Caught in the Axe (Maine Lumberjacks, #1)

by Daphne Elliot

For so long I wanted out, and dreamed of going anywhere else. And when I had to come back it felt like failure. The gossip, the judgment, waking up every day to scrape together tips to try and get unstuck.”

Part of me would always love Cole. We’d grown up together. We’d become adults together. Even though those adults were incompatible and had made each other miserable, we’d gone through some of life’s biggest achievements and disappointments together.

In the end, we wanted different things out of life. I should have seen it sooner, but for so long, I felt stuck and unable to leave.” “Why?” I picked at a piece of lint on the throw blanket and gave him a small smile. “Because I cared about him. And he needed me.”

I needed to put on my big girl panties and have the adult conversation.

“I’m sorry I’m in a mood. But you don’t have to do that.” Frowning, he gestured at my face. “That’s the smile you give nasty customers at the diner.” He stepped in closer and tipped my chin up. “I only want your real smiles, Lila. If you’re mad at me, tell me. Yell at me. I’ll do better. But don’t pretend everything is fine. Trust your feelings.”

My eyes stung and my throat went thick. God, he was such a grown-up. An actual man. He listened, he validated my feelings, and he apologized so willingly. What a fucking turn-on.

“We were never right for each other. We were just kids trying to figure ourselves out. I was a terrible partner.”

“I know it’s scary. Loving someone is the most terrifying thing in the world.”

“Because I plan to love you like Lloyd loves Diane. I’ll never hold you back. I’ll always champion you. And I’ll be the guy rooting for you every day.”