Waited until she dumped her asshole boyfriends who treated her like trash.
Waited until my fear of rejection wavered.
And am currently waiting to grow some balls to tell her that I’m in love with her.
CHAPTER ONE
KNOX
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Inhale,” I whisper in Hadleigh’s ear as I steady her hips from behind. She obeys, holding the axe firmly in her grip. “Now exhale and throw.”
As she stretches her arm back, I give her some space so I don’t get whacked. The blade makes a loud thud as it slams into the wood about five inches from the bull’s-eye.
“Not too bad,” I say, lowering my gaze to her perfect ass that I’d love to bury my face in.
“Let’s see how you do now,” she taunts, turning to face me. “Though, you have an unfair advantage.”
I shoot her a look as I get into place. “How so?”
“You’ve done this before and have more arm strength than I do.” She twirls a curly strand of her strawberry-blond hair and looks up at me with sweet doe eyes.
Though she’s anything but innocent. A cock tease is more like it.
“Don’t gimme that look. I’m not goin’ easy on ya just because we’re on a date,” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes. “I’d hardly call this a date.”
My brows shoot up in offense. “We ate at a nice restaurant, and now we’re drinkin’ and havin’ a good time at a bar. This is the most date-like date I’ve ever had.”
She snorts. “It doesn’t count when I bought it.”
“Never told ya to bid on me, babe.” I shrug, knowing damn well she nearly threw elbows to win me.
“True, but I like to keep my word.”
“Didn’t matter to me, Hads. Kane’s the one who’s pissed,” I remind her, then immediately feel bad when her smile fades into a frown. “Don’t worry, he’ll eventually get over it.”
I try to reassure her, but I also know better. Kane begrudgingly went out with Sarah Cooke weeks ago, and he was an asshole for days afterward. But since Hadleigh’s work schedule and mine never coordinated, it took a couple of months before we could plan something.
“Well, show me your moves, Bishop,” Hadleigh taunts, stepping out of the way so I can throw.
“You couldn’t handle my moves,” I say, narrowing my gaze on the target in front of me. I reach back, then whip the axe. We both watch as it hits dead center.
“Ugh, you suck.” She scoffs.
I turn to face her, grabbing my nearly empty beer bottle. “Guess you owe me.”
She scowls as I remind her of our deal. The loser buys the next round.
“First, I spend three fifty for this damn date, and now I have to buy you a beer?”
I shrug in amusement and notice how Hadleigh’s biting her lower lip, something she’s been doing all night. She’s always been a little bit of a flirt, but hell, so am I. Kane’s the one who’s in love with her, yet he treats her like a fragile doll that might break. I know he means well, but I can tell Hadleigh isn’t a precious princess and doesn’t want to be coddled like one.
I’d be willing to bet she likes it rough.
Moments later, Hadleigh returns with her hands full. I take my beer, and she hands me a vodka shot too. She has two for herself.
“You think liquorin’ me up is gonna make you throw better than me?” I lift a brow, then watch as she shoots one back, then immediately coughs.
She instantly downs the other with a cheeky grin. Jesus Christ, she’s going to be wasted soon.
“Maybe not, but it’ll make me care a lot less.”
I chuckle at her honesty, then motion for her to take her turn. “Do you think my stance is right? I was only off a little bit, so maybe I need to move over a few inches.”
I move behind her, grazing my fingers along her arms and feeling goose bumps form on her silky skin.
“Where you’re standing is fine. The angle of how you held the hilt wasn’t right.”
I pull her arm back as she grips the axe and slowly go through the motions with her.
Her breath hitches as I press my mouth to her ear. “Now you try.”
Stepping back, I wait and watch as she tosses it.
“Oh my God!” she squeals when it hits directly in the center. “I did it!”
I can’t contain my smile when she spins around and leaps into my arms.
“Good job,” I say, holding her close. “You learn fast.”
One side of her lips tilts up before she narrows her gaze on my mouth. I swallow hard as I try to contain my willpower not to bend her over and fuck her raw.
“Your move.”
I get lost in her eyes for a moment before I realize what she said. Wait, what? “Huh?”
“To throw,” she explains, inching out of the way. “You miss, and the next round’s on you.”