Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
She wanted what she’d had growing up. A husband at home with her and their kids. A normal life. The kind she’d lost when her dad died. But she wouldn’t say that to her mother. Marsha had tried so hard to blend the family, and it wasn’t her fault Tara always felt separated from them all. They tried, but it was like she had this wall around herself she couldn’t let them get beyond. And if she allowed herself to fall for Axel again, she feared she’d always be the outsider in his lifestyle, ultimately left behind.
“Honey, you’re so afraid of being hurt and abandoned, like you were when your dad died, that you’ve closed yourself off completely.”
Read my mind, why don’t you, Tara thought. Her mom had always known her well.
Her mother put a hand on top of Tara’s. “No man will ever meet whatever criteria you’re holding out for, and the one you really want is back, yet you’re too afraid to give him a chance.”
A lump rose in Tara’s throat, making her unable to speak.
“Just promise me you’ll give Axel a chance?” her mother asked, her eyes damp.
Tara sighed. “Okay. Anything to get you to take a step back and let me think things through.” She smiled to take away the sting of her words, and it worked.
Her mom grinned, then pulled her into a hug, happy with Tara’s agreement to try. And since she’d agreed to a date with Axel, clearly she was going to do just that.
* * * *
Axel strode out of the vet offices, whistling as he walked, Bella trotting by his side.
“Good job,” he said to the pup as he loaded her into the passenger seat and took his place behind the wheel. “You deserve a treat for being so perfect,” he told her.
After starting up the car, he headed for the coffee shop in town, all the while thinking about his first glimpse of Tara. As a man surrounded by women whenever he traveled, he was familiar with beautiful females. Not to lump them into one category, but those he saw in the concert arena tried too hard to make themselves noticeable. Pushed up breasts, brightly colored hair, skimpy clothes, too-high heels.
Had he screwed around with them? Yeah, of course. He’d had needs. But had he ever been interested in any of them long-term? That would be a big hell no. Because none of them were real.
Tara was a breath of fresh air. She always had been. From her natural wavy hair that fell like silk over her shoulders to her nearly makeup-free face and those lips he wanted to kiss again, she was exactly what he’d been missing. Even if her mother had twisted her arm to go out with him, Axel was pleased with their first meeting in years.
After giving Bella her treat, he returned to Xander’s and let himself in the side door of the pool gate and took a seat outside.
A few minutes later, the sliding glass door opened, and his host stepped outside.
“Dog returned before her curfew,” Axel said, gesturing to the golden lying by his side on the grass.
“And you stayed?” Xander stepped over and glanced down at the dog. “What’s on Bella’s nose?”
“I got her a pup cup as a reward for being such a good girl.” He lowered his hand to pet her soft head.
“So the trip was successful?”
Axel grinned. “Got a date at seven tonight.” And he planned to do his best to charm Tara and get to know her again.
Xander nodded. “Good! You should go get ready.” He tipped his head toward the gate he’d come through.
“Nah. I’ve got plenty of time.” Axel straightened his legs on the lounge and settled in.
“You could just … go anyway.”
“Are you throwing me out? Is that what you used to do to Dash?” Before the lead singer became involved with Cassidy and stopped coming by as often for company.
Xander opened his mouth, but before he could answer, the door to the house slid open again, and Sasha walked out, two large, cold drinks in her hands.
“Hi, guys. I thought you might want some iced tea.” She handed each of them a glass. “How was your … excursion with Bella?” she asked.
“He got himself a date tonight,” Xander replied.
“Really? That’s great. Who is she?” Sasha asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Umm, about that…” Dash met her gaze. “Turns out she’s your vet.”
“Dr. Stillman?” Xander asked.
“Tara?” Sasha asked at the same time.
Just hearing her name had him smiling. “We were together in high school, and we broke up after graduation. I went to do my thing in LA and audition with bands, and she went to college in New York.”
“And she stayed,” Sasha said, sitting down on the edge of his chair, her interest in their history obviously piqued.