Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,29
it isn’t for me.
Most of what I feel when I’m around Ax is complex in a coral reef sort of way. There’s the obvious allure and attraction that I can’t deny, nor do I want to, yet the unknown emotional damage that could come from me being so close to him has me continuously contemplating to call this quits before we even find out.
“How about you show me what I’m doing wrong? Ax slyly suggests in tandem with throwing his hand in the air to summon over a festival attendant. “Ya know, instead of just embarrassing the shit of me with those artistic skills.” His shoulders bounce in further amused frustration. “Is that really a fucking swan?”
“See how you knew exactly what it was supposed to be?”
My playful mocking is poorly received by the way he picks up the finished wing and takes a frustrated bite out of it.
“Hey!”
“Now, him and I are both hurt by your mean behavior.” The attendant carrying a case of fresh pineapples for carving arrives at our table. “I hope you’re happy.”
Despite my best efforts not to giggle, the sound bounces into the air, tugging a wide mouth grin onto his face.
Once Ax has paid for two more fresh pineapples, he places one out of reach and sasses. “Alright, Pineapple Queen. Teach this pineapple peasant how it’s done properly.”
“Let’s teach you to doggy paddle before we teach you to hang ten.”
“I learned to hang ten by the time I was ten.”
“Not even remotely surprised.”
“Surfing always came kind of naturally,” he confesses on a smile. “Caterina loved the beach, so we spent many summers enjoying some amazing resorts and activities in the water. Well, I did. Harrison spent time in the sand. Volleyball and tossing around footballs. Stuff that was less likely to drown him.”
“Not a great swimmer?”
“About as well as a baby hippo.”
“Aw.”
“However, much less cute.”
My hand flies up to my gloss-covered lips in an attempt to catch the escaping laugh.
“He likes to pretend the reason he doesn’t take my niece and nephew to the beach is because he fears they’ll get sunburned and stung by a jellyfish, but I know the real truth even if his wife doesn’t.” Ax’s laughter is leaked into the air prior to him asking, “Okay, Queen. I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Grab the large knife by the handle with your cutting hand,” I politely instruct. “Use your other to secure the fruit in place.”
He doesn’t hesitate to follow the directions.
“Next, you’re gonna carefully cut off the crown.” Ax places his knife too far down, and I swiftly place a hand on his arm to stop him. “No. Just the crown. Right about here.” I gently tap the fruit. “Straight down.”
“You want me to behead this poor, defenseless fruit?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Remove from it, it’s royal rights to wear a crown?”
The urge to snicker instantly grows. “Uh-huh.”
“What a heartless, sea-witch action,” he fakes outrage.
“Chop.”
Ax slices the fruit at the same time he pretends to ugly cry.
Fighting back my laughing is impossible, and regardless of the eyes I know we’ve collected, he doesn’t seem embarrassed by his playful behavior.
Like that about him, too.
For a man who seems to come from a family that is all about how the world watching views you, he couldn’t care less if he tried. The breezy nature has already begun to wash over me, and I openly welcome more waves of it.
“That was great.”
“Compliments I like…”
“Now, move that piece to the side,” I motion to the greenery, “cut the bottom off, and then stand it up straight. We’re going to carefully remove the skin next.”
“Pickin’ up some real Criminal Minds Kitchen Edition from you.” He tosses me a mirth-filled glance prior to completing the task. “Are you planning to make a lampshade out of it or something more sinister?”
My head shakes between snickers.
Ax rearranges the fruit to be standing, and once more, prepares to make a huge error.
“No. No. Not like that!” My hand rushes to his to help reposition it. “Right about…,” I inch us over a significant distance, “here. You’re only trying to remove the skin. We want as much flesh left to eat as possible.”
“Is that so Hannahibal Lecter?”
More laughs leap out of my chest in tandem with me taking my hand away. “Go slow and straight down. Don’t fight the grooves. Work with them. Strip it but follow its curves.”
Ax momentarily pins me with another playful stare. “Now, whose phrasing possesses a double entendre?”
Heat immediately burns its way across my face, yet I seem incapable of