No, I guess she didn’t. “But you said something was up with her.”
“I did. It seems like she’s keeping a secret.”
“Well, if she’s keeping a secret, it isn’t any of our business.”
Winter rolls her eyes and shakes her head at me. “You’re completely hopeless.”
“Not completely.” I push away from the bar.
“Where are you going?”
“To spread a little of my cheer to your friend.”
Striding across the room, I pause when I reach Sophie’s side. I hold out my hand. “Come on.”
She frowns. “Come on and what?”
“Let me show you how to throw an ax.”
She blinks at me. “You want to throw an ax?”
The look of shock on her face almost makes me grin.
“I want to show you how to throw an ax.”
“I mean…”
“Come on.” I hold out a hand to her. “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
“One of us could lose an arm.”
I smirk. Great minds think alike. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Eyeing me warily, she sets her drink down. Taking her hand in mine, I pretend not to notice the instant jolt of electricity that passes through me.
Keeping her close, I cut past the people who are already too drunk for their own good to get through the front of the line. A few people call out greetings, and I grunt in response.
She races to keep up with me. “Didn’t you hear them say hello?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say anything back?”
“I nodded.”
Sophie laughs, and the sound makes my heart hitch. “You’re not really one for social interaction, are you? Spontaneous or planned.”
My lips twitch. “No, I don’t suppose I am.”
“Then what is this?” She gestures between the rack of axes and me.
I cock my head to the side. “Call it an experiment.”
“Okay.” She takes a deep breath. “Then, I suppose I’ll leave myself in your capable hands to do whatever it is we’re going to do.”
“You can trust me.” I give in and grin again. The second time in as many days, and both times for her. “As my sister pointed out, I am a mountain man.”
Then, keeping hold of her hand, I spin her so she’s standing in front of me. I place an ax in her hand, the one I’m holding.
