Chapter 6 Lady Lumberjack #2
“Oh, I think it is. I’d typically say the polite thing and quote that it isn’t you, it’s me, but it’s totally you.”
Phoenix choked on a laugh, the woman’s snark reminding him of …
The woman turned, and Phoenix froze.
So did Addie Whitlock.
What were the fucking chances …
Phoenix snapped up his visor and shot the redhead a coy smirk. “Fancy running into you, sparkles. Not that I want to step on your very capable toes, but do you want a lift out of here?”
Addie’s gaze slipped from the glowering man behind her to Phoenix’s bike. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
Addie’s date started ranting again, but she ignored him, stepping into the street and up to his bike. Phoenix held out a supportive hand, and she clutched it like a lifeline as she climbed unsteadily onto the back.
“Grab the spare helmet in the rear compartment,” Phoenix instructed, revving the engine. The second she shoved it onto her head, he asked, “Where to?”
“Anywhere that isn’t here.” Her arms were wrapped around his waist tightly before he could even suggest it, and after moving another few inches forward, they bypassed the road crew and he took off.
Addie’s body pressed against him, the heat from her close proximity damn near melting through his leather jacket. As they turned a corner, he automatically dropped a hand to her outer thigh, giving it a small squeeze. “You good back there?”
She nodded and pushed her cheek against his back as close as the spare helmet allowed. Phoenix didn’t really know where to go, so he kept heading toward Sir Axe-A-Lot and pulled over into a prime parking spot along the curb before cutting the engine.
Addie glanced up and looked up and down the street.
Phoenix apologized as he climbed off the bike. “I’ll just be a second. I need to tell Naiomi and East that I’ll have to take a rain check.”
She pulled off the helmet, and damn it if her helmet hair didn’t look fucking adorable. “Don’t change your plans. You did me a favor by getting me out of that date from hell situation. I can call a Ryde, or jump on the nearest train.”
“It’s no biggie. Why deal with public transit when you don’t have to?
” Phoenix paused as he contemplated his next move.
“Unless you want to picture your date standing in front of a target and hurl an axe toward his head? Naiomi’s pictured it with a few of her professors throughout the years.
She says it’s pretty cathartic—hence why we’re here. ”
Addie nibbled her bottom lip as she glanced toward the redbrick building. “I don’t want to crash.”
“Please.” Phoenix waved off her worry. “She’ll be ecstatic that you’re here.
Hell, she’d probably prefer your company to mine.
Come in with me and say hello, and if you want to stay and throw some sharp shit, great.
If you decide you want to head home, that’s fine, too.
Just say the word and we’ll get the hell out of here. ”
Addie glanced down at her dress, which Phoenix just realized sported a few inconspicuous dark spots. “I’m not exactly fit for public viewing.”
Phoenix lifted his brow. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re fucking gorgeous, sparkles. Of course, you look killer in a fluffy towel and unicorn slippers—and trust me, I know from firsthand experience.”
Her lips twitched into a little grin and he counted that as a small win, mentally patting himself on the back.
“If you’re really that worried about it, here.” Phoenix slipped out of his leather jacket and with a twirl of his finger, gestured for her to turn around. She did, slowly, and he helped her slide into his favorite jacket before turning her back around.
He wasn’t mentally or physically prepared to see her wearing something of his. His cock twitched in his jeans and his mouth went dry as the damn Sahara. She swam in the jacket, the sleeves obscuring her hands, but damn if it didn’t look made for her.
“There you go.” Phoenix cleared his parched throat and shifted his stance to try and make more room in his tightening pants. “Like I said … fucking gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Phoenix.” Addie gifted him a rare, almost shy smile. “And if you’re sure that Easton and Naiomi wouldn’t mind, I’ve always thought about going axe throwing. I just never worked up the nerve to do it. Thought I’d look ridiculous.”
Phoenix chuckled. “No way could you look ridiculous, but it just so happens that I’m practically a professional axe-thrower, and I give a wicked tutorial.”
He waited for her small nod of agreement, and the second it came, so did a small flutter in his chest.
Phoenix held the door open and gestured for her to go inside first. He hadn’t been joking.
Sir Axe-A-Lot had been a hot spot for their group for a while, one of the first axe-throwing locations in the country.
The interior melded nature themes with a modern edge, a long row of log-lined throwing cages on one side and a dive bar—with a strict one-drink-limit-if-throwing policy—on the other.
As expected, the place was hopping. Phoenix briefly rested his hand on Addie’s back and guided her toward the rear of the room where Naiomi looked to be six axes into her throw-fest. East watched intently as Phoenix’s sister hurled another axe. It landed pretty damn close to the bull’s-eye.
“Next one!” Naiomi spun, already reaching for the next axe when her gaze landed first on Phoenix, then the redhead at his side. A beaming smile erupted on her face. “Adalyn! What a surprise!”
Addie smiled awkwardly. “I hope it’s okay I crashed your axe night.”
“Are you kidding?” Nai pulled her into a firm hug. “Now we can make this a true competition.”
Addie chuckled. “Oh, no, no. I’ve never done this before. You definitely don’t want me on your team.”
“Maybe I should teach her the mechanics first,” Phoenix suggested, giving Addie a wink. “I’ll have her competition ready in no time.”
“Go for it … while I go for some wings.” Naiomi turned a smile on her fiancé. “Let’s go, stone man. Feed me.”
Grin in place, East dipped his shoulder, easily hoisting Naiomi over it, and the two headed over to the bar side of the building.
“All right, you ready to get throwing?” Phoenix asked with a smirk.
“Teach me, Master Yoda.” Addie pushed up the sleeves of his leather jacket.
“Star Wars references, Miss Whitlock?” Phoenix teased. “You just may be my soulmate.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes as she picked up an axe from their lane’s bin. “This isn’t nearly as heavy as I expected.”
Phoenix grabbed one for himself. “That’s because they’re specifically made for throwing. These aren’t the axes you’d use to cut down a tree and build yourself a log cabin.”
“Well, damn. There goes my idea for sliding one of these babies into my purse,” she quipped dryly.
“Watch me first, and then you can go ahead and give it a try.” He got into position at the line, holding the axe in a loose two-handed grip.
“The key is not holding on to the axe too tightly. It’s not like a baseball bat, and these axes are made to rotate, so there are no fancy spins to it.
It’s honestly all about timing. Release the axe when it’s directly in front of your face. Not higher. Not lower.”
Taking his time getting into position, he let her observe his stance and hand grip, and then with a flick, he lifted and released, the blade easily digging into the wood target—dead center bull’s-eye.
“Wow.” Addie applauded. “You weren’t lying. You are a professional … but I am a little concerned with how easy you made that look.”
“Just remember hand grip, distance, and release position. You’ll be just fine.”
“If you say so…” She took position a few steps behind the safety line, and with a mumbled, “Here’s hoping,” she released.
Her axe smacked against the board and dropped to the ground with a heavy clank.
“What the hell did I do wrong?” Addie frowned.
“I think you were too far back and released it a little too late. Do you mind?” He gestured, asking if she’d like help.
“Please tutor me.”
He ushered her two steps closer, just behind the release line, and handed her another axe. Their fingers brushed when she took it from him, sending a little shock wave through his arm. Addie startled at the contact, telling him he wasn’t the only one who’d felt it.
“Thank you.” Whisper soft, Addie’s voice caught, the sound kicking up his heart rate.
“Go ahead and grip the axe like you did before.” Standing behind her, Phoenix’s cheek brushed against hers, and damn if her skin wasn’t the softest thing he’d ever touched. He coasted his fingers over the back of her knuckles and relished in the slight corresponding shiver. “Now gentle your grip.”
She loosened her hold.
“May I?” Phoenix’s lips hovered a millimeter away from the shell of her ear.
“Yep.” Her breath stuttered slightly.
Sliding his hands over hers, he gently plucked her fingers, shifting them until she held the handle loose in her palm and her thumbs were braced along the back of the grip.
“There you go. Gentle is key here. Lift the axe over your head”—he pulled her arms back—“and then when you bring it forward, you release it the moment it’s in front of your face.
Not chest level. Face. And you just release … no need to hurl or flick. Got it?”
She nodded, brushing her cheek against his. “Hold gentle. Pull back. Face release. And no fancy business.”
“Got it. Now, let’s see what you got, sparkles,” Phoenix whispered, mouth hovering just over her ear.
He slowly stepped back and watched Addie talk herself through each step, releasing the axe at the sweet spot. The axe spun handle over blade a handful of times before thudding directly into the bull’s-eye.
“Oh. My. Goddess.” Eyes widened, Addie turned and hurtled into his arms. “I did it! I actually freaking did it!”
“Hell yeah you did, sparkles!” Phoenix whooped and twirled her into a quick spin that had them both laughing.
As her feet touched the ground again, she grinned teasingly. “Maybe you are good at this tutoring thing.”