Page 134 of Axe Marks the Spot

I look up from my hands to meet Morgan’s eyes.

“Has Dane told you much about his past?”

“Some,” I say, thinking of what he told me about his parents and why nobody in Starlight Haven besides Fox and Morgan seems to know him. That he prefers the peace and quiet of being alone and the anonymity of his work online.

“Then you know that Dane isn’t like most men around here. He doesn’t go out and pick up women at Moose’s or flirt with the locals. He keeps to himself; he always has. Fox and I have asked him to hang out with us on multiple occasions, and he’s always busy. But you know what I’ve heard recently?”

I shake my head. “No, but I know you’ll tell me.”

Morgan laughs, muttering something about how Nathan and I are so alike before she continues. “That he goes in and picks up his food inside the diner instead of having Cheryl bring it to his car. That he talks to the parents at the obstacle course. That he was even seen at the hardware store picking out paint. Two weeks ago, he called Fox and asked about working for us again this fall and winter.”

My interest piques at that. As far as I know, his Pro Dom business is going well. There’d be no reason for him to pick up work as a logger. I have no idea what the paint is about, unless it’s paint for his paintings.

“And how do you know most of this? I thought you hated town gossip.”

“I do. Nathan, however, loves it and tells me everything he hears.”

“That tracks.” Nathan has really taken to small-town life, and he loves talking to anyone about anything. Something we don’t have in common.

“He also heard that you and Dane had an intense little run-in before the first day of the obstacle course and that Dane was seen coming out of the bathroom after you at the General Store.”

My skin burns. “God, this town is way more nosy than I thought.”

“The nosiest,” Morgan confirms.

“So Nathan knows about Dane and me?”

“I don’t know if he knows more than the gossip, but he asked me if I knew anything, and I said no, because I didn’t know the details. Fox stayed silent, but Dane was at our house a few weeks back, and they talked. Not sure what about; Fox wouldn’t say.”

I nod, wondering when and what they talked about, but it’s none of my business. I’m just glad to hear Dane talks to someone other than me and his clients. It’s clear he and Fox are similar, too. Not only in the dominant quality they share but also how they move about in the world and keep to themselves.

“You should tell Nathan when you’re ready. He’ll be happy you found someone. I know he’s been worried about you, though less so recently.”

I skip over the part where she mentioned I’ve found someone and think of my interactions with Nathan. “Why less now?” I ask.

“He said you’re confident, that over the last couple of weeks, you’ve been more rested and happy. That Kas seems happier, too. And I have to agree. You’ve also been letting us help you more with watching Kas, and I love that. We enjoy having her here with us, and I know Fox will be sad now that she’s going back to school.”

I smile. “Kas will be, too.”

“Back to what I said before.” Her tone turns a bit more serious. “You may think love is a stretch, but I know love.”

“It’s too soon,” I interject. “It wouldn’t make sense, since our relationship isn’t like that.”

“Lindsey,” Morgan says gently. “Love rarely ever makes sense, but it doesn’t need to. And take it from me, love happens when love happens.”

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself,” I counter. “Dane doesn’t love me. I don’t even know if he wants to be in a real relationship with me. And don’t forget, I come with a daughter and enough baggage to fill an airplane. Not to mention, he hasn’t even collared me yet.”

Morgan’s eyes bug out of her head. “You’ve spoken about collaring?”

I swallow. “I think he’s going to give me a training collar tonight.”

“Lindsey! What the hell?”

“What?”

“I know that collaring isn’t the same for everyone in the lifestyle, but in all the research you’ve done, you probably know that, for some, it’s a big step in a D/s dynamic. Have you talked to Dane about what that means for you both?”

“Yes. It’s a commitment. To him, to our dynamic. To structure and growth.”