Page 60 of Coastal Rewind

“Oh wow, I’m not sure I can do that.” She giggled.

“You can, Sunshine. I believe in you.” I kissed her head as she passed me, walking to pull the axe out of the wood. When she turned to face me, she looked nervous.

“Let’s make this interesting.” She prowled toward me like a predator stalking her prey.

“What’s the bet? I don’t make a habit of taking advantage of women.”

She tapped her chin with the dull side of the axe. “If I can hit the middle of the target at least once tonight, you have to let Nolan announce you as Sexy Saxley at your next home game.”

I sputtered, choking on my beer. “And if I win?”

“I’ll call you whatever nickname you want on your demand.” She arched a brow at me and my mind immediately drifted to my favorite fucking words coming out of her mouth.

I wasn’t a bad person, okay? But this was an easy win. A win I wanted.

“You got yourself a deal, baby.”

She stuck out her hand and we shook on it. I backed away, ready to watch her stress out over trying to hit a bullseye while planning exactly how I was going to use my win in bed tonight.

“Did you know the Kellys are very competitive?” she asked, raising the axe above her head.

“I have fallen witness to the competitive drinking game, yes.”

My face fell when she let the axe sail and hit the bullseye in one fluid snap. She turned back to me and clapped her hands together as if dusting them off. My jaw dropped and my eyes bounced between the target and the little liar in front of me.

“Then you should know I don’t make bets I can’t win.”

“Did you just hustle me, Sunshine?”

“You fell for it so fucking easily.” She looked so proud of herself as she took another sip of her beer.

I reached out and grabbed her waist, prompting her to let out a little squeal as I twisted her toward me. I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You’re going to pay for that.”

“Whatever you say, Daddy.” She winked and kissed me quickly, slipping past me and bursting into a laugh. A low growl escaped me as I willed my dick not to get rock hard in the middle of this fucking crowd.

For the next hour Ryleigh absolutely kicked my ass. She didn’t miss the target once.

Not one single fucking time.

“Okay, why are you freakishly good at this?” We grabbed our empty glasses and walked them up to the bar when our time was up.

“This kind of thing is pretty common in the woods. Just a lot less organized.”

I paused and turned to her. “Please tell me you didn’t hang out with strangers throwing axes at trees in the middle of nowhere.”

She laughed. “Fine. I won’t tell you.”

“You’re going to be the death of me, I fucking swear.”

“You need to live a little, Saxley.” She turned on her heel and started to the front door with an unwavering confidence I truly envied.

What she didn’t understand was that the last few months with her was the most I’d actually lived in years. Whether it was doing yoga on the patio, or baking a new creation with MJ, or building pillow forts and having dance parties in the living room. Everything she touched was brought to life.

Including me.

I followed her out into the foggy night air and unlocked the car for her to slide inside. When I shut my door and started the car, she turned to me with a soft smile.

“This was really fun. Thank you.”