Page 5 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

Slipping out of bed, I dress quickly, idly wondering what time Emie gets up. I want to discover every last thing about her. A professional house guest seems an odd choice, and the fact that she doesn't have a permanent home base makes me uneasy. Shelter is a basic human need.

I can't stand that she's living what sounds to me like an unsafe life. It's not my place, but I'm going to help her anyway, dammit. More importantly, I’m going to spend more time with her to make sense of the incredible feelings that surge through me every time she even looks at me.

Opening my bedroom door silently, I'm about to tiptoe to the kitchen when the tantalizing fragrance of coffee hits me.Clearing my throat so I don't startle Emie, I lean against the kitchen door frame.

"Good morning," she says brightly, turning to me. "Muffins will be done in a few minutes."

"Muffins?"

"Yeah. You had a banana that was a bit too mushy to eat, and not even a handful of walnuts left. I like using stuff up so that nothing’s wasted." She gestures to the table, then goes to fetch me a mug.

"Careful of that cupboard—" I begin, gaping when she opens it easily.

"Oh, the wobbly door?" she laughs. "All fixed. How do you take your coffee?"

Dang. "Uhh…black."

A steaming mug is placed in front of me, and…damn, if this isn't the best coffee I've ever had in my own house. Something catches my eye on the right. My two sad houseplants, both gifts from Mom, are standing in a deep tray of water in front of the east window. I swear, they look happier already.

"You're up early," Emie says with a grin, pulling on thick black oven mitts. "That must mean you've got important things to do today. Whatdoyou do, anyway?"

"Well, for a start, I get miffed with young ladies who weresupposedto sleep in and rest, and clearly didn't listen." I try to glare at her, but can't stifle my laugh. When was the last time I laughed at this hour of the day?

Emie simply giggles. "New house, the sound of the trees all around. I was too excited to sleep late."

"Well, you're…perky. I'll give you that." Pushing my chair back, my bare feet glide against the hardwood floor that feels strangely pristine. Did this girl mop in the middle of the night?

"Oh right. What do I do." My shoulders sag. I don't want to get into the whole situation about being a Wolfe, how we're setfor money but I still need to feel useful. "I guess you'd say I'm the unofficial forester around here."

The muffins smell incredible as she opens the oven door, but I'm frankly more focused on the curve of her shapely ass as she bends over to pull them out. This girl is definitely more delicious than anything she could be baking. And the wholesomeness that surrounds her is, strangely, turning me on even more.

I also can't help noticing that the inside of the oven is much cleaner than it was yesterday.

She sets the pan on the stove. "Forester? So, you work with trees. But not a lumberjack, right?"

I chuckle. "Right. The person who chops and hauls the trees in the forest is a lumberjack. That’s not me. Not an arborist, either – they’re the ones who take care of trees on residential or commercial property. I'm sort of the…long-term planning guy for the forest. I help the loggers and lumberjacks plan what sections to clear. Make sure that the forest is healthy, diverse, and that things are growing well."

Emie slips a dish of…is that whipped butter?...in front of me. I poke it experimentally with a knife when my plated muffin arrives. It's butter spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Damn – this is like having a gourmet chef just appear like a magic fairy or something.

She sits across from me with her own mug and muffin. "Don't cut into that for a few minutes," she warns me. "It'll just fall apart." Her hair is up in a charming messy bun, which bobs back and forth. "What do you think of the cloves in this coffee?"

"That'swhat it is." I nod. "Couldn't place it. It’s amazing."

Emie's soft smile hits me like a lightning bolt. This girl really is magic. Yeah, she's probably working extra hard to prove to me that it's worth keeping her around for a while. But it's much more than that. Every movement, every flick of her fingertips as she fixes her hair now and then…

I want her.

I've never felt such a deep need before. As if this sexy girl belongs to me. No, that’s not it. That we belongtogether. That I was put in her path to…keep her safe? Shelter her from every stress, every element?

"What's that look for?" Emie asks, blowing on her coffee while I stare at her luscious lips.

"Just a morning zone out," I mumble. “Hope it doesn't give you the creeps. This coffee is amazing, by the way. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it." Her lovely brown eyes are so soft as she smiles. "You didn't say how long I was allowed to stay here, but I've noticed a whole bunch of things that I could help with."

I peer at her again. "Like cleaning the oven when you were supposed to be sleeping in?"

She waves a hand dismissively. "That was just a quick wipe. You wait until I get it sparkling."

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