Page 40 of Outlaw Xmas
Axe
When Axe pulledinto the parking space, he wrinkled his brow when he saw Baylee’s car in one of the two spots. She’d told him she was going to Aspen after her doctor’s appointment and she’d be home after dark, but she was already home and it was only three o’clock in the afternoon which meant that she wasn’t feeling well.Again.The knot that had been forming in the pit of his stomach for the past few weeks tightened.I hope everything’s all right with her.
The smell of gas and hot motors washed over him as he walked over to the elevators. He leaned back against the cold metal wall as the elevator ascended to the fourth floor. He’d stopped by the grocery store and picked up a quart of vegetable soup for Baylee and a meatloaf dinner for him. It seemed that soup was the only thing she could keep down most days.
Unlocking the door, the aroma of onions, garlic, and roasted chicken greeted him, and he threw his keys on the entry table and walked to the kitchen. Baylee stood by the stove stirring something, and the sight of her attempt at being domestic touched him and made the corners of his mouth turn upward. Baylee and cooking didn’t see eye-to-eye, and take-out and delivery dinners had been the norm since he’d asked her to be his old lady a few years back.
“Never thought I’d see you in that position,” he said walking over to her.
Baylee spun around, a wooden spoon in her hand and a thin cloud of steam rising steadily from a pot on the stove. “You’re home. I expected you much later.” She pointed at the bags in his hand. “Did you stop off at the grocery store?”
“Yeah. Vegetable soup for you and meatloaf for me, but what you’re making smells fuckin’ good.”
She took the two bags from his hand and unpacked them, putting the perishables in the refrigerator. “I’m making roast chicken, mashed potatoes, a tomato salad, and peas. Belle gave me the recipe for the chicken and potatoes, and Cara told me what to do with the tomatoes. The frozen peas had directions on the bag. It’s not so bad. It’s kind of relaxing.” She looped her arm around his neck and kissed him.
“Why’d you decide to cook? I mean it’s been over a year since you tried your hand at it.” His hand glided down her back, resting on her butt.
“And that was a disaster. I was really craving roast chicken and mashed potatoes. When Belle told me how easy it was, especially with these roasting bags, I decided to give it a try. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
“I know you do.” Axe rubbed his hands over her ass while kissing her deeply.
Giggling, she pushed him away. “I have to turn the heat down.”
“I like where the heat is taking us.” He turned her around and kissed her again. The hiss of water boiling over made Baylee jump and wiggle out of his arms.
Grabbing a rag, she pulled the boiling potatoes off the burner and wiped away the water. “I hope I didn’t burn them,” she said as she looked into the pot.
“I think you’re good, babe. Just lower the temp and put them back on.” Picking up the lid from the counter, he smiled at her. “Use this.”
“Maybe I should have you making dinner,” She took the lid from him. “Thanks, sweetie.”
“Did you go to the doctor today?” He took one of the mini carrots she had in a bowl and chomped down on it.
“Yeah. We can talk about it later. I have to concentrate right now. Why don’t you relax and watch TV? Dinner will be ready soon.”
Axe hesitated for a moment then went into the family room. He glanced over at her while she rushed around the kitchen, streaks of red painting her face from the heat of the stove and oven. He’d thought it was a little odd she didn’t tell him what the doctor said, but then, it was her first big dinner from scratch in over a year. He’d decided that even if the chicken was dry as a bone and the potatoes watery, he’d tell her it was decent. The fact that she was trying so hard hit him and pleasure and warmth spread through him.
A few hours later, he had Baylee snuggled in his arms, a fire snapping in the fireplace, and a comedy in the DVD player. Dinner had been surprisingly good and Baylee had kept beaming with each additional helping he’d taken.
He dipped his head down and kissed her hair. “You seem like you’re feeling better.”
“I am. I love this movie, don’t you?”
“Yeah. What did the doctor say? Was it the flu like you suspected?”
“No. This part here is real funny. I’ve seenWhen Harry Met Sallya zillion times, but it still cracks me up.”
Staring at her, he noticed she purposely avoided him, her eyes glued to the screen.She’s not telling me something.“What did the doctor say?”
“Axe, I’m trying to watch the movie. Don’t you want to see it? We can talk later.”
With the remote in hand, he hit Pause and set it down on the couch next to them. “What’s going on?”
Without looking at him, she answered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Did the doctor tell you something bad?”
“No. Just something unexpected.”
