The thing about Axel was that he usually couldn't even take himself seriously, so he really didn't expect most people to either. He joked about most things, including himself--especially himself--but he didn't hold others to the same sort of joking. Ashleigh, for instance, was entirely something else. He could joke about looking or feeling old, but despite the fact that she was actually older than him, she was beautiful. No makeup, pajamas, tired, it didn't really matter to him. He'd always liked his women best when they weren't trying too hard, and she didn't do that. Not that she needed to cater to his preferences when it came to her appearance, but he did appreciate the way their preferences fell in line.
Especially when she flirted back and looked at him like that. His hands found her hips along a well-practiced path and pulled her to him. "Hey yourself," he replied, leaning down to kiss her. "How was your day?"