Just One Wish (The Kingston Family 4.50)

As for the dog, she was the primary part of his plan to see Tara, and he wasn’t about to give up. “So can I borrow Bella for a couple of hours?”

“Why do you want to borrow our dog?” Sasha had been walking on the deck, already close to the lounge chairs, when he’d asked again. She sat down on the edge of Xander’s chair and placed a hand on his leg.

Xander glanced at his wife, his expression softening as he took her in, then turned back to Axel, gaze narrowed. “Wait a minute. You were just on Facebook looking up an old girlfriend. Don’t tell me you want use Bella to pick up chicks.”

“Chick,” Axel said, correcting him because it was important. “One chick.” He hoped the clarification would help the cause.

“Which chick?” Sasha asked, her eyes lighting up at his explanation.

She’d been trying to set him up with a nice girl for months now. But as much as he wanted to find someone, the notion of first dates and getting-to-know-you time turned his stomach. He’d just about decided he’d have to accept the inevitable and give in to Sasha’s matchmaking when he’d been given a reprieve.

Now Tara was firmly in his mind.

He glanced at the phone, which had turned itself off, and reopened the screen for a look at her personal information. He was relieved there was no relationship status listed under her name and took that as another positive sign.

“Aah. Silence,” Sasha said in an amused tone.

She was right. Axel wasn’t eager to reveal the name of his old girlfriend, which was odd. He normally explained everything going on in his life to these people who, in a short time, had become more like family than friends.

“He’s clammed up,” Xander agreed, his gaze steady on Sasha as they talked over Axel, no doubt hoping he’d get annoyed and reveal more.

“That tells me the woman in question means something to him.” Sasha curled one tanned leg beneath her.

Axel had had enough. “I’m right here while you’re talking about me,” he reminded them. Jesus fuck, these two meant business. Wasn’t it enough they knew borrowing Bella was important to him?

Sasha laughed and rubbed Bella’s soft head. “Just have her home by seven. She has an early curfew.”

With her permission to take the dog, the muscles in Axel’s shoulders eased. They’d just given him the reason he needed in order to pay Tara an impromptu visit. And that’s all he’d been waiting for.

He sat up and put the sunglasses back on Bella’s face. “Come on, girl. We need to make a good impression.” He rose, and as if she were his pet, Bella stood and began to follow him toward the house.

Xander and Sasha stood and joined his trek inside. Once in the kitchen, Sasha handed him Bella’s leash, and he hooked it to her collar, adjusting her sunglasses, which were going to be a pain in the ass to keep on. But she looked cute, and that was what mattered.

“Thanks, guys. I owe you one.” His car was parked on the driveway out front, and he started to walk out of the room.

“Hey!” Xander called out.

Axel turned.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

He narrowed his gaze. “Keys and wallet,” he said, patting his pocket. “Dog, leash… Nope. I’m good.”

“She’s still wearing my sunglasses,” Xander said, as if Axel needed a reminder.

“It’s sunny out, and I have my convertible. She’s going to need them.”

Sasha let out an unladylike snort of laughter, causing Axel to grin, while her husband frowned and shook his head. Sometimes Axel wondered how Dash and this more serious man were related.

“Wish me luck,” he said and took his companion out of the house and led her to his brand-new Chevy Corvette, in what the dealer called Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic. To Axel it was his royal blue metallic baby.

He settled Bella in the passenger seat, once again picking up the glasses she’d knocked off and adjusting them on her face.

After he turned on the engine, he opened his phone’s map app, put in the business name, and started the directions.

He drove out of the circular driveway, his stomach in knots because, other than the dog beside him, he had no real plan. A short while later, he pulled up to a white clapboard building that, if not for the driveway and parking lot out front, looked more like a house than a clinic.

He cut the engine and turned to his panting passenger. “Now remember, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Tara, and I’m counting on you to break the ice for me.”

Drool hung from Bella’s mouth and Axel groaned. “Don’t be nervous. Tara was great when we were younger. In fact, she was really important to me.” And he was hoping he could get to know her again and see if the old spark between them remained. “I’m sure she’s got gentle hands and is a good vet. You’re going to like her a lot.”