Page 19 of Her Protective Lumberjack

He sets me down, his face turning serious. “I’ve been thinking, Chloe. I want to move to Phoenix with you.”

“You do?” Surprise jolts through me. Trace is the last person I can imagine living in a city. He’s like a part of the forest, just as at home here as any of the trees.

“I want to be wherever you are, princess. That’s all that matters.”

I raise my hand to his face. “Trace, I don’t want you to move to Phoenix. I want us to live here in Cherry Hollow.”

It’s Trace’s turn to look surprised. “Really?”

“I love it here. It’s so beautiful, so magical. I want to stay forever.”

“Fuck.” He shakes his head. “I’d love that more than anything, but I don’t want you to have to choose between me and your dad.”

I nod, biting my lip. “It won’t be easy living so far away from him. But we can visit each other, and call and text.” A flicker of hope sparks inside me as I add, “Who knows? Maybe one day, he’ll move out here too. I think it would suit him.”

Trace’s face is glowing, and he looks more handsome than ever as he kisses me hard, his hands tangling in my hair. It’s akiss full of love and passion, a kiss that leaves me light-headed when he pulls away.

“I love you, Chloe,” he says hoarsely, his words like a promise.

“I love you too, Trace.”

And when he kisses me again, his eyes burning with emotion, I know this man will always be my home.

EPILOGUE

TRACE

I smile as I look out the kitchen window at my wife. She’s sitting in front of the easel I made her last year, facing the trees. September has turned the leaves crisp and golden, and Chloe loves to paint the changing seasons. Our cabin walls are lined with paintings and prints of her watercolors, showcasing the beauty of Crave County all year round. She’s starting to make a name for herself in the local art scene, selling her prints online and displaying her best work at the art gallery in Cherry Hollow. I’m so damn proud of her. It’s been incredible to watch her follow her dreams, and she gets better with every painting.

I force myself to look away from her and cut us each a slice of cherry pie, carrying the plates outside. Rocky is already curled up at her feet. Ever since Chloe got pregnant, our dog rarely leaves her side. He’s almost as protective as I am.

“That looks beautiful,” I tell her, peering over her shoulder. The painting is a fall landscape, bursting with warm colors—red, orange, and yellow. She’s painted an elk standing majestically in front of the trees, snow-capped mountains looming in the background, and the effect is magical as hell. My wife is so damn talented.

“Thank you.” She beams at me, putting down her paintbrush to take a plate. “Damn, this smells good. I’ve been craving cherry pie like crazy.”

She’s about to take a bite when a rumbling voice calls out, “There better be a slice of that left for me!”

Roman is striding through the forest toward us, an axe slung over his shoulder. Chloe beams when she sees him. “Dad!”

“Hey, Coco.”

I’m still not used to seeing my buddy striding around the forest, even though it’s been nearly a year since he retired from the police force and moved out to Cherry Hollow. After busting his ass on the Will Mercer case, Roman finally nailed the son-of-a-bitch. The intruder who broke into my cabin, a guy named Jake Russo, sang like a damn canary when he was questioned. With Russo’s information, Roman and his colleagues were able to build a case strong enough to take Will Mercer down. He was sentenced for a laundry list of crimes, from manslaughter to drug trafficking, as well as incitement for sending Rosso to try to kidnap Chloe. Once he was imprisoned for life, Mercer’s entire operation crumbled.

Roman got his man and then some.

That’s when he decided to turn in his badge and retire. Said he’d had enough of chasing bad guys. He moved to Cherry Hollow to be close to Chloe and swapped his service weapon for an axe. I’ve spent the past few months teaching him everything I know about working in the forest, and he’s taken to it naturally, like he’s been doing it his whole life. He seems happier than ever, particularly now that he’s engaged to Freya. They met soon after Roman moved out here, and they’re crazy about each other. I know Chloe is delighted that her dad has found someone to love, and I’m pretty damn happy for him, too.

“Hey buddy,” I say, smiling as Roman hugs his daughter. “I’ll go get you that pie.”

“Sounds good.”

I bring a piece out to him, and he gives me an affectionate slap on the shoulder. “Thanks, Trace. Sorry I didn’t mention I was coming over, but I want to talk to you about something in person.”

“What is it?” I ask.

Roman sets down his fork, his expression solemn. “Nolan’s wife reached out to me this morning. Wants to know if you and I would be prepared to head to Arlington for a private memorial service. To remember him.”

My throat constricts, and I feel Chloe’s hand on my arm, steadying me. I’ve never mustered the courage to visit Nolan’s grave in Arlington Cemetery, but if his wife wants us there, I’ll go. It will be hard, but I know it’s something I need to do. I can’t keep burying the memory of my lost friend, avoiding the reality of what happened to him. Nolan deserves to be remembered, and so I swallow down my pain and nod.

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