Page 8 of Axes & Nos

Sitting in my truck I thought about how my life had taken so many different twists and turns over the years. I can still remember my mom telling my grandmother that she just couldn’t do it anymore the day she dropped me off at her doorstep. I don’t know if that meant she couldn’t take care of me anymore or she couldn’t be a mom anymore or she just couldn’t be an adult anymore. When you’re six you don’t fully understandwhat’s going on but somehow, I knew I’d never see her again after that day, and I didn’t.

My grandparents didn’t even blink an eye, didn’t hesitate even a second. My granddad scooped me up, hugged me tight, and shut the door in my mother’s face without even saying goodbye. I could tell he was angry with my mother. My grandmother even scolded him for shutting the door in his own daughter's face. My granddad simply looked at me with a warm smile and said she lost his sympathy and respect and there was no getting it back. Grandma got sad and nodded her head in agreement before she reached out a hand to rub my back.

After we lost Granddad to a heart attack, Grandma held on and cared for me, until she needed me to care for her. I’d just finished high school, I was preparing to go to college, when she had her stroke. We spent the next nine months between rehab and home. Her lungs would fill with fluid, and they would drain it, only for them to fill again a few days later. I spent nights by her bedside listening just to make sure she was still breathing. She was the only person I had in the world, she was my world, and then she was gone and I was all alone.

I met Steven three months after I said goodbye to the only person who ever loved me. Looking back now I can see Steven for what he was, he was a predator, and I was his prey. He knew about my grandmother’s inheritance, he knew how much I craved love, and he used it to manipulate me. If I hadn’t been so needy, or so desperate for love maybe he wouldn’t have been able to get away with it for as long as he did. Maybe after the first time I caught him cheating I should have kicked his ass to the curb and used my grandmother's inheritance on myself instead of him. But then Steven wouldn’t have been able to clean out all my bank accounts. I wouldn’t have met Alia when I was desperate for a job to keep myself from being homeless, and I wouldn’t be sitting outside the cutest damn cabin in the worldright now. So maybe things happened for a reason. Maybe I just needed to sit down, shut up, and enjoy the ride.

I’ll admit that when Alia first took Mr. Anderson’s job offer to run his charity organization I figured she would dump me as her personal assistant. After all I was hired by the law firm she used to work for and they were a bunch of creeps and assholes. Okay, to be fair Alia was the one who hired me, but it was through the law firm's HR when she did it. The day she walked into the office to put her notice in and asked me to join her was one of the happiest days of my life. I’m still not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.

To someone like me who always felt like no one saw her, who was always picked last, and always felt like no one valued her, it felt like being picked first for the dodgeball team or getting the first slice of chocolate cake at someone else’s birthday party. Alia saw me, Alia picked me, and Alia valued me. I couldn’t ask for a better boss or friend than her and I was going to prove to her every single day she made the right decision by bringing me with her.

Walking inside my perfect little cottage the first thing I notice is the brand-spanking new air mattress sitting there in the box waiting to be blown up. Deep down I know tomorrow will be a long day and I should set up the air mattress, take a shower, and go to bed. Unfortunately, I also notice the boxes sitting on the counter in the kitchen that need to be unpacked. Then I remember the boxes I left in the bedroom and the bathroom that need to be unpacked as well. I know I won’t be able to sleep until everything is in its proper place. Pulling out my phone, I start up my workout playlist and hit play. It’s only ten at night; I should have plenty of time to get everything put in its proper place and still get enough sleep to function tomorrow.

I lied; I totally and completely lied to myself. I did not in fact have plenty of time to get everything done and still get enoughsleep to function. In fact, not only did I take entirely too much time organizing my kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom closet that I didn’t air up my mattress until three o’clock in the morning. Then I had to watch the damn thing slowly air up for thirty minutes, because instead of buying the one that aired up quickly, I bought the slowest one in history apparently. Okay to be fair I was limited on funds, so I went with the cheapest one and I paid for it in more ways than one. So instead of getting in bed at a decent time I finally crawled in bed about four in the morning after making the bed and taking a hot shower.

Groaning as I rolled over to see my alarm yelling at me to get out of bed at six o’clock, I realized how big of a mistake I’d made the night before. Today was not going to be a good day, today was going to suck donkey balls. I was definitely going to need coffee and lots of it before the day was through. It also meant no thrift shopping for furniture after setting up the office which kind of made me sad, I was looking forward to some thrifting. Oh well, at least my new home was organized and ready to live in, even if I was a walking zombie today it was worth it.

Getting dressed was a quick affair, leggings, baggy band concert shirt, from before Steven made me stop going, and my comfiest tennis shoes. I threw my hair up in another messy bun because who was going to care. There wasn’t anyone I needed to impress today and frankly I was going to be getting sweaty and dirty getting the office set up. Grabbing my keys I rushed out the door so I could stop for breakfast and coffee, not necessarily in that order.

Hopping in my truck I start her up and pull out my phone to search for coffee shops in Nacogdoches. Finding one that sounds good I place my phone on my little stand I have on my dashboard for it and turn on the radio. Pulling out I rolled down my window, turned the radio up, and let my hand catch the wind as I sang along to the country song. Today was going to be a goodday, regardless of how little sleep I’d gotten the night before, it was going to be a good day.

Pulling into the parking lot of Grandough Baking Company, I smile because I can already smell the sugary sweetness emanating from the building. There’s a part of me deep down that feels like a five-year-old about to enter a candy shop. The best thing about being an adult is I have adult money; it’s also the worst thing about being an adult because you also got bills. Luckily, I got a fat pay raise thanks to Mr. Anderson and my bills dropped to half when I moved. So that means this girl is buying her some sugary goodness and not even going to feel one ounce of guilt over it.

Walking inside I fall in love with the place instantly. It reminds me of an old-fashioned bake shop with its turquoise walls and glass cloche covered cakes beautifully decorated. The bakery case is filled with cupcakes, cookies, and different desserts. The smell of freshly brewed coffee makes me practically float to the counter.

“Good morning.” A lovely young woman with a name tag that reads, Missy, greets me with a welcoming smile.

“Good morning, Missy.” I say returning her smile as I glance up at the menu and notice the Lumberjack Latte.

“Oh my god that’s perfect! My boss slash friend is engaged to a lumberjack and he’s helping us set up our office space today. Let me get two of those, one for each of them for sure.” The lady at the counter gives a little chuckle as she puts it into the system.

“Good choice, I’m sure they will get a kick out of the name and it’s pretty good too. What about for you?” She asks, trying and failing to contain her laughter.

“Oh, I’m going to take one of those Cookies and Cream Frappe’s and let’s get a dozen mini donuts, a couple of rice crispy treats, and a mix of a half dozen cupcakes. Lumberjacks eat a lot I’m told, yeah that’s who they’re all for, the lumberjack.” Thistime she can’t stop the laughter as she rings up the rest of my order. Then I remember Alia said Chase’s younger brother Dax would be helping us this morning.

“Oh shoot, I forgot his brother was joining us this morning. Sorry. Can I get another Lumberjack Latte, and let’s make it two dozen mini donuts?” I ask apologetically.

“Sure thing, because lumberjacks.” She replies, sharing a grin with me.

Once I pay, I sit down at one of their little four-seater tables to wait. I watch her bustle about behind the counter making my order. She’s smooth as she makes each coffee and my frappe, like she’s been doing this her whole life. Before I know it, everything is packed up on the counter in a nice and tidy stack waiting for me.

Getting up I look at everything that I ordered and realize I’m going to need at least two trips to get everything to my truck. Missy must realize the same thing when she offers to help me carry it to my truck. I put the boxes of goodies on the floorboard, and the coffees go in the seat buckled up, because clearly that’s going to keep them from spilling. Thanking her, I hop in the truck and head towards our new office once again determined today was going to be a good day.

I kept that thought until I pulled into the office parking lot and spied the man, I thought I’d never see again. There standing near Alia, talking to her with an easy smile was none other than sexy man Daxton from last night. That’s when it hits me, Daxton must be Dax, Chase’s younger brother. Just as I’m thinking of ways I can escape without anyone noticing that I was even there Alia spies my truck. She raises her hand waving like a crazy person and Daxton turns in my direction. His eyes go round and a slow sexy smile forms on his lips. Too late to run now I decide as I slide out of my truck thinking well today was going to be agood day. Now it was looking like the day was going to turn into a complete shit show, starring me, myself, and I.

Chapter Five

Dax

“Holy shit.” I whisper to myself as I look over and see her. Alia and Chase, both give me quizzical looks. How did she know where to find me? Was she here to see me? Was this just an accidental happenstance or had she come looking for me?

It’s her! Go claim her and be done with it, she’s ours. Make her ours.That’s easier said than done asshole. She’s human, remember she doesn’t work as fast as we do. Not to mention after last night I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with us. We will need to woo her. My tiger scoffed at my suggestion, but I knew human women needed more time.

“How do you know Myra?” Alia asks. Did she say Myra? My mate was Alia’s assistant. I couldn’t decide if this was a bad thing or a good thing at the moment.

Myra. Myra. Myyyyra.My tiger purred inside my head. I could imagine whisper her name against her ear as I fucked her into senselessness.

“Answer Alia dumbass.” My brother demanded, smacking me upside the head and a growl rattled up my throat in response.