Page 112 of Axe Backwards
“You rascal.” I picked her up and swung her around. After I’d kissed her cheek and blown a raspberry into her neck, eliciting more baby giggles, I turned to Noah and gave him a mock glare. “You put the batteries back in.”
Hands up, he took a step back. “I’m weak. She was so sad he didn’t talk anymore. You should have seen her face.”
I nuzzled Tess, and she leaned into me. “One year old and already manipulating your dad. I don’t know whether to fear you or worship you as my queen.”
Dinner was a simple affair. The three of us sat at the tiny table while Olaf remained in the living area, occasionally piping up, unprovoked. The thing was a demon, I was certain.
“I had a call today,” Noah said. “With that friend of Finn’s from Emergency Management.”
I perked up. “How did it go?”
He broke into a wide grin. “It was interesting. I think I’m going to apply.”
My heart surged. “That’s amazing.” I was tempted to get up and do a happy dance but reined in my excitement. I was known for going too far, but that was too much even for me.
“I think.” He lowered his head and cleared his throat. “I think we’re going to stay for a while.” With a long exhale, he studied me. “I want Tess to grow up here, running in the woods with her cousins. And knowing my brothers, there will probably be more cousins soon.”
“She’s got family and friends here. And she can go to Alice’s school.” It was getting harder not to jump out of my seat.
He smiled. “You okay with that?”
I stood, but instead of making a fool out of myself, I climbed into his lap and threaded my fingers through his hair. “My two favorite people staying in Lovewell? Yeah, I’m okay with that.”
Giddy, I kissed him.
“I want to be with you too,” he said against my lips. “I know we promised to go slow, and we will. But I want you in my life. I want you in Tess’s life.”
I squeezed him tight. “I want to be here too.”
Once Tess was down for the night, we curled up on the couch. Instead of watchingSchitt’s Creek—we’d finally started Season three—we chatted.
I took my hair down and ran my fingers through it.
“Don’t do that.” He frowned. “Don’t put your hair down over your ears.”
My chest tightened as he studied me. “But…”
He tucked a strand behind my ear and cupped my cheek. “Do what makes you feel comfortable. Your ears are beautiful, just like the rest of you.”
Face heating, I put my hair back up. The whole time, I watched him, scrutinizing his expression and finding nothing but affection and honesty.
“It’s a habit,” I said. “I do it when I’m nervous.”
“I know, and I’m going to break you of that habit.” He angled in closer. “I’m so happy you asked me to be your fake boyfriend.”
The raspy quality of his tone made my heart stutter.
“I’m happy you accepted.”
“It’s wild to think this all started because I didn’t want you to go to your sister’s wedding alone. It seems so long ago.”
It did feel like ages ago, and I was so happy to have put that whole experience behind me. Cheeks warming, I hung my head. “I still can’t believe I had to bring a fake date to my sister’s wedding to my ex-husband. I should be on a Bravo show.”
He brought a finger to the underside of my chin and forced me to look at him. “There is nothing I won’t do for you. If you need me to fake being your boyfriend, your husband, anything,I’ll do it without hesitation. Hell, I’ll fake being an astronaut for you.”
“Aw.” I tilted close and brought my lips to his.
With a groan, he pulled me into his lap, situating me so I could feel every inch of him.
