It’s not flirtatious. Not teasing. A little too genuine for a guy who claims he came here to avoid people.
I nod, suddenly more tired than I was five minutes ago. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
He nods back. “All right. Well. Try not to rob me again.”
“No promises.”
We part ways—me to the couch, him down the hall—and just before he disappears, he glances over his shoulder. “Hey, Annabelle?”
“Yeah?”
“If itdoesrain this weekend ...”
I wait.
“We’re crashing that wedding.”
Or, even if it doesn’t, I add silently.
Chapter 6
Maverick
Chopping wood is harder than it looks, especially with a fucked-up knee—but that isn’t stopping me.
Three days together in this cabin, and I’ve almost lost my damn mind. I’ve already read the same magazine four times without absorbing a single word. Tried a jigsaw puzzle and gave up halfway through sorting the edge pieces.
So now I’m out here in the woods, trying to reclaim some part of my masculinity by pretending I’m the kind of man who splits firewood for fun.
I’m not.
The axe is heavier than I expected. Or maybe that’s just the knee talking, because I don’t actually recall ever wielding one. I adjust my stance, grit my teeth, and bring the blade down hard.
Thwack!
The log doesn’t split.
“Fuck.”
I brace again, this time channeling every bit of frustration I’ve been stockpiling since the season ended. Since the injury. Since I got benched. Since my agent suggested I take some much-needed time off.
Thwack!
The blade bites into the wood but doesn’t split it. Again. I flex my fingers, shake out my knee, and resist the urge to curse out loud.
That’s about when I hear it.
A laugh. Soft. Feminine. Definitely amused. Coming from somewhere behind me.
Of course. Annabelle.
I don’t even need to turn around. I can feel the smile in her voice as she calls out, “That’s gotta be the saddest excuse for lumberjacking I’ve ever seen.”
I grunt and roll my eyes toward the treetops. “Don’t you have wedding napkins to fold or something?” People to annoy? Rental agencies to call?
Annabelle strolls into my peripheral vision, hair up, wearing a hoodie that looks two sizes too big and leggings that are probably illegal in several states.
I drop my gaze and make direct eye contact with her camel toe before quickly peeling it away.Jesus. There should be a warning label on those things.
