Guided Love (Prick #1)

by Tracie Redmond

  “Axel, why, exactly, are you here? What happened to Camaron?” He turns sideways and he looks gorgeous even with celery hanging from his mouth and the ranch dressing dripping from his chin. He eats the celery and wipes his mouth off with a napkin from the table.

  “Nothing happened to Camaron. I’m here to pick your beautiful ass up along with this delicious food ‘cause Ma, she wants to meet you and you’re late.”

  “Camaron is fine?”

  “Yeah, he is at Ma's right now, with all the pricks. Probably eating my fucking steak, but I couldn't just let you stay here so I am here to get you.”

  “Camaron is at the barbeque?”

  Axel nods his head as he now is gathering up the tray and putting it back into the bag.

  “Yeah, he and Roni got there about an hour ago. Let’s go, beautiful, you have anything else you need for me to carry?”

  I don’t answer, I am just standing there stunned that he forgot me. He actually went to the barbeque and forgot to pick me up. He is there right now with Roni and I am sitting here worrying about his dead body in a ditch.

  “You know what, Axel, take the food. I don’t think I should go to this one, maybe next time. Tell Mrs. Martinelli that I am so sorry.”

  “Yeah, beautiful, that isn't gonna happen. You don't want to go to the barbeque fine, we’ll stay here, but either way I am not leaving. I guess I’ll just eat your salads and veggies and forget about my steaks.”

  He starts to open the bag again when I stop him.

  “Axel, you don't have to stay here. Go spend time with Mrs. Martinelli and the pricks, I’m fine here. I’ll just start writing my book.”

  “Nope.”

  That’s it, he just says nope and starts to open up the potato salad. “Do you have any desserts in here?” I start to laugh and swat his hand away.

  “No, buddy, I can cook but there is no way I can bake. I’m the worst baker in the world, hell, I screw up making Rice Krispie treats.”

  He, once again, is putting all of the food back into the bag. “I highly doubt it, you are great at everything you do, Samantha, but with no desserts in this bag, we need to get to Ma's. I love your food, beautiful, but there is a steak and a dessert table with my name written on them.”

  He grabs my hand and the bag and we are on our way.

  It’s only a 20 minute ride from my apartment to Mrs. Martinelli's house. She lives in a nice older development. Her house is cute: a small white, two story Cape Cod with green shutters. The front is nicely landscaped and she has beautiful flowers in front of her enclosed front porch. We pull in the driveway and in front of us is a big garage. It actually looks like a two car garage with a room on top as there are stairs leading up to a door. Axel shuts off the car, walks over to my door, and actually opens it.

  Smiling at me he says, “If Ma saw that I didn't open your door, she would smack my head.”

  Laughing, he opens up the backdoor and grabs the bag. Dang, he is being such a gentleman it’s killing me here—I’m not sure if I have butterflies in my stomach because of him or if I want to puke thinking about going in there and seeing Camaron and Roni and knowing the bastard forgot me or he just didn't want me there. Ugh. Axel puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close.

  “Don't worry, beautiful, I got you. You’re going to have fun, no worries.” I nod and let out the breath I didn't realize that I was holding.

  We walk towards the garage and the backyard, which is enclosed by a privacy fence. I can hear the pricks back there, Axel opens the gate, and I walk in. I stop suddenly because the yard is breathtaking. It is exactly like the paintings on Axel's wall and the tattoo on his back. I take it all in. The tree and the tree house still stand and the gardens are exquisite. I see Paul and Allen off to the left playing horseshoes, while Camaron is manning the grill a few feet away. Axel grabs my hand and leads me up the deck toward the sliding glass doors. I hear laughter coming from, what I would assume is, the kitchen. He opens up the sliding glass, I smell heaven. I smell barbeque and my mouth starts to water.

  “Hey, chica, took you long enough.” Carrie jumps off the stool where she is cutting up strawberries.

  “Wow, Care Bear, I didn't think I would ever see you in the kitchen, even if it was only cutting strawberries.”

  She gives me a huge hug and I look up and see Roni staring me down and then a little old lady standing on the other side of the island. “I know right, but when you come to eat at Ms. Ellie's you have to pitch in or she won’t feed you.”

  “Damn straight, this isn't a restaurant. If you want to eat, you help out.”

  I look over and honestly, she looks like Mags from the Hunger Games. She is a cute little, old Italian lady, with spunk. She is put together very nicely, you can tell that, back in the day, this woman was a beauty. She slowly climbs down from her chair and heads over toward Axel and me. I am short at only 5'4 but Mrs. Martinelli is adorable as she is 4'9 at the most. She is wearing a nice, navy blue suit with little sailboats on the pants and matching shirt. She has a few gold necklaces and her hair is in a perfect feathered style. She reaches out, grabs my hands, and looks me over.

  “Well, you must be Sam. I have heard so much about you darlin', come grab a seat and tell me all about yourself.” She looks over my shoulder and sees Axel standing there.

  “Okay, boy, put those dishes down and head outside, this is women only and you, handsome, are not a woman. Go now, get out.”

  Axel shakes his head laughing and kisses her on top of her head. “Yes, ma' am.” And with that he leaves us all in the kitchen.

  “So, Samantha, tell me all about yourself. Carrie, don't think I don't see you just sitting there—grab the knife and start slicing.” I laugh at her bluntness.

  “Why doesn't Samantha have to help?” Roni actually speaks and that is what she says . . . really? Mrs. Martinelli turns her head ever so slowly.

  “Oh dear, Samantha doesn't have to help because she was nice enough to actually bring a few dishes not just a cake. She knows what true hospitality is. She is a giver not a taker, so stop your pouting and grab the knife and help Carrie here slice some strawberries.”

  I can't help but laugh, yeah, a true belly laugh, she is my hero putting the she-devil in her place. Mrs. Martinelli rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and looks right back at me. “So, tell me everything, you have to be a special person; especially, since I have heard so much about you from all of the pricks.” I smile at her kind words.

  “There really isn't much to tell, I'm nothing too special.”

  I hear Roni snicker and say, “You’re telling me.”

  At that moment, Mrs. Martinelli whips her head around and in a strong tone says, “Okay, Roni, I have had enough. You need to get out of this kitchen before I hit you upside the head. You, my girl, are a horrible lady. You need to go and think on that in the hot sun with all of the men. You are now kicked out of the girls club; go on now, get up and get out.” Roni's mouth is hanging open like she can't believe that this little old lady just kicked her butt out of the kitchen. “Close your mouth, girl. That look never is a good look on a lady.”

  Carrie is now the one who is laughing out loud. Roni tosses the knife on the counter and is mumbling to herself as she stomps outside.

  “Okay, where Camaron found her I have no clue, but, dang, she is a rotten one. Anyway, now that the garbage is gone, please continue. Where are you from and how do you like Philadelphia so far?” I tell her all about me, about Camaron and I being friends since elementary school, and our plans when I graduated. I told her about working at the shop, getting that all organized, and increasing the sales. There really wasn't anything I didn’t tell her. She has a way of making you feel so comfortable that you starting spilling your soul.

  She laughed when I told her that Roni doesn't like me and she said she could understand why. When I questioned her she said, “Honey, no woman wants to have her man living with a good looking woman like yourself, who has such a history with him, that h
e would mark his body with her name. Hell, baby doll, she is threatened by you, so don't hate her—she is just scared of you.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so Mrs. Martinelli, Camaron and I are just friends and have always been friends.”

  “Oh, baby doll, it’s Ellie not Mrs. Martinelli and especially not Ellie Martinelli. You say that and I’ll whoop you upside the head,” she chuckles at her own joke. “Or just call me Ma as all the pricks do.”

  “Yes, Ma, will do, but like I said there is no way that Roni would be threatened by me. I mean, she’s a Barbie.”

  Carrie, at that moment, decides to chime in with, “An evil Barbie,” and pops another strawberry into her mouth. I laugh at her addition to the conversation as I feel that Ellie is searching my soul as she sits here and watches me.

  “Well, ladies, you will soon realize that I am always right. Really, it’s a curse, but I am.”

  “You are what?” Paul walks in and settles into our conversation.

  “Ma has just informed us that she is always right. It seems that she thinks that Roni is scared of our Rice Cake here.” He walks behind Carrie and puts his arms around her as he grabs a strawberry and pops it into his mouth.

  “She is—ever since I’ve known her she has never been wrong. It’s kind of like RC here—she has never found a dish she hasn't liked. Carrie, we are sitting amongst greatness,” he says then kisses Carrie’s cheek.

  “Whatever, what are you in here for anyway, Paul?” He heads over to me now and kisses my cheek.

  “Oh relax. Rice Cake, you know I love you. I came in here to tell you that all the food is done and we are ready to eat. I’ll grab the stuff you need me to take out to the table.”

  “See, I told you that he was a good man, Carrie.”

  I look over and see Carrie is dark red, I obviously missed a good conversation. “Yes, I am and Ma is never wrong.”

  On that note, Paul heads out to the table and we women follow behind. Once I hit the deck, I want to run and hide. I see Camaron looking at me and he looks good, damn him, he has these sad blue eyes and he is just staring at me. Axel is standing next to him as they are taking everything off the grill. I feel a little hand grab onto my arm.

  “He loves you, dear, I can see it in the way he is looking at you.”

  “I wish, Ellie.”

  “Oh baby girl, remember I am never wrong, that boy, he loves you,” I smile down at her, take her hand, and walk with her to the table to eat this delicious meal.

  Dear goodness, I have not had so much delicious food at one time. I have to pace myself here. Ellie has pulled barbeque, chicken wings lathered with a homemade honey barbeque sauce, steaks grilled to perfection, assorted salads and a few cakes and pies as well. I make my way through the line and sit down at the long picnic table that sits underneath a gigantic tent. When it comes to Ellie's dinners, I see she pulls no punches, this is truly a wonderful time. Carrie ends up sitting next to me, which makes me feel at ease. That feeling didn't last long as Camaron sits to my right. Roni is still in the line so Camaron takes it upon himself to talk to me then.

  “Sam, I'm sorry.” I just ignore him and start pushing my food around on my plate. This whole conversation is making me lose my appetite.

  “For what, Cam? Forgetting to pick me up? You did forget right or did you deliberately not pick me up?” He has guilt across his face and he doesn't answer. He doesn't say another word as Roni now sits down to his right. I roll my eyes at him and continue to eat.

  “This food is delicious, Ellie, seriously the best wing sauce I have ever had.” She smiles up and pats Axel’s hand. “Oh dear, I didn't make any of this, my boy here did. Now, don’t get me wrong, I taught him everything he knows.” She smiles up at me with such pride.

  “Wow, Axel, you not only make me drool because you are so dang hot, you make my mouth water with your cooking as well. Want to get married?” Carrie is so serious even with sauce all across her face.

  “I would be the luckiest man alive, Carrie. I would also be murdered by Paul. He is already looking at me like he wants to kill me and I didn't even say it.” Axel laughs as he is pointing to Paul who is trying to hide his emotion. Seriously, I don't understand why those two just don't make it official already. You could tell that they have a real connection, a real love for one another but if you ask either of them they just deny it, there is a story there, and one day, I’ll hear it.

  My plate is clean, I’m happy I didn't embarrass myself by licking the plate, it was so good, but really I have been eying up that chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and strawberries all around it. I sit back and watch all of the guys around me. I look and see Axel and Ellie talking about the yard and how she needs him to come back and help out. The look in Axel's eyes, I can tell that he absolutely adores her. I look over and see Paul and Carrie just talking as if they are in a bubble all alone. He looks at her like she is the diamond he found in a coal mine. I don't want to, but I turn and see that Camaron, who is now sitting on the opposite side of the table, is just staring at me. Roni is next to him going on and on about something but his eyes are on me. He mouths, “I’m sorry. I love you. Please forgive me.” I want to cry, but I mouth back “It’s okay.” I want him to mean it, I really want him to mean it. I see Axel head up to the table with the deserts, so I make my way as well; I didn't want to be the first one up there but being the second person, that works.

  “Hey, beautiful, did you enjoy my food?” He nudges me with his shoulder as he starts to cut the chocolate cake. He puts a small slice on my plate along with a piece of apple pie.

  “Axel, your food was absolutely delicious. You’ll have to share your recipes with me.”

  He hands me the plate, brings his head down to my ear, and says in the sexiest voice possible, “Samantha, if I give them to you, I would have to kill you and, baby, I don't want to kill you. I’ll cook for you anytime you want.”

  I truly have to hold in the moan that is trying to escape my mouth. He places a kiss on my cheek, winks at me, and walks us back to the table. This time, he makes enough room for me to sit down next to him.

  I sit and feel Camaron staring at me. I avoid his eyes and take a bite of the chocolate cake. Wow! This cake is incredible, chocolate cake is a hard one to get right. Most people end up with a dry cake, to have a moist, melt in your mouth, chocolate cake takes talent, and Axel obviously has more hidden talents he is hiding.

  “Did you bake the chocolate cake as well?” He’s shoveling his piece in his mouth and shakes his head no.

  “Nope, this is what Roni made.” Well, damn, there goes my stomach. “It’s good right?” I should say yes it's delicious, but I can’t. I know I am acting childish and pathetic but what can I say, I realize it.

  “No, I really don't like it.” I push it to the side of my plate. I whisper to him “Did she bring the pie too?” I look up to see Axel smiling at me. I know he knows by just looking at me that I am completely lying, that the cake is delicious.

  “No, Samantha, Ma made the pie.” With that information I dig in, I looked like a starved dog as I devour that delectable piece of heaven. The table gets quiet and then all I hear is Allen.

  “OH MY GOD! We finally found something that our Rice Cake here doesn't like!” He laughs hysterically. He looks up at Roni and again says in his loudest voice, “Roni, you did it, you baked something that Sam openly admits to not enjoying. Damn, if Rice Cake says it's bad it must really be bad. I’ll stick with the pie.”

  Everyone is laughing, everyone except Camaron and Roni. The rest of the pricks agree with him and chime in that they too aren't even going to attempt the chocolate cake, because if I, the one that likes everything, thinks it’s horrible there is no way they will consume it. I see Camaron lean in whisper something in her ear and she just nods. She looks up and her eyes look hurt, I feel bad but honestly, she is nothing but a bitch and it angers me that she is a horrible soul and she could bake like that, damn it.

  The apple pie is devoured i
n minutes and the cake, yeah, no one touches it. All the pricks went off to start their horseshoe tournament while Carrie and I helped Ellie with all the left overs and dishes. We are in the kitchen getting all the food put into containers, as Ellie is sitting at the kitchen table, with a beer—an actual beer. She is too cute for words.

  “Come on, ladies, let that be. Come join me and we can have girl talk.” She takes a long chug from the beer and actually burps. “Oh, goodness me, now that, that right there is tasty.”

  Carrie and I both laugh out loud, I have never met such a spunky 84 year old. I wipe the counter down with the paper towel and make my way to the table. She has two beers waiting for Carrie and me. “So, ladies, how has life been treating you?” Carrie and I both nod and respond with a good. “Carrie, when are you and Paul going to get hitched?” Carrie is taking a drink of her beer and spits it out, hitting me with it.

  “What!? Paul and I aren't dating, Ellie. We are just friends.” Carrie has a flush color all over her face and neck.

  “Oh, silly girl, don’t bullshit a bullshitter. I could have told you when I first met you that you and Paul are in love. What is keeping you from each other?”

  I remain quiet, no sudden movements I do not want this kind of questioning during our “girl talk.”

  “We are friends, I mean, yes, we kissed once, but Paul and I decided that friendship was more important than a quick hook up so we are friends.” I am so shocked that she just admitted that they kissed once.

  “You have? You kissed?”

  Carrie is turning red again and nods at me as she brings the beer to her lips.

  “Yep, just once.”

  Ellie is sitting there with her hands smoothing out the tablecloth.

  “Well now, Paul is just scared and blind. Carrie, if he knows that you are friends, and he is happy with the relationship just as friends than you need to open his eyes.” Carrie and I both look at her with confusion written across our faces.