CHAPTER 1
Axel
Savvy Williams rubs me the wrong way, and I know exactly why. The moment my sister, Maria, introduced me and said, “Navy SEAL,” Savvy’s smile vanished. Since then, she looks at me like I’m trash she forgot to take out.
Because she’s Maria’s best friend, I’m trying to keep the peace. I direct all of my questions to Maria.
“Is there an HOA fee?” I ask Maria.
“Yes,” Savvy says, glaring at me.
“They all have one,” Maria says.
Savvy turns toward the window facing the lake. “This place has two bedrooms. One’s larger. Might be a better fit for your brother.” Savvy glances in my direction. “And his ego.”
I blink. “My ego? Really?” I step forward. “I haven’t said two words to you.”
She spins to face me. “Exactly. You don’t even talk to me. Am I that beneath you?”
I close the distance between us. “Oh, honey,” I say with a slow smile, “you’ll never be beneath me.”
Her breath catches. Yeah, I know I should back off but damn if this spark between us isn’t addictive.
Maria wedges herself between us. “Okay, enough.” She glares at me. “Savvy, we’ve seen all we need to. We’ll talk it over.”
Savvy doesn’t take her eyes off me. “Fine. But this place won’t be on the market long. Forty-eight hours. Tops.”
“Understood,” Maria says, tugging me toward the car.
We’re almost there when she spins around. “What the hell was that?”
“She was rude as hell,” I say as I watch Savvy lock the cabin door and then head to her car like she’s in a hurry.
“Oh no,” Maria says. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?” I ask. I know exactly what she meant.
She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “That look. I’ve seen it before. Whatever it is between you and Savvy, shut it down. She’s my friend. I need her. You are not sleeping with her.”
I laugh. “That’s the last thing on my mind.”
That’s a lie, and we both know it. She’s fire, attitude, and sexy as hell. Every argument feels like foreplay.
Maria stares at me as if she can read my mind. “Hunter, don’t screw this up.”
“Relax,” I say. “We’ll be done cabin shopping soon, and we won’t have to see each other again.”
“Speaking of being done,” Maria points at the cabin, “Ithink this is the one. It checks all the boxes. Even the dock is new, which I know you love.”
I look at the cabin. It’s on the lake, has two bedrooms, a modern kitchen, and she’s right about the dock. I can already imagine myself kayaking on the lake.
“All right, let’s do it.”
Maria’s face lights up. “Really?”
“Really. Tell her we’ll go with the full asking price. Let’s make the offer today.”
Maria jumps up and down. “Yes! Yes! Let me tell her now!” She runs toward Savvy, who is already in her car.
