Page 17 of Her Rugged Lumberjack

DECLAN

“How are you feeling?”I ask, wrapping my arm around Margot’s waist.

We’re standing in the barn, waiting by the open front doors. In a few minutes, Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm will be officially open for the holidays. We’ve been working hard to make sure everything is ready for our customers, and it’s finally time to see if it pays off.

“I’m good,” Margot says, grinning at me. “I think people will really love the barn.” She takes my hand, squeezing it. “It must be weird for you—the first year opening without your dad.”

Margot always seems to know exactly how I’m feeling. It’s been a few days since we slept together for the first time, and things between us just keep getting better. She’s been staying over at my cabin every night, and getting to spend so much time with her is a fucking dream come true. I never imagined she’d go for an old grump like me, and I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be able to call this gorgeous woman my girlfriend…at least, until she agrees to be my wife. I’m already running through proposal scenarios in my mind, searching for rings. If I had it my way, we’d be married tomorrow, but I don’t want to rush Margot. It took a lot for her to finally open up andmake herself vulnerable, and I know her fears won’t all vanish overnight. It will take some time for her to understand that I’d rather die than hurt her, and I’m willing to be patient. She’s worth it. All of it.

But there’s one question I can’t wait any longer to ask. It needs to be soon. I just need to find the right moment.

“Look!” Margot says suddenly. “Someone is coming already.”

Sure enough, a car parks in front of the barn and a family gets out: mom, dad, and two kids. I watch as they walk toward us, all smiling and wrapped up in their winter clothes, and I can’t help imagining Margot and me with children of our own one day. The thought of putting a baby in her belly makes my heart squeeze with longing, and I tighten my arm around her, pressing a kiss on her forehead before we step forward to greet the family.

Just a few minutes later, two more cars show up. Then four. People flood in all morning, some wanting to cut their own trees, others getting Nolan, me, or one of our seasonal workers to do it for them. Margot greets the guests and rings up the trees, offering cocoa and an adorable smile to everyone who enters. Kids marvel at the barn, teenagers take photos for Instagram, and the wreaths Margot made yesterday all sell out within a few hours. The day passes in a blur of customers and Christmas trees, and by the time evening rolls around, it’s a relief to lock the barn doors.

“Moment of truth,” Nolan says.

We’re in the backroom. He’s cracked open a bottle of whiskey, and I take a deep sip, feeling a buzz of anxiety in my chest. Margot is smiling at me reassuringly. She called in sick at Cherry Grocery just to be here today, and it means more to me than she knows. I reach out to take her hand, waiting. Nolan is doing the math, calculating our profits. Opening day was always a huge deal when my dad was alive. He said a successful openingday can make or break the entire season. There’s a photo of him in here, and my eyes flicker toward it, my heart thudding.

Fuck, I hope we did him proud.

Nolan looks up from his calculations, meeting my gaze. His face is unreadable. When he says the number, I blink at him.

“You’re sure?”

He nods. “Triple checked.” Then his face splits into a grin.

I let out a shaky exhale and pull Margot into my arms, relief rushing through me. “That’s a record, sugar. Our best opening day yet.”

She beams. “That’s amazing!”

I hug her tight, watching as Nolan toasts the photo of Dad, raising his tumbler. When he sees me looking, he toasts me and Margot. My brother wasn’t as shocked as I thought he’d be when I told him about us. Apparently, he had his suspicions when I first mentioned her. He said he’d never seen my face light up like that before.

“Now we just have to do it all over again tomorrow,” Nolan says, draining the rest of his drink. “I’ll see you both then.”

He slaps me on the back as he passes, disappearing out of the barn and toward his cabin, which is only a short walk from mine. Once he’s gone, Margot turns to me. “Well done, Declan. I bet your dad would be really proud of you.”

“Thanks, sugar. Couldn’t have done it without your help.”

She beams. “I’ll have to make some more wreaths. I wasn’t expecting them to be so popular.”

She’s so damn cute. The reindeer antlers she’s been wearing all day are still perched on her head, and I can’t resist leaning in for a kiss. Her lips taste like hot cocoa, sweet and warm, and I cup her cheek, drawing her close to me. This girl is my whole world, and I’d do anything to make her happy. Anything to see that beautiful smile.

“I need to ask you something,” I say, pulling away from our kiss.

“Yes?” She looks at me expectantly, and my throat goes dry as I try to find the words. I expected to ask her romantically, maybe over dinner, not in the shadowy backroom of the barn. But I can’t wait any longer. The words are clawing at me, desperate to get out.

“I want you to move in with me.” My voice is firm despite the way my heart is racing. “I know it’s fast, but…you’re it for me, Margot. You’re all I want, and I hate it when you’re not around. Hell, if you want, I’ll move into your place. I don’t care where I live, as long as it’s with you.” Her mouth falls open, but I keep going. “You can quit your job at Cherry Grocery, too. I know you don’t like it, and you won’t need two jobs anymore if you’re living with me.” I take her hands in mine, looking into her eyes. “What do you say, sugar?”

She blinks, mouth still open. “Really? You mean it?”

“Of course I mean it. I love you, Margot. I’m fucking crazy about you, and you know it.”

The air seems to freeze around us and Margot sucks in a breath. Then she leaps forward, throwing her arms around my neck. Her voice is thick with emotion as she says, “Oh, Declan, I love you too. I’d love to move in with you. I’d love that more than anything.”

Happiness swells inside me, and I smile so widely my cheeks hurt. I know how much those words mean coming from Margot. She loves me, and I love her more than anything in the world. And now I get to live with her—spend every second by her side.

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