Page 3 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

"On me. Don't worry." He comes around to take my hand politely and help me climb down from the enormous pickup. Although he's just being gentlemanly, the touch of his fingers through mine sends shivers curling around my ribs and stomach like ivy climbing a building.

My jacket catches on the doorframe, and as I pull it loose my body half-tumbles into his arms, my face against his chest. His hand lands in the center of my back, holding me against him. I can't help breathing him in, his woodsy pine and warm, masculine scent sending prickles through me.

I've never had this sort of instant reaction to a man before. The urge to burrow into his arms and run my hands up his back to feel the wall of muscle…

My chin lifts as we both freeze, toe-to-toe, and I look up at him. Yeah, his eyes are green. Almost a green-gray, as if the forest is inside him. I shouldn't be making silly poeticcomparisons right now, but this guy…the warmth I feel when he looks at me… There's something about him.

Josh is staring at me as if he's trying to memorize my face. Did his pupils just widen? Then he seems to realize how close he's holding me, and he shakes his head as he steps back. "Let's get you fed."

As soon as we're inside and seated, a friendly woman comes by with menus. "Hey, Josh. How are you?"

"Great, thanks, Gina. Could you please bring us fries and a large OJ right away while we decide?"

"Of course."

They arrive in seconds, and he pushes them both toward me. I chug half of the juice, feeling a little embarrassed at the concerned look he gives me. I don't want his pity. Yet I do feel a wash of warmth through my heart to have such a handsome mountain man taking care of me so attentively.

We both order burgers and salad, then Josh stares at me for another few moments before finally speaking. "Didn't mean to be such an ass about Pinesley. But it's really not a safe place for young ladies."

"Oh. I didn’t realize. Thank you."

"Why were you going there?"

I sip the rest of my juice gratefully. My last granola bar was early this morning, which seems a long time ago. "I had a ride most of the way there, so I thought I'd check in on my old friend Kevin."

Josh's face doesn't exactly shift, it just sort of…hardens. "What kind of person is he?"

"Well, he was nice enough in high school math class. We've kept in touch a bit online. That’s how I learned that he inherited a big old house when his grandpa passed. Nobody else wanted it. I thought maybe if I could help fix it up, I could stay there for a few months. I've always wanted to live near a mountain." I grin.

"That town is dangerous. Even if you were safe at his house, the rest of the town is a revolting mess." His foot taps mine under the table as he shifts. Even that tiny touch makes me feel…sparkly. Not to mention, his overprotectiveness makes me tingle.

"Oh. Well, are there any laws against camping here? I have a little tent and don't mind?—"

"No way."

I blink in surprise at the forcefulness in his voice. Then he softens. "Sorry, Emie. I just can't stand the thought of a nice girl like you out there alone in the cold." His fingers drum on the table. "Do you have a home to go to?"

"N-no. I'm kind of a semi-professional house guest."

He frowns. "What the hell is that?"

I laugh, which finally makes his perfect lips turn up. Wow, he's even more attractive when he smiles. "I stay with people for a few weeks or a month or two and do their cooking and cleaning, plus all of those odd jobs that you never manage to get around to. The broken stair railing, the crooked picture frame. Anything that needs repainting."

"Hmm. A housekeeper-slash-fix-it gal?"

"Exactly! Also, I took one year of interior design, and my dad's an engineer, so I can give them ideas and make sketches of how their home could be laid out better – design, functionality, use of space." I love the way he's listening so intently. "I'm there for the first time and have fresh eyes on the place, so I usually have a bunch of helpful suggestions for moving furniture around or getting a better table. Meanwhile, I sleep in the basement out of their way. Win-win, right?"

His index finger hovers over the table, not quite tapping. "How do you find these people?"

"I ask around. High school and college friends, and their acquaintances. Sometimes the people are away on vacation for alot of my stay. That's great, because they come back to a spotless house." I wink. "Most of their houseplants are in better shape under my care, too."

His intense staring makes me feel like he's analyzing my face. "And today you were off to see Kevin."

"Yeah." I sigh. "I've burned through everyone else I know."

Our food arrives, and the server gives me a look that I can't quite figure out. Glancing around, I notice that the other customers are giving us slightly odd glances as well. I also notice that the second Josh lifts his head to see what I'm looking at, they're all suddenly fascinated by their own plates.

"But you said you like the mountains…" he continues.

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