Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series

Son?

I can’t think with his nearness, with his hands still on me.

“Did you say son?” I repeat the word out loud just to make sure.

The man – whose name I still don’t know – lowers his hand from my face.

I feel myself leaning forward, missing his touch. But his hand doesn’t go far, only moving it until he’s loosely gripping my wrist. His other hand still cupped around mine on the glass.

“I did,” he answers.

“I don’t understand.”

I don’t. I really don’t.

He heaves out a breath, “He’s a good kid but…”

His words trail off and I focus on one word.

“Kid?” I ask, an uncomfortable feeling filling my gut. “He said he was 25. He’s not… Oh god, he’s not underage is he?”

One of those thick brows raises, “25?” The way he lets out an exasperated sigh has me thinking this isn’t the first time he’s sighed over his kid. “Brian’s not underage. But he’s not fucking 25 either.” His hands slide away from mine as he leans back in his seat. “He’s 20.”

“20?!” I squeak, glancing down at the drink in front of me.

“Afraid so.”

“That’s…” I lift my glass and take a healthy swallow, hardly tasting the alcohol. “That’s messed up.”

A sound that might qualify as a laugh drags out of his chest, “You can say that again.”

When I look back up at him, his head is tipped forward and he’s pinching the bridge of his nose.

I take another quick drink then set my glass back down.

I can’t believe Brian lied about his age. I also can’t believe that he’d want to date me, a woman so much older than himself.

I eye the silver stud in front of me and recognize the hypocrisy of my thoughts. Me dating a guy 11 years younger seems weird as hell, but me dating this guy… well, that seems hot as hell. And if I had to guess, I’d say Brian’s dad is more than 11 years my senior.

“So…” I start to bite my lip but stop when his head tips up, his eyes flashing to mine. “Your, um, son sent you here to cancel our date?” My face scrunches as I ask the question. It sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know why else he’d be here.

He slowly shakes his head, “He was pissed after I took his phone and car away from him so he took off to stay at one of his friends’ houses. And while I was trying to decide if I wanted to sell his phone or smash it, a reminder popped up on his screen about meeting you here tonight.” A muscle ticks in the side of his jaw. “That boy can’t remember shit on his own, so I figured he’d probably forget to show up.” He glances around, proving his point. “And it didn’t seem fair to leave a lady here, waiting alone, considering I was the one who took his phone away.”

Well, that was hardly the reason I was expecting. “What’d he do to make you mad?”

The big man sighs. “He was supposed to be taking this summer college course to make up for one he failed last semester but turns out he’s been fucking off all day instead. Wasting his time and my money and pissing me the fuck off.”

I press my lips together to keep from grinning. This guy has gone into full Daddy Bear mode and it’s amazing. If we weren’t in public, and magic was real, I’d morph my clothes into a schoolgirl outfit and climb into his lap. I’ve been skipping classes, too.

A small peep of laughter breaks free at that mental image and I slap a hand over my mouth.

His eyes narrow, “You think that’s funny.”

I almost reply with No, Sir but thankfully my hand is still over my mouth so I just shake my head.

The edge of his mouth pulls up. “Brian didn’t think it was funny either. Especially when I handed him an old flip phone. I wanted him punished, not totally stranded.”

This time I don’t hold back the laugh, “How did you find one that still works?”

He lifts one giant shoulder, “Had to bribe the guy to activate it, but it was worth it.”

His dry tone makes the whole story that much more ridiculous, and I shake my head.

“Does a 20-year-old even know how to use a flip phone?”

“He’s smart, when he’s not acting like a dumbass, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”

I hum my acceptance, and we watch each other for a moment.

I tried to keep my expectations low before coming here. Tonight was really meant for me to rip off the dating Band-Aid and try putting myself out there for the first time in forever.

I figured it’d be okay- maybe fun, maybe dull- but I did not figure that my date would bail and that his dad would show up in his absence. And I certainly didn’t count on the dad being so goddamn attractive. But I guess that’s the perk of being in your 30’s. I can play cougar and date some guy in his 20’s, or I can level up to the next generation.

Which reminds me…

“I have two questions.” I hold up a pair of fingers.

“Alright,” his chin dips.

“Can I see your ID?”

Without answering, or asking why, he shifts in his chair and pulls his wallet out of his back pocket.

I don’t actually know Brian’s last name, or if he’d share the same last name as his dad, so this won’t exactly prove his story. But information is power. Plus I need to know this man’s name and somehow asking what’s your name is harder to say than give me your ID.

He pulls his license out and I flip my hand over, so it’s palm up on the table.

He nods to my phone, “You gonna send a picture of it to one of your friends?”

I was planning to just look at it, but that’s a way better idea.

“Yes.” It’s not a lie since I decide to do just that.

He sets the cool plastic in my hand, letting his fingertips brush mine as he pulls away.

Tingles zip up my arm, down my spine, and straight to my core.

Clenching my thighs, I look down at the name in front of me.

Axel.

Good grief, even his name is sexy.

I glance back up at him and confirm that this name is absolutely perfect for him. It’s as if he was born into this world destined to be an oversized sexy-as-hell man.

Dragging my eyes back down, I take in the rest of the information. Axel Davis, age – I do a quick calculation – 52, organ donor, resides two towns over from where I live in Darling Lake, and is 6 feet 6 inches tall.

I glance back up at him.

I’ve been sitting the whole time so the difference is a little more subtle, but I could tell he was big. So, the height doesn’t shock me even though that means he’s nearly a foot and half taller than me. He’s also 21 years older than me. And none of that changes the fact that I’m dying to scream his name while he pins me to a mattress. With his…

Is it getting warmer in here?

Subtly blowing out a breath, I pick up my phone, snap a photo and text it to Elouise with a sentence telling her that if she doesn’t hear from me tomorrow to hunt down this guy, not Brian.

Finished, I hold out the license for him to take back, “It’s nice to meet you, Axel.”

I blush as I speak his name out loud for the first time, and I swear his eyes sharpen on me.

“The pleasure’s all mine.” His fingers brush against mine again as he grabs his ID and I have no doubt that he’s doing it on purpose. “What was your second question, Maddie?”

“Hmm?” I pick up my glass, then set it down again. “Oh, right. What did the reminder in Brian’s phone say?”

I don’t have a good reason for asking, just curiosity.

He smirks, “It said, first date with Maddie – Dark Haired Babe – at The Bar.”

“Oh.” I can feel the surprise on my face at being called a Babe by a 20-year-old.

“I might be pissed at him right now, but he got the description right.”

My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, “Thank you.”

Is it weird to say thank you for that? I shouldn’t have said thank you.

Axel holds my gaze, “You’re welcome.”

This time I don’t set my drink back down when I pick it up, instead I opt to take a long pull through the straw.

I don’t want Axel to leave, but I’m not quite sure how to ask him to stay without sounding desperate. Or creepy, considering I was here to meet with his freaking son. But it’s not like I’d been dating Brian and then decided to switch to his dad. I haven’t even met Brian. And based on  the fact that he was going to stand me up, I don’t much care for Brian. Not to mention if he had come, he isn’t even old enough to buy me a drink.

Saving me from my internal dialogue, the server appears next to our table. “How you guys doin’ over here? Would ya like a drink?”

Her question is directed at Axel, but he’s looking at me when he responds, “Would you like another one, Baby?”

Baby.

Fuck me.

Every single one of his words sounds like honied gravel and the deepness of them vibrates through my body, settling in my panties.

I definitely don’t need another drink, but I really want Axel to stay. And since a little extra liquid courage can’t hurt, I nod my head.

Axel breaks eye contact, looking towards the waitress, and my lungs finally expand. The way he looks at me, listens to me, is so much more than anything I’m used to. I feel like I haven’t breathed fully since he sat down across from me.

Chill, Maddie.

You need to freaking chill.

Except I can’t chill because he’s staying. Axel, the tall, dark, and so-handsome-I’d-swear-he-was-fictional man is staying.

The server starts to walk away, and as Axel turns his head back to face me, I catch the wide-eyed look that the waitress throws my way – a look that says holy shit that man is hot. I raise my brows in a oh my god I know look before she turns away and heads to the bar.

I spin my glass slowly between my fingers. “Thank you for coming here to let me know about- you know…” I pick up my drink and take another sip. “I hope it didn’t mess up your plans.”

“Plans?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

I’m being forward. Way more forward than I’d usually ever be. But there’s a crinkle of humor next to his eyes and it’s making me feel brave.

“Yeah, plans. The things people often make for Friday night. With friends. Or… girlfriends.” Every part of me wants to look away, but I keep my gaze locked on Axel when I say that last word.

His expression doesn’t change. “I didn’t have any plans.”

Dammit, he’s going to make me ask. And really, it’s only fair since obviously he knows that I’m single.

“So, no girlfriend then?” I roll my lips together.

His light blue eyes bore into me, like he’s trying to figure out my motivation for asking such a question. But I feel like my motivation should be pretty clear. I’m asking because he’s the hottest man I’ve ever talked to, and before I let my fantasies take over, I need to make sure he’s not taken.

Even if I’ll only climb him like a goddamn swing set in my imagination, I need that peace of mind. I don’t ever want to be the other woman.

An eternity later, Axel shakes his head.

It’s not quite the resounding no I was hoping for, but I believe him and let out a small exhale of relief.

“Well, even if you didn’t have other plans, I still appreciate it. I was already stressing out about how long I should sit here and wait for him if he was late.” I sigh. “I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, which means I’d probably have sat here forever. Or at least until the pitying looks of others proved to be more than I could handle.” I’m rambling now, my internal switch having flipped from stunned silence to nervous chatter, so I clamp my mouth shut.

Anger clouds Axel’s features, “Any man that makes you wait, is not worth your time.”

In the split second it takes my brain to register his words, my throat tightens.

My mom said those exact same words to me once. I was in high school, in the process of being stood up for my first ever date and in full denial, and I blew up in her face. Telling her I’d wait as long as it took, that he’d be there, that true love took work. Of course, none of that was true and my night ended with me crawling under my covers fully dressed and sobbing into my pillow.

And thus started a trend of me being stood up that would carry on until… well now, apparently.

I swallow against the memory.

What I wouldn’t give to have my mom lecture me once more. She’d surely tell me that same advice, for the hundredth time, and maybe this time I’d actually listen.

“I’m serious,” Axel leans forward, clearly mistaking my silence for disagreement. “Any prick that stands you up doesn’t deserve you. I mean that.” He drags one of his oversized hands through his hair. “Fuck,” he growls, dropping his hand back down. “But if you have your heart set on meeting Brian, I won’t stand in your way. I couldn’t do that. To either of you.”

“What?! No!” My hands slap down on the table, and I instantly hunch my shoulders, not meaning to make so much noise. In a more controlled tone, I explain, “I mean, no offense to Brian or anything, but we’ve barely exchanged messages. It’s not like we really know each other. I was just…”

My favorite server in the whole wide world shows up right in time to save me, because I don’t know how I was going to finish that sentence, but it probably wasn’t gonna be good.

I was just saying yes to the first guy that showed interest.

I was just so desperate that I was willing to meet a man that was still a total stranger.

“Here you are, honey,” the server says, setting down another full-to-the-brim drink.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

When she angles towards Axel, I pick up the half-full glass I still had and down the contents.

Handing the empty to the server before she leaves. The woman smirks, knowing I’m well on my way to being totally drunk.

But I mean, come on. Can you really blame me? This situation is… a bit much.

Unexpectedly, my favorite scent hits me and I’m smiling before my eyes fall on the steaming mug sitting in front of Axel.

“Coffee?” I ask, even though I can see what it is for myself.

He nods, lifting the mug, “Coffee.”

He brings the edge of the mug up to his mouth, pressing his lips against the curved ceramic, and gently blows across the surface.

The move is entirely innocent, but also unbelievably sensual. And my body reacts as though his breath is cooling my bare skin instead of his coffee.

My teeth clamp down on my lower lip, trying to keep in a groan. When I close my eyes tonight, this is the exact scene that will greet me. And lord help me, my hand will probably be down my pajamas.

The mug tips, and he takes his first taste.

There’s no reaction on his face. No sense of pleasure. No eyes rolling back at the joy of coffee on his tongue.

“Is it good?” I ask before I can help myself.

One of his brows lifts, like he can’t believe I’d ask. “It’s coffee.”

“Well, yeah. But I mean, is it good?” I emphasize the word this time, like maybe he didn’t get my question the first time.

Axel lowers the mug to the table and slides it towards me. “Tastes like coffee, but you’re welcome to try it.”

I know I shouldn’t. I don’t know this man, and I’m not in the habit of sharing drinks with total strangers. But… coffee.

Letting go of my glass, I slide my hand forward.

“You’re left-handed,” I blurt out the observation, when I realize the mug handle is already aimed perfectly for my right hand to reach out and grab it.

Axel’s lips quirk up the smallest amount, “I am.”

Making a small humming noise, I mimic his movements from a moment ago and lift the plain white ceramic. Only instead of blowing on it, I inhale, and my nose scrunches instantly.

Burnt.

I already know I won’t enjoy the flavor but…

My brain swirls a little, that last drink hitting me all at once and giving me the courage to do exactly what I want to do. What I’m craving to do. Even though I know my tastebuds will protest at the flavor.

Glancing up, I lock eyes with Axel while I rotate the mug in my hand until the handle is in my left hand.

My heart is racing, so I steady the mug with both hands as I raise it to my lips. My mouth touching the mug in precisely the same spot where Axel’s was.

The bitter taste barely registers. My body is too busy lighting up with need as I watch Axel watching me. His nostrils flare and his chest expands.

I start to lower the mug but see a single drip of coffee on the rim. Lifting it back up, I slowly lick the spot clean.

My entire body is on fire, and I’m sure every inch of my skin is bright red, but the look in Axel’s eyes makes any amount of embarrassment worth it.

“Good?” His question is so deep, I swear I can feel the rumble of his word even in the noisy bar.

I nod, setting the mug back on the table and sliding it towards him. Then I remember what he’s actually asking and shake my head.

“Which is it, Maddie? Good or bad?”

I press my knees together under the table. “Very bad.” My flush deepens. “The coffee, I mean.”

He uses one large finger to hook the handle, pulling it back to his side of the table.

“You think so?” Lifting the mug he takes another sip, his mouth pressing directly over the spot where mine just was. Sealing my imprint between his.

I watch as his throat works on another swallow. Those big, tattooed hands holding the fragile ceramic.

“Tastes like coffee to me.”

“Then you have a lot to learn.” I nearly pant, feeling more turned on than I think I ever have.

“Is that so?”

I nod again, meaning it this time.

“You offering to teach me?”

Nodding for the third time, I reach for my own drink. Needing the iced beverage to cool my throat, since rubbing ice cubes on my chest would probably be frowned upon.

“Coffee is kinda my thing,” I tell him, setting my glass back down.

Axel inclines his head, “Is that right?”

I smile, “I have a coffee shop.” When an impressed look covers his face, pride fills my body and I find myself wanting to tell him more. “Have you heard of BeanBag Coffee?”

He dips his chin, “I have.”

My smile widens, “I bought the original location.”

Normally I wouldn’t just blurt that out, but I know these drinks are starting to erode my usual boundaries. And there’s just something about Axel that makes me feel comfortable. Safe. Like I can tell him things about me and he’ll give me more of those pleased looks he seems to guard so closely.

“I’d say that makes you an expert.”

I lift a shoulder, hoping to come off casual, “I know a few things.”

He makes a humming sound that’s way sexier than it ought to be, then he tilts his head towards my drink, “Since the coffee here isn’t up to par, what are you havin’?”

“Oh, this is vodka with cranberry juice.” I swirl my straw through the ice cubes. “I usually stick to hard cider but…”

When I trail off, Axel leans closer against the table. “But what, Maddie?”

I blow out a breath. “But I was super nervous.”

“About what?”

My damn blush is back, “Going on a first date?”

I mumble the words, but he still hears me. “That’s understandable.” He reaches out and taps a finger against the side of my glass. “Is it good?”

My eyes follow the movement, “The drink? Yeah. I think the server hooked me up with some top shelf stuff because I can hardly taste the alcohol.”

His hand closes around the glass. “Do you mind?”

My pulse quickens even more. “You want to try it?”

“I let you taste mine.”

Breathing is hard.

When did breathing get so hard?

“Okay,” I whisper my agreement.

Before he picks up the glass, he uses his fingertips to spin it until my nearly invisible lip marks are facing him.

And I swear the blue of his eyes darkens as he lifts my drink.

I make sure my mouth stays shut as I watch his lips press against the chilled glass. His thick neck working as he swallows down a mouthful of the red liquid, and I feel that movement everywhere.

Sweet baby Jesus, this is how I die.

I’m going to self-combust in this bar. I’ll turn into a pile of ash that they’ll sweep away with the discarded straws at the end of the night.

“Good?” I ask, surprised I can even speak.

“It’s sweet.” He places the drink back in front of me. “I didn’t think it’d be my thing, but…”

“But?” I prompt when he doesn’t finish.

“But now that I’ve tasted it, I think I might need more.”

Oh, pretty, pretty please be talking about me.

My finger drags across the rim of the glass as I open my mouth to say something, then think better of it.

Of course, he notices. “What is it?”

“I just was thinking that maybe you weren’t a drinker.” I shrug. “Since you ordered the coffee.”

“I’m usually a whiskey and coke guy, but not when I’m driving. And it’s been a long week, so I needed the caffeine boost.”

My heart melts a little. “That’s smart.”

“I try to be.” His eyes narrow on mine, “Are you driving tonight?”

“Definitely not.” Just thinking about having to drive makes me feel drunker, and I press the tip of my finger against a drop of condensation on the side of my glass. “I’ve actually had a couple of these,” I admit, giving him a sheepish smile. “I was nervous, which is why I chose hard liquor over cider. Figuring it might boost my courage. But then the server just kept bringing them, and I kept drinking them…” I let the sentence trail off before admitting, “I’ve probably had too much.”

There’s a long beat of silence and my nervousness starts to pick up.

Then Axel asks, “Why are you here?”

I glance around, “It seemed like a good location. Close enough that it wouldn’t take long to get here, but not so close that someone could easily follow me home without me noticing.”

A crease forms between his eyes, “That’s not what I meant, but tell me you weren’t planning on getting a ride home from one of those apps.”

His tone is just shy of scolding, and his disapproval feels like a pinch to my side.

I press my lips together, not sure how to answer since that’s exactly what I was planning to do. I know ride share apps have their faults, but I just wanted one night of cutting loose. And that means I needed a ride.

Axel sighs, clearly understanding my non-answer. “I’ll drive you home tonight.”

My eyes widen, “You don’t have to do that.”

“I do have to do that, Baby Doll. So don’t bother arguing with me.”

“Oh, um, okay,” I murmur.

Gah! What is it with this man? I shouldn’t be agreeing to this. Or telling him about my business. But I just can’t help myself.

Not wanting to discuss my bad decision making further, I change the topic. “What did you mean before, then? About coming here?”

The tension in his face softens, “I meant why are you here for a date with someone you don’t really know?”

A sense of failure tries to fill my lungs.

Because I’m tired of being lonely.

Because I want someone to hug me.

Because I want to know that there’s someone – anyone – that might love me the way I want to be loved.

But I can’t say any of that, so I go with the easy answer. “Because I want a boyfriend.”

Axel’s expression is unmoved, and I have a feeling he knows I’m not telling the whole truth.

My hands drop into my lap and my shoulders roll forward. “I’m not good at talking to people. At work it’s one thing, ya know? It’s transactional and short-term. But dating?” I grimace. “It’s terrifying. And when you’ve lived in the same small town your whole life, and work in that same town, it’s hard to meet new people. So online seemed like the best bet.”

“I can understand that. But why not wait until you’ve gotten to know someone more before agreeing to meet them? You said that you and Brian had hardly talked. There are some bad guys out there, Baby, you need to be careful.”

A twist of emotions fills my chest at his look of concern, but I stamp it down. If I start getting teary eyed sitting here in a bar, I’ll never recover.

Under the table, I tap my toe against the linoleum floor. “My best friend is getting married in a month and I need a plus one.”

“She’s making you bring a date?” Axel’s affronted tone almost makes me laugh.

“No, I just… I don’t want to be alone.”

My eyes lower to look at the table.

I meant to say that I don’t want to go alone. But maybe this is one of those Freudian slips I heard about in Psych Class, because I don’t want to be alone is the real answer to his questions.

Shit, this is embarrassing.

Snagging my glass, I pick it up and quickly suck down my cocktail, knowing damn well I don’t need a single sip more but not able to face the overall mortification of tonight without it.

“Maddie.” Axel’s voice is so soft and kind, it nearly breaks me.

“I’m not sad.” I whisper the words to myself.

How could I forget that getting drunk doesn’t just make me talkative, it makes me weepy.

I force my mouth into a smile as I meet Axel’s eyes, but I can’t read his expression. “I’m okay, really.”

He darts a glance to my now empty glass before he lifts his own drink and downs the rest of his coffee in two big swallows.

Setting the empty mug down, he tips his chin to me, “You want to get going?”

I feel a little bad about bringing the mood down so swiftly, but I appreciate that Axel is a man capable of reading social cues. But really, if my little admission followed by gulping down my fourth drink doesn’t say please rescue me from myself I don’t know what does.

Nodding my answer, I slide my chair back.

The second I push up to stand, I realize just how much vodka I’ve consumed.

Woah, girl. I sway a little. You’re fucking Drunk with a capital D.

Then I snicker a little to myself.

I wish I was getting some actual D.

“You alright?” Axel stands at the same time, stepping in front of me.

Following his movement, my gaze moves up. And up.

“You’re so big.” My eyes widen. “Oh my god, I’m sorry! I don’t mean big like fat, you’re just ginormous. And not that there’s anything wrong with fat. Fat is fine.” I wave a hand up and down, gesturing to myself. “Clearly. I just meant…” I let my eyes trail all the way up to the top of his silver-streaked head and start to sway backwards.

Large hands grip my upper arms, “First, you don’t need to explain. Compared to you, I’m a beast and I know it.”

He steps closer and I can finally smell him. And sweet horny hormones, he smells exactly like a sexy man should. Something deep and musky and sexy. Like his bodywash is scented and maybe he showered recently, but it’s mixed with a… I don’t even know what.

Damnit, I’m too drunk.

“Second,” he shifts and my body gravitates towards his, “don’t ever call yourself that in front of me again.”

My eyes are still stuck on the expanse of chest in front of me, “Call myself what?”

I can’t remember what we’d been talking about.

I try, I really do try. But he’s just so distracting.

His sigh ruffles the top of my hair and my fingers twitch, wondering if it’d be okay to touch him.

A warm fingertip touches the underside of my chin, pressing up until I tilt my head back enough to look Axel in the eye.

His blue eyes stare into mine as he says, “You’re fucking perfect.”

Heat. So much heat infuses my body and I don’t know how to react. So I just keep staring right back at him.

What must be his thumb ghosts over my lip then lowers until he’s lightly pinching my chin, “Are you ready to go?”

My head nods, “I need to pay my bill.”

        “I took care of it.”

I glance at the table and see a small stack of twenties resting under his empty mug. I don’t know how much my drinks cost, but I’d say he more than covered it.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His hand slowly releases my chin, his fingers slipping away. “Anything else?”

“Bathroom?” I say it like a question, but now that I’m thinking about it, I really need to go.

“I’ll walk you there.”

Axel slides his rose-tattooed hand the rest of the way up my arm and around my back until his palm is pressed into my shoulder blades. It’s hard to focus while I concentrate on placing one foot in front of the other, but it feels like his hand covers my entire back.

It feels like I’ve fallen into a whole new world. One where the men are kind and considerate- and giant.

I glance down, towards the front of his jeans, and wonder if he’s oversized everywhere.

The move nearly costs me my footing as my balance swims. But then the hand on my back moves, sliding to my far shoulder and guiding me closer to his body.

And when his fingertips graze the bare skin along the back of my arm, I give up the fight and allow myself to melt into his side.