Page 21 of Her Grumpy Lumberjack

Chase nods slowly. “So you want to be an author?”

“I know it’s dumb.”

He frowns at me. “It’s not dumb at all.”

“It is. I haven’t written a word in years.”

“So? We all start somewhere.”

I look down, fidgeting with my fingers. “It's just a pipe dream. I can’t even imagine what my sister would say if I told her. She wants to help me make a name for myself at Luminary. If I told her I want to give it all up to try and make it as a writer, she’d think I was nuts.”

“You can’t live your life doing what your sister wants you to do. Those are her dreams, not yours.” He strokes my hair, curling a pink lock around his finger. “I think you should go for it, sugar.”

I sigh. “But what if I’m no good at it? What if I give up publishing and then it turns out everything I write is garbage?”

“Then you keep on writing.” He shrugs. “It’s like any other skill. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.”

I take a deep breath. “You really don’t think it’s crazy? You’re not just saying all this to be nice?”

“I don’t think it’s crazy at all. I bet you’d be an awesome writer, Sienna.”

His words fill me with warmth, and I smile as I nuzzle against him. “Thanks, Chase.”

“You’re welcome. And hey, don’t forget to send me a copy of your first bestseller.”

I giggle at the seriousness in his gaze as he says it. It’s the first time I’ve ever spoken about my secret ambition, and even though I’m still not convinced it’s possible, it feels good to know that Chase believes in me. I feel a rush of affection for him as he holds me close and presses a quick kiss on my lips as I sink deeper into the mattress, my body finally starting to surrender to sleep.

“Goodnight, Chase,” I murmur, my eyes fluttering closed.

“Goodnight, Sienna.”

10

CHASE

I wake up at dawn the next morning, my bedroom bathed in pale sunlight. Sienna is still fast asleep beside me, her cotton candy locks splayed out on the pillow. She’s breathing deeply, her plump lips parted, and I watch her for a long time.

She’s so beautiful.

So fucking perfect.

Falling for this girl was never part of the plan, but dammit, I couldn’t help it. I tried to resist but I wanted her too badly, and now I’m in too deep.

After last night, the thought of her leaving the forest makes me feel sick to my stomach. She told me she was only planning to stay for four days, and we’re already on day three. I feel like time is slipping through my fingers, and I don’t know what the hell to do about it.

I run my hand over my beard, sighing deeply as I get out of bed, careful not to wake Sienna. Moose whines when I head into the living room, and I pet him, feeding him his breakfast before I write Sienna a quick note to tell her where I’m going. Then I head outside with Moose on my tail, breathing in the crisp morning air.

My eyes linger on the firepit as I stride past it, the picnic blanket still on the ground where we left it last night. I suck in a breath as I remember how Sienna looked when she was riding me, her pretty lips open in a scream as she came on my cock. It was the sexiest sight in the world.

I reach Sienna’s cabin and grab my hammer, determined to get to work. I only agreed to help her fix the cabin in the first place so she’d leave faster. Now, I’m hoping it will give her a reason to stay. If I can make this place livable, maybe she won’t go back to Denver. I don’t want to lose her. I know I can’t ask her to give up her life in the city, but maybe if I can get her cabin ready in time, she’ll make that decision herself. She could pursue her writing dreams here in the woods. I could take care of her.

God knows I’d do anything for this girl.

Anything to keep her here with me.

“Chase?”

A familiar voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to see Ronan striding toward me, axe in hand. He’s my closest neighbor and my best buddy in the forest. His cabin is only a mile away, so we often run into each other while we’re working.

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