Page 13 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

I follow her fingers. "Maybe five minutes, assuming you're a hiker with good shoes?"

Emie laughs brightly. "Then just build the lodge right there, beside the road!" She points again. "There are fewer trees right there. Stick in the lodge and make the first part of the trail wide and easy. A bit of gravel. You’d only have to take down maybe a dozen treesherefor the lodge, andtherefor the start of the trail."

She gasps and clutches my arm. "Oh oh oh! You could make hiding spots like hunters use! A comfortable bench, some camouflage netting around them. Maybe raised up a bit to be closer to the treetops. So people could hike and rest, hike and rest…?"

"Holy shit." I lean back, shaking my head. "Hunters are completely banned in this area. It never occurred to me to use some of their tricks."

"Yeah, some people hunt with cameras," Emie grins. "So, you need the same camouflage. Putting in a series of blinds would work perfectly."

"You're right. And instead of putting in a new road, build near the existing road."

"Oh!" She grins again, elbowing me slightly. "If money isreallyno object, you could buy a handful of bikes to leave at the lodge. People could bike partway to stop number three or whatever, leave the bike there, hike, return, and bike back."

I sit back a bit more. "Your mind just goes ballistic when it has a project, doesn't it?"

Emie shrugs. "I like to solve problems. Analyze spaces and think about how they're being used."

"Even calling it a lodge instead of a cabin is perfect." She blinks at me strangely, and I realize I'm grinning from ear to ear. "You should take the reins on this project. You'd be perfect. You're looking at this area with fresh eyes, but I can tell you already understand it completely."

Again with that lip bite that sends half of my blood south. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to concentrate with her sitting here looking so sweetly sexy. With the way her hair is tied up in that casual ponytail, it’s making me need to nibble on her throat. Her inviting lips purse for a moment. "But this is a gigantic project. It should really be given to someone with more experience."

"If it makes a difference, I’d be your partner. I'd take care of the funding, logistics, and construction. I've already got people for all that. We need your ideas, your organization. Your creativity."

Crap… Emie suddenly looks more jittery than she did when the plane took off.

"You don't have to answer now." I slide an arm around her, cuddling her to my shoulder. "It's just a thought. Just ideas that we're batting around, right?"

She looks down at the survey again, then nods, thinking. "Maybe I could sketch out some ideas as they come to me. Start a mood board of suggested looks for the building. Things like that."

My instinct is to offer to pay her for any work she does but feel that now is not the time.

"Well, since you're so busy with this, I should be the one to make dinner." Leaping to her feet, she taps my shoulder. "Shotgun!" She darts into the kitchen, and we both laugh.

Inside, my stomach is turning over and over. She won't want to be my houseguest forever. The organization of the birder lodge would be perfect for her.

In order for that to happen, Emie needs to know that this bond between us is real.

But I feel I need to tread carefully. Approach slowly. No sudden movements. As if she herself was a wild bird.

The thought of scaring her off before we've even begun is suddenly the biggest fear I've ever had.

8

EMIE

As Josh, at his insistence, loads the dishwasher after dinner, I attempt to clear my head and take stock of the situation.

I didn't expect any of this.

My last gig was housesitting for my friend's aunt. The only decision to be made was in what order to tackle the dozens of small projects as I deep cleaned and updated her entire house, room by room. She was a sweet, elderly lady who wanted everything to “be lovely” when her daughter came to visit.

I thought I could do the same with my friend Kevin's house.

Finding an incredible man I had an instant attraction to, who seems to know instinctively that I need to work to feel useful and refuse to accept handouts, was categorically not on my radar.

As I decipher the fragmented texts and emails from Jennifer and Katie, my stomach and heart are both spinning. If I'd received this offer before I headed toward Pinesley, I would have jumped at the chance. Jennifer really is a brilliant photographer.

The loft that she has secured with Katie is incredible…or at least it could be. Those two have no idea how to make the space work, whereas I can already see how much potential it has. Theyprobably haven't even thought about renting out one end of the enormous space as a yoga studio and event venue for extra income, or considered setting up semi-permanent backdrops for engagement, graduation, and newborn photos.

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