Page 116 of Axe Backwards
Iwas impressed. The Lovewell Lumberjack Festival was a lot bigger and grander than I’d imagined. I knew Vic had been working for months, but she’d seriously downplayed the magnitude of this event.
The town common had been transformed. It had been decorated with balloon arches and plaid signs, all bearing the food pantry’s logo. A massive stage had been erected, and the periphery was lined with vendor booths and food trucks. The morning air was cool, but dozens of people rushed around, already sweating, furiously setting things up.
Vic was wearing cutoff jean shorts that showed off her legs, and her plaid shirt was knotted at the waist. She looked like the Maine version of a pinup girl. Fuck. I couldn’t help but grab her as she passed and plant a kiss on her lips.
Next to me, Jude cleared his throat.
I ignored him. Like it was possible to control myself around this woman.
“Hey, guys.” Vic talked a mile a minute, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “So happy you’re here. We’re almostfinished. Jude, could you find Alice? She needs help with a few event setups.”
With a silent nod, he headed off in search of Vic’s friend.
“And you.” She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me again.
I grasped her hips and squeezed, relishing the way my fingers dented the exposed flesh there. “I’m here. Put me to work.”
“You’re going to help Henri set up the food pantry booth, but first, I have a favor to ask.”
She batted her long, dark lashes at me. If she’d asked for a kidney like that, there was no way I’d say no.
“Anything.”
“So, your brothers are competing…”
I nodded. Of course they were. They did this stuff all the time. People up here didn’t play golf or tennis. They chopped wood for sport. It was our culture.
“I was thinking you should do the boom race.” She trailed her fingers up my chest and bit her bottom lip. God, she was so pretty.
But I couldn’t. “Running along spinning logs? In the lake?” I shook my head, my chest pinching.
“Noah.” Her shoulders slumped. “You’re a super athlete. You’d be so good at it.”
I looked at her in shock. Not possible.
“You run up mountains with a weighted vest while pushing a jogging stroller. You are more than capable of a little log race.” She batted her eyelashes at me, and I was ready to cave.
Noah from fifteen months ago would have signed right up for all of it, but I had to think about Tess, if I fell and got a concussion, who would take care of her?
She patted my cheek. “It’s perfectly safe.” It was like she could read my mind. “And…” She peered over her shoulder. “There may be another reason I’m asking.”
Frowning, I scanned the crowd. “What’s that?”
“Because Graham signed up to do it.”
My stomach dropped. “He’s still here?”
I’d gotten used to seeing Vic’s mother and sisters around town. They were cold but weren’t rude. But I figured Graham would have hightailed it out of here after he couldn’t secure a decent cup of coffee within town limits.
“He was always so obnoxious about running his marathons.” Vic wrung her hands. “It would kill me if he won.” With a thick swallow, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m being petty and ridiculous. Forget I even asked.”
“I’m in.” I fisted my hands at my sides. “I’ll run, chop, climb. Anything you need, gorgeous. Just promise me I can go up against him.”
Lips parted, she bounced on the balls of her feet. Then, between one breath and the next, her expression changed, and she gave me a saucy wink. “Oh, hotshot, you are so getting laid later.” She patted my chest. “Now go build that booth.”
With a salute, I headed off in the direction of Henri.
I guess I was a lumberjack now.
