Chapter 13
13
HAZEL
I was kind of surprised that Axton didn’t want to make love last night, but maybe he could tell that I was rattled from Fern showing up, and the constant calls and texts from Dad. Eventually I turned my phone off during dinner and stopped looking at it.
I roll over in bed, jerking awake when I realize I’m alone. How can I already be so accustomed to Axton’s presence?
There’s a note on his pillow. The printing is neat and square, like an architect’s.
“The coffee was made at eight, so hopefully it’s still drinkable when you get up. Take your time getting ready and packing. We’re moving to the secret cabin around three.”
Well . This mountain man sure knows how to make a girl curious.
I pack up my things and get ready, choosing the nicest outfit I brought besides the dress I wore last night. It’s just black leggings with an almost knee-length cranberry sweater, but I think it looks kind of festive for February fourteenth.
Once I’ve cleaned the cabin, I turn on my phone. There are a million voicemails and texts from Dad, but there’s no way I’m checking those today. I don’t need to hear his aggressive opinions. Listen to him trying to own me and control my every move, even from a distance.
Dad, I’m fine. Everything is great, but I’m busy right now. I’ll talk to you next week.
I fall into my work for a while, so focused that I don’t even hear Axton tap on the door. It’s the crisp mountain breeze across the back of my neck that makes me spin around. “Hey, gorgeous. Ready to go?”
I throw my laptop in my bag, double check that I didn’t forget anything, and return the spare key to the top of the door frame.
“That’s why I was positive I was in the right cabin,” I say with a grin as he sets my bags in the truck. “The key was in the right place.”
He shakes his head. “Baby, in the country, everyone keeps a key in that spot. It’s okay. I’ll teach you what a happy life looks like out here.”
As he said, the road up the hill is steep and winding, and I grab the handle above the door as we bounce along.
“I hope you like the house, baby.” Axton reaches out briefly to caress my cheek, then needs both hands on the wheel again to take a curve. “I did a lot of the work on it myself.”
The bumpy road finally flattens out, and we take a long, slow turn. Wow, there are a lot of bright yellow No Trespassing signs.
I’m so curious that my fingers are shaking. With such a small cabin, I’m sure his house is charming, but modest. No matter what it looks like, though, I’m going to love it. Really. Just a bit bigger than the cabin is fine. I’m ready to plaster on a polite smile no matter what. I just hope?—
Oh. My.
Whaaat?
The truck rounds the last turn to reveal the most incredible house I’ve ever seen. It’s a rambling two story, deep red brick, with a black roof, charcoal shutters, and a super inviting wraparound wooden porch. There aren’t any flowers or ornamental shrubs – nestled in the lush forest, there’s no need.
“I wanted it dark so that it doesn’t pop up in aerial photographs,” he explains as we park in front of a massive garage with dark gray siding.
“Is that the workshop over there?”
“Yes.”
I still can’t quite close my mouth all the way as Axton grabs my bags and we walk into the house. It’s simple and rustic, but the materials are clearly top quality. The impressive woodwork. The comfy furniture. The massive built-in bookcases.
“I can’t… It’s all so…” I sputter. Axton sets down my bags, then takes me by the elbow to show me into the dining room.
My heart nearly stops, overwhelmed from trying to take it all in. His arms wrap around me, holding me snugly. “You can see why this location is worth the trouble.”
The dining room and most of the living room have floor-to-ceiling windows that give a view of the entire valley. The ski resort. The town of Hope Peak. Half the mountain. The plains. It’s mind-scramblingly beautiful. And the sky! It’s gigantic up here, stretching on forever.
Honestly, I feel like my eyes have short-circuited.
Then I see the dining room table, already set with beautiful cream linen, elegant silverware…and a huge crystal vase overflowing with a stunning pink flower arrangement.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, baby. Do you like them?”
I walk over to read the card, which instantly creates a lump in my throat. “They’re perfect. I love that it’s a mix and not just roses. Thank you!”
He squeezes me, making me look up at him. “You had a sticker of one of those pink flowers on your laptop.”
My arms encircle him in a bear hug. “I can’t believe you spotted that. Everyone says that men never notice those kinds of things.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” His hand squeezes my behind, making me giggle. “Just because I look like a brute, it doesn’t mean I have to act like one, right?” He makes a face. “At least, not around you. The rest of the world… That depends.”
I can’t believe he went to all this trouble for me.
Axton keeps me facing the window as he wraps his arms around me, pulling the back of my shoulders to his chest. “You didn’t think that yesterday counted as our Valentine’s date, did you?” His lips brush the top of my hair. “When your father’s choice of boyfriend was there?”
I spin in his arms to look up at him. “I’m so sorry about that. I know that men don’t like women that come with baggage. It’s just?—”
He cuts me off with a swift, fiery kiss. “Hazel, I want you to make your own choices. Completely independent from your father. Follow your heart, okay?”
My forehead thumps against his chest as I nod. “Yes.”
“Okay then. Dinner is half-ready. How about you sit at the island and have a glass of that wine you liked so much last night?”
He takes a bottle from the fridge and shows it to me, then laughs at my wide eyes. “How did you get the exact same one?” I ask.
He pours us each a glass while I admire his tattooed forearms. Axton is ridiculously sexy in his usual t-shirts, but there’s something extra hot about a big man in a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
“When the server brought the check, I asked her to put two bottles in the back of my truck before we left and add them to the bill.”
He asks how my work is going, and we chat about literary trends while he adds sauce to something and slips the pan back in the oven. By the time he’s tossing a salad, I realize this is already the best Valentine’s Day of my life and we haven’t even had dinner yet.
Axton takes a sip of wine, swirling the glass. “You know, a guy like me probably shouldn’t like this pink fruity shit. But I do. It’s like drinking candy.”
I reach out and tap his arm. “It’s not that sweet.”
His eyebrow raises skeptically. “Really?”
He scows at the front door as a sharp knock makes me jump. I’m genuinely surprised the wood doesn’t splinter from the force of his glare.
“What the… Nobody comes up here,” he mutters, stomping toward the door. He flings it open in a way that makes me think he’s about to tear somebody’s head off for interrupting us.
It’s a middle-aged man in a sheriff’s uniform. “Hey, Axton. I’m looking for Hazel Anderson?”
My heart sinks through the floor.
My dad called the cops.
If Axton gets in trouble, I’ll never forgive myself for causing him drama in his own town.