desk and tossed his phone on the top of it.

Since Hawk rarely sat, the men who visited him didn’t either.

But for this, Axl closed the door behind him after he entered, moved to a chair, and put his ass in it.

Hawk watched this, and he hesitated, but then he joined him, sitting behind his desk.

“Is everything cool?” Hawk asked.

“I got a sitch. Personal. And I was hoping you might talk it through with me. Maybe have some insight.”

“Hit me,” Hawk invited.

And there was one of the bennies of working for Cabe “Hawk” Delgado.