Page 73 of One Wild Chance

“Then I’m glad you gave me back my shorts,” I say.

“Next time, I might not,” she says with a smile.

She disappears through the trees, then I lie back on the grass and study the way the clouds are turning pink at the edges.

Sure, I got rejected by the bank and an NHL team in the same day. But I’m still here, thinking about her legs wrapped around my waist more than either of those letters. Which is probably not a good sign.

Chapter 20

Summer

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about expectations, it’s this: keep them low, and you’ll never be disappointed. Which is probably why I didn’t expect much when I posted the first picture on our new social media account for Wildflower Weddings.

Last night, I didn’t even bother checking the photo after I got back from the pond. I was too busy replaying the evening, how Jaxon had looked at me with wild eyes, the feel of his hands sliding over my skin. After jumping off that swing, I knew I was in trouble. Jaxon’s smirk shot through me like a current of electricity. When his hands found my waist and our legs tangled, it was like I’d touched a hot, live wire. There was a fevered, vibrating force behind his eyes as they dropped to my lips, and I shivered, wondering what I would do if he kissed me.

His proximity had hypnotized me so much that when his pupils darkened, I was ready to swan dive right into them. Which is why I had to swim as far away as possible—I couldn’t afford to take that risk. Jaxon’s my boss, my business partner, and the man who is holding the keys to my future.

I told my ridiculous heart not to look too closely into what happened last night. The poor man is stuck in a farmhouse alone, with only horses and fields to look at. His limited social options in Golden Springs are the Blue Moon Saloon or bingo night at the community center.

I can’t pretend he won’t wake up one day and realize Lucky Chance never fit him like it fits me. He’ll leave while I’ll still be here making every bride’s dream come true—except mine.

That’s what I keep telling myself when I pick up Remi for hockey practice. Her mom, Meredith, is working second shift again, which means I’ll have plenty of time to sneak glances at Jaxon while I work on the Wildflower Weddings launch.

When we arrive, the team is actually practicing a drill that’s halfway decent. Jaxon notices us walk in, and the corner of his mouth tips up before he comes over.

“You’re staying to watch?” he asks, leaning against the boards.

“Yep,” I say. “I need to post another photo and see how yesterday’s did.”

“Coach, can you help me?” Remi interrupts, pointing at her hockey skate.

Without hesitating, he kneels down to tie her skate. Something about seeing this man meet a kid at her level makes me enormously attracted to him. I really need to get a handle on my feelings because it’s not even me he’s helping. I just didn’t expect him to be so patient with her—or with any of them, really.

He pats her skate. “Get on out there and show the boys how to do it.”

When he turns around, I study my phone like I’ve been looking at it the whole time. I bring up the social media post of Jaxon carrying me in the barn.

When I see the numbers, I gasp.

There are hundreds of comments and five thousand new followers. My flower business has never cracked a dozen reactions on its best day.

And every one of the Chance brothers has shared it. No wonder the post is exploding.

“Something wrong?” Jaxon asks.

I glance up. “No, actually. Something’s right.” I turn the phone around to show him. “Your brothers shared it.”

“I told them to,” he says.

My brows rise. “You did?”

“You wanted it to go viral, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I say quietly. I just didn’t think it would happen on a photo of us—or that Jaxon would care that much.

I click through the comments. A handful are asking for booking information and congratulating Jaxon on the new business venture. Then there’s a string of comments asking about our relationship status.

“And?” he asks.