Lumberjack in Love (11 page)

Bill sidled up to him and shook his head. “Your girlfriend is killing me. For Christ’s sakes, I got the new coffee machine. Now she wants me to start importing wine from Italy. Italy!” He grumbled something else under his breath.

Marcus chuckled. “Sorry, Bill. She’s a toughie. But she’s not my girlfriend. At least not yet. I’m working on her, but she’s stubborn.”

Bill nodded. “Stubborn, but sweet, too. Look at that.”

Ami was helping Mrs. Sweeney load up her cart with ten dozen skeins of hot pink yarn. Mrs. Sweeney was about four feet tall, and the yarn was on the tallest shelf in the store. Marcus, Old Man Griffin, Bill, and every other man in the store with a pulse stared at Ami’s sweet behind as she stretched to reach the knitting supplies.

“You got your hands full, son. Good luck with that one.” Bill cackled as he headed back to the cash register.

Mrs. Sweeney and her best friend Martha Pendergast chatted with Ami next to the house wares section. He had no clue what they were saying, but Ami was animated and looked adorable as hell. She didn’t realize it yet, but she fit right in. Cranville, Vermont wasn’t exactly a hotbed of action, but the folks were kind, the pace was slow and gentle, and you couldn’t beat the stellar landscape. Hopefully Ami would figure all of this out before she bolted back to noise, pollution, and a Starbucks on every corner.

Marcus wondered where he fit into the equation.

“Well, goodness gracious, I can’t believe you escaped with not a scratch on you. You’re a lucky gal,” Dot Sweeney said, patting Ami’s hand.

Ami looked pale. “You’re not kidding. I think I’ll leave camping to the professionals from now on.”

“Oh dearie, you just need an experienced guide next time. Camping out under the stars is so romantic.” Martha Pendergast smiled at Marcus. “Especially when you’re with the right companion.” She winked at him and her false eyelashes fluttered.

“What are you girls talking about? What camping trip?” he asked.

Ami shuddered. “Oh, just my Camping Trip From Hell. Me, a pissed-off black bear, and a bunch of trees. Boy, I can’t wait to go camping again.”

Mrs. Sweeney grabbed onto Marcus’s forearm with her claws. “Poor Miss Jordan has only been camping one time. In Maine. With a bunch of bumbling idiot flatlanders. Left their food out all night‌—‌in an area inhabited by black bears. And then ran off and left poor Ami by herself.” She crooked her finger at Marcus and he leaned down. “I think she might be scarred for life.”

Marcus frowned and turned to Ami. “Is this the reason you have an irrational fear of the woods?”

“Irrational? I was chased up a tree by a black bear with pop-tarts mashed on its face! Believe me, you don’t want to get in between a bear and its junk food.”

A spurt of anger welled up inside Marcus. “Please don’t tell me your douche-bag ex-boyfriend took you camping, kept junk food out for the bears, and then ran off and left you alone in a life-threatening situation.”

“Okay, I won’t.” Ami crossed her arms. “But I would be lying. Dorko Dan and his buds ran off like a bunch of babies as soon as that bear showed up. No one even spared me a second glance.” She swallowed and released a deep breath. “I’m not sure what happened after that. I was so scared I couldn’t move. The bear took the whole bag of food and dragged it away.” Ami sagged against Marcus. “I peed my pants,” she whispered, staring up at him with tears in her eyes.

Marcus hoped at some point in the very near future, he would get the chance to meet Dorko Dan in person. He had an image of Dan hanging upside down from a tree, slathered with peanut butter, in the middle of the woods. Deep in bear territory.

He slid his arms around Ami and hugged her tightly against him. “I’m sorry you had such an awful trip. I guarantee if you go camping with me it would be completely different. And I don’t eat pop-tarts.” He kissed her on the forehead.

Ami slipped her slender hand into his and squeezed. “Your cabin is about as close to nature as I wanna get. You have indoor plumbing, heat, and electricity. And a warm bed. If I want to look at trees or birds or something, we can sit on your front porch.”

He smiled at her. “Or something.”

Ami’s face turned beet red and Mrs. Sweeney and Mrs. Pendergast giggled.

“Oh my, it looks like there is love in the air at Bill and Bob’s.” Martha pinched Marcus on the butt as she walked by.

Marcus pulled Ami over to a private spot behind the shovels. “Hey. Are you all right?” He brushed away a few remaining tears on her face.

“Of course. I just don’t like remembering that whole incident. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I felt so alone.”

He leaned down to her eye level and nodded. “That only further supports my theory that your ex was a douche. But not all guys are a-holes, Ami. I would
never
leave you alone in a situation like that.
Never.
I’m sorry your first time camping turned into a nightmare. I think we should go on some hikes together. You’ll be safe with me and Henry, I promise.”

Ami giggled. “Henry doesn’t exactly seem like a guard dog. What would he do to a threatening wild animal? Lick it to death?”

“Don’t sell Hen short. He is loyal and protective when he needs to be.”

Ami smiled and snuggled into his shirt. “Those are good qualities,” she whispered. She glanced up at him. “You know, I’ve been watching that hawk that lives in front of your house.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, she has a nest with some babies. I’ve been using your binoculars to watch them.” She squirmed in his arms. “From the safety of your living room, of course. I named her Roberta.”

Marcus let out a loud burst of laughter. “Roberta? Okay, sweetheart. That hawk comes back to that nest every year. This year she had three chicks. How about that? You’re birding. I’ll turn you into a naturalist yet.”

“Are you talking about those people who like to run around naked outside?”

Marcus shook his head. “No, honey, those are naturists, not naturalists. Although I have absolutely no problem with you running around naked outside. None. Whatsoever.”

She rolled her eyes. “I might be interested in a short hike. If we could see some more hawks like that. But no over-night camping trips yet.”

“That sounds like a plan. Baby steps, right?”

Ami laughed. “Baby steps. You, me, a romantic walk in the woods. And hopefully the hawks won’t swoop down and peck my eyes out.”

Marcus roared with laughter. “You’ve been watching too many horror movies, Miss Jordan. You’ll be safe with me. I promise.”

Ami suddenly got serious. “I believe you, Mr. Anderson.”

Before Marcus could figure out what that look meant, Bill appeared with some brochures. “All right. I concede defeat. I placed an order for one case of this Italian wine.” Bill glanced at Ami with an irritated expression. “Happy now? If these don’t sell, I’m going to have you set up a table with samples and work the crowd. Got it?”

“Oh, thank you! I promise. In fact, I love the idea of setting up a tasting table. We could have some Vermont cheese and crackers, and samples of the new wine. Bill, you’re a genius.”

Ami grabbed Bill’s arm and led him back to the register, chattering away about marketing strategies for wine.

Yep, she fits right in. Now I have to convince her she belongs with me.

Lumberjack In Love

So. Damned. Tired
.

Something was brushing against her ass, but Ami ignored it. She couldn’t move if her life depended on it. She’d been passed out on Marcus’s couch for hours. Surrounded by stacks of papers, art supplies, proposal print-outs, bowls of gluten-free dog biscuits, and a new
Helxine soleirolii
—Baby Tears plant‌—‌she’d repotted into a cute planter with a Celtics logo.

After spending a week busting her hump to create a proposal for the Science Museum, she was exhausted. Her landscape plan perfectly complemented Marcus’s designs. She’d won over the museum board of trustees. Her vision of twining flowers, scented foliage and bursts of color playfully adorning the tree house had been a huge success. Now all she wanted was to sleep for about seven hundred and eighty nine days.

Something brushed her bare bottom again. Something soft and silky and warm. Then the gentle touch of lips and tongue…and teeth.

“Ohhhhh.” She sighed. “Are you biting my ass?”

Marcus chuckled behind her. “Just relax, sweetheart. You deserve a nice rest.”

His beard swept across her bottom, and then slowly up the center of her back. She shivered. There was something wicked about the combination of that thick, lush beard, his mouth and teeth. Her nails clawed into the sofa cushions.

The quilt that had been covering her disappeared. Hot, hairy lumberjack blanketed her body. She whimpered.

His heartbeat thrummed on her back. His slick erection slid against her ass. His labored breathing caressed her ear.

“Don’t tease me, Marcus.”

“Never.” A hot, wet kiss on her earlobe. “I’m proud of you. Did I tell you that?”

She arched her body, pressing her bottom more firmly against that impressive cock.

“Yes. Thank you.” She moaned softly. “Do you have any other plans besides being a human blanket?”

His laughter rumbled against the crook of her neck. “Oh yeah. I have plans. I have a six month plan. A six day plan. And a six hour plan.”

Ami smiled to herself. “Tell me about the six hour plan, lumberjack.”

He thrust against her and her entire body clenched in response.

“This lumberjack is gonna hammer you good. How about that? Until you fall asleep in my arms? Sound like a plan?”

She nodded into the cushions. With no forewarning, he flipped her onto her back. As she lay boneless, quivering and needy, Marcus ripped off her flannel shirt and towered over her. He was frickin’ huge. All over. Rough and hot. Massive and hard. When he leaned down and took her nipple into his mouth, she cried out.

He pulled her legs over his hips. His huge coarse hands cupped her breasts. She sighed and stroked the dark hair on his head. His eyes flashed at her.

“Pretty, aren’t they?” he murmured against her breasts.

“You make me feel beautiful. No one ever has before.”

He kissed each tip gently and rubbed the bottom of his prickly chin against her sensitive nubs. “You’re beautiful, sweetheart. Sweet and spicy and sassy.” He leaned up to kiss her lips. It took forever, that kiss. Soft and gentle, he nipped and teased, licked and sucked. She couldn’t breathe. She’d fallen already.

He pulled back and looked at her. “Ready?”

She shot him a wicked smile, trying to hide the thundering of her heart. “I was born ready, big guy. Just waiting for you.”

He slid inside. “I do believe you’re right, city slicker.” He worked himself in and out of her tight body, never taking his eyes off her. Did he know? Could he see the truth in her face?

Funny thing was, she didn’t feel afraid this time. She felt safe and cherished. And well loved.
So that’s what it feels like
…

“Hell, Ami, I’m coming already.” Pounding furiously, her sexy lumberjack took her over the edge of the abyss. Slapping happily away, filling her up, marking his territory. She bucked against him and saw a starry scene silhouetted by a knotty pine ceiling.

Her human blanket shifted slightly. “Good thing I still have five and half hours left for this plan.”

She turned her face and rubbed her cheek along his bearded jaw. “Ummm. Sounds good.”

No denying it anymore. She’d fallen hard. She’d fallen fast. She’d fallen in love with a lumberjack.

Now what the hell was she going to do?

Marcus slid the safety glasses over his face and powered up the light-weight chain saw. He figured he could get some work done before Ami returned from her errands in town. She’d been hanging out in his cabin for almost two weeks, and he liked it. He liked the Celtics paraphernalia and the plush greenery on every available surface. He liked the gourmet meals she whipped up on-the-fly. He especially liked her beautiful, naked body rolling around with him in bed every night. He liked her laugh, her sarcasm, and her willingness to adapt. She was crazy about Henry, and had even enjoyed a hike through the woods yesterday. At first she jumped every time a crow cawed, but by the end, she was eagerly searching for birds with her brand-new binocs.