Page 2 of Her Bossy Lumberjack

TREE FELLING IN PROGRESS!

KEEP OUT!

Dammit.

I turn back to the lumberjack, my face heating at the slight smirk on his lips.

“You were saying?” he says.

“I…well…you shouldn’t be felling trees in a public forest!”

“It’s my job, Ginger Snap. I have all my permits.”

My blush deepens at the nickname, my cheeks turning the same color as my hair. “That’s not my name.”

“So, what is?”

“Hannah.” I glare up at him. “You?”

“Kane.” His tone is gruff, but his eyes glisten infuriatingly as he looks at me. “You’re getting a little red there, Ginger Snap.”

I grit my teeth. “Your name’s Kane, huh? Figures.”

“Why’s that?”

“Rhymes with pain. Like ‘pain in my ass’.”

His lips twitch. “Guess it does, Ginger Snap.”

“Hannah!”

“Well, whatever your name is, you need to get out of here.” Kane looks at me pointedly. “Unless you want to get flattened by a tree.” Stubbornness keeps me rooted to the spot, and his frown deepens. “I’m not kidding. It’s dangerous. Leave.”

I have to get to work, but I don’t want to give this bossy lumberjack the satisfaction of watching me walk out of here with my tail between my legs. I need a distraction.

“Hey!” I point off into the distance, panic in my voice. “Is that a bear?!”

The lumberjack swivels around with a frown, and as soon as his back is turned, I take off, hurtling through the trees.

Totally normal thing to do.

Not cowardly at all.

I race out of the woods without a backward glance before crossing the bridge and darting around the back of Buttercup Bakery.

“Goodness, what happened to you?” Diane asks, surveying me over her glasses as I burst through the door. She’s wearing an apron, her gray hair tied back into a bun.

“I…jogged…to work,” I say, gasping for breath. “I…don’t…recommend it.”

Diane chuckles, shaking her head. “Since when do you jog anywhere?”

“I jog when…I need to get away from…annoying lumberjacks.”

Panting hard, I tell Diane about my meeting with Kane in the woods. But to my annoyance, her face glows with affection when I mention him.

“Oh, Kane Donovan?” she says with a smile. “He’s a sweetheart.”

“Seriously?”

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