Unfriending the Dr: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Romance

“Ryan,” I growled.

He laughed. “I’m helping, I swear. I’m just enjoying it, too.”

I trusted him so I nodded. “Okay. Enjoy, Mr. Branson, but don’t forget to teach.”

“Mr. Branson?” He let out a low hum of pleasure. “I like the sound of that.”

“Ryan.”

“Okay,” he said around a laugh, “I’m going to put the axe in your hand. Hold it softly, like you would a golf club. I know it seems counterintuitive but trust me.”

“I do,” I answered honestly.

“Good.” He flashed a sexy smile that, I swear, lit my panties on fire, and took a step back. “Line yourself up so you’re center with the bullseye. Pull the axe back like you’re throwing a soccer ball. Remember how to do that?”

I glared at him. “You mean, from the time I had to stand in for you as Titus’ soccer coach? I can’t ever forget it.”

He barked out a loud laugh. “No one told you to wear heels and slacks to soccer practice.”

I rolled my eyes. “Focus, Ryan.”

He licked his lips and nodded. “All right. Keep a loose grip on the axe, aim, and release.”

I nodded and repeated Ryan’s words to myself, focused on the bullseye as I performed each seductive step he whispered in my ear until the axe flew toward the target. And landed. Not the bullseye, but I cheered like I’d just won the world axe-throwing championships, if that was even a thing.

“It landed! I did it, Ryan, I did it!” I jumped into his arms and he caught me, circling his arms around my waist and holding me tight as he spun us around.

“So, I guess you don’t suck?”

How a man could be hot and sexy and cute at the same time, I had no damn clue, but the mix of emotions on Ryan’s smiling face achieved just that. “No, I don’t. Not yet.”

I whispered the last part and pressed my lips to his because it had been too long since I’d had a taste of him. The kiss was chaste by any adult standards but still, it sent a spark of fire from where our lips touched all the way down my body.

“I love the taste of you,” he growled and set me on my feet.

“Ditto.” Heat flared in Ryan’s eyes and I fanned my face before taking another step back. “Axes.” I laughed and pointed at them. “Your turn.”

For the next hour we took turns throwing axes, and with every round I felt more comfortable. With every throw, my aim got a little better and with Ryan cheering me on, I felt like a superstar.

“It’s official, Persephone. You don’t suck.”

“Thanks to you.”

Moments like this gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, Ryan and I could do together what neither of us had been able to do in other relationships: make it work. He was my biggest supporter, my loudest cheerleader, and I was sure he would say the same about me. Add in lust and attraction, and we could be an unstoppable force.

“Thirsty?”

I nodded and licked my lips, feeling the zing of awareness at the dark look of appreciation in Ryan’s eyes. “Parched.”

His smile widened and he took my hand in his as we made our way to the bar. Ryan was so natural with his physical displays of affection and I wondered how he did it to easily while I felt self-conscious each time. “Let’s go quench your thirst, then.”

The bar was located on the other side of the room, far away from the flying axes, which seemed like a good idea since they served booze. Ryan sandwiched me between the bar and himself to avoid being jostled by the crowd. “I’m going to have that mudslide milkshake thing, sounds delicious.”

“Just say the word and I’ll get one to go and lick it off you.”

I shivered at his words. “You’re trouble tonight.”

“Must be watching you throw that axe, like a warrior princess in skintight denim.”

I wiggled my ass against his grown erection and laughed. “Like them, do ya?”

“Been dreaming of getting you out of them since you opened the door.”

I let out another laugh and turned in his arms after we placed our order. “This is so much fun, I’m glad I wore them just for you.” The growl of appreciation he let out hit me right between the thighs. “What made you think of axe throwing for our second date?”

“I wanted to do something different but fun. We do pretty much everything together. We go to football games, the movies, we have dinner together most nights, festivals, carnivals, and everything else together. Under those circumstances, romance is hard to maintain. So I wanted to go for fun. Adventurous. Memorable.”

I wrapped my arms around him and smiled. “I certainly won’t ever forget this date. You’re the only guy who’s ever taken me to throw around axes.”

He shrugged but instead of cocky, the move was sweet and endearing. “Gotta find a way to stand out, don’t I?”