Axel sat with his back to the door in a chair, his shoulders eclipsing the backrest. A small woman cuddled in his lap, wrapped up in his big arms. He held her as if no one in the world was more important to him than her.
“How do you feel about that, Sweet Pea?” he asked softly, intently.
Sweet Pea? Who was she? He didn’t have a sister that she knew of. Was she a friend? Or his lover?
Mystery’s blood went cold.
“I’m willing to do whatever you want.” She blinked big brown eyes at him, looking very comfortable in his arms. “I want you to be happy.”
He caressed the woman’s cheek. “I want you happy, too.”
She curled small fingers over his broad shoulder and squeezed. “You’ve done your best to make me happy for the last two years. I . . . don’t have words for how wonderful you are. Your devotion has meant so much to me. I’ve been so lucky to have you.”
Every word out of the woman’s mouth was a stab in Mystery’s heart. She’d been thinking about love and forever with Axel. She had basically invited him to get her pregnant because she’d been stupidly envisioning what a beautiful family the three of them would make and how happy they could be sharing their tomorrows. With him, she’d feel protected and loved. In return, she would adore and satisfy him.
Now the wretched, crushing humiliation ripping her heart from her chest reminded her of the devastating lesson her mother had learned at her father’s hands: Men always strayed.
No, Axel hadn’t promised her anything or committed to any sort of future. Mystery had been the one to make naïve assumptions. But never again. Obviously, he’d been committed to this woman he called Sweet Pea for two years—how had her private investigator missed that?—and Axel had cheated. Mystery was the “other woman” in this scenario, and she felt used.
“It’s been my pleasure and privilege.” Axel pulled the woman closer and laid a soft kiss on her forehead.
Their exchange lacked passion, but all that told Mystery was that, while he cared for his girlfriend too much to let her go . . . he slaked his lust with other women. Typical. That had always been her father’s approach to relationships, too.
Mystery couldn’t breathe. She felt dizzy and sick to her stomach. And so fucking betrayed, though she probably had no right to. She shoved back hot tears stabbing her eyes and threatening to spill.
“Have you seen enough?” Heath murmured in her ear.
She didn’t even want to speak right now. And she certainly appreciated that Heath didn’t say “I told you so” at that moment. He certainly could have, and she would have deserved it.
Why had she thought she’d truly known Axel after so little time together? Mystery shook her head. That was the last time she’d let her hopes and stupid romantic fantasies get the better of her. Heath had been right about her idealizing Axel. She had to stop thinking like a girl and become a woman.
She had to save herself.
Heath curled a gentle hand around her arm and led her back down the hall. She was grateful she didn’t have to witness the affection passing between he and the petite brunette anymore. And when they reached Heath’s bedroom, Mystery was even more relieved that she didn’t have to look at the rumpled bed she’d shared with Axel and smell the sex that undoubtedly still hung in the air. She couldn’t have managed that without falling to her knees and sobbing.
“I’m assuming you want nothing more to do with the man?” he asked gently.
The thought of never seeing him again choked her, tore at her heart. But she’d done without him for over six years. She’d manage for the rest of her life somehow because she’d never be the victim her mother had been. “Nothing.”
“Pack up anything you’ve unpacked. Give me . . . ten minutes. I’ll have you out of here.”
As he turned to leave, she grabbed his arm. “Thank you.”
Heath glanced at her hand on him, then at her face. “Anything for you.”
* * *
AXEL turned suddenly in his chair, looking into the hall behind him. The hair stood on the back of his neck. He would have sworn he’d heard someone back there. But he saw nothing.
Forcing himself to relax, he directed his attention back to Sweet Pea. “So you’re ready to meet Stone?”
“Why does he want to meet me?” she asked, her insecurities all over her small heart-shaped face.
Sometimes, he forgot that, despite her often multicolored hair, her rocker-chick clothing, and her bright tattoo that held a meaning only the two of them understood, she still gripped tightly to her insecurities. She’d come a long way after surviving so much. But like the winged bird she’d inked onto her shoulder, the time had come for her to fly away. Stone may or may not be the man for her, but she was ready to embrace someone else to help her along with the next part of her journey through life.
“He didn’t tell me. You’ll have to ask him. But I made it clear that he’s to respect you and your boundaries,” Axel promised.
She nodded, the hair she’d pulled back in a simple ponytail today colored a surprisingly sedate chestnut brown with a few hints of fuchsia streaks. Her long lashes brushed her cheeks as she paused for a moment to gather herself.
Finally, she opened her eyes and regarded him again. “Okay.”
More than one Dom over the years had asked about the club’s sweet little receptionist, but she hadn’t wanted to come out of her shell. Axel had been suspecting for a while that she was ready for more than he could give her. Her agreeing to meet anyone was a huge step forward.
He hugged her tight. “I’m proud of you. He’s waiting. I’ll introduce you.”
With the little receptionist in his arms, Axel stood, then set Sweet Pea on her seriously high heels. She still only reached the middle of his chest. “I’m scared.”
“I’m always here if you need an ear. You know Thorpe is, too.”
“I appreciate the offer.” She nodded pensively. “But you’re with Mystery now. You don’t need me.”
He frowned. “Misty, you don’t have to leave my protection because I’ve found someone. We’ll have to change a few things about our relationship, but I don’t want you jumping into any arrangement with another man just because you think I won’t be here for you anymore.”
She smiled softly. “Axel, you’ve been so wonderful. I’ve often wished that I could have been healed enough to love you like you deserve. And that I could be the sort of woman you’d love forever. But we weren’t meant to be. You’ve done more for me than I’m sure you were prepared to when Thorpe asked you to help me along, and you’ve definitely given me more than you’ll ever understand.” She teared up. “I’ll miss you.”
“Sweet Pea . . .” He held her close. “I’m not shoving you out the door and into the cold.”
“I’m showing myself out.” Tears splashed down her cheeks. “I’ve worn out my welcome. It’s time for you to give your whole self to one woman. That’s never going to be me. And it’s all right. If she loves you like you deserve—and it sounded earlier like she does—then I’m so happy for you.”
Axel looked away with a wry grin. He’d intended for Heath to overhear them, but he hadn’t thought Sweet Pea might come to the club early looking for him. When Stone had shown up and asked for her, Zeb had turned protective older brother and fetched Axel from the kitchen. But maybe this was for the best. Maybe the time had come for both he and Misty to move on.
Axel’s heart swelled. He’d always have a soft spot for her inside his big, rambling chest. He might have done her a favor by working with her on her ability to trust and communicate her feelings, but she’d taught him more than a little about honesty and letting go of fears, too. All of his brothers were still single, as was his father, and Axel didn’t kid himself. All that had so much to do with his mother’s abandonment. Trust didn’t come easily for him, but Sweet Pea had helped kick-start his healing. He wasn’t there yet, but he had high hopes.