Page 96 of Axe Marks the Spot

Twenty minutes later, all the kids have been picked up, including Kas, who was picked up by Nathan so she could go to her dad’s for the weekend. Now alone, I take my phone from my pocket and see I have several messages; a few are from clients, but those aren’t the ones I’m after. I see Lindsey’s thread has notifications, and I click it open. She messaged me an apology for her disobedience and said she’s going to journal on why she did what she did and didn’t check in with me. All of that pleases me, and I acknowledge what she sent and praise her before I type out what I’ve been itching to say. What I know is the next step in our relationship.

Me

If it wasn’t obvious, I’m going to say it now: I like you, Lindsey. I like you a lot. I’d like to show you how much, if you’d let me. Are you free tonight?

I reread the message, finding it’s so unlike me in many ways. It’s sappy, but my conversation with Kas is fresh in my mind. Lindsey needs to know that I like her and I’m not rejecting her.

The bubbles that indicate she’s typing pop up, and a few seconds later, her response comes through.

Lindsey

You have my schedule; you know I am.

I laugh at her smart mouth, and I have to think she’s being sassy on purpose.

Me

I’ll send you my address. We’ll eat at seven, but arrive by six thirty.

Lindsey

Yes, Sir. Any other requests?

Me

Wear the toy I sent you.

Lindsey

Yes, Sir.

Me

And Lindsey?

Lindsey

Yes?

Me

Don’t be late.

29

Lindsey

I’VE SHAVED AND EXFOLIATED every single part of my body that I could possibly think to shave and exfoliate. If I still lived in a big city, I would have gotten a full Brazilian wax, but that’s not something the Starlight Haven’s local salon offers. Even if it did, I wouldn’t go.

The woman who owns it, Sandra, would go on to tell the entire town I was getting lucky. I swear that woman has a phone tree set up just for gossip. Not that it would matter much. I’ve already had a few of my coworkers, including Billie, ask me if I was dating the mysterious lumberjack in the woods.

I couldn’t even be surprised at the questions considering the public run-in at the obstacle course and then our impromptu dinner at the diner. It seems people have seen him more in the last couple of weeks than they have the entire time he’s lived here. It makes me wonder if that’s solely because of me or because he replaced Levi at the course.

I don’t have time to think about it more because my GPS tells me to turn onto a winding road, and his cabin is only a couple of minutes away.

The nerves I’ve felt since he asked me to come over are a ball in my stomach, bouncing with each rock of gravel my tires go over. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date—if that’s what this is—and even longer since I’ve had sex.

If that’s what is going to happen. I have no idea, but between the dormant toy resting against my clit, his comment about my mouth in the bathroom, and everything that’s gone on with us in the last week, I’m going to guess yes? At least oral?