Page 4 of Rough and Rugged
Solidified even more in my reasoning, I drove until I reached the site where I’d be parking my trailer. Since it would be three days before my cousins arrived, this was my chance to observe Axton.
As I backed up the trailer next to the old den, I glanced at the home and reminisced about the times here with my parents and extended family. It was the first place I kissed the boy, Trent Davies. He was best friends at the time with my cousin Pike.
Yeah… so many memories.
I got out of the truck, unhitched the camper, and began setting up what was going to be my home for a while.
Being a pop up, I had to hand crank the top until it was at the correct level. The problem was, I hadn’t realized the crank needed oil, and the screech of metal was ear-piercing. It echoed off the trees and shattered the quiet of the night. I swear it woke up all the wildlife in the woods.
I couldn’t help making the noise, but I ruefully chuckled knowing what was to come. And sure enough, the lights inside the house blinked on.
Turning my back to the house, I couldn’t see what was happening. But I heard the familiar slam of the whiny screen door, which preceded pounding footsteps drawing near.
“Excuse me,” a meek voice uttered. There was a flash of light, but it quickly blinked out. “Crap.”
I mustered up a pleasant smile, turned to apologize, and the light from this guy’s cell phone blinked back on, blinding me. I covered my eyes with my arm and growled out, “Shut that off!”
“N-no.” The small voice had a shaky edge.
“Please,” I insisted.
The light dropped from my face, but it lit up a three-foot radius around me.
Once the spots in my vision receded, I got my first look at Axton. Every molecule of breath left my lungs, and I stood there—ogling him like an idiot.
I smelled homemade bread, warm honey and sweet oranges. Never in my life had I reacted so to a man, nor had my sensory factors been bombarded by such wonderful scents. Axton was the most beautiful male I had ever seen. But…
Either something was wrong with my nose, or this man… No, he couldn’t be.
He’s human. It must have been lust, confusing my other senses.
I took another deep inhale, but fear choked the air. It overpowered the other scents my bear had picked up.
As Axton took several steps back, I realized I was hulking over the man. Damn. He was afraid of me.
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. I thought I—”
“Who are you? Don’t you know you’re on private property?” Axton interrupted. He straightened to his full height and his chin jutted out, but I couldn’t miss the trepidation in his voice.
Damn, he barely reached my tit. I loved smaller men. At six-five, I towered over most of them. But Axton’s small, lean frame was especially enticing. The idea that I could pick him up with one hand and do naughty—No, we aren’t going there. Be cool.
The last thing I wanted to do was scare Axton. I quickly wiped my hands on my jeans and extended one out to him. “I’m sorry for all the racket, but I’m Beare Beckett. I’ll be your new neighbor.” I looked over his shoulder to be sure that no one else was coming out of the house. The house was still.
“Beckett?” he said my last name as though he couldn’t believe it was true. He tilted his head, looked down at my big hand and then back at my face.
“Yes. And your name?” I asked, a little grumpily, since my hand was still extended and empty.
“Oh. Yes. I’m Axton. Axton Fields.” He took my hand and shook it with a firm confidence that wasn’t reflected in his voice.
With the cell light now cast upward, I saw reluctance and a bit a fear in the way his smile thinned out. Yet, there was something within the depths of his light green eyes. Maybe attraction?
Goddess, I hope—nope! Not going there.
“You’re Frances Beckett’s son?”
“That’s me. What my mother sold you… Um, used to be part of this property that I own.” I wanted to go into why Axton should sell me back the acre, but I couldn’t get out the words.
Axton looked over his shoulder to where I kept glancing. “What are you looking for?”