With a loud thunk, it lands just on the inside of the bullseye, a hair closer than Sir Jamie’s, earning her twenty points.
I’m the first to throw my hands up and cheer, and she looks at me with complete shock and disbelief on her face. Her mouth is hanging open and I’m practically jumping out of my skin as everyone loses their minds.
All except Sir Jamie.
This time he loses the showmanship as he stomps over to grab an axe. The crowd barely has time to become quiet as he steps up and chucks his axe at the target. Bullseye.
Once he’s landed his mark he turns around and the crowd cheers. Maybe I’m biased, but it’s definitely not as loud as it was when Brooklyn got it. She looks over at me and I give her a thumbs-up.
“You got this, Buttercup,” I call out to her, and I can see her fighting a smile.
Sir Jamie gets a little too close for my taste as he walks past her. Brooklyn doesn’t let it affect her as she takes a deep breath and lifts her axe.
This throw isn’t as strong as the first, and the axe goes a little sideways. She manages to hit the target and it sticks, but just outside the bullseye. She gains ten points by the skin of her teeth and she and Sir Jamie are tied.
The announcer tells the crowd that each contestant has one final throw. I don’t miss the look he gives me when he tells everyone that in the event of a tie, the win goes to the reigning champion Sir Jamie.
Sir Jamie is once again playing to the crowd as he steps up to the line and holds his axe up for everyone to see.
“Yeah, we get it, you’ve got a fucking axe,” I say under my breath because I’m annoyed with this guy.
I hold my breath as he throws it and I hear the blade sink into the wood. The crowd cheers and I wait for the judge to call the points. He’s missed the bullseye by a hair and only gets ten points. Sir Jamie looks rattled for just a second before he covers with a smug smile. He cocks his head at Brooklyn and holds out his hand as if telling her he’ll allow her to go now.
I clench my fists and have to force myself to stay back because all I want to do is kick his ass for trying to intimidate my woman. But to my delight, Brooklyn ignores him and grabs the last axe on the table.
This time she turns to the crowd and holds up her axe just like Sir Jamie did and there are cheers as well as laughs because we all know what she’s doing. Sir Jamie looks pissed as he steps back and I cheer above the crowd.
She blows me a kiss before she takes her place, and in that moment, I know she’s going to beat him. Just like she knew she’d be good at this, I know with every fiber of my soul she’s going to hit that bullseye.
I cross my arms over my chest and watch as she plants her feet, draws back the axe, and launches it straight and true to the middle of the target.
“There’s my girl,” I say as the crowd erupts and she stands there in shock.
I run over to her and sweep her up in my arms as I spin her around.
“Holy shit, did I just win?” she shouts above the noise, and I kiss her like a sailor home from a month at sea.
“Yeah, I think you did,” I say when I finally break the kiss.
“I’m shaking,” she laughs and puts her hands over her face. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
The announcer comes over with a roll of cash and hands it over to me. “If you ever want a job here, let me know,” he says to Brooklyn. “I could use the eye candy to get the crowd going.”
Suddenly my good mood takes a nosedive as I move her behind me. “She’s not interested.”
“Just saying, with a piece that sweet, you and I could both make some cash.”
I take the money out of his hand and then step closer to him. “Unless you want to see how good I am with an axe, I suggest you back the fuck up and keep your eyes off my woman.”
He holds his hands up and backs off slowly as I stand there blocking his view of Brooklyn.
“Why was that hot?” she whispers from behind me, and I have to fight a smile as I grab her hand and leave the axe throwing area.
“Are you kidding me? Watching you kick that guy’s ass has me ready to pound nails.”
“What?” she asks, but I shake my head.
“Nothing, Buttercup. Let’s go get a shepherd's pie,” I say as I kiss her neck and we walk toward the village again.
Chapter Nine
Brooklyn
My head rests against Dash’s shoulder. I’ve got my arms wrapped around one of his as we sit in the backseat of the car. The night is over, but I don’t want to go home. It was one of the most fun days of my life and I don’t know how, but I’m falling in love with Dash after such a short time.
I smile when I feel him kiss the top of my head. Dash is turning out to be too good to be true. There has to be a flaw to him or something that I’m missing.
“I wish you didn't have to work tomorrow.”
I tilt my head back to look up at him. “Me too, but it’s only for half the day so I’ll get out early.”
“You’re going to spend the weekend with me.”
I’m surprised, but he didn’t phrase it like a question.
