Page 6 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

It's not just Emie's determination to work as hard as possible. It's the way she's bulldozing straight through my normally crusty demeanor. She's not afraid of offending me “because I'm a Wolfe”. She just seems to feel compelled to do the right thing.

I want her to stay with me for a while, so that we can really get to know each other. How long will it take before I feel I can reach out and hold the delicate little hand wrapped around her coffee mug? I'm not the best at opening up, plus I'm a complete stranger. We're going to need some time together, so that she relaxes around me.

"I didn't look at any of the paperwork scattered across your dining room table," she says. "I'm always really careful not to peek at anything private. But I couldn't help noticing a couple of maps on top. I'm great at organizing files and papers, if you'd like me to straighten that out for you."

I can practically hear the light bulb go on.

"Paperwork has never been my thing," I confess. "If it's all in front of me, I can make sense of it. But once you start shoving things in folders, it doesn't click in my mind the same way."

Her entire face brightens. "You need a thumbnail system, then! So you can see a preview of everything at once. I can organize that for you." Her smile wobbles. "It might take a while, though."

I've always respected clever people. Emie already has my respect.

She places her palms on the table to get up. My hand lands gently on top of hers. "Emie, if you're worried about overstaying your welcome, please, don't be. I…" I take a slow breath, then decide to be more honest with her than I have with anyone before. "I've always felt there was a wall between me and most other people. There isn’t with you. I'd like you to stay as long as you want."

She blinks in surprise, then smiles sweetly. "I checked your thermostat — you don't have any timers set. You also don't have your pantry organized by usage. How about I stay for several days, until your living space is optimized, then we see what's what?"

"Sounds good. But I insist that you relax today." Although her beautiful eyes roll, she does squeeze my hand back before darting to the kitchen.

By the time I finish my muffin and get back from the shower, my lunch is packed and a traveler mug of coffee is ready for me.

I spend the day trying to put her out of my mind, but every trail I check or photo I take makes me wish that Emie was with me so I could ask for her opinion about it.

She's addictive. She's sexy. I feel lighter around her.

When I get home, the wooden bucket of flowers on the front porch has been watered, and the dead leaves are gone. The windows in the front door are sparkling. When I go inside, thefragrance of herbs and roast vegetables hits me before I can even notice how pristine my entire house looks.

"Oh, good, you're here. Dinner’s in five minutes," she calls out sweetly from the kitchen.

I kick off my boots, then go to lean in the doorway, openly staring at the gorgeous little pixie flitting around the room.

For years, I've wondered if I'd ever find a woman. There aren't many of them up here on the mountain, and many of them are practically family. I feel no romantic connection with the women I went to school with, my friend's cousins, or whatever.

But Emie is a breath of fresh air who appears to throw her entire energy into everything she does. Would she be comfortable here on the mountain?

If I can just get her to relax, maybe I can find out. Sample her energy, like I check the tree bark. Shake the branches to figure out if they're sturdy.

See if there's a chance we could grow together.

4

EMIE

Heavy boots thump in the front hallway, then I hear a long, appreciative inhalation before a voice calls out to me. "Didn't have to cook."

The commanding, almost grumpy tone is strangely intriguing. Turning around while drying my hands, I allow myself ten full seconds to openly stare at the six-foot-four hunk of brooding mountain man approaching the kitchen I've taken over.

There's something almost savage about his energy that is pushing all my buttons. He's sexy as hell, and now that I'm – somehow – in his home, I'm hoping that we can cross that invisible line and explore it.

"Of course I did! I was here all day while you were out working."

"I told you to rest."

He chuckles as I roll my eyes dramatically. I drop the dish towel on the counter and take hold of his arm to guide him to the clear half of the long dining room table that I have already set. His maps and papers are stacked somewhat neatly at the other end.

My fingers feel directly connected to my spine and lower belly as I squeeze his bicep. Wow, this guy is hot. Huge. Muscles on top of muscles, wrapped in a mountain man loner shell.

I've never hit on a guy before and have no idea how to even go about it, but if I wanted to try…oh man. Josh wavers between intense and mellow, as if he has no idea that he is the sexiest man alive. Yet he does look at me with…well, it's not pity anymore. Perhaps a flicker of fire. Maybe there's a chance that he feels this spark as well.

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