Cabin of Axes - Bea Paige Page 0,2

the time Cassidy returns with my second margarita I’ve polished off my food and am looking at the letter once more. Deciding that sitting here and getting drunk probably isn’t the best idea ever, I ask Cassidy if she recognises the motif.

She nods, placing the empty plate and glass on her tray. “Sure I do, that’s the Torben brothers’ business.”

“Torben brothers?”

“Yep. Big, bearded, bachelor men who own a woodcutting business.”

“Woodcutting?” I frown.

“I don’t know the official term for felling trees and then using the wood to carve statues, but that’s essentially what they do. See those over there,” she says, pointing to three life size statues of bears standing on their hindlegs, “They were carved by the brothers. Pretty cool, huh?”

My gaze focuses on the wooden statutes. Now that I’ve had a chance to satiate my thirst and hunger and to rest for a moment, I can fully appreciate the detailed carvings. With their beady eyes, thick fur, huge paws, and long teeth, they’re very lifelike.

“Do you know where I might find the Torben brothers?” I ask, pulling my gaze away from the bears and back to Cassidy. I don’t want to look at them too much, there’s something about them that makes me feel odd. A mixture of fear and… desire would be too strong a word, but longing, maybe? I’ve learnt to rely on my emotions, my feelings, my gut. I need to meet these men.

“Yeah, of course I do. Their store is on the outskirts of the village. About five miles up a dirt track. They work from home. Occasionally coming into town to buy supplies from the hardware store.” Cassidy grins, her cheeks flushing a little.

“What?” I frown, weirded out by her sudden change in demeanour.

“They’re hot.”

“Hot?” I know I must seem dim-witted, but I really couldn’t give a shit if they’re hot or not. I just want to know why I’ve got a letter in my pocket that has their motif on the top of it. I want to know why I’m wearing a man’s jacket that smells like sawdust, and why a shiver tracks down my spine every time I look at the three bears that they’ve carved.

“Yeah, like fucking sexy. They’re well-known around here. All the women, and some of the men in the village are desperate to fuck them. It’s a mystery, I swear.”

I swallow hard, feeling like I’m having an out of body experience. “Do you want to fuck them?”

Cassidy laughs, waving her wand slash pen around in the air, giggling. “I’m a woman aren’t I?”

“Have you… fucked them?” Why I’m asking that question, I’ve no clear idea, but it kind of slides out of my mouth before I can stop it. Oddly enough, I really, really want to know the answer to that question. My hand wraps tightly around the stem of the margarita glass, something close to possession overtaking me. What the fuck?

“No, sadly. They’re basically not interested in anyone apart from each other. Rumour has it, they have very particular tastes…” Her eyes widen and her cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink.

“What are you saying? You can’t mean…” My mouth drops open as she nods her head. “But they’re brothers.” Cassidy laughs, tipping her head back. “What’s so funny? I’m pretty sure that fucking your sibling is against the law.”

“They’re not blood related. They’re brothers-in-arms. Ex-marines. Fought in Afghanistan together. Moved here, set up roots and a business. Keep to themselves. They’re absolutely gorgeous but completely untouchable.”

“Oh, I see,” I respond, something like curiosity unfurling in my chest.

“Anyway, here’s your bill. Unless you need anything else?” Cassidy asks me.

“Actually, I could use a cab.”

“Sure thing. I can order one to pick you up. I wouldn’t want to walk home in this weather either. Are you staying at the Four Seasons hotel?” she asks, pulling out a mobile phone from the pocket of her pinafore.

“What makes you say that?” I ask, frowning.

“Well, this is a fairly small village. I’ve not seen you before today. I figured you were a tourist here in Butterford.”

“Butterford?” So that’s where I am. I didn’t pay much attention to the sign when I arrived in the village. Like a homing pigeon, I just followed my instincts.

“Yeah… you sure you’re alright?” Cassidy asks, frowning.

I shake my head, plastering a smile on my face. “I knew I shouldn’t have had that second margarita. Stupid me.”

“Yeah, they can be strong. So, where do you want the cab to take you?”

“I’ll let the driver know when he