Page 14 of Her Grumpy Lumberjack

I wake up the next morning to the sound of birdsong. I stare at the ceiling for a few minutes, breathing slowly as I take in the peace and quiet. In the city, I’m used to waking up to a morning chorus of car horns—I’ve never heard the birds sing so loudly and sweetly before.

With a stretch and a yawn, I get out of bed and hop in the shower before pulling on a clean dress from my suitcase. My heart thuds with the anticipation of seeing Chase. I missed him last night when I was lying in bed. All I wanted was to go to his bedroom and curl up with him, feeling those strong arms tightening around me, pulling me close. Luckily, I was so exhausted from all the work we did yesterday, that I fell asleep before my longing became unbearable.

I’m breathing hard as I walk into the living room, expecting to see Chase sitting by the fire. But the room is empty. No Chase and no Moose either.

I’m about to go check his bedroom when I catch sight of a note on the table and hurry over to read it.

Good morning,

I’m at your cabin. Wanted to get some work done.

See you soon.

- Grumpy Forest Man

I smile at the note and head into the kitchen, warming up the leftover cherry pie for breakfast. I halve it, plate it up, and carry it outside.

It’s a crisp, sunny morning, and the air is so fresh that it feels like my lungs are being cleared out as I walk through the forest. I can see why Chase loves living out here. It feels magical to be strolling through the trees, the sun filtering through the leaves and making them shine like emeralds.

I hear Chase before I see him: the repetitive thud of a hammer banging nails into wood.

“Good morning,” I call, peering in through the front door of the cabin.

Chase is kneeling on the floor, hammering down a floorboard. His biceps bulge from his short-sleeved flannel shirt, and I watch a little breathlessly as he slams in another nail with ease before looking up at me.

God, those eyes.

They’re so vividly green. So intense.

“Morning,” he says in that growly voice. “You hungry? I can make us breakfast.”

“No, I’m good. I brought us the cherry pie to eat.”

His lips tug into a small smile as he straightens up to his full height, towering over me. My mouth goes dry as I look up at him. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his size. He’s more giant than man.

“Cherry pie for breakfast?” He takes one of the plates from me. “You’re turning into a real Cherry Hollow girl.”

I beam at him. “Thanks.”

For some reason, the thought of being a Cherry Hollow girl makes me feel warm inside.

“How’d you sleep in the guestroom?” he asks as we tuck into the deliciously sweet pie while Moose darts around us excitably.

“Like a log. I was so tired after yesterday. What about you?”

Chase frowns. “Not so great. I was restless. Got up before dawn, so figured I might as well get some work done.”

My pulse flutters.

Could he have been restless because of me?

Immediately I think back to what he said last night, the way his voice rumbled with authority when he told me, “You’re perfect as you are. Your curves are sexy as hell, Sienna.” The memory makes me shiver. I’ve always struggled to feel desirable, but when Chase said that, I knew he meant it. I could see it in his eyes.

“Well,” I say, shaking off my thoughts, “it looks like you got a lot done.”

Chase nods. “The roof is fixed. Once the floorboards are down, I’ll get started on the attic.”

“I’ll finish the floorboards.”

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