The waiter returned and they glanced at their menus, each ordering dinner. The meal passed quickly and comfortably — if she excluded the sexual tension simmering between them. The lingering glances, his gaze focusing on the way she slid her tongue over her bottom lip to capture the last of her wine, and how she couldn’t stop staring at his handsome face and memorizing the differences between the teenager and the man.
After dinner was finished and he paid the bill, they walked out of the restaurant. Surprisingly, the temperature hadn’t dropped, and it was still pleasant outside.
“Do you want to take a walk on the beach?” he asked, obviously not ready to take her home.
She’d had such a nice, relaxing time with him, but a walk on the beach had romantic overtones, and she knew it would be a mistake to say yes. They’d gotten reacquainted, and it was time to end the evening.
“I would, but I have to be up early for work in the morning. I operate on Wednesdays.” Though true, she recognized the excuse for what it was and had no doubt he did, too.
He studied her face, and whatever he saw there had him nodding. “Next time, then.”
She wanted to object to the notion of another date, but Axel had already turned and handed his ticket to the valet. When the car arrived, the valet helped her into the front seat, and they drove home in silence, her hair whipping in the wind.
Axel reached over and took her hand in his, threading their fingers together. He was nothing if not determined, something she ought to know from how he’d made it to the top of his chosen profession. Not an easy feat.
Instead of fighting him, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy his touch, the glide of his finger over her hand, and the sound of his voice as he sang along with the classic rock song on the radio.
He walked her to her front door and paused. Nerves fluttered in her belly as she waited for him to kiss her. After all, it wasn’t a typical first date, not when they already knew each other so well. Intimately, in fact. Which meant maybe he expected more than a kiss. If he wanted to come inside and end up in her bed, she wasn’t ready.
And if she let him in, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to turn him down. Which meant she’d have to do it here on the porch. Nerves churning, uncertainty about her choice settled inside her, but sending him away would be for the best.
She put the key in the door and turned the lock but left it closed so Dakota wouldn’t come running out.
Turning slightly, she faced him. “Thanks for tonight. It was great seeing you again.”
A slight smile lifted his lips and he stepped closer.
His cologne, a musky aftershave that was new to her but suited him, wafted around her. She liked the scent and wanted to breathe it in deeper. Breathe him in. Despite all the mental warnings she’d given herself on the drive home, desire for him pounded inside her.
“You make that sound like goodbye, Tara.” He leaned in, his face close to hers. “It’s not. In fact, you’ll be seeing me again soon.” He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose and stepped back. “Now let me watch you get inside safely before I take off.”
She blinked in surprise. He hadn’t asked to come in or requested anything more than she’d been willing to give. She stared at him a beat too long before turning the knob and letting herself inside, using her knees to keep Dakota from bolting out to greet him.
She shut the door, leaned back against it, and blew out a deep breath, her heart pounding hard in her chest. All that anticipation and worry for nothing. And though she hated to admit it, even to herself, she was beyond disappointed he hadn’t even tried for a good-night kiss.
* * * *
With a hard-on and no outlet other than his hand available, Axel walked into his house and flicked on the lights. Fucking place was too big and too lonely. After living at Dash’s with the guys last summer, he’d never adjusted to being by himself. Even in LA, he’d shared an oversized apartment with one of his Caged Chaos bandmates. And since he didn’t know where his home base would be, he hadn’t ordered furniture, which meant he was living in a place that was empty and echoed.
He tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Yeah, he’d had a good time with Tara tonight. The only thing that could make it better would have been ending up in her bed, but he’d known going in he had a long road ahead. One he’d have to take slowly. Winning her trust wasn’t going to be easy.