Page 32 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
I nod, taking another sip, feeling the liquid warmth soothe my nerves. “Yeah, we could move some furniture around. Set up the ceremony by the big window with the view of the mountains. Even with the snow, it’s beautiful.”
He glances at me again, and there’s that look—like he’s studying me, like he sees something beyond what I’m saying. “You’ve got a good eye for this,” he says, his voice low, almost admiring. “I’m impressed.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t be. I’m just throwing ideas out. I’ve never actually planned a wedding before.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he mutters under his breath, scribbling down a few more notes. “What about music? You can’t have a wedding without music.”
“That’s a must.” I respond in agreement.
“Hmm,” Axel seems to ponder over it. “Looks like we might need more heads in here.”
I glance at Axel as he leans over the counter, scribbling down a few more notes in his no-nonsense way. There’s something about him that’s impossible to ignore. The way his broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his shirt, the muscles in his arms taut as he writes, the veins running up his neck and disappearing into his collar. It’s like he was carved out of solid rock, every inch of him radiating strength.
I can’t help but be impressed by the way he’s handling everything, no frills, no hesitation. Just pure efficiency, like nothing phases him. It’s…really attractive.
“I don’t know,” I say, trying to sound casual, “you’re handling it quite well.”
“For one, I’m the maid of honor, so I’m not feeling the heat quite yet.” He winks at me.Wow.
“I’m just good at handling whatever gets thrown my way.” He straightens up, towering over me as he reaches for thebottle. “Speaking of which, we need more drinks. You good for another?”
I nod, feeling a little too warm inside, but I don’t mind. “Sure, why not?”
Axel moves with an ease that belies his size, his large hands deftly mixing another drink like he’s done it a thousand times. His movements are smooth, controlled, and there’s something so confident about the way he handles everything—like he’s always in charge, no matter the situation.
He slides the drink toward me, and I take it, the warmth spreading from my fingers to the rest of my body. I look down at the notepad in front of me, trying to focus on the rough list I’m putting together, but my mind keeps wandering back to him.
As I write, I sneak another glance at him. His jaw is sharp, a faint shadow of stubble lining it, and his eyes—those intense blue eyes—seem to miss nothing. His biceps flex slightly as he leans on the counter, veins running down his forearms.
Axel brings out a couple of beers for us as we take turns scribbling on the notepad.
I’m too focused on the heat radiating off Axel’s body.
“You alright over there?” he asks, his voice low, teasing.
I blink, realizing I’ve been staring a little too long. “Yeah, just…trying to figure out this list.”
“Hmmm,” he says.
“You’re really good at this,” I say, nudging him with my elbow. Axel looks down where I’ve touched him and lets out a low chuckle. I quickly move away, though he doesn’t seem too displeased.
“Well, maybe my marriage would have lasted longer if I had planned ahead like this,” he says.
My breath catches in my throat, and I feel a painful kick to my stomach. “You’re married?” I manage to squeak out.
He shifts his gaze to me. “Used to be. I’m divorced.”
“Oh,” I say. I almost sigh out loud in relief.
“What?” he says. “Why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
His eyes narrow, but he simply shakes his head. I get a good sniff of him. He smells of pine and a musky aftershave. “Don’t be sorry, it was a long time ago,” he finally says.
I bite my lip. I’m anything but sorry about it.
I take a longer swig of the beer, anything to avoid looking at him. The thought of him married…and the relief that followed when I learned he no longer was, it’s definitely not normal. Suddenly, my emotions feel as murky as the beer I’m drinking.
