Zoe shot her a look, but when Jackson rolled up his sleeves to expose strong forearms and the faint line of ink that disappeared beneath the fabric, she couldn’t argue.
After Gerald, the owner, gave them a rapid-fire tutorial and set out three different axes, they split into teams. Zoe eyed the options, already forgetting which one Gerald had said was the best for beginners.
“Have you done this before?” she asked, hovering uncertainly.
“Something like it,” Jackson said, his tone low and amused.
Zoe arched a brow. “That’s not comforting.”
He smiled, slow and deliberate. “Relax. I’ve got you.”
He stepped behind her, close enough for her to feel the heat of him, the rough brush of his sleeve against her arm. “Try this one,” he murmured, handing her the smallest axe. “Just feel the weight first.”
Zoe’s breath caught as his fingers grazed hers. He felt steady, sure, and far too gentle for a man who could probably hit a bullseye blindfolded.
“See?” Madison called, watching them with a grin. “You two have so much chemistry, I can practically see the sparks. Some of us are trying to focus, you know.”
Zoe tried to laugh, but her voice came out softer than she intended. “Well, you have to admit…” Her eyes flicked toward Jackson, who was lining up his throw, concentration etched in every movement. “…He is unfairly hot.”
The axe spun through the air, hit the target with a solid thunk, and stuck dead center.
Jackson glanced over his shoulder with a grin that sent heat rushing through her chest. “You think so, huh?”
“Clearly,” Zoe teased back, letting her eyes roam over his body without hiding it. She loved this fearless version of herself. The one that got to admit her deepest thoughts out loud.
“Your turn,” Jackson said after freeing his axe from the plywood.
Zoe looked down at the axe in her hand, doubt gnawing at her confidence. “Alright, Mr. Bull’s-eye. What’s the secret? Brute strength or divine intervention?”
“Neither,” he said, stepping beside her. His voice dropped low, the sound wrapping around her like an embrace. “It’s all about control.”
Her breath hitched as his hands brushed her waist, adjusting her stance. “Feet apart. Shoulders square. And don’t hold your breath. Exhale when you throw.”
Zoe took a chance, trying to mimic his motion. Her axe clattered to the floor, not even coming close to sticking. Heat flared in her cheeks.
Jackson retrieved it with a smile. “Not bad. You’re close. You just need a little more power. Step into it next time.”
His demonstration was sleek, strong, almost effortless, the muscles in his forearms flexing as he released the axe. It buried itself in the target with a sharp crack.
Zoe didn’t even try to hide her admiration. “Maybe you should just play for both of us.”
“Hey, none of that,” Madison cut in, scanning the room looking for a station to sharpen her axe. “We’re playing couples fair and square.”
Which would have been fine if Zoe didn’t throw like she’d never lifted anything heavier than a bouquet.
Jackson raised his voice just enough to carry over the din. “You’ll get it, Flower Girl. Just trust me.”
Something about the way he believed in her without hesitation made her chest tighten. For a second, she really did believe she could do anything.
Her axe flew. It spun once, twice, and then SMACK! It stuck in the second ring.
Zoe gasped. “Oh my God, I actually hit it!”
Jackson’s grin widened. “That’s my girl.”
The game continued, back and forth, with Jackson and Zoe trading spaces with Madison and Zach for the lead.
“It all comes down to this final throw, you realize that, right?” Zoe said after doing a bit of mental math.
