We all laugh and nod our heads. Trent’s upbeat attitude is infectious, and it has me itching to give it a go.
“Right, so I’ll be off to the side observing and I won’t intrude or step in unless someone asks or I have to. But first, let me demonstrate how to hold and throw this auspicious little wood chopper.” He grabs an ax from the holder and twirls it in his hands before holding it up in front of him. “Dominant hand on top, the other one below, then all you gotta do is face the target . . .” He turns around and steps to the edge of the throwing lane, looking back over his shoulder at us. “Then you lift it over your head like this, and it’s a case of rocking your hips forward and sticking your butt out, using your body to catapult the ax forward, and hopefully lodging the blade in the target.”
God, he makes it sound and look easy. Lucky I’ve never been afraid to make a fool out of myself in the name of having fun.
Marco and Renee stand back and let us go before them.
The first ax I pitch down the lane spins end over end before hitting the target with the metal butt. It drops to the floor like a lead balloon and I huff out a frustrated breath. “This is a lot harder than it looks.”
Rhodes appears beside me, shooting me a hot-as-hell smirk. “If it helps, I did the same thing my first time?”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, you did. And let me guess—you’re about to tell me you are classed as an expert-level ax-thrower now?”
He chuckles behind me as I walk toward the target and bend over, taking my time to reach out and slowly pick up the ax. A quick check over my shoulder confirms what I’d expected to see—Rhodes’s eyes pinned to my butt. Maybe distracting him is the key to winning this damn game. And if that doesn’t work, at least we’ll have fun flirting while he kicks my ass. With a little wiggle of said derriere, I straighten and make my way back to my date, dragging my gaze up his body without shame and flattening my hand on his shoulder when I reach his side. “You're up, honey. Maybe you can show me how good you are at this game.”
His attention drops to my lips then up again and damn, just the heat in his eyes has my body sparking to life. How does he manage to do that to me with just a look? I keep wanting to grab his face and kiss the hell out of him.
“What game is this again?” he asks, his deep, hoarse tone making my knees weak.
“Why, ax-throwing, of course,” I say innocently as I flex my fingers against his shirt. “It is our first date, after all. And unlike some people, I’d never tease anyone without knowing I was prepared to follow through. That would be kinda cruel, don’t ya think?
Rhodes shakes his head slowly, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Oh, we’re playing now, sweet cheeks.”
My brows jump up and I grin. “Sweet cheeks?” I lean in, bringing my face so close that his heavy breath washes over my skin. “But how will you ever find out how sweet my cheeks can be if you don’t win . . .?” I blow him an air kiss and walk to the table where Marco and Renee are standing.
Renee is beaming, and Marco’s head is dropped, but there’s no missing his smirk. “You right there, brother?” he calls out to my date, grabbing an ax from the rack outside the throwing area.
“Yeah . . .” Rhodes answers rough and low before clearing his throat and looking over his shoulder at us girls, his eyes locking on mine. “If we didn't need to win before, we need to now. I’m finding myself somewhat . . . motivated.”
I can’t help but snicker.
“Now I need to know,” Renee says, leaning onto the table and turning her body toward me. “Because I was already thinking of making this interesting. I mean, girls versus boys seems fair. Unless you want to pair up with Rhodes. it is a date, after all.”
“Oh no. It definitely needs to be a battle of the sexes.”
“Awesome. At least then I can have a little fun with Marco. They may be the boss men at work but believe me. You’ve gotta make sure things are equal at home.” Renee waggles her eyebrows.
“I can hear you, princess,” Marco says, not looking back.
She winks at me. “I know, Lieutenant. Why do you think I said it?”
Rhodes grips the handle, one hand slightly higher than the other, planting his left foot in front of his right in the ‘expert’ stance our games ax coach showed us. Then he lifts the ax and throws it at the target, a sigh escaping my lips as I admire his flexing arm muscles
“Girl . . .” Renee says, holding her fist out in front of me and bumping her knuckles with mine. “You get your eye candy, and I get mine. This double date thing is the best. Idea. Ever.”
Between rounds two and three—with the score being one win apiece, girls vs boys—Marco and Renee head over to ‘Food Truck Alley’ on the far side of the warehouse to get us some snacks, leaving Rhodes and I alone with newly fetched drinks in hand.
“Having fun?” he asks.
My
