Chapter 11 Emily
EMILY
Axel slides a notepad across the counter, his pen poised as he looks at me with those sharp blue eyes. The air between us is thick, crackling with something unspoken, something electric. I take a sip of my drink, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the alcohol.
“Alright,” he says, leaning closer to me, his elbow brushing mine as he steadies the notepad. “Let’s figure this out. If we can’t get anyone up here, we’re gonna need to improvise. So, what do we need for a wedding?”
My heart skips a beat, and I find myself gripping my glass a little tighter.
“Uh, well,” I start, trying to focus on the task at hand, though my mind keeps drifting back to the way his fingers brushed mine earlier, the way his eyes linger on my face just a little too long.
“We need the basics. Vows. Rings. A space that isn’t filled with pots of frozen flowers.
” I add the last part with a laugh, and he grins at me.
Axel nods, jotting things down as if he’s planning a mission instead of a wedding. “We can probably make the lodge work. A fireplace, some candles—it could look pretty decent if we try.”
I nod, taking another sip, feeling the liquid warmth soothe my nerves. “Yeah, we could move some furniture around. Set up the ceremony by the big window with the view of the mountains. Even with the snow, it’s beautiful.”
He glances at me again, and there’s that look—like he’s studying me, like he sees something beyond what I’m saying. “You’ve got a good eye for this,” he says, his voice low, almost admiring. “I’m impressed.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t be. I’m just throwing ideas out. I’ve never actually planned a wedding before.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he mutters under his breath, scribbling down a few more notes. “What about music? You can’t have a wedding without music.”
“That’s a must.” I respond in agreement.
“Hmm,” Axel seems to ponder over it. “Looks like we might need more heads in here.”
I glance at Axel as he leans over the counter, scribbling down a few more notes in his no-nonsense way.
There’s something about him that’s impossible to ignore.
The way his broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his shirt, the muscles in his arms taut as he writes, the veins running up his neck and disappearing into his collar.
It’s like he was carved out of solid rock, every inch of him radiating strength.
I can’t help but be impressed by the way he’s handling everything, no frills, no hesitation. Just pure efficiency, like nothing phases him. It’s…really attractive.
“I don’t know,” I say, trying to sound casual, “you’re handling it quite well.”
“For one, I’m the maid of honor, so I’m not feeling the heat quite yet.” He winks at me. Wow.
“I’m just good at handling whatever gets thrown my way.” He straightens up, towering over me as he reaches for the bottle. “Speaking of which, we need more drinks. You good for another?”
I nod, feeling a little too warm inside, but I don’t mind. “Sure, why not?”
Axel moves with an ease that belies his size, his large hands deftly mixing another drink like he’s done it a thousand times. His movements are smooth, controlled, and there’s something so confident about the way he handles everything—like he’s always in charge, no matter the situation.
He slides the drink toward me, and I take it, the warmth spreading from my fingers to the rest of my body. I look down at the notepad in front of me, trying to focus on the rough list I’m putting together, but my mind keeps wandering back to him.
As I write, I sneak another glance at him. His jaw is sharp, a faint shadow of stubble lining it, and his eyes—those intense blue eyes—seem to miss nothing. His biceps flex slightly as he leans on the counter, veins running down his forearms.
Axel brings out a couple of beers for us as we take turns scribbling on the notepad.
I’m too focused on the heat radiating off Axel’s body.
“You alright over there?” he asks, his voice low, teasing.
I blink, realizing I’ve been staring a little too long. “Yeah, just…trying to figure out this list.”
“Hmmm,” he says.
“You’re really good at this,” I say, nudging him with my elbow. Axel looks down where I’ve touched him and lets out a low chuckle. I quickly move away, though he doesn’t seem too displeased.
“Well, maybe my marriage would have lasted longer if I had planned ahead like this,” he says.
My breath catches in my throat, and I feel a painful kick to my stomach. “You’re married?” I manage to squeak out.
He shifts his gaze to me. “Used to be. I’m divorced.”
“Oh,” I say. I almost sigh out loud in relief.
“What?” he says. “Why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
His eyes narrow, but he simply shakes his head. I get a good sniff of him. He smells of pine and a musky aftershave. “Don’t be sorry, it was a long time ago,” he finally says.
I bite my lip. I’m anything but sorry about it.
I take a longer swig of the beer, anything to avoid looking at him. The thought of him married…and the relief that followed when I learned he no longer was, it’s definitely not normal. Suddenly, my emotions feel as murky as the beer I’m drinking.
I need to be…not alone with him or I’m afraid I’ll do something. I almost kissed him before Collie interrupted us. The alcohol isn’t helping. In fact, it’s making things muddier. Suddenly I can’t help but think—it won’t exactly be the end of the world if I kiss him.
I quickly get off my seat. “You know, you’re right. We can’t do this alone. We’re gonna need the guys on board to figure out all the semantics—get everything sorted before Hailey completely loses her mind.”
He just nods. “You’re right. The more hands, the better.”
He downs the rest of his drink and gestures toward the door. “Let’s go round them up, then.”
We leave the bar together, walking side by side down the dimly lit hallway. The hotel has that rustic lodge feel—wood-paneled walls, low-hanging chandeliers, and a quiet that’s both comforting and unsettling.
We head toward the lounge area, where the glow of a fireplace spills across the room.
Tanner and Ben are hunched over a chessboard, locked in concentration.
Tanner leans back in his chair, studying the board like it’s some kind of military strategy, while Ben looks just as serious, fingers tapping against his knee.
“Good you guys are here. Where’s Jace?” Axel asks as we approach.
Ben looks up. Something passes across his face when he sees me. “Where did you guys hide away?” Tanner asks jokingly but I can catch the edge in his voice. Does he suspect anything? God, I hope not. What must he be thinking of me?
“We were coming to find you,” Axel says. “Have you seen Jace around?”
Before anyone can answer, the door to the lounge creaks open, and in walks Jace, his expression unreadable. His gaze immediately lands on us, and I can see the way his brow raises slightly when he takes in the sight of Axel and me standing together.
“Well, I was feeding your dog,” Jace says, his tone sharper than necessary. “Something you forgot to do.”
Axel’s jaw tightens, and for a moment, I expect him to snap back, but instead, he just presses his lips into a thin line and nods. I can feel the tension rising between the two of them, and it’s enough to make my stomach knot.
I clap my hands together, the sound sharp and sudden in the quiet room.
“Alright, guys,” I say, forcing a smile as all three of them turn to look at me—each one in a different way but all intense.
Tanner’s eyes are curious, Ben’s are soft and thoughtful, and Jace…
well, Jace’s gaze lingers a bit too long, making my pulse race.
The heat between my legs flares unexpectedly, and I have to swallow hard to push it away.
“So,” I continue, my voice a bit shaky.
“Axel and I have a plan. We need to make sure Hailey’s wedding goes off without a hitch, and given everything that’s happening—the flowers, the snow, the avalanche—we’re going to need all hands on deck.”
Tanner leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, a small smirk playing on his lips. “You’re telling us you’re turning us into wedding planners?”
I laugh, though the tension is still thick in the air. “More like disaster recovery specialists. We’re gonna save this wedding.”
“You’re crazy,” Tanner says, shaking his head. “We can’t do that.”
“Please,” I say. “You have to help me.”
Ben looks thoughtful, rubbing his chin. “I’m in.”
I smile at him and Ben smiles back.
“Woah that was fast,” Tanner says.
Ben shrugs. “Well, it’s for Hailey.”
“Hailey…sure,” Tanner says, giving me another look. I briefly remember my dream. There’s no way he knows.
“Tanner?” Axel prompts.
“I still think you guys are full of shit, but since Axel is asking, and I can’t say no to sweet Emily,” Tanner winks at me.
Jace, who’s been silent, crosses his arms, eyeing us both. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Well…nothing concrete yet,” I admit, glancing at Axel, who smirks slightly. “But we did jot down a rough idea of what we need to do to make Hailey’s wedding a grand success.”
“First step would be to keep our expectations low,” Ben chimes in
“Don’t be a party pooper, man,” Tanner says, making him go red-faced.
“I was just trying to be logical!” Ben shoots back, clearly flustered.
Jace rolls his eyes. “Alright, enough. What did you have in mind?” His gaze flickers between Axel and me
Axel steps forward, leaning against the back of a chair as he starts laying it out.
“We know the flowers are a lost cause, so we’ll have to work around that.
Maybe we can get creative with what’s available around here.
You know, make it rustic, use what we have in nature.
Winter aesthetic could work in our favor. ”
I nod in agreement. “We can also use some of the indoor plants from the lodge, maybe even pull something together with candles, lights. We’ve got a bit of time before the ceremony, so we can improvise.”