Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,437

reviews published by myself and others I choose to employ, as well as recipes to my favorite dishes, a travel section, a special segmented arena for vegan and gluten-free—not to mention the pictorials. I’m talking food pornography at its finest. You may not come hungry when you land on the site, but you will be salivating with love-struck eyes by the time you leave.”

The room grows silent as Teagan’s and Shep’s jaws drop. I glance over to Axel and his lips are parted with shock as well. I take it the word pornography has yet to be uttered in this airspace. I’m sure it’s been streamed a time or two. After all, let’s be realists. Shep works here.

“I see.” Mr. Collins nods as he peruses the paperwork before him.

My God, what did I tell Abby Boobcox that ill-fated afternoon? Did I really gift her the keys to the kingdom just hoping she’d scuttle away?

A heavy sigh expels from me. Most likely I did.

“It looks to be pretty similar.” Mr. Collins frowns up at Abby. “Lex’s version is a bit more detailed—a hell of a lot more passionate. You know—that’s exactly why I vetoed your proposal.”

Abby gasps as if this was news.

Mr. Collins nods to Ax. “But this one was insistent I take you on.” He takes off his glasses and rubs his tired eyes. “What have you got to say for yourself, son?”

Axel leans in, elbows on the table, head pointed straight at Abby, and it’s an intimidating look. “I had no clue what she was looking to peddle.” His shoulders slump slightly as his expression softens. “I’m sorry, Abby. I knew you were short on cash, and I didn’t have the heart to fire you. When you mentioned offering my father a business proposal, I ran with it. You have a wonderful degree and a bright head on your shoulders. I had no idea the business you’d be partnering with my father in was Lex’s company.”

Her cheeks burn with color. Her eyes flare as if ready to torch this entire building with the rage percolating inside her.

“I’m not going to sit here and listen to this. It’s clear whose side the entire lot of you are on. I’m innocent in all of this. I’m the victim here.”

“You’re the criminal here,” Axel is quick to point out. “You’ve entered into a legal agreement with a company infrastructure you swiped from someone else. Lex is free to sue you.”

Mr. Collins lifts a finger. “I’m free to sue you.”

Shep shakes his head at her. “My father has been known to extract maximum prison time for far less crimes.”

“Oh ma gawd!” she belts it out just like Raven, and a wicked grin spreads over my features just to see her so jingle-jangled. “I can’t go to prison.” She shuffles toward the door. “I don’t look good in orange! It clashes with my hair. You just take my name off all those legal forms, and we’ll call it a day.”

Mr. Collins nods to Teagan, and she leaps to the exit right alongside the blonde bombshell plotting her escape. “It’s not that simple,” he calls out after her before turning to me. “But we’ll make it so.” His brows rise in my direction. “As soon as I untangle myself from this partnership, I’d be interested in exploring one with you.” He nods as he rises. “Son”—he smacks his lips, the disappointment in Axel is palpable—“try not to screw things up too badly for me.” He takes off and Shep follows, closing the door behind them.

Axel turns my way, his hands tapping over the table. “I’ve already screwed up everything that’s important to me. I don’t see why I can’t screw things up for my father, too.”

I cinch Poppy over my shoulder and jump to my feet. “Rest assured. You did.”

I’m not sure why I do things on occasion. I’m not sure why I say the things I say. When my mother left, she forked my tongue on her way out the door—or at least that’s what I’ve chosen to believe over the years. It’s as if her exit from my life formed a steel resolve over me that included a barbed fence permanently installed around my heart.

The odds are that Axel didn’t have a clue what Abby was up to. And that embrace at the Black Bear wasn’t likely anything nefarious either, but it’s probably best Axel and I stay away from one another because—because… My God, I can’t come up with a single reason