Page 4 of Axe Marks the Spot

“You sure?” his velvet voice rumbles.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I cross my arms over my tank-top-clad chest and look down at the ground. While I’m curvy everywhere else, my boobs are small, so I only wore a thin bralette under my shirt. If I leave my hands down, this insanely attractive man will see my headlights.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t, either. I’m glad you’re okay.”

He clears his throat with a sound almost like authority. The tone of it has my gaze snapping to his without thinking. His eyes are partially closed now to block out some of the sun, and to avoid looking at the rest of him or falling into a trance staring at his eyes, I focus on his nose. It’s a nice nose. A perfect nose. Is having a nose fetish a thing?

“Miss?”

“Uh, yeah?” My voice comes out in a weird and squeaky tone that has him chuckling.

“Are you sure you’re good?”

I dare a glance at his eyes once more but force myself not to look anywhere else. I think I’m going to find every single body part, down to this man’s ankles, attractive. At least I’ve already seen his eyes, right?

“I’m good. Just tired.” I don’t know why I told him that—I felt like I had to justify my weird behavior, I guess.

The stranger’s hazel pools study me, and after a second, it’s almost as if he’s staring at me with disapproval. I dip my chin to the ground and drop my arms from my chest, hiking my purse up my shoulder and slipping the phone I’d managed to hold on to into the main pocket.

“Sorry I ran into you again,” I mutter. “Have a nice day.”

I hear a sound slip from his mouth as if he’s about to say something, but I don’t wait to hear what it is. I walk off, not looking back. And while I’m not positive he’s watching me walk away, I swear I feel the weight of his stare on my back. My skin prickles, and my nipples, which haven’t gotten the memo to chill, become so stiff they hurt. I cross my arms over my chest again, weaving my way through people.

When I get to my car, I pull out my keys then stop and look at my reflection in the driver’s side window. My medium-length brown hair mixed with blond highlights is ruffled and a bit frizzy from the summer heat and my run-in with Mr. Perfect Nose. My chest is heaving from the mad dash I made to get away, and despite the light makeup I put on this morning and the flush on my cheeks, I do look tired.

There are imprints under my eyes from lack of sleep, and the spark my brown pools once held is long gone. Not only from being exhausted, but from the last several years of my life, too.

I could listen to Nathan, stay here, and…hell, maybe Mr. Perfect Nose/Pretty Eyes is single. I did want a lumbersnack to throw me around. And that man…just by the strength of his hands and chest, I know he could throw even my plus-size frame around. That voice, too…

Shivers run up my spine, and I close my eyes to collect myself. I should turn around and go watch the games. I should listen to my brother and take advantage of the time I’m child-free. But that nagging voice in my head drowns out my needs and desires. I’m a mom first, and I’ve been slacking. I forgot about this slumber party, and Kas can’t show up empty-handed.

I also can’t forget my little A-frame cabin is a mess. It’s gotten bad this week after I worked a couple of extra shifts to help pay off the lawyer fees I accumulated fighting dumbass Jeremy for primary physical custody and child support.

I nibble on the inside of my cheek. It’s something I tend to do—biting my nails is another—when I’m stressed. However, there are no nails left to bite at this point.

My phone pings, snatching me from my thoughts, so I fish it out of my purse. It’s a text from work asking if I can take a morning shift next week. I quickly respond that I can, grateful for the extra money, then decide it’s a sign I need to tackle my responsibilities—no lumbersnacks or sex for me. I have shit to take care of that’s more important.

2

Dane

“DANE, MY MAN. THERE you are!” Levi says, stretching his long-ass arms over his dark-blond head. He’s one of those guys who’s tall and gangly and looks like he’s probably not that strong. But I’ve seen him split an eighteen-inch oak log with no problem.

He bends over and stretches some more before standing back to his full height. “I was beginning to think we’d lost you to the woods forever.” He chuckles.

“Funny.” I grin dryly. I throw my duffel with all my gear onto a folding table they’ve set up in a tent for competitors that’s mostly empty now except for two other guys and Levi. “I ran into someone.” Literally.

“A hot someone?”

I think of the woman I ran into—body made of curves and soft lines with hard nipples pressed against my overheated chest. Her eyes reminded me of rich cognac, and I’d happily drink her in all damn day. My dick comes to life in my shorts at the thought, so I try to think of something else, like the speed pole competition I’m about to take part in.

My gaze meets Levi’s as I open the zipper of my bag. The way he’s grinning has me thinking I said my thoughts out loud, though I know I didn’t.

“How’d you know?” I ask.

He bends down and tightens his knee brace. “I have a sixth sense for these things. Don’t ask further questions.”

I take out some of my gear, including my high-grip boots and climbing spurs. “You’re a weird man, Levi. Sure you’re not the one spending too much time in the woods?”