they’d been assigned a station, ordered beers, burgers, and fries, and were ready to start throwing.
Raeann lifted the ax and groaned. “How I’m I going to lift this over my head dozens of times? My arms are going to be killing me tomorrow at work. I’m going to spill drinks on someone.”
He smiled. “You won’t.”
She launched the first one and totally missed.
Deacon came to her side, squared her hips, pulled her elbows back farther, and nudged one foot forward. He decided this event was totally to his benefit if he was going to get to stand so close to her and hold her hips.
Her second throw got much closer. By the fourth throw, she was at least on the board.
After Deacon threw his first ax, hitting near the bullseye, Raeann shot him a glare. “Did you come here this afternoon and practice so you could look good?”
He chuckled. “No.” He leaned close and tapped her nose, putting his elbows on the table. “They call me Shooter for a reason though.”
“Shooter? That’s your nickname? I meant to ask, but I keep forgetting. Surely there wasn’t a huge call for ax throwing in the Army,” she teased.
“Nope. But there are a lot of targets, and I rarely miss a target no matter what I’m aiming at it.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “Your turn.”
Two hours later, their entire bodies hurt and they were stuffed from greasy burgers.
“I’m seriously going to be more like a noodle tomorrow at work,” Raeann said, her arms dangling as they walked to the car.
“Not gonna lie, me too.” Deacon rubbed out his muscles. “I think we’re going to feel it in our backs and legs and shoulders and possibly even our toes,” he joked as he opened her car door.
She paused before climbing in and turned to him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me forget. For making me laugh. For making today a better day.”
He cupped her face, wishing he could kiss her but holding back. “You’re welcome. Any time.”
He wanted to ask her to come home with him, but that seemed too risky. She might not go for it and then he’d be one step forward and two steps back, so he reluctantly drove back to her condo. On the way to her door, he held his breath.
She turned to him. “You want to come in for a while?”
There is a God. “Sure. But kick me out when you need to go to sleep. What time do you work tomorrow?”
“I have to be at the airport at eleven. It’s an overnight. I’ll be back Saturday afternoon.”
The only light on downstairs was a small lamp on an end table. There were no sounds, so Deacon assumed Heather was up in her room.
“We have to be kinda quiet. Heather works early tomorrow. I’m sure she’s asleep.”
“No problem.” He followed her to the kitchen and accepted the water bottle she handed him. There was no question he was thirsty after all the exertion and the salty food.
They both downed half a bottle before meeting each other’s gaze again.
Raeann groaned and rubbed her neck as she tipped her head back. “I’m so going to regret your idea of fun tomorrow.”
He took her hand. “Come here.” He led her to the couch, but after sitting, he turned her around and pointed at the floor. “Sit in front of me. I’ll rub your shoulders.”
This idea proved to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, he loved being this close to her, touching her, inhaling her scent. On the other hand, she started purring, and his cock refused to stand down.
She rolled her head forward as he worked out the kinks in the back of her neck and her shoulder blades. He worked his way down her biceps next and then lower to include her fingers.
“If you ever get tired of computer programming, I’m sure you could get a job as a massage therapist.” She tipped her head back and smiled at him.
He smirked. “I’m really only interested in massaging one person.”
Her eyes slid partly closed, and her mouth turned up in a pleasant smile, a soft “Hmm” coming from her lips.
Deacon threaded their fingers together, his on top of hers. He wrapped their combined arms around her and set his chin on the top of her head. “I hope I took your mind off your problems for an evening.”
“You totally did.” She smiled and opened her eyes, her face sobering. “Hey, I still haven’t asked you about your family.” She