Page 2 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

"Hello?"

"Hey, Josh. You passed the highway on-ramp yet?"

"One minute away. Why?"

"I got a report of a young lady out there, maybe a hitchhiker. Since you're so close, can you see if she needs help? If she does, give me a shout and I'll drive out."

"Okay."

My foot lifts from the gas and my truck takes the long curve toward the highway. Where the road and the on-ramp meet, a young lady is standing on the edge of the asphalt, looking up atmy oncoming headlights. She gives my truck a good look, then raises a hand and waves before sticking out her thumb.

I pull over just ahead of her and get out. Walking back to her slowly, I keep my hands in view and force a smile. I'm not sure what to say. That she's crazy for hitchhiking out here? That nothing could be so important that she should risk her safety like this? Because that’s what I’m thinking.

I step closer, her warm brown eyes meet mine…and I stop dead in my tracks.

Her wavy brown hair, nearly auburn in the fading sunlight. The soft dusting of freckles on her nose and the high points of her cheekbones. The seductive curve of her inviting hips as she shifts her weight from foot to foot. Her tentative smile as she looks up at me.

My chest floods with heat and my heart begins to pound from one simple glance. I'm not letting her hitchhikeanywhere. This luscious girl is breathtaking – so beautiful that I literally feel transformed.

I'm going to have to do everything in my power to stop her from getting on that highway.

Stop her from leaving my town. My mountain.

Me.

2

EMIE

My eyes feel gigantic. Have I forgotten to blink? I'm supposed to be looking out for psychos, but here I am acting like one, simply staring at the enormous, beyond gorgeous man who stopped for me. His expression is stern, but softens as he approaches.

"You wouldn’t be hitchhiking, would you?" His low, smoky voice makes me want to melt, even as I tell myself to keep my guard up.

"Kind of." I hesitate. "I've been looking for a work truck, or anything driven by a woman."

"That’s hitchhiking. I just got a call from the police, you know."

My eyes widen even more. "Someone called the cops on me?"

A hint of a smile drifts across his lips. Wow, are his eyes green? "We're careful out here. We look out for people." His gaze drops to my enormous backpack and rolling suitcase. "You off somewhere important, or should I drive you home?"

"Oh. I'm kind of…between homes."

I hate the way he looks at me so piteously. "Where were you headed?"

"Pinesley. My friend?—"

He's already grabbing my bags. "No. You can't go there. Get in. Let's run you back to town and get a hot meal into you, then we can figure out what's what."

I appreciate his no-nonsense attitude. He's a bit bossy, but I really am starving. Before he starts the truck, he makes a call. "Hey, James. Taking that highway girl to Fran's. I'll sort it out. Yeah."

As he drives toward Old Hemlock Valley, his eyes drift to me. "I'm Josh."

"Emie. Thank you so much for the ride."

His half-grumble sounds like, "No problem." But it’s tough to be sure.

It only takes a few minutes to get to town, and he pulls up in front of a charming diner. "It's not too expensive here, is it?" I ask. "I'm down to my last?—"

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