Page 34 of Axe-ing for Trouble
So I continued. “Even from halfway across the bar, there was this tether connecting us, urging me closer to him. And when the set ended. He put his guitar on the stand and walked through the crowd, his eyes never leaving mine.”
“Oh my God.” She kicked her feet and fanned her face with one hand. “So hot.”
“He strode right up to me, all muscly, with those sexy glasses, and took the beer bottle out of my hand. Without looking away, he took a swig, then handed it back.”
“Jude?” Willa froze, her hand pressed to her chest. “Jude Hebert did this? The mild-mannered dog dad who has a ‘system’ for folding his towels? That man took a sexy swig from a stranger’s beer bottle?”
I nodded, willing the heat the memory brought with it to subside.
I considered stopping there. The rest of that night was illicit. The most provocative experience of my life. But Willa, with her infectious smile and amazing healing hands, was kind of a friend now.
So I said, “It was so fucking hot. All I could think wasI need to get this man naked.”
She rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t even wrap my mind around this. Obviously I don’t blame you.” She shook her head, her blond curls bouncing. “But I didn’t know he had it in him. I’m impressed. Sometimes the brothers joke about him. How he’s the most eligible bachelor in Lovewell. How girls are always throwing themselves at him.”
My stomach clenched at that tidbit of information.
She didn’t seem to notice. “One time, I mentioned that I worried about him being lonely up here with only the company of his dog.” She took another sip of her tea. “Cole laughed and swore that Jude has plenty of company. He’s quiet about it. Now I know how he does it.” She shook her head and laughed.
I shifted on my stool as unease rolled over me. I didn’t want to think about him going home with lots of other women after they’d gotten all hot and bothered watching him play the guitar.
“But,” I said, forcing the conversation on before I could spiral, “I didn’t come here because of that. Yes, we had a great time.” Cheeks heating, I fixed my focus on the pattern of the granite. “But I came here mainly because he’s a Hebert and I needed help. I was in the woods—”
“How did you find this place?” she interrupted, clearly seeing through at least some of my bullshit. “It’s not exactly easy.”
“I don’t know. I hid out in the state park, and when they were gone, I started walking in this direction.”
Her eyes went wide. “Wet, freezing, with a dislocated shoulder, and in shock?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” In the moment, it felt as though this was the only place I could go. I couldn’t go home and put my mom and Hugo in danger, and the police were probably compromised. It was highly unlikely anyone would draw a connection between Jude and me, so I had no other options.
She got up and spun in a circle, waving her arms and shaking her hips. “You’re getting married,” she sang, dancing around the kitchen.
“Stahp,” I whined. God, I sounded like a preteen girl. I needed to rein it in before I embarrassed myself further.
Willa tossed her head back and cackled.
“It’s okay. When I woke up in Vegas and discovered I’d drunkenly married Cole and then had to move in with him, I had many giddy moments. Those Hebert boys can reduce the most self-assured, confident women into giggling mush. It’s genetic.”
She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to confirm the squealy, giddy sensations that Jude inspired in me, so I kept my mouth shut tight. It was more mature to keep those thoughts and feelings bottled up and deny their existence to the outside world.Right?
She came to a stop and let out a sigh. “Just promise me something.”
“Sure.”
“Stay safe. Don’t go running into another dangerous situation.”
I sat up straighter. “I’m not planning on it.”
Brows raised, she crossed her arms. “But?”
“But danger kind of finds me,” I said weakly.
She shook her head and sighed. “That’s what I was worried about.” Easing back onto her stool, she said, “How about this? Do not put my brother-in-law in danger.” She swiveled so she was facing me head-on. “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever known. I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“Neither do I.”
One brow cocked, she scrutinized me, wary.
