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“Hey, guys!” One of the Kiss My Ax employees came over. “I’m Annie, and I’ll be your coach for the evening.”
She went around the table, and her eyes lit up when I introduced myself. I tried not to let my smile slip, though I didn’t want to seem overly friendly either.
After she’d explained the rules and safety procedures, she asked if there were any questions. Then she said, “We’ll do a few practice rounds before we get into the competition. Who wants to go first?”
Bennett, Asher, and Liam all turned to me. This was beginning to feel like more and more of a setup. I lifted a shoulder and tried to avoid tugging at my collar. “Sure. Why not?”
I stepped into the arena with Annie. I could feel my friends’ attention on us, and I had a hunch they were observing more than just my ax-throwing technique. In fact, I wondered if this was going to somehow end up inThe Vineas well, and I cringed.
I’d never paid the local gossip blog much attention, but that was because it had mostly ignored me. Tessa and I were settled. Everyone respected our privacy. And I’d always told myself that whoever was behind the blog was smart enough to know that if they messed with me or my family, I had the tools to expose them.
Apparently, V either didn’t realize that—or no longer cared.
But I wasn’t going to waste my time on V’s silly antics. Between the kids and finding an investor for my company, I had enough other—bigger—things to worry about.
Olen had pushed me to meet with Celeste, and I’d finally relented. The meeting was still a few months away, and I really needed to nail my pitch. But all I could think about was nailing Ellie.
Annie gave me a few tips before I picked up the ax, getting used to the feel of it in my hand. I stepped up to the block. My heart was pumping in my ears, and I was focused on the target. When I released the ax, it went sailing through the air and landed. Not a bull’s-eye but not bad either.
“Nice!” Annie grinned and held up her hand for a high five.
I slapped her palm, listened to her suggestions, and then fired off another ax. Then it was Asher’s turn. Then Bennett and Liam. Finally, after she was satisfied, she explained the scoring for a match. She remained at the table with us, offering pointers when necessary, but mostly just hanging out.
Annie was nice. Fun. And as much as I was enjoying my evening out with the guys, I couldn’t wait to go home and tell Ellie all about the ax throwing. It seemed like something she’d enjoy—quirky, slightly dangerous, an adrenaline rush.
I decided to text her to see how things were going with the kids, though it was mostly an excuse to talk to her.
How’s it going?
A moment later, a picture of the kids came through. They were dressed up and standing in front of the TV, dancing. Savannah and Maddox were bursting with joy, and I smiled.
Looks like they’re having fun. What about you?
Ellie: Always.
Picture or it didn’t happen. I teased, using her own words.
Ellie: OMG, you didn’t.
But then an image came through of Ellie and the kids—a group selfie. The kids were making silly faces, but I was more focused on Ellie. Her cheeks were a beautiful shade of pink, her eyes dancing with laughter.
“Looks like one big happy family,” Asher said from over my shoulder.
I slid my phone back into my pocket. Annie was helping Bennett while he threw against Liam.
“It’s nice having her here,” I admitted. “She’s been a huge help with the kids.”
“Mm,” Asher mused then took another swig of his beer. His attention was on the targets when he said, “Is thatallshe’s been helping with?”
I clenched my fists. “Fuck off, Asher.”
His answering grin was smug. “Oh, so youareinterested in her.”
Was that a question? It felt more like a trap. So, I sipped my beer and didn’t respond.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you were. She’s sweet. Sexy. Smart. The whole package, really.”
“Are you guys talking about Annie?” Bennett asked, rejoining us along with Liam. Fortunately, Annie had gone to help another table and was out of earshot. “She’s great, right?”
