Page 21 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

Grabbing some scrap paper and a pen, I make notes for about five minutes, then stop. Where the heck is Colorado Springs anyway, and how big is it? Is it the kind of place I would want to live?

I really want to stay with Josh as long as possible. Yet this other project would be a solid two or three months. Maybe longer.

Ha! How odd that I should be thinking of the old saying "a bird in the hand…" while working on a bird-related project.

Although I would give anything to stay with him, I can't be one of those women who ignores reality or stability in favor of…whatever this is with Josh. I'm so unstable as it is. I need to grasp anything with some longevity.

Air, water, food, shelter. That's the order of priority of the requirements to stay alive.

I fall down a rabbit hole: maps of Colorado Springs, the downtown area, the population, local shops and restaurants… There’s a park filled with red sandstone rock formations that look positively otherworldly.

I don't realize how much time has passed until I sense a shadow moving behind me. My head jerks up to see Josh's smile fall completely off his face when he catches a glimpse of my screen.

His hand pulls away from where he was about to squeeze my shoulder, then he drops into a chair beside me. "Baby, you aren't still thinking of going, are you?"

I'm cringing on the inside but try to keep my expression neutral. "I think I should at least look into it. There's a few months of stability."

His mouth opens and closes a couple times, as if he can't quite force the words out. Then his gaze falls to the presentation panels. "May I?"

"Of course."

His expression softens as he flips through a sketched site plan laid over an aerial photo, showing where the lodge and trail could be. One mood board for the lodge decor, and another for the building style. A huge chart with photos of the local birds that are most common in that exact area. Sketches of the viewing stations. A proposed website that would direct all interested tourists to Old Hemlock Valley for meals, gas, and outdoor supplies.

"Emie, this is incredible." He reaches over to take my hand. "I can't possibly thank you enough."

We drive back to his house while he stares out the window, brooding. This is probably his default state. He's mentioned a few times that he is a grump, but I've never really seen it in action.

We make dinner, resuming our usual banter. But some of the light has gone out of his eyes. It's like he's going through the motions.

Crap.Have I ruined everything? I was hoping that we could last another few weeks at least. Just a bit more time basking in the warm comfort of his arms.

Usually I'm thinking about the next home after whichever one I’m currently in. Now I'm only thinking about Josh. The way his eyes catch the light when he laughs. The way he holds me. The way he kisses me as if he never wants to stop.

After dinner, we sit on the couch, and he turns to me, taking both of my hands.Oh no. This is it. I should make this as quick and easy for both of us as possible, like ripping off a bandage, even though I'm suddenly flooded with dread so heavy and dark that my knees shake.

Before he can say anything, I blurt, "It's okay. I'm sorry. Your friends probably think you're crazy for taking in another stray."

"Another stray? What are you talking about?"

"In the coffee shop. Your brother said that you used to take in strays. It's easy to put two and two together – you have a pattern of taking in pitiful creatures."

"Dammit, baby." In a heartbeat he pulls me into his lap, holding me against him. "You can't possibly think like that. Please. I've never thought that for a second."

He leans in to kiss me, but my head pulls back an inch. "I understand, and it's not really personal. A guy like you? It would be weird for you to be with some random nobody." My palm strokes his stubble. "I've known this from the start. I'm just grateful that we got to spend this time together. It's honestly okay."

"It's honestlynot. You don't?—"

"Josh, we only met because the local cop asked you to check out some hitchhiker. This is a small town where people shareevery story. You don't think he's going to tell everyone? They’re all going to have an intense opinion about one of their darling Wolfe boys being with an outsider."

His forehead presses to mine as a deep sigh rumbles through him. "I never asked to be a Wolfe," he mutters. "And I really don't give a shit what people have ever thought of me."

He reaches for his phone. "Okay, let's talk with the cop in question." He makes a few taps with his thumb. "Hey, James. You're on speaker."

"What's up?"

"Sorry to bother you, but this is important. Tell me: how did Emie and I meet?"

There's a pause. "I assume you mean the pretty brunette girl you were with in front of Corina's earlier?"

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