Caught in the Axe (Maine Lumberjacks, #1)

by Daphne Elliot

“Owen.” Her hands were on my shoulders now. She still sounded far away, but the scent of her lemony shampoo surrounded me. I focused on it and forced myself to breathe it in, to feel her presence. “Owen, look at me.” She splayed her hands on either side of my face and turned me so I was facing her. “It’s okay. Look at me.”

She licked her lips and pressed her hands to my skin a little more firmly. “Are you claustrophobic?” I nodded, still focused on her eyes. Even in the semi-darkness, the flecks of gold were visible.

Seeing Lila had never been the problem. I’d look at her all day if it wouldn’t make me a lunatic. But seeing her like this, her eyes filled with concern but without an ounce of pity, made my mind spin out even further.

“Gus will be here in five minutes. Just stay with me.” She crawled into my lap and put her arms around my neck, pulling me close.

I’d barely made it into my makeshift office when the adrenaline wore off and I crashed. With a groan, I collapsed on the old loveseat and closed my eyes. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was there. Lila, her face a mask of concern, appeared a few moments later, armed with snacks, water, and tea.

“Can you tell me what happened in there?” She handed me a paper cup filled with tea and sat down next to me on the small loveseat. “Please don’t be embarrassed. We all have stuff we’re dealing with. And it makes me feel better, actually. All this time, I thought you were some kind of emotionless robot.”

“Wow. Thanks.” “I mean it. You’re so buttoned-up and professional. You never raise your voice, you never get flustered, and you’re always in control.”

If only she knew. If only she knew the thoughts that ran through my head. I was not in control. Especially around her. “I’m claustrophobic.” I left it at that while I debated how much to tell her.

“After my parents got divorced, we’d stay with him for weekends once in a while, mostly Gus and me, since we were older. One time, when I was nine, he and Uncle Paul wanted to take us hunting, but I refused. The last thing I wanted to do was kill a deer.”

don’t blame you.” “Dad was furious. Called me all kinds of awful names because I didn’t want to kill an innocent animal.” I swallowed past the dread that was welling up inside me. “Then he locked me in the woodshed.” “Are you fucking serious?” she shouted, going ramrod straight. “That’s child abuse.”

“It was November, and so damn cold. He left me out there all night. The building wasn’t all that small, but it felt like a tomb. It was infested with mice, and durin...

“I remember not being able to breathe and then shivering so hard I couldn’t stand up.” Lila put her arm around me, pulling me close. I buried my face in her neck and inhaled. Even thirty years later, I...

“Dad probably got drunk and forgot I was out there. But in the middle of the night, Gus snuck out to rescue me. He’d woken up to use the bathroom and realized I wasn’t in my bed. He couldn’t find the keys to the shed, so he got a pair of bolt cutters from the garage and cut the lock.” Lila let out a...

She put her head on my shoulder, her hair brushing against my chin. That small move soothed my fried nerves. It was perfect. She was perfect. When Lila was touching me, I was okay. I was brave and could talk about things I’d never said out loud. She was magic.

“I’m just saying, if transport is an issue, we can take care of it. We need you here. And the Boston Cares event is that weekend. My mother is on the board, so…” he trailed off. “Mom will castrate you if you don’t show and donate,” Amara finished.

“I’ll be there,” I said. “Can’t let Mama D down.” “Good. She’ll torture me if you don’t show,” Amara said. “And we can hang while my siblings are all coupled up.” That had the wheels turning in my head. “Can I bring someone?” “Who?” Amara asked.

Her responding laugh was so loud the line between us crackled. “She’s a lot more than a friend if you’re willing to risk exposing her to my crazy mother.”

“Fuck.” The words echoed in the cavernous hallway. I picked up my pace, all but running to the conference room where Lila was working. When I burst into the room, I found her standing near the windows, staring at her phone.

“Are you okay?” I put my hands on her shoulders, bracing for the worst. “Oh my God.” Her chest was heaving and her eyes were wide with shock as she tipped her head back and looked at me. “It’s admission day. I got so busy I totally forgot.”

Nope, I’d muscle through it. No matter how impossible that felt. Because it had been less than two weeks, and I was already deeply infatuated with this woman. With her laugh, her smile, her mind. I

When the NYU logo appeared, she was out of her seat, jumping and screaming. “Holy shit. I got in!” she cheered. “NYU! I can’t believe it.” I wrapped my arms around her and spun her around, relishing the way her body felt against mine. “That’s incredible.”

“I can’t believe I did it.” Her eyes filled with tears. With my hands on her shoulders again, I gave her a gentle squeeze and dipped down so she was forced to look at me. “You deserve this, Lila. You are going to do amazing things. I’m so proud of you.”

worked hard.” “And you deserve it. You deserve the world. Never, ever doubt that. Understood?”

She didn’t respond. She didn’t even nod. She just regarded me, her eyes wide and her smile broad. And before I could process what was happening, she jumped up and threw her arms around my neck, and then her lips were on mine. Sweet and firm and insistent.

I slid my hands lower and cupped her ass, and in response, she wrapped her legs around my waist and raked her hands through the hair at the back of my neck. She moaned into my mouth, the sounds vibrating through me, as I pushed her back against the wall. And just like that, I lost hold of the last shreds of my self-control.

And then she was pushing me away. I eased her to her feet and took a step back, out of breath and desperate with need. “Shit. Shit.” She hung her head, refusing to look at me. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I said, working my way closer to coherent thought. An apology meant she regretted it. And how could anyone regret what we had just shared? My heart pounded out an erratic rhythm as I took one step closer and used two fingers to tip her face up to meet mine. “Lila, look at me.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” She put her face in her hands. “I mauled you, Owen.” Her groan was muffled. “I pounced on you like a jungle cat.”

Did she think I wasn’t into that? If that was the case, then it was time to correct that misconception. “First of all, what you just did was hot. Don’t think for one second I didn’t enjoy the hell out of it. Second, you’re welcome to do that whenever you want.”

tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupped her jaw. “Good-girl Lila always plays by the rules. She never takes what she wants and worries too much about what people think. But this version of you—the ass-kicking grad student who goes after what she wants—is irresistible and powerful and incredible.”

Logically, I had plenty of legitimate reasons to stay away. But then I touched my lips. That kiss had rearranged my brain cells, and despite my better judgment, all I could think about was doing it again.

And just knowing that she had wanted me, if only for a moment, made my heart crack wide open. Maybe there were other possibilities for me too.

Willa rolled her eyes. “He’s decent in bed. Not world-rocking, but he gets the job done. He’s a doctor, so he knows where everything is and, while he tends to be a premature ejaculator, he does always get me off first.” “Wow.” Mags snorted. “You’re talking about sex like you’re preparing a tax return.”

“There’s also a complication,” I admitted, worrying my bottom lip. “He asked me to come to Boston with him this weekend.” Magnolia leaped out of her seat and danced around her chair. “Fuck yeah! Our little Lila is getting some.” “It’s for work,” I explained. “Gus was supposed to go with him, but there was some road issue, and Finn can’t go because Adele is due any day now.”

“Ooh,” Magnolia said. “You should visit U Boston. The campus is gorgeous. This will give you a chance to at least take a tour before you turn them down.” “No,” Willa protested with a huff. “She’s going to NYU, and we’re all going to live together in New York.” Magnolia waggled her eyebrows. “What if she wants to be in Boston? With a certain hot, older guy who loves her sexy brain.”

“Stop,” I said, putting my hands up. “I give up. You two are lunatics.” Willa’s answering smile was big and genuine. “We just want what’s best for you, sweets.” “And what’s best is multiple orgasms,” Magnolia said, her expression nowhere near as innocent as Willa’s.

And that kiss, it had been something. The start of something. Would it be so bad to do a tiny bit of follow-up?

Owen kissed like a man who understood that a kiss shouldn’t be rushed. It was not an appetizer, but a full, satisfying meal.

The door to the conference room opened, and a broad-shouldered man in jeans walked in. He wore a wide smile as he held his hand out. “Enzo DiLuca. You must be the famous Lila.”

What was even more unexpected was the way he turned the chair around and straddled it, then put his elbows on the table. “I’ve heard so much about you. Sorry the office is crazy today. Our biggest client was in yesterday, and the adrenaline hasn’t quite worn off.”

“This place is beautiful.” “Thanks. As usual, your boy Owen came to the rescue. I don’t think he slept last night, but he has all the new calculations ready to go.” He scratched at his beard. “A lot of professionals warn against working with your friends, but there’s no one I trust more. I wouldn’t last a week here without him.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Owen said you plan to study nonprofit management. Is that right?” “Yes. I’ve been accepted to some great programs. It’s my dream to develop my leadership skills and business acumen in a mission-driven setting so I can use my skills to have the greatest impact.”

“That settles it. You’ve got to join us at the Boston Cares event tonight. The foundation is connected to every major philanthropic effort in the city. It would be a great networking opportunity for you, and I’ve got two empty seats at my table.” “Um,” I stumbled, my stomach twisting at the prospect.

“I’m not sure,” I hedged, racking my brain for a way to politely decline without insulting him. I was saved from having to stutter my way through a lame excuse when Owen walked into the conference room. “Lawyers will be here in twenty minutes.” He handed me a cup of coffee, then jerked a thumb at Enzo. “This guy bothering you?”

“I was telling Lila that she must come to the party tonight.” Owen winced. “Don’t force her.” He pulled out a chair and sat down across from me, carefully opening his laptop. “We’re here to work.” “She’s a future nonprofit star. Have you considered how many people we can introduce her to at this single event? You’re already here, and there will be free food and alcohol, so why not?”

“You dragged this poor girl all the way from Maine. Might as well show her a good time.”

“Delia really wants to meet you,” he said. “Trust me, you’re doing me a favor. Because generally, I do everything I can to give her whatever she wants.” Owen laughed and sat back. “How is Medusa these days?” Enzo’s eyes twinkled. “So fucking good, man.” Owen’s brows rose, but his only response was a half smile and a nod.

“Career-wise,” Enzo said, homing in on me again, “it’s great for you. Plus, you’d be helping me out. My mother insisted we buy two tables. One would have been sufficient, but she wouldn’t listen to reason. Now she’s freaking out about filling them. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed in front of Monroe Langfield.” He waved a hand, as if I should know who he was talking about and understand. “It’s a whole thing. And the last thing I need is my mom teaming up with my girlfriend to kick my ass.” “Owen?”

But he was busy typing away. “It’s fine,” he said without looking up. “I’ve got to attend anyway. Just gotta run home and change into my tux.” I turned to him and let out a huff of disbelief. “I’m sorry. You own a tuxedo?” He shrugged, glancing at me, then went back to typing. “This job comes with some obligations.”

So I pulled my shoulders back and nodded. “Thank you for the invitation,” I said in my best pageant queen voice. “I’d love to attend.”