Page 69 of Axe Backwards
I took a step toward her, eliminating the space between us. With my chest so close to hers they’d probably touch if either of us inhaled deeply, I put my hand on her bare shoulder. For a moment, I got lost in the sweep of her neck and the idea of kissing my way across her collarbones.
“I told you I’d do whatever you needed. As your boyfriend, I have to be there.”
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her ragged breaths caressing the skin of my neck and her heat radiating through me.
“Fake boyfriend,” she whispered.
“Right.” My heart pounded in my ears. Fuck, she smelled so good. “Fake boyfriend.”
“But my real friend.”
That word was a bucket of cold water over my head. I took a step back and sucked in air that didn’t smell like her.
Friend. Just friends. Friend zone. Zone of friendship.
This interaction had fried my synapses. I’d momentarily lost my sanity. This was Vic. The best person I knew. And she’d been very clear that she was not interested.
Day after day, as she became a bigger part of my life and Tess’s, my resolve to do whatever it took to keep her around grew.
I couldn’t lose her. Tess couldn’t lose her.
No matter how badly I ached to touch her and kiss her, it couldn’t happen.
“When do we have to be there?”
“Noon.”
With surprising ease, I shifted into dad mode and scooped my little girl up. “Okay. Let me feed Tess, call my mom, and get organized.” I kissed her on the nose, eliciting a baby giggle. “Wanna go play at Grandma’s today?”
She vigorously rubbed her chest, signing “please” over and over, the giggling turning into a delighted squeal.
“I guess we’ve got a plan.”
Vic’s momhad been right. This place was a compound.
The mile-long driveway wound through dense forest. Along the way, we passed a handful of small buildings, and when we reached a perfectly manicured field, what looked like a horse stable sat on the far side of it.
The main house had a massive circular drive with a fountain in the middle.
A fucking fountain.
The white-brick structure with massive columns was totally out of place in Northern Maine. It looked like it belonged on the French Riviera.
Champagne and flowers in hand, we made our way past several cars and headed to the front entrance. “How many people did they invite?”
Vic shrugged. “With my mother, you never know.”
The home hugged the shoreline, with large wings extending on each side.
“Shit,” Vic hissed as we stepped into the massive foyer. “I didn’t realize houses like this existed in Lovewell.”
Head tipped back, I blinked at the cavernous space. I’d known there were a few big estates on the lakefront, but nothing like this. Everything, from the massive crystal chandeliers to the large ornate vases, screamed money.
My flip-flops slapped on the marble floor as we headed for the back of the house.
Miranda, looking only mildly annoyed to see us, greeted us near the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the back of the house. The view of the lake was incredible.
“The pool is over there.” She gestured to the elevated area surrounding the massive swimming pool and hot tub. It was dotted with blue-and-white-striped umbrellas and stark white reclining chairs. “We’ve got two bars. The caterers are setting up now.”
