In Love by Design (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod) Read online

  Dickie sat up and hung over the front seats again. “You know, Your Lovelies, I’m quite positive that I could be of service in the matter of the tainted gift giving. My friends all say I’ve a natural gift at,” I opened one eye in time to catch his sly, charming smile when he made quotes with his two hands, “fixing!”

  Luke swore and I laughed, but then we both groaned loudly when Dickie’s high-pitched, braying laughter pierced the night air and probably caused avalanches in the Arctic Circle.

  Chapter VI

  “Short Skirt / Long Jacket” by Cake

  Friday, 12/07/2012

  12:05 AM

  The truck slowing down and the sound of Dickie’s voice kissing up to Luke with more effusive thanks woke me up. I lifted my lids a centimeter to see Luke. My boyfriend’s face was a mask of controlled composure, but a cheek muscle jumped. He was probably grinding his teeth into Chiclets. That gum reminded me of Svettie strutting naked in Luke’s studio condo. I scowled while pressing a hand low on my belly. Could that be Luke’s wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am sperm I felt leaping upstream in a determined race to detonate into one of my old eggs and fertilize cute little me?

  Hey, I warned everyone it wasn’t a good idea to let me nap.

  Peering around, I got my bearings and recognized the gas station at the Hwy 19 exit off 35W. Northfield beckoned about seven miles straight east from here and I couldn’t wait to get these toothpicks removed from my poor, throbbing ass.

  Flying J Travel Plaza was the unique name for this busy truck stop that has a restaurant attached called The Big Steer. If you still weren’t sure what that meant, a monstrous sign of a pissed off black steer, complete with a threatening set of horns, loomed over the front entrance.

  Frowning at the sign, I remembered how as a little girl I was secretly frightened of this truck stop restaurant. It was full of bleary-eyed men that sat alone and shoveled food in their faces while looking grumpy as hell. It didn’t help when Mac warned us three little kids that if we didn’t belong to the clean plate club, a mean black bull was kept out back to chase bad little kids and gore them up the butt with those wicked sharp horns.

  I had surveyed my heaping plate from the buffet while I worried over that raging bull out back, but luckily, I was in a cowgirl phase. Once I thought it over, I was stunned to realize my idolized big sister was fibbing. Everybody knew a steer and a bull were two completely different animals. I quickly ushered the quivering Reg and Jaz away from our table and into the girl’s bathroom for a pep talk. Six-year-old Jazy’s eyes were round, but she seemed pretty confident she could outrun a bull until NanaBel saved her. Reg was terrified, since he was notorious at five for not finishing his dinner. He had the unappetizing habit of chewing the juice out of his meat and then spitting the big wad back onto his plate. I rushed to reassure them that Mac was a damned liar. I pointed out that this was The Big Steer restaurant, so why would a big black bull with no balls care if we ate our dinner or not?

  That was our first united rebellion against Mac’s eldest child totalitarian regime. Sibling life was never quite the same after that in the apartment. Anytime Mac the Knife threatened us with dire consequences, I’d thumb my nose and skeptically researched the facts.

  Hard to believe I could fall sleep with an irritating voice like Dickie’s talking, but if he and Luke spoke, I didn’t hear a word. Glancing at the dash clock, I’d been fast asleep for only ten minutes. That empty farm house hadn’t been too far out in the boonies. How did my enemy come to instruct Dickie to leave me at that particular farm out in the country on an obscure gravel road? I made a mental note to investigate this trail the first chance I got.

  Luke pulled into the station, but stopped the truck in the shadows a good distance away from the convenience store entrance.

  He glanced into the rearview mirror. “Give Anabel back her check.”

  I looked at Luke in surprise, but didn’t say anything when Dickie’s hand reached over the seat and returned the check I’d written for his services.

  Luke turned towards the backseat, pointed a finger to the door and said, “Out.”

  Dickie scurried to open the door while Luke reiterated in a hard voice, “Twenty-three hours, Webster.”

  Luke’s foot hit the gas the second Dickie’s heels hit the pavement.

  He gestured to the check in my hand. “I gave him cash in payment for one day’s work, the rest he’ll get from you if he deserves it.”

  I thought this over and nodded at Luke’s logic. “Thank you.

  Looking out the window at the stocky figure of my abductor waving after our truck while blowing extravagant kisses and calling out his thanks, I gave a little wave in return. On a draft of wind from a semi driving past into the truck stop, Dickie’s black cape blew around his legs. The huge buckles on those seriously fucked up shoes gleamed like silvery beacons in the reflection of the passing headlights.

  Sitting back on my side, I commented, “It’s a good thing I removed his mask. I don’t think his reception would be pleasant inside the Big Steer if he’d tippy-toed around wearing that too! Do you think we should have waited to make sure he’s okay?”

  “Christ, no!” Luke answered emphatically. “Maybe they’ll mistake him for a vampire and drive a stake through his heart.” He shook his head at my laugh and shot me a grimly amused look. “The man kidnapped you! You have a very bizarre soft spot for dangerous oddballs, Anabel Axelrod.”

  “Why yes I do, Luke Drake. How astute of you to notice,” I agreed smoothly, tucking my left hand under my cheek where it rested on the seat.

  He glanced over with narrowed eyes. “Are you calling me an oddball?”

  I giggled. “Does the patent leather pump fit, my Dark Prince?”

  “Not in this lifetime,” Luke answered, even more emphatically.

  “I’m glad. It would make me nervous if my boyfriend wanted to put on my bras or thongs.”

  “I only want to take off your bras and thongs.”

  Blowing out a whoosh of relieved breath, I received another glinting look and smiled widely in return.

  Looking forward at the road ahead of us, I asked in confusion, “Hey, where are you going?”

  “My place,” he answered laconically, turning onto the ramp to head south on 35W and not straight east to Northfield.

  “Hmm, that’s funny, but I sure don’t recall being asked.”

  “Don’t stress, Princess, your memory is fine because I didn’t ask,” Luke assured me, and then his mouth quirked in a smile when he saw my reaction to his high-handedness.

  I had every intention of being lippy in return, but instead heard my mouth inquire, “When you say ‘my place’, do you mean your barn or your house?”

  Luke took his eyes off the road to give me a curious once over. “My place means the whole property, I guess, but my bedroom is in the house.” His black lashes lowered over smoldering eyes. “Unless, are you’re begging me for another night in the barn, Anabel?”

  “Oh, I just love your wishful thinking,” I purred and then sighed dejectedly. Another golden opportunity to see Luke’s house was slipping through my fingers like the sand through an hourglass. “Sorry, but as much as I’d like to make all your dreams come true, I can’t come over tonight. Please take the next exit and drive me to Anna’s house.”

  This surprised Luke. “Anna’s house?”

  “Yeah, I called her a little while ago and she agreed to operate on my buttocks before I go home.”

  Luke didn’t glance my way, but there was an enigmatic smile on those luscious lips that I didn’t trust for one millisecond. “I doubt she’s expecting you tonight.”

  As I reached for my phone, his smile grew wider and it transformed the lines of his harsh face into something devastatingly attractive.

  What Luke does to me was almost miraculous, in a scary way. When I see that irresistible grin any mundane human emotions I was feeling, such as exhaustion or boredom, fly out the window. One sweeping glance from his glittering
eyes and I’m raring to go.

  I would swear on my last dying breath that I affected him in a similar way—whatever the male equivalent emotion may be that a female can never truly comprehend. Believing he felt the same way I do was the only reason I wasn’t tearing my hair out and running in the opposite direction. Luke’s right, needing someone so much in your life was absolutely terrifying.

  The endless ocean of want I have for this particular man drowned the word “love” into an expression tritely small and vastly insufficient to describe what he meant to me. Gazing at him while he drove and continued to tease me, I watched his mouth move. There’s a connection between us that hums and vibrates. It outlines us together in a joint aura that I was convinced would be pulsating colors of deep scarlet and indigo blue with lightning strikes of gold, if it could be seen by the naked eye. Instead, I could only feel the power of our connection singing in the blood flowing through my body and I swear my heart pumped stronger just for him.

  I laughed at myself for these fanciful, girly-girl thoughts and heard Luke saying, “Besides, I’m much more…equipped to operate on your buttocks.” This made me snort, as I began to text Anna. “Oh, and Anabel?”

  When I raised my eyes, bold challenge was written all over Luke’s face and it matched the sexual certainty in his voice. Throw a Morion helmet on his arrogant head and he could be a Spanish Conquistador beholding a troublesome Inca maiden not falling on her back quick enough to suit him.

  “You will soon be begging me to make all your dreams come true.”

  The connotation of the word arrogant is most commonly paired in conjunction with a person not having the skills or confidence to back up their claims. Where Luke was concerned, his arrogance was a forceful reminder that I’m the one lying here with the panties of my teddy ripped apart by his hands and screaming my orgasm to the skies in less than thirty seconds. But that’s okay that El Drake has me confused with a conquered Inca maiden. I think he’ll find that I’m much more of the Viking shield-maiden type when it comes to challenges, so I only flashed him a flirty sideways glance and a sweep of my lashes in response.

  Finishing the text, I asked, “Why wouldn’t Anna be expecting me when I just spoke with her?” Then I added, “Hmm, that’s another funny thing, but I don’t recall asking you to operate on my butt, either.”

  Luke smiled at my feisty tone and shook his head. “Anabel, Anabel, when are you going to stop confusing me with everyone else in your life that’s always asking your permission?” I snorted again at that, but Luke continued urbanely, “Anna doesn’t expect you because I called her yesterday and she helped me make some arrangements.” He murmured appreciatively, “Our Anna’s a helpful woman.”

  Rolling my eyes, I despaired of my best friend. Anna’s confused Luke with Superman and has this annoying tendency to do whatever he says in the most ardently obedient manner, no matter how many times I have warned her how tricky he can be.

  I asked suspiciously, “Helpful how?”

  Eyes on the dark highway ahead, he answered casually, “Oh, she helped by telling me your schedule for tonight.”

  I thought about Luke explaining he was waiting for me to arrive home, but being too far away to help when Dickie nabbed me. Then I recalled Anna’s muffled laughter during our phone call.

  “Because…?”

  “Because I was abducting you tonight, but then the dickhead beat me to it,” Luke responded, flashing a white grin across the dim cab that caused tingles to race up and down my body.

  The sex kitten voice perked up. ‘This is getting interesting!’

  I’m still not quite recovered from my last shattering climax, but my cha-cha has a mind of its own tonight and couldn’t agree more with the sex kitten.

  “You were?” I put my hand high on his thigh and asked in a throaty whisper, “For My Turn?”

  Luke glanced down at my hopeful face and his return stare was heavy-lidded.

  “Damn that Dickie!” I cursed feelingly. A few silent moments passed by while I went AWOL’ing over several porno scenarios that Luke could be planning for My Turn while my hand idly caressed his thigh. Then I had to shake my head to clear the invading images of another type of Flying J. Not the truck stop, but James Byrd on a trapeze.

  ‘And damn that Jazy!’ I muttered to the entertainment of the stomping feet, whistling, and catcalling voices in my head.

  Luke was glancing at me with that fascinated raised eyebrow look he got and I said quickly in reassurance, “It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault Dickie foiled your plans.” I stroked his thigh a few seconds more while feeling depressed, since obviously Luke wouldn’t be telling me this if My Turn was still happening. I had an idea and brightened. “Hey, I don’t mind if you want to tell me a little preview of what you had planned once you abducted me.”

  My boyfriend’s face was innocently bland when he put his larger hand over mine on his thigh and squeezed gently.

  “I don’t think so. We’ll take it easy tonight. Don’t worry, Sweetheart, we’ll have your turn soon, but you’re too tired for what I had planned.”

  ‘Easy for him to say!’ I thought, eyeing Luke’s profile with disgruntlement. ‘He’s probably had My Turns with chicks all over the world while I’ve sat in Northfield twiddling my vibrator for ten years.’

  Out loud, I agreed bitterly, “Yes, and I’m much too cranky, too. Anyway, I’m also filthy, have no clothes but this ripped up teddy and little skirt, and I have to open the store in the morning.” I snapped my fingers. “Oh, and someone is out to kill me which is all the more reason for me to go home.”

  We all know men were fascinated with bugs and science stuff. Wouldn’t removing splinters out of my naked, bloody butt with a sharp tool be the definition of paradise for a man like Torquemada? And what do I get out of that deal, but the teasing glimpses of my lost turn and possibly the inside of his house? Then worse yet, he’d probably want to hold me and cuddle me all night to torture me.

  Luke reached for my hand, his big thumb caressing my palm as he spoke. “Anna was much more helpful besides just telling me your schedule. She’s also arranged yours.”

  I stiffened at those fighting words while Luke chuckled. “Clothes aren’t an issue. Anna packed a bag of things she thought you’d need for a couple days with me,” his lips tightened in a mock grimace, “and it’s damn heavy, so I think you’ll be fine. If anything’s missing, I’ll buy it for you.” He paused to think of my other objections. “You don’t have to open the store tomorrow. In fact, Anna has arranged it with Stella that you don’t have to work until Monday.” Glancing over at my astounded face, he squeezed my hand again, but I still saw his little smile. “I know it’s scary that someone is trying to kill you, but that’s more of a reason to stay with me, not less. I have people on it already at DDL, but we can talk more about that after I’ve removed your splinters.” Luke’s enthusiastic relish saying those words confirmed my thoughts about men and their tools. “I want your input to make sure I haven’t missed any angles and we need to decide what we should tell Jack Banner.” He gripped my hand tighter. “Webster may be helpful, but I’m not risking your life and waiting.”

  Slightly mollified, I had to laugh at myself yet again for being shocked at the adroitness of Luke managing my life and my business. I was crazy attracted to a man who has no problem pleasing me in the bedroom with his willingness to dominate me to my heart’s content. I was naïve to think it wouldn’t spill over into our daily life.

  I asked, “You didn’t call Jack already?”

  “No, I decided I didn’t need the police around if it could be helped. Did you call him yet?”

  I shuddered out a fervent, “God, no!”

  Luke smiled. “That’s one problem solved then.”

  I asked a couple of questions about what he knew of the schedule arrangements at Bel’s for over the weekend. Surprisingly, he answered them to my satisfaction, so I resisted the urge to call Stella and grill her. I leaned against my seat and relaxed.
Accepting this loss of control was uncomfortably foreign, but I admit it was a little exciting, too.

  We approached the Faribault exit. Luke’s farm was to the west of 35W and Northfield was east.

  Not wanting to bring up this subject tonight, I nevertheless feel boxed in by my second surprise abduction and felt I had no choice.

  “Luke, before we continue to your house, I have a couple of more issues that we need to get squared away. Can we pull over after you exit?”

  Luke’s glance was quizzical, but he kept calmly stroking my hand while he exited. “Wasn’t I clear about my plan to abduct you tonight?” He looked my way again and his voice was cool. “I answered your questions about the bookstore only because there could be an issue Stella or Anna isn’t aware of that could impact your business, but that’s it.” In the revealing light from an oncoming car, Luke’s eyes gleamed and his face was set in uncompromising lines. He turned the truck west. “You are coming to my house, Anabel, and it’s not open to debate, your agreement, or any of your rules.”

  ‘Whoever said losing control is exciting should have their boneheaded, sex-starved brain examined.’

  I counted to ten, and then twenty while musing over why the love of my life seemed so determined to think I wanted to run from him tonight, just like he did earlier when we were speaking of his two week hiatus. When my brother acted in this overbearing way, it was a sure sign of defensiveness because he felt guilty about something he’d done.

  Holding my phone for Luke to see, I let him read my TTYL text already sent to Anna to verify that I had no intentions of leaving him tonight.

  I said, “Geez, Conquistador, I just wanted some face time. What I needed to ask you actually had nothing to do with me making rules or debating about coming to your house.” I laughed grimly. I may love this guy more than bakery treats, but that didn’t mean he can patronize or insult me with impunity, so I added, “But now it will. What you choose to do decides if I will be your unhappy prisoner or your willing guest.”