Ryker whipped her an amused look. “Aww, my big brother needs a woman to boost his ego. I never thought you’d be so domesticated, Foxy.”
“You should try it sometime.”
Ryker scoffed and picked up two axes, assessing them before putting one back. “Over my dead, cold body.”
Lulu rolled her eyes and grinned at Olive. “Funny. That’s what Foxy said when I met him and look at him now.”
Olive watched the exchange in amusement, but also with a pang of loneliness. She and Lulu had been college roommates back in Missouri. Lulu had been ecstatic when Olive decided to stay in Estes Park and wasted no time introducing her to the other Mitchell wives and making her feel welcome. Olive loved her friends, but she couldn’t help feeling a touch of jealousy at their happy, partnered lives.
She lived in a three-hundred-square-foot apartment above the boutique, alone.
She’d spent the bulk of her early life worrying about where she’d sleep at night, and she appreciated her apartment even if she sometimes fantasized about having more one day.
“Want to make a bet, little brother?” Fox looked Ryker square in the eyes.
“You know it.”
“If I win, you have to ask a woman out on a date. A real date. Not this one-night stand with women from dating apps that you never call again shit.”
Ryker grinned cockily. “What do I get when you lose?”
“Nothing because I’m not going to lose.”
“This is the lamest bet, ever.”
Ryker’s gaze slid her way. His eyes flicked over her as if just realizing that she was there. Her chest clenched, but the reaction was short-lived as he quickly diverted his attention. She was used to it by now—being invisible to him, which made her unrelenting crush that much harder to tolerate. He was a no-strings-attached dating app guy, apparently, and she was not a one-nighter dating app girly. It was clear they weren’t meant to be, and the crush could die anytime now.
If only it were that easy.
The men started the contest to the delight of the crowd. Fox and Ryker took turns lopping their axes against the large circle of wood at the end of the cage, teasing and goading each other the entire time. She didn’t understand the rules and she was too focused on how Ryker’s bicep bulged deliciously with each throw to care. His back muscles moved with each throw, the lines and dips changing slightly with each motion.
What would it feel like to have all those muscles against her body?
Lulu nudged her. “It’s the last throw and I think they have the same points so far.”
The spectators fell silent as the last throw was given. Both axes stuck on the bullseye and the crowd went crazy.
“They tied. Of course, they tied.” Lulu snickered.
Ryker didn’t seem happy. “Want to throw one more and finish this thing?”
Fox set his axe down. “Everyone knows I throw better than you. This tie is a fluke.”
“Since we tied, I’ll go back to my Netflix and one-nighters.” Ryker pulled his shirt from the waistband of his jeans and slipped into it. Olive felt like she could finally take a full breath.
“Wait!” A spectator pointed at the board. Ryker’s ax tipped back, the blade slipping from the bullseye. The crowd went silent… and the ax broke free and fell on the floor.
Ryker smirked. “That doesn’t count.”
“It counts!” Someone from the crowd shouted, followed by the same input from several more onlookers.
“Well, well, can’t argue with the crowd. Looks like you lost, little brother.”
Lulu snagged Ryker by the wrist before he could retort. “Come on. I found you a partner.”
He was scowling when she arranged him in front of Olive, who was too confused to feel the full effects of the butterflies in her gut. “Partner?”
Lulu gestured to the table. “It will be fun, Olive. I promise.”
