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“If they cut off a toe, I don’t think they’ll be running at all,” I commented. Killian snorted while Declan scowled at me. I shrugged. “It’s true!”
“Why can’t I use my own ax—”
“I think you’re stalling because you know you’re going to lose,” Killian interrupted with a wicked grin.
“Don’t you forget who taught you how to do this,” Declan clapped back. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at him. All of them. The entire thing was ridiculous.
“Okay, you gorgeously equipped men.” Raven laughed at her own joke. “The name of the game is simple: first one through the wood is crowned the lumber-snack! Baby, I’m counting on you here. Make it hard for them.”
“It’s my job,” Declan reminded her.
“I vaguely remember that you’re now a retired lumberjack,” Roan cut in. “Probably gone soft in your old age.”
“Oh, fuck you!”
“Bring it on, you furry shit,” he retorted. At the rate they were going, they’d never start. Maybe that was the plan.
“Boys, boys, boys!” Raven chastised loudly. “Take all the hot, masculine aggression and channel it into your wood.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Killian turned around, biting his fist as he tried not to lose it while Lucas practically howled with laughter. Most of us were used to the things Raven said—including her obsession with making wood jokes around Declan. No matter how many she made, he still groaned and turned red at least around the ears. Sometimes he turned a questionably violent shade of red. It was fun to see what would happen whenever she spoke. Killian, however, was experiencing her for the first time. Watching him do so was entertaining—even if I was conflicted about… well, everything.
“Grab your wood, boys!” Raven hollered.
“If he doesn’t marry her, I will!” Axel announced, laughing.
“Honey—”
“I know, I know. That one was a stretch.” She sighed. “Grab your axes, boys, and get chopping! The winner demands it!”
The banter died as they did what she asked. Cheers from the ladies around us rose in the air with the first slam of their axes. I let out a small sound of encouragement, clapping my hands together.
“What do you think of a romance novel where two lumberjacks get into a competition—male, female combination,” Nolan began softly, leaning closer as we watched. “And the woman kicks his ass. Her choice of prize is getting him to take her on a date. Ensue romance.”
“Please, write that,” I replied. “Put Declan in an open flannel on the front. The girls will go wild.”
“I should put Raven on the cover, open flannel, lacy bra,” he said.
“Oh, I want to do that,” Raven interjected. “Let me do that.”
“I’m writing it.” Nolan nodded, and I made a mental note to put that in his writing journal. He’d forget otherwise. Truthfully, he’d forget most things if I didn’t write it down for him.
Granted, the longer I watched Killian chop wood, there was a good chance I’d forget it too. Lord have mercy on my soul, the man was downright sinful. I was captivated by how his biceps bulged and his abs contracted with every sweeping pass of the ax. Every breath was controlled, and his strikes were perfectly timed. The man was a well-oiled machine.
Who cared what anyone else was doing?
I was stuck on him. My skin vibrated and warmed as my gaze trailed down every inch of him I could. It was so easy to get lost in him—this way or any way. My head drifted to the side slowly as I openly ogled him. God bless Raven and her shenanigans. I could fight with the man all I wanted, but there was no denying how turned on watching him chop wood had me.
The intensely dramatic gasp Raven let out startled me back to reality.
Declan’s ax broke. The blade jammed in the wood while the handle broke off.
“Baby!” she exclaimed.
“Son of a bitch!” Declan snapped.
Not even ten seconds later, Killian slammed his ax into the grass, reached down, and tore apart the two halves of his block of wood. My jaw went slack when he did.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. Lord help my poor panties.
