Page 38 of Bitter Rival

Why else would she have stood up for me earlier?

“You’re a health and safety risk. You have no idea how to do it.”

“Then show me.” Before I can stop her, she grabs the axe out of my hand, spins around and presses her back against my bare chest.

I take a step back. “I’m not going to show you anything.”

She looks over her shoulder with a playful smile. “What’s wrong, Beck? Are you scared?”

That was always her line as a kid. Even at seven and eight, she’d already mastered the art of taunting.

Her gaze roams down my bare chest before her hazel green eyes meet mine. Sometimes they appear to be green. Sometimes brown or stormy gray. In the sun, the brown specks are amber gold and the green and gray almost translucent.

And isn’t it just like Daisy to have mood rings for eyes?

“You want to wield an axe, Daisy?” She gives me a little nod, her tongue swiping over her bottom lip, and I’m beginning to think Caiden was right—I can never say no to Daisy.

That’s the only logical explanation for why I move in closer and wrap my hands around the handle just below hers.

Either that or I’m a masochist. She’s pressing her ass against my crotch, on purpose, no doubt.

“Stretch your arms out in front of you.”

When she does as I say, I carry on giving her instructions like I’m the resident wood-chopping expert and my sole mission in life is to teach her the tricks of my trade.

“Line up the blade so the tip hits the edge of the wood.” I bend my arms and tap the spot she needs to hit with the blade.

“You’re too close.” My voice is low, mouth close to the shell of her ear, and a little shudder rolls through her body.

I can feel it reverberating through mine like the aftershock following an earthquake.

“Your arms need to be fully extended.” We both take a couple of small steps back until she’s lined up correctly.

“Now what?” she asks quietly, relaxing her shoulders and leaning into me.

Her back is warm against my chest and the silky strands of her hair brush my skin. Every time I inhale, her scent fills my head—orange blossoms and jasmine. Summertime and lost youth. Sunshine and California dreams.

An unwanted temptation.

I take a step back and move to the side, giving her a wide berth while I watch to make sure she’s lined up correctly and won’t end up with a blade in her foot.

I’d end up being the poor sucker who has to drive her to the ER.

“Raise the axe above your head. Bring it down in one fluid motion. And don’t forget to bend your knees.”

She raises the axe above her head, and without a second’s hesitation, she strikes.

And…the blade gets wedged in the wood.

Not bad for a first try but I’m not about to encourage her to do it again.

Daisy’s a loose cannon. Who knows where the axe will end up the next time?

“What did I do wrong?”

“Everything,” I say brusquely as she starts pulling and tugging to free the axe, digging her heels in and putting all her strength into it.

“Not like that.” I nudge her aside. “You’ll end up stabbing yourself.”

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