Page 5 of Axes & Nos
It took me a grand total of thirty minutes to unload my truck. Just seven boxes of kitchen, bathroom, and clothes for the bedroom. That’s it, that’s all I have to show for twenty-five years on this planet. Why do I suddenly feel sad? What is there to be sad about? So, I don’t have a shit ton of stuff to move into my cozy little cottage, that is no reason to feel sad. That means I just haven’t found a place to set down roots yet. I haven’t felt the desire to set down roots since I kicked Steven out on his ass. But standing in the middle of my new home, looking around, I feel like I’ve found a place to settle down.
I can envision a cute little sofa in the living room with a patchwork quilt draped over the back for when I’m watching my favorite show, curled up eating ice cream. Maybe a polished Queen Anne coffee table with some kind of cute knick-knack in the middle and coasters to sit my drinks on. Some yellow sunflower curtains for the windows along the front room and above the sink in the kitchen to bring some brightness inside.
I can see it all coming together and that feeling of sadness drifts away like dandelion seeds on the wind. Just as I’m categorizing all the things I want to buy, my stomach gives a loud growl. Looking at the clock, I realize how late it has grown while I’ve been musing about my new home. Okay stomach, food tonight, shopping tomorrow. Maybe I could get Alia to go thrift shopping with me tomorrow if we get the office set up earlyenough. Grabbing my keys I head out to my truck to head into town.
The rental Alia found for me is in Woden, which isn’t very far from where she and Chase live in Broaddus, but there’s really nothing close by for food. Our office will be in Nacogdoches, which is only fifteen minutes give or take from where I’m at. Deciding that is probably my best bet for some food I ask Google to find me somewhere to eat. Of course it gives me a ton of options, but one stands out amongst the group, a place called Lugnutz Bar and Grill. According to Google it’s got live music, food, and drinks, all of which sounds like heaven to me.
I used to love to go watch live bands play, but Steven put a stop to that. He said we should be going to the symphony, not watching a band play in some two-bit bar, it was beneath us. Thinking back there were a lot of things he thought were beneath us or were uncouth for someone planning to run for office someday. Like by being in a bar it would somehow stain his reputation. Not the cheating clearly but hanging out in a bar listening to music would stain his reputation. Making up my mind I put my truck in gear and head for Lugnutz.
Pulling into the parking lot I can tell the place is already hopping. There’s this energy about the place that makes me give a little squeal of excitement before getting out of my truck. Looking in the rearview mirror, I squeak in shock at my appearance. My hair is up in the messiest of messy buns with a hair clip to keep it there. My face is absent of makeup, because well I was moving and when you’re moving you shouldn’t feel the need to impress anyone. Hell, I don’t need to impress anyone right now either, I’m here to eat some bar food and listen to some music. Giving myself a good pep talk, I grab my purse and get out of my truck nearly hitting some behemoth of a guy walking beside my truck in the process.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” I grab my door pulling it back toward me before it hits him. When he turns around, my mouth goes dry from shock. No man should look as good as this one does, like not at all, ever. It should be illegal, maybe I would talk to Alia about how to make a law against his kind of good looks. Then I could have him arrested for being too fine, yes too fine. He’s six feet of God staring at me with a smile that tells me that women drop their panties for him everywhere he goes. I needed to get away from him and inside as soon as possible.
“It’s okay, you missed me, no harm done. My fault really, I was running between the cars instead of on the sidewalk like I should have.” He gives me a self-deprecating smile, his nostrils flaring as he leans a little closer to me. Is he smelling me? Do I smell?
Self-consciously, I raise my armpit and sniff, nope I don’t smell bad. He gives me a knowing smirk that makes my heart do little flips inside my chest, and I yank my arm back down. Men like him were dangerous to women. They used their charm and good looks to reel them in only to break their hearts in the end. I’d bet he was personally responsible for breaking hundreds of hearts and didn’t give a single shit about it. Suddenly I feel very angry for all those women towards him.
“Next time you might not be so lucky.” I reply tartly and his smile falters just a little before he recovers and gives me a shit eating grin. For some reason this just makes me angrier. Deciding it's best if I remove myself from his presence, I slam the door to my truck closed and begin the trek towards the front door of Lugnutz. I quickly realize my mistake as soon as I hear his footsteps behind me.
“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you? Hey, wait up. Let me buy you a drink to apologize for...for shit. I don’t know for being a complete idiot back there. I’m usually smoother than that. Will you slow down and let me apologize? Please.” It’s the plea in hisvoice that stops me in my tracks right before I reach the front door. Something in his voice tells me he’s not used to begging anyone for anything. When I turn to face him, his eyes catch the neon lights and seem to be almost reflective, it makes him look a little feral. When I blink, they are a brilliant emerald green looking into my eyes like he can see directly to my soul. Those are ovary exploding eyes he’s walking around with. Yep, trouble, trouble, trouble.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for, it was an accident, nothing more. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day. I just want to have a drink, eat some bar food, and go home to crash on my air mattress. Oh my god I don’t know why I just told you all of that. That was none of your business.” I can’t believe I said all of that to him. My cheeks feel like they are on fire with mortification. Of course, he’s grinning like the damn cat who got the cream or in my case the damn mouse. He was not tempting this mouse with his cream; I’d be damned if I fell for another pretty face. Not that he was trying to hit on me, the man would have to be blind to be hitting on me right now.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered. Did you know that? Your nose scrunches up, and your eyes get a little squinty where I can barely see the pretty whiskey color. I find it adorable.” Did he just call me cute? Narrowing my eyes on him, I’m about to call him out for being full of shit when he reaches around me and opens the door. As soon as he opens the door the country music blares through the opening. He jerks his head motioning me to head inside.
There’s a part of me that wants to refuse him just to be contrary, but my stomach rumbles right at that moment and I decide to concede to its wishes. Hot stuff looks down at my stomach like he can hear it rumbling, but there’s no way he can hear anything over the music blaring from the open doorway. Turning away from him I make my way inside. I find a tableclose to the dance floor where I can see the band that’s playing and sit down.
Chapter Three
Dax
Fifteen Minutes Earlier in the Parking lot of Lugnutz
Just as I’m getting out of my truck my phone vibrates in my pocket. Before I even check the screen, I know it’s Chase messaging me. He’s been a wee bit overprotective since we got in a fight with the White Rock Wolf Pack and their old Alpha, Nolan Riggs, escaped. Even with his brother, the new Alpha’s help we hadn’t been able to find him yet. It was making Chase anxious and overprotective.
Chase: Where the fuck are you?
Me: None of your fucking business.
God he was acting like a stage five clingy asshole lately, like I can’t be out of his site for five minutes. It’s like he forgets I’m a grown ass man who can handle his own shit. I’m not some cub who can’t defend himself.
Chase: Nolan is still out there dumbass.
Me: And?
He doesn’t think we can handle a single wolf. Let him come for us, we'll rip his throat out.My tiger growls out and for once we are in agreement, a single wolf against us wouldn’t stand a chance.
Chase: And I don’t want you out alone until he’s found!
I can almost feel his annoyance through our bond, and it brings a smile to my lips. Just as I’m typing out a response to him, I notice a Silverado pulling into the parking lot. There’s something about it that catches and holds my attention. With its fading paint job and dinged up body most people would just think it’s an old beater, but I notice the care that has been taken with it. It’s a badass rig, but that’s not what has my tiger perked up and paying attention.
No, it’s the driver that has his full attention. I can’t see all of her but what I do see of her keeps me captivated. She has her hair up in a messy bun, not a stitch of makeup on, but her face captivates me, nonetheless. I ignore my phone as I feel it vibrate in my hand. Chase is probably demanding I come home or tell him where I’m at, but I ignore him to watch this truck. I’m so entranced by her that I almost miss the fact that she’s exiting her truck. Rushing out of my own truck I use my shifter speed to make it to her truck just as she’s opening her door.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” She rushes out, as I almost run smack dab into her door. Damn, that was close. Her scent hits me, and I know immediately why she has my tiger’s attention.
Mate.He growls in my head. No shit Sherlock, I figured that out.
“It’s okay, you missed me, no harm done. My fault really, I was running between the cars instead of on the sidewalk like I should have.” I say, trying to smooth things over, trying to look as humble as possible. My tiger is at full attention, leaning in to get a good sniff of her scent like he’s trying to make sure he’s not imagining things.